There’s something haunting and mysterious about ghost towns. When you pass by one, you can’t help but wonder what life was like back then — when the buildings were alive with people, shops were open, and roads were busy.
In the Texas Panhandle, especially along the old Route 66, several ghost towns still stand as quiet reminders of a very different time in American history.
Jericho and the Treacherous Jericho Gap
One of the most legendary spots on Route 66 is Jericho, once a small town that gained a wild reputation because of a place called the Jericho Gap. This stretch of road was famous for becoming a muddy trap whenever it rained. Vehicles would get stuck in the thick mud, and locals — often farmers — were known to help pull people out, usually for a small fee.
This muddy mess became such a big problem that, according to some stories, Route 66 was eventually rerouted to avoid Jericho. That decision may have led to the town’s decline, turning it into the ghost town it is today.
Now, Jericho Gap is celebrated, and the area has even seen a bit of revival with a local vegetable farm bringing some life back into the region.
Alanreed: A Ghost Town That’s Not Quite Dead
Alanreed, Texas, is different from other ghost towns because it still has a few people living there. So, it’s not completely empty — but it’s far from being a busy town.
When Route 66 was in its prime, Alanreed welcomed many travelers. While the crowds are long gone, several abandoned buildings and a historic old church still stand. If you’ve driven along Interstate 40 through the Texas Panhandle, you may have passed the Alanreed travel stop, which is still in operation.
Alanreed offers a unique chance to see a “living” ghost town, where the past and present exist side-by-side.
Glenrio: A Borderline Ghost Town Between Texas and New Mexico
Glenrio is one of the most fascinating ghost towns because it sits right on the border of Texas and New Mexico. This location gave Glenrio some interesting business advantages in the past.
During Prohibition in Texas, when alcohol was banned, bars would operate legally on the New Mexico side of town. Meanwhile, gas stations were built on the Texas side, where fuel taxes were lower. This clever setup allowed Glenrio to thrive for a while.
Today, the town is completely quiet, with most buildings abandoned. The only active business left is a cannabis dispensary — and yes, it’s on the New Mexico side of the border.