Texola Ghost Town
Texola is a living Ghost Town meaning there are still people living there even though the town is mostly abandoned. Texola sits on the border of Texas and Oklahoma on old Route 66. There are many abandoned buildings including a 1930 Magnolia Gas Station and a one room jail.
The History of Texola dates back to the early 1900s. Before being named Texola, the town site had been called Texokla and Texoma. Because of its location near the 100th Meridian, the town was surveyed eight different times, which meant that some early residents lived in both Texas and Oklahoma without ever moving. Texola was originally part of northern Greer County until Beckham County was formed after Oklahoma gained statehood in 1907. A post office was established in the community on December 12, 1901 with Reuben H. Grimes serving as the first postmaster. In 1902, the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad (later owned by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway) was built through the town. A weekly newspaper, the Texola Herald, began publishing in 1902 and continued to operate into the early 1920s. By 1909, Texola had two cotton gins as well as a corn and grist mill. The local economy was agriculturally based and several businesses opened in the community.
The 1910 census recorded 361 people living in Texola. That same year, a small Territorial Jail was built. After a slight decline in population during the 1910s, Texola grew rapidly in the 1920s. The population peaked at 581 in the 1930 census. The arrival of Route 66 had a positive impact on the local economy. Cotton production increased during the decade, necessitating the need for two additional gins. As the town prospered, amenities such as a ten-acre park and an auditorium capable of seating 300 people were found in the community. The population began to decline in the 1940s and continued to do so throughout the remainder of the twentieth century. By 1980, Texola was a town of 106 residents. When the next census was conducted in 1990, Texola had lost nearly 58 percent of its population, leaving just 45 people in the town. That figure rose by two, to 47, in 2000. By 2010, the population had decreased to 36.
The Magnolia Service Station is a historic service station located on Old U.S. Route 66 in Texola, Oklahoma. The station, an affiliate of the Magnolia Petroleum Company, opened circa 1930. The station was one of the westernmost in Oklahoma and became one of the first stops for eastbound travelers to buy gas and auto services in the state. The main building of the service station is representative of the “house” style of filling station; such stations resembled small houses in order to fit into residential areas. The service station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1995.
One Room Jail
The Texola Territorial Jail was used from 1908 to 1910 and consists of nothing more than a one room block building with iron bars on the door and window. the walls continue several feet underground to keep the bad guys from digging out.
Where it is:
Texola is located on Route 66 just south of Interstate 40 Oklahoma Exit 1.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
35°13’9.312″ N 99°59’29.232″ W
Cost:
Hours:
The location is accessible at all times.
Facilities:
There are no public facilities available.
Location Contact Information:
Texola Ghost Town Photo Gallery
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More Photographic Destinations in Oklahoma
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
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