Abandoned High School and Houses in a West Texas Desert Town

[@gailjackson8941]

I live in Odessa. Not pretty, but the sunrises and sunsets are beautiful!

[@Keithdotson]

I love West Texas

[@jeanettajanca5831]

I'm from Odessa Texas been here for 65 years I like your photos the show is wonderful

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you so much! It's nice to hear from you.

[@tpickett1381]

Yep ,Windy,flat and dry to the horizon. Crunches when you walk. You know you're in West Texas. However the night sky is truly something marvel at. And the sky at sunset is breath taking.I lived out there growing up.

[@joejaramillo2044]

I was out there last weekend and nothing has changed. The first part of your video with burned out building and suv is still in the same place. Still a cool place to drive around.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for the update. It does feel like a place where time stands still.

[@joejaramillo2044]

@@Keithdotson Still worth a trip out there. Great video.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks!

[@Guysitscool1]

That’s wrong I live here and the place has changed me and the other 71 people that live here like it

[@DallasPix]

I've been inside the Toyah High School.. The 2nd floor was removed & the structure was made into a Gym for the near-by schools if I remember correctly.. There's another school in Toyah also, & yep, I believe it was abandoned also. Elementary School I believe.. Pidgeon poo was every where on the inside of the ole High School.. Me and my ole best friend scouted this school & area pretty good. Underneath, are the showers & restrooms.. Last time we visited, the front entrance had a huge wasp nest so we decided not to bother them.. It's a shame that this historical structure is slowly wasting away.. I took quite a few photos of this building, inside and out.. Randy A Carlisle / RAC Photography / Historical Photographer // DJ - KSGV-Seagoville Tx

[@anthonyreinberg8658]

I remember playing 6 man football against these guys back in the mid 70s when I lived in Fort Davis👍🏻

[@user-kd4xl2dq1c]

The name of the town is Toyah about 20 miles west of Pecos.

[@Guysitscool1]

No it’s pyote

[@Ron-zi3cg]

That's a piece of history.

[@theundefinedphotographer]

Excited for this series. I always enjoy your abandoned explorations. That old high school looked so interesting

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks! I really wanted to take a closer look but there was a local keeping an eye on me so I thought it best to stay on the street. (Also a friendly but overly inquisitive dog).

[@elsid2166]

Toyah is the name of the Town.

[@ekalenak]

Toyah Texas. A town that had so much pride, whose school district was absorbed by a larger town. Strangling it to death.

[@MTknitter22]

Oh So sorry. Lovely name for a town

[@eileenhetherington3704]

Is there any reason the name of the town is never mentioned in your video?

[@Keithdotson]

You know, maybe I had a reason at the time but if I did it escapes me now. It’s Toyah, Texas.

[@lindadunn8787]

@@Keithdotson thank you for the update. Was wondering which West Texas town this is.

[@deana8202]

It's on the hashtag.

[@javiervaldez3360]

I believe is Toya tx

[@manniesreactionchannel3808]

The old high school look very interesting.

[@georgecarpenter4126]

Another amazing video. I just love to find places like this and spend some time pondering just what life may have been like years ago.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks very much George -- I have the same thoughts about these old places.

[@jramirez6198]

My thoughts are exactly the same

[@williamscoggin1509]

The old school building at Kent Texas right beside interstate 10 would be great if you haven't been there. Was damaged a long time ago by a tornado.

[@joelhorlen20-zk3xr]

I saw that while crossing the country by bicycle in 2010. I camped behind the Chevron station, which I think is closed down now. Wickedly windy that day.

[@robertodebeers2551]

There are abandoned schools like this in eastern Montana, where the Milwaukee Railroad used to run.

[@Keithdotson]

I'd love to drive all those back roads in Montana. It's on my list of things to do.

[@Dream-bebe]

Texas ❤is home 🏠!

[@robertodebeers2551]

Excellent narrative voice. Really appreciate the absence of too much talking, like we see in other ghost town videos.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you! I appreciate the kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@terryolsen4244]

This is great, Keith! Even though I live in western Arkansas and I am surrounded by hills, mountains, trees and forests, I am fascinated by plains, prairies and deserts. So I'm looking forward to seeing more of your explorations. Did you have an itinerary or just go where the Texas wind blew you? Great photos, as always.

[@terryolsen4244]

Happy New Year to you and your family! May 2021 be better than ever!

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks Terry! I had an itinerary but I kept it loose and it definitely changed as I made my way along. Much more to come.

[@bretthuckaby9745]

Love your work 💯

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you!

[@henryrodgers1752]

Not to be confused with Toyavale, 25 miles to the south, which is graced with a post office and a bar. Near Toyavale is Balmoral State Park, a lake formed from an Artesian well. Crystal clear water about 40 feet deep is great for snorkeling.

[@williamscoggin1509]

The leafcutter ant bed on the slab at cemetery was unexpected. Doesn't look like many leaves around there to be cut. Lol

[@P_F299]

I love the state of Texas. I am from Iraq. I hope to visit the Texas desert and ancient cities

[@joedoakes8307]

Toyah was almost wiped OUT by a large Tornado years previous !!!

[@Keithdotson]

Oh wow!

[@nayooropeza2211]

Yes, I remember hearing about that tornado, it actually took out the town bank building that kinda was made of the same red brick but with a different facade. I believe it happened in the 1990's

[@georgehathcoat4011]

Like chalk flats. ! Nothing much left but cemetery's

[@gailspaw5521]

Love watching

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you

[@1polonium210]

In your video, I saw the headstone of the gravesite of a great-grandaunt!

[@Keithdotson]

Wow!

[@MTknitter22]

Hey ya’ll. Would you look at the beautiful architecture of that old school? I was from near Amarillo and the schools build since 90’s just industrial ugly without charm or attention to history.

[@MikeHarrison-no4zd]

What about the motorhome beside the school

[@jessesalazar1085]

Toyah,Texas that's the Toyah High School

[@TommyAlanRaines]

I have not been there since I was a kid.

[@makadutaarzola9453]

Where was this filmed?

[@Keithdotson]

Toyah, Texas

[@cindyramos5957]

I lived there for some months

[@johnrbreazeale7799]

I am curious as to what is this place close to, looks like maybe Ft. Stockton or Marfa?

[@Keithdotson]

The closest places as I recall were pecos and van horn

[@alphaomega6]

Looks like in Pecos

[@BobbyStanaland]

I was once told a story about Toyah. The way it was told, there are a native tribe known as Toyah Indians. The natives had blue eyes with brown skin. I have seen some people matching this description. Maybe someone can tell us more.

[@salvadorgarcia1227]

Hello just a suggestion when you travel to these towns can you go by the cemetery and show some of the names of people who lived there.

[@Keithdotson]

I have a separate channel called walking old graveyards. I don’t narrate them but I do try to show names as much as I can

[@victorcampa1562]

Can you please make a video of Dodson, Texas.

[@Keithdotson]

I'll look into it -- thanks for the tip!

[@victorcampa1562]

@@Keithdotson My Dad used to take people out to Dodson in the late 1950s and early 60s to pick cotton. I was about 8 to 10 years old and no I'm going on 72 and still remember those days and I did picked cotton together with my brothers n sisters and the rest of the people that went to work in those days. Thanks.

[@Keithdotson]

I did a quick look and I like the town. I hope to get out there this winter. Thanks for the memory of the town -- I love learning about people's experiences in these places

[@victorcampa1562]

@@Keithdotson Hello Keith . When we were living in Dodson on Saturdays we only worked till so that the people would go to Wellington to get thier groceries for the week and the young people would to the Ritz theater and watch a movie. For the people that didn't have a car my Dad had a 1946 truck and that's how they got to go to get thier groceries or whatever they needed. We travel to different places in Texas picking cotton but Dodson was our stop late in December and came back home and went to school. I have a story to tell you but I ll tell you about it later . It's a sad story that happened while we were living just outside of Dodson.

[@MikeHarrison-no4zd]

Who owns the building and the property

[@Keithdotson]

I have no idea but there was a guy nearby working on another property, and it was his dog running loose in the vicinity -- maybe him?

[@nkf4503]

Enjoy your art work and LOVE your calming mellifluous VOICE! Please Consider producing asmr meditation videos with your photos . ❤

[@Keithdotson]

You are very kind! Thank you!

[@jimmylujan1457]

I had a friend that went to school there played football they were named the Toya Buffalos.

[@russellarmer-ml1ir]

show or read the name on that big monument it will be someone who was important in the area

[@carrotjuse]

Large sections of Texas looks like the moon was turned into an industrial dump, hundreds of miles of flat, dusty, desolate wasteland interspersed with pockets of crumbling concrete and rusting metal waste. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[@louispaparella5766]

Go down the hwy to Kent, Tx.

[@Keithdotson]

Oh thanks! I definitely will. Thanks for the tip

[@louispaparella5766]

@@Keithdotson Not knowing your age, you could probably spend your remaining days in the American west!

[@Keithdotson]

You're right! And be happy doing it too.

[@louispaparella5766]

@@Keithdotson You may be aware of sites for ghost towns in many states, also abandoned airfields...Pick a subject...

[@RocketinExile]

Which camera? Format? Film? thanks great stuff man

[@Keithdotson]

Hey thank you! These are digital images shot on Sony A7R IV, converted in Nik. I had brought along a film camera too but it malfunctioned and I wasn't able to use it reliably.

[@RocketinExile]

@@Keithdotson Thank you

[@tomfuller5585]

I think the weirdest town I've seen down there is Wickett, west of Monahans.

[@Keithdotson]

I need to look into it! Thank you

[@slowrideen5852]

I lived an worked in wickett nice public swimming pool an a corner store worked at truck stop cafe an the fuel station in early 80s. 5:01

[@tomfuller5585]

@@slowrideen5852 That's good to hear. I'm sure it isn't as weird as it appears.

[@dreamangus]

Hey man I just wrote a song called Ain’t nothing in West Texas but me. I would love to make a video with some of your footage.

[@Keithdotson]

Go ahead and please send a link when you publish

[@noyfub]

I wander how many of those , in the cemetery died at the hands of the Comanches?

[@shelcancook6731]

what town was this?

[@Keithdotson]

Toyah

[@shelcancook6731]

@@Keithdotson thank you. I grew up in West Texas with areas that looked like where you were. Great work! Beautiful.

[@javiervaldez3360]

Toya tx

[@royrice8021]

A ant bed at the foot of a grave means they have found a food supply. 👍

[@marycooper2557]

What town was this

[@Keithdotson]

Toyah

[@marycooper2557]

Fyi might check out petit and pep tx ty

[@gregelliott5016]

The first building looked like it had a bomb go off in it

[@Keithdotson]

Yes sir! And it's not the only one there that looks like that.

[@gregelliott5016]

@@Keithdotson what town is this? That small house looked like it's out of a horror movie

[@Keithdotson]

@@gregelliott5016 It's called Toyah, Texas

[@joedoakes8307]

What is the NAME of the TOWN ?

[@javiervaldez3360]

Toya tx, near pecos tx

[@braxtonwoullard1188]

Courage The Cowardly Dog’s house is up the street from there.

[@genekelly8467]

enormouse cemetery with few occupants? Why did the twon die?

[@Keithdotson]

I think there are more graves in the cemetery but markers are missing.

[@HM2SGT]

4:55 I wish the people who disagree with vaccinations would tour through some of these pre vaccination cemeteries. Infant mortality was soul crushingly high.

[@MTknitter22]

Well not same thing as now

[@tylerjones2695]

All vaccinations are not the same, and neither is the intent

[@HM2SGT]

@@MTknitter22 *_Exactly_* the same. Thanks to people who are too smart for the good of everybody else in the world, diseases that were eradicated or nearly so have been making a comeback due to people not getting vaccinated. Diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough... & Polio. I don't care if people don't want to protect themselves, but since they live with and interact with others and can't contaminate innocent people, that's a major problem. It doesn't get much more selfish and arrogant than that. You've probably never walked through a 19th or early 20th century cemetery and seen the graves of all the kids that died a few weeks after they were born, we didn't make it to their fifth birthday because of diseases that can be controlled through vaccination. If you live alone, and your choices affect no one else then you may do as you please. But since that is not the case, your freedom ends when it negatively affects those around you. Period.

[@danaselvey5013]

WE HAD ABSOLUTELY THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCE IN TOYAH AND WILL NEVER EVER EVER GO BACK LOL NOT ONLY DID SOMEONE SAY WE COULD GET SHOT BY A MAN SITTING AT A HOUSE BY THE SCHOOL BUT WE GOT FOLLOWED BY 4 WHITE TRUCKS ALL OVER TOWN LITERALLY CIRCLING US. WE GOT OUT OF THERE AS FAST AS WE COULD.

[@Keithdotson]

Wow that does sound scary

[@eehardcast4672]

Where is the infrastructure? I don't see how anything that could sustain life exists here!

[@Keithdotson]

Right! I think the nearest town is several miles away.

[@lenoramartinez3573]

Orange Grove texas

[@bb546123]

It’s Toyah Texas

[@lenoramartinez3573]

Orange grove texas

[@Raquel-jv1hi]

Whose dog? If this town is deserted.

[@Keithdotson]

There are still a few people living there

[@abcderghijk]

Why did people come to living in desalet places like this..

[@Keithdotson]

I think some people like the isolation

[@abcderghijk]

@@Keithdotson well they sure got plenty of that..

[@Keithdotson]

Yes! for sure

[@jramirez6198]

No city problems like gangs, robberies ext.

[@tpickett1381]

Oil .My father in law started out as a water boy carrying water to the roughnecks on the rigs in the 1920s.He said you could walk drilling platform to platform and your feet not touch the ground there were so many drilling rigs back then. The movie Giant was filmed in that area in the 50s ( James Dean's last movie.)

[@royrice8021]

Too bad you won’t name the town…….☹️☹️☹️

[@Keithdotson]

Toyah Texas