Dying Towns In The Empty Desert Of West Texas - Also, Dinner At An Amazing El Paso Restaurant

[@canaervon]

In 1974 I moved to El Paso from England, it was most definitely a culture shock to say the least. I lived there for 5 years before returning home due to my Dad's terminal illness. We returned to the States in 1983 and El Paso in 1986 where we lived until 2005. I still miss the openess and the mountains, the glorious poppies in the spring and the amazing food and people. I would happily move back but my family no way.

[@rle440]

I grew up out there. I live in the eastern U.S. now. I sure miss those west Texas sunrises and sunsets.

[@JAMESPATTERSON-mk9sr]

KEEP THE LONELY PLACES LONELY , they are words to live by . Anytime you see dogs and cats around , no matter how lonely and decrepit an area there are some people feeding them . Nicole is always right about food . Happy trails and keep them coming .

[@diamondbeats2024]

I love that quote!!!!! Don’t go to abandoned areas is right!!!!! But Joe does it for his viewers. So we all visiting together in a way. But yeah , no I’m Not going anytime soon

[@lawrencesmith6536]

I lived in Alpine for 25 years. Every time I went to El Paso, I tried to carve out time for Carlos and Mickies. Really great restaurant

[@lorriebeckhusen9351]

Love the old Texas towns. And there's plenty more to go Joe

[@gregwyatt9840]

Please dont leave the US for Europe as your viewers come to see these videos!:)

[@lauralittle7831]

Boyd Elder, artist extraordinare, is a native of Valentine. He is famous for the Eagles album covers and lettering. He was a very FINE FRIEND.

[@MayWhite-bz7xl]

I could imagine those old towns barley have enough water for household needs and drinking, so grass would be out of the question and the museum was very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@nancyrauch9492]

Joe & Nic....Thanks so much for taking me along ! Really enjoy your productions !!! We saw a lot of dogs and 1 cat. They all looked happy & well-cared-for. They didn't appear to be feral & they all got along with each other. It reminded me of a group of neighbor kids just having fun. I, too, believe there is beauty in decay. It always makes me wonder what it was like to live in them when they were thriving !!! Again, thank you for a well-produced & beautiful video....😊😊

[@charleshiort7153]

Thanks again for your video and I really enjoyed the restaurant part. It's something I look forward to. Cheers from Australia!

[@redrebels24]

That old red car in front of Maddens restaurant...ABSOLUTELY CLUTCH!

[@davidbarlow350]

From the UK,my memory of El Paso was the truck stop. Stopped to take a couple of photos of the amazing paint jobs on the rigs and got talking to the drivers who invited me to eat with them. I mentioned i hadn't seen any "roundabouts "on my drive from Houston, "A what?"was the response. "Oh,he means a rotary,there's one up in Washington State!"Next one i saw was in Orange County California. Loved the desert and the people.

[@deannaeagle9670]

I was born and raised in Washington state(still live there). We do have plenty of roundabouts

[@gatorgogo2742]

Loved seeing this area again. Haven't been back in about 50 yrs. Good memories! YAY! cat sighting accomplished! Love the Border Patrol Museum. Thanks a bunch.

[@endurancegoliath4569]

31:17 that house is listed for 154.999. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,14 acre lot, build in 1944

[@WombleUK]

Blimey 😮 that's probably double what I thought it was going to be.

[@NowegianRich]

And its more like on RM1111

[@endurancegoliath4569]

@@WombleUK ye I had guessed around 80 k, but turned out a whole lot more

[@vidpie]

"This home sits on 3 lots which includes over an acre with plenty of space to expand... Adjacent lots have RV hookups for future income potential."

[@diamondbeats2024]

Gross!!!!!!! 🤢 in middle of nowhere expensive af. Greed. These people are dumb

[@pedroitalo1049]

I can only imagine how quiet and peaceful places like these must be! Huge fan from Brazil! All the best!

[@user-in1rp3ev3x]

The post office is very popular on Valentines Day. Lots of people go there to mail their cards and get the Valentine postmark.

[@zoidmo3388]

😂

[@rockb]

Its always funny to see a cat in a video, and Joe's reaction 😏

[@jjarm]

His reaction is awesome 😂

[@johanndillinger1048]

Thanks for the great video. Many greetings from Germany. Joe and Nic forever 🇩🇪🇺🇲

[@user-iamRobinV68]

Amazing no grass. Guess too hot. I could never leave the east coast green color. Great tour Joe!!! 😊😊😊

[@lorispence21]

Thank you for all you do to show us our great country that many of us will never get to see, I choose to watch your video's over anything on tv or cable movies,much more interesting and entertaining,you have a natural ability to capture the historical and cultural aspects of all the regions of the usa that you visit,I do wish you would do more videos of the southern east coast,Georgia,south and north Carolinas ,the Virginia's,the beaches,the mountains,amazing civil war and historic sites to see and your commentary is presented in such a informative and educational manner, very easy to listen to,look forward to many more videos from you and nicole

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

@@lorispence21. Wow, thank you, Lori!! 😀👍❤️

[@KenMcAusland]

I have eaten there (Carlos & Mickey's) and American Cattlemen's Association up on the ridge. 30yrs ago!

[@richardvanfrank8114]

I was in El Paso last June and went to Carlos and Mickeys for drinks. We sat at the bar exactly where you guys sat. I even recognized the balding bartender in the background of tne video. The margarita I had was awesome. I like El Paso!

[@teresazufelt6510]

As always hubby and I enjoyed your video, love it when Nicole waves and smiles bye ❤

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Wow....we stayed overnight in El Paso last year. I sure wish we'd known about Los Banditos. We ate at Applebee's.....alas. It was just an overnight stop between the Grand Canyon and San Antonio.

[@helenav1698]

It's so interesting to see this on here. I currently live in El Paso and we have explored the little towns surrounding this area too. Originally from Tucson, AZ, so I can't wait to see your next video of our hometown.

[@skeletor9121]

These towns could be titles for old westerns. Lobo, Sierra Blanco.. love it.

[@allenrmontana]

When I was a kid, my parents drove from Tennessee to San Diego, and we stayed in Van Horn one night, the first time I had ever seen a desert, and thought it was the coolest place on the planet. It was fun looking at it now, a full 60 years after I first saw it. Thank you!

[@alexandralovesgoats3360]

Exactly what I need to start my weekend! A great video on Texas! Where did all the broken hearted people go? I love these small desolate towns. I imagine all of the stories the people who remained tell. I like the church with the red roof in Valentine. Interesting history on Prada Museum! I do like Sierra Blanca. Interesting facts! Boarder Control Museum is very cool! Appreciate you sharing!! Your food looked delicious ! Thank you again for a fantastic video!!❤❤

[@virgilkennedy6692]

Thanks for your tour of the old west !

[@redbone5363]

Green grass, forests, mountain lakes and streams is my home.

[@willbass2869]

Meh, all overrated.....just look at that beauty at 7:43.

[@cds1957]

That house that was for sale in Valentine is listed at $182,000. Unreal, must be for both.

[@sarit3495]

I love watching your videos 😍 I love visiting small towns 😍 My sister does that Valentines Day cards 💌

[@redrebels24]

The Fajita looks amazing!!! I think Nic gotcha this time 😂

[@sylcomaws]

By the border patrol museum it looked like angels flying in the sky. My Texas has some beautiful skies.

[@diamondbeats2024]

The mountains look like they’d be fun to hike

[@robertjean659]

Love your channel and being a car nut I like to scan the areas for old cars/trucks. Most of these towns looked picked clean. 🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@zekrk504]

All the good things that have gone away, and the crazy places we stay. Great stream, as always, Joe and Nic! 😆🤎

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Always love the restaurant reviews.

[@bobc.7958]

Great way to start a Saturday!!

[@Slick2462]

The firehouse and cat sighting saved the day! I really enjoy your videos, please keep on doing great things!👍👍

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

My Uncle was a border patrol in Fabens before being moved to New York. It is so sad to see such towns as those in the video perhaps being taken off of life support since there is little hope. Great video Joe thankyou ,

[@change1996]

Many decades ago my friend Mario Montes (Urban General Contractors) built Carlos and Mickeys. Earlier in his life he supervised the building of Coors Brewery in Colorado. He said the construction cost for C and M was high per sq ft compared to other projects. But the owner wanted something that would have genuine Mexican ambience appeal. The tiles for example in the building were very expensive.

[@vohawk]

Wow, that Valentine restaurant was open all right.... open to the sky.

[@susiekirk1589]

Very interesting episode!Interesting architecture too. A few nice churches. Loved the train depot museum. And the old theatre! County court house in Sierra Blanca. Border Patrol museum was interesting. Also, Enjoyed Both of you reviewing the restaurant food at the end! Glad to hear Nicole's review more in depth this time! It's nice! And nice to hear you talk back and forth. We also watch "Adventures of A & K" and they each take turns talking 50% of the time, because they are on the road together 100% of the time. Yours is a slightly different type of show, because you go out ahead to review the towns, like a scout on a wagon train, and then Nicole joins you at the end. Wow, those tab bills seem high. But I know you two have had higher ones. And it was dinner fare and that is usual higher. We also watch "Bill & Lisa's Food and Travel" and enjoy their food reviews and tours. 3 different types of shows, love you all!

[@RobOlgatree]

Thanks Joe and Nic , always love finding your show on Saturdays.i

[@Big-Rouge]

Dogs are a Man’s best friend! So Dogs do count!

[@grahamargent8057]

My chihuahua is watching too, looking longingly at the desert views on my screen kinda explains why she lies in the sun on a hot day

[@KB6YAF]

When in Tucson, eat at El Charro downtown Tucson. It’s been there since the begging of time (kinda). We have always had a great meal there. Also, check out the Titan Missile site south of town just off of I-19. Don’t forget to go to the Desert Museum just a bit beyond Old Tucson where many old western films were made. Another place is Sabino Canyon where you can board a trolley that takes you up several miles into the canyon, drops you off where you can hike back, or just stay on the trolley for a nice round trip excursion. Also, from what I understand, Ansel Adams, the famous photographer donated all his stuff to the University of Arizona where you can go visit it. I am excited to see your next video on Tucson. Stay safe and enjoy! …..Russell D.

[@majortree]

I drove from Roswell to San Antonio a couple of years ago. I was amazed at the number of small struggling towns out there in West Texas.

[@WaltANelsonPHD]

Always like your show. Thank you for posting!

[@WastrelWay]

Having RVs as 'Loveshaks" in Valentine is a pretty blatant invitation for people in the area willing to drive a little and spend the night without anyone knowing what they are doing.

[@diamondbeats2024]

I think it’s really tacky

[@garymartin1040]

If they go there at night I'm pretty sure people know what they're doing.

[@redrebels24]

The border patrol museum is very cool!!

[@DanMon797]

Like seeing Nicole and hearing her comments about the town and restaurants.

[@Maxdekriek]

What a great episode 😉🫶....and the food ....mouthwatering again...... perfect for me as it is almost time for diner here in friesland.... Thank you so much Joe and nicole........ Greetsz from friesland/Holland....max....😉😋😋😋😁😉🫶😘😎

[@jennywilson9731]

Amazing Joe...enjoyed seeing Valentine ,Tx, ...forget the grass, as long as the have water, it would be a great hide/away an get-a-way from the fast pace world we live in these days..Thank you for "All" of your great videos, best wishes to You & Nicole in the new year ahead an your travels. God's speed, stay safe🌼

[@davidlinck7459]

Love the video.. So Who owns all the houses and the land.. Great channel like how you go to these towns and show people them and everything else. I don't get to travel much so it's like Being there with you.. Again, great channel.Great videos keep up the good work..👍👍🙏

[@MrBobconner1952]

"Soup of the Day......Beer", Breakfast menu...Beer, Dessert ....Beer

[@45AMT]

I always thought of Van Horn as a nice oasis off I-10 in the desert. Didn't realize it was loosing population. Sad to hear Chuys is closed!!

[@hikingwithjackieboy]

Nice tuor of West Texas. The Border Patrol Museum is interesting.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@hikingwithjackieboy]

@JoeandNicsRoadTrip you're welcome

[@ScooterMcBeevee]

I use to run a foodservice route in El Paso working for Shamrock Foods. Don't remember this one, but that was 25 years ago. Lol.

[@tudo8412]

JOE & NIC Thanks for sharing.❤

[@TessaRucker]

Thank you Joe, Hi Nic! 👋

[@marcodebarkingville1827]

Amazing the Prada curiosity has not been robbed or vandalized. Another great vid. Thanks.

[@KenMcAusland]

Reminds me of the movie with the town "Big Tuna Texas" with William Defoe

[@RobinGerhart]

Always interesting, never know what you will find 😊 thank you!

[@johnkelli4940]

Hello Robin.. I really agree, very interesting towns and lovely trip!

[@Jody-kt9ev]

Good video. I have seen the Prada Marfa. There used to be a tiny Target out in that area also. The last time we went through Van Horn, we stayed at the Hotel El Capitan. The only issue was that the shower was either boiling hot or cold. No in between. FYI, you missed the ruins of "Duke's Castle" in Van Horn. The castle has an interesting history.

[@filmbuffo5616]

Looks like the dry side of Texas! Nice video.

[@redrebels24]

Love the old Hotel sign in VanHorn

[@jimmyj4811]

Loved the BP museum!

[@jennyrosd2003]

Cool video!! Love the towns , the weird Prada thing like a weird dream. The border patrol time warp and the food review!!! Fun trip!!

[@stevehoole9847]

Joey, why are Courthouses in small towns way bigger than they need to be? Sometimes they look big enough to fit the whole town in

[@StuG-pr9tf]

Hopefully you guys continue on towards Ruidoso, New Mexico? Or even Las Cruces...New Mexico seems to be probably the most picturesque States. Looking online the sunsets look amazing. thanks for always providing us with so much great content...I know those are some very long drives

[@RobOlgatree]

I love the adobe / stucco architecture and most anything desert southwest. . Nelly got busted for drugs on Interstate 40 near my village in Tennessee just a few years ago. Seems their tour bus was weaving along the mountainous interstate. The bus driver got charged because Nelly didn't have anything on his person. I do like his music and saw them at the courthouse for the trial. Thanks Joe and Nic. Love the southwest. I actually have some of those southwest yucca trees in my yard , they are very hardy but they need good drainage.

[@TK-fx8qe]

Stars at night are big and bright

[@freddypflugbeil6]

Thanks Joe and Nic fun watching from New York

[@1962JULY]

Where in New York? I'm originally from BROOKLYN, but now living in Southern Maryland close to Washington, D.C.

[@by-fate-but-by-choice]

I was hoping you were going to cover the Prada store. Word has it that the reason there are only single shoes instead of pairs is to prevent theft. I can't give you a source on that, though.

[@Nostrildomus]

Many times driven through that area . Nice to see it from yawl's perspective . . . T/C/E

[@thebes118]

I like the desert. But my wife doesn't want to live there. I must confess I only watch the Texas shows. We are in Lake Jackson on the coast.

[@DIVISIONINCISION]

Phoenix is nice if you can afford it. Sonoran desert, a bit different from West Texas.

[@michaelhager2846]

Great tour,thank you 😊

[@RougeRider24]

There was a black and white cat drinking dirty water on the street in the first town. I don't think you saw him Joe when you drove by love the video

[@ROTALOT]

Van Horn is surrounded by talc surface deposits isn't it? Living around west TX, some areas had incredibly fine DUST. Federal presence down there on the border since the late 80s exploded and brought a housing bubble. Good mention of the low level nuke waste plan.

[@catlover614]

These towns are so interesting! I always enjoy your videos! Thank you, Joe and Nic.🥰

[@thesuncollective1475]

So many, I have driven through some and now realise it's common. The trend is obvious...big towns will swell , small will die but I have a feeling they will rebound eventually.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

@@catlover614 Thank you, CL. 😀

[@2DayistheDay]

Hey Joe, You missed the black and white cat drinking water from the puddle at 16:07. The town of Van Horn

[@donaldchrismon9491]

That was a bird not a cat

[@boom6597]

@@donaldchrismon9491 If you pause the video at 16:06, you can see the cat. It doesn't move. It's crouched down and continues drinking water. The two pigeons were after the cat.

[@everydaypresent444]

That library building in Valentine is unexpectedly beautiful! What kind of material is used on the exterior? Quite eye catching!

[@spidernose]

I don't know how old you are or if you remember but the DPS in Texas back in the 80's used to have some 5.0 Mustang pursuit cars.

[@WaltANelsonPHD]

Valentine has electric power, water columns, cell towers, private cars, and trucks and dogs. Something economic is happening there, regardless of the abandoned structures.

[@diamondbeats2024]

Bunch of rich people is what’s happening while half this country is in hidden poverty …..

[@KB6YAF]

Thanks Joe for your video and that CAT! Say, would you consider saying something about the seasonal temperatures (winter, Spring Summer, Fall) of the towns you visit. Sometimes visiting these desert towns in the wintertime is what my wife says…”false advertising”!! Which can be VERY different than the other seasons. ….Looking forward to your next town! ….Russell D.

[@annpino5005]

Great video as always, but I'm disappointed you didn't show everyone more of the El Capitan Hotel in Van Horn, other than a drive-by. My late husband and I drove out that way many times and were always intrigued, so one day we stopped and went inside, and it's a beautifully restored historic hotel with a lovely courtyard out front. The next time we were out that way we made a point of staying the night and weren't disappointed. You wouldn't have been disappointed either. They have friendly cats wandering around everywhere outside. My husband and I had dinner at the Chuy's you showed and I'm sad that it's now closed. People used to leave shoe offerings outside Prada Marfa. I wonder why that changed. It was pretty funny and I used to think about maybe buying some cheap shoes at a thrift store to leave there.

[@mamasinger49]

I love how you see beauty in decay. It is interesting to see and imagine these towns in their heyday, shopping, going to work and having a family. Thank you again for showing us these towns, it is good to show them a bit of love as I am sure the people who live there love their small town. I do think though it is a sad state of affairs to prefice your visit to a border control museum with it's nothing political. You have every right to go in without having to justify it. It did look interesting and some great vehicles and history.

[@delstanley1349]

35:15 Chasing down bootleggers and moonshiners. 35:33 The law enforcement plane reminded me of a TV series I watched as a kid called "Sky King." 36.27 That looks like a Canadian Mountie.

[@skeletor9121]

Remember Sky King as a child.

[@sarahdearborn9191]

Very interesting! I would very much miss grass and trees. There were enough dogs there 😅. I wonder where people do their food shopping . If I remember correctly, there was a guy who had an old gasoline station in Valintine, with vintage things. 😊❤

[@blanton1624]

The house in Valentine is 2 bedrooms/1 bath 900 Sq Ft at 314 Bell Ave and is listed for $182,000 on small lot with another house next to it. That's a lot of money for the middle of nowhere with no acreage!

[@delstanley1349]

40:47 I noticed the server was Nacho. Reminded me of my favorite TV show ever. Fans of "Breaking Bad"\Better Call Saul" will remember Nacho (RIP in the series)

[@marksnyder8022]

I am from a town in Ohio that has a Valentines Day stampede as well. Ohio is "the Heart of It All" and we are "the Sweetheart of Ohio". In Loveland, Valentine's Day was a big deal, and we had a special cancellation stamp and our own Valentine Lady to preside over it all.

[@NativeNYer]

Amazing vid guys! Food looked yummy 😋. Btw Nicole i love ur purse ,the color is beautiful. B safe and enjoy.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

@@NativeNYer Thanks, NNY!

[@fayewilliams8422]

Another great video. 😅

[@michaelkeith2207]

You missed telling about the Prada fence with the locks.

[@deannaeagle9670]

I wondered about that too.

[@bearclawvelez370]

Joe, I sure like your road trips to small towns and big cities. Can you film Crisp, Texas ? it's a ghost town where Ernest Tubb was born

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Odd....Sierra Blanca.....Google Maps shows a large network of streets laid out on the east side, but no houses. An abandoned housing development, by the looks of it. The streets even have names.

[@dewalt10-2-4]

Van Horn the homes for sale appear to be more expensive than expected. Probably from the anticipated Space port with Jeff Bazos..

[@maryflaherty7096]

I lived in ElPaso 1947-48. We went to Mexico. From there we lived in Port Arthur, 1 yr. Then back to Iowa. Education for us kids.

[@maryflaherty7096]

We went on a trip western states. Lived in Bisbee AZ 3 mo. Dad could not work in mines. Got job in Texas.

[@drkskyes]

Do you remember doing this? You must be getting up in years. I was born in 1945 and spent time with my grandparents in Alamogordo and Deming. I remember the alligators in the park in downtown El Paso.

[@maryflaherty7096]

@@drkskyes yes, 12 and 13. I just looked up an old friend in Alamogordo! I am old now! 89

[@DIVISIONINCISION]

Why would you ever want to live in Port Arthur? That is one rundown place.

[@maryflaherty7096]

@ long x ago. My dad worked at Sears. They transferred him there from ElPaso. Our house is no longer there!

[@chris1960]

The church of Valentine looks 10/10 in the library is not too bad… probably the rest of the town needs some resources as well 😮