Wise County, Texas, Ghost Towns ||| Boonsville, Balsora, Draco, Cottondale

[@AdventuresofMarkyandSparky]

I’m preaching at that church of Christ in Cottondale tomorrow! Great folks there - super friendly! Love your videos!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh wow that’s so cool! Have a great day!

[@bglrj]

That was so much fun! Thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😊👍🏼

[@rongreen8485]

Beautiful courthouse glad to see it's preserved for all to enjoy. I live in Tacoma and the power's that be at the time demolished our beautiful courthouse all built from hand carved sandstone. Pictures of it inside were stunning it was a magnificent work of art. It was torn down after the earthquake of 1949 due to a crack in the foundation. It was reported that it took 4 dynamite charges to bring it down it was so well built. Sad it's gone and can never be replaced. Good show I really enjoy your video's.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s too bad about your courthouse. Sounds like it didn’t need demolished at all!

[@jcolumbiap]

Well done! It’s priceless to see small towns with history!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you 😊

[@SusanHL]

Macine Gun Kelly's grave - what a cool find! I wonder why people put coins on his grave, I'll have to see if i can find out. That sweet little goat at the end has my ❤ - thank you for another delightful video!

[@aliceevans3357]

A Wise man visited a Wise county, and became a little wiser in the visit 😉 I am glad to see that they are preserving that castle like courthouse. It's always nice to see a small community still thriving, the churches and store really anchor folks to the area. Very pretty areas and great drone shots. I was afraid that Billy goat would try to butt you, I sent one to the sale barn because he enjoyed butting us and the poor 😊dog. The last straw for him was when he saw his reflection in my 18 month old vehicle and proceeded to butt the stuffing out of it, then he jumped on it and ran all over it before I could get him down. Explain that to the insurance company, lol. Another great video dear, stay safe and GOD bless

[@aliceevans3357]

With all his ill gotten gains and high times to no one wanting his body, then having a plain cement marker. Sad end

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I almost missed his grave. Was about to leave town when I found the cemetery 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Hopefully I can go back to Wise and see the rest of the county someday!

[@Marconius-SPQR]

You're not much of a country gal, are you Sue ? That " sweet little goat" you referred to was a billy goat. That licking and lip curl was him sizing up the presenter as a potential sex partner.😅 Billy goats are lusty & have no shame ! 🐐

[@perseusguy]

200 miles east of Wise is Llano, Texas home of Coopers Old Time Pit Bar-B-Cue rated as one of the top ten barbecues in Texas. (Population 3,347...)

[@Marconius-SPQR]

Llano is 200iles SOUTH of Wise co.

[@bjen72]

I use to live in Bridgeport, TX. Would go to Denton a lot.

[@UMtiger311]

Love that Memphis connection.. what an interesting find! Would have never guessed he’d be buried out there.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I was surprised too. Almost missed it!

[@richardrichardson515]

Thanks for all the Tours you give, always interesting

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

My pleasure! Thanks!

[@sueelliott3206]

Cottonwood, Cottondale. Too funny. Fun towns to explore and the goat at the end was a great bonus. Thanks for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😊

[@pamelacrowe4971]

Interesting county. Thanks for sharing. Really liked the goat. Really friendly.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! He was a character!

[@judithhstevens126]

Did anyone feed him

[@lauriecrowsey3171]

Beautiful courthouse. Interesting stories about the communities. The goat really wanted his chin scratched. 😂

[@lauriecrowsey3171]

In Prairie Grove Arkansas there is still a phone booth. It did have a working phone, not sure if it still does today.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I'm guessing there are still a few phone booths around haha! I like how they made it into an attraction :)

[@UMtiger311]

@@lauriecrowsey3171I found one in Vancouver Washington last year

[@tinman7130]

Eastern Colorado also has a town with the moniker Wild Horse. You chose a Wise place to commence this one John. In the end though, it's typical for some old method acting goat to interrupt, ask for his motivation for the scene then look skywards for Devine direction. Another fine wander around in Texas. Kudos for job well done.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I believe I know the town in CO you’re talking about and I drove through once. If I remember correctly it would be a great ghost town subject!

[@asimplehorseman4648]

I live up in the mountains of far north WA. The little store way down the valley still has a working phone booth. Its free to use. The store owners own it and keep phone service in it. Local calls only or card calls. Many folks live way out where there are no phone lines and having that phone available is a real nice privilege. Amazingly the phone has not been vandalized. But there's not many of us up here(lol).

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s great! Awesome that it still gets use!

[@sisleymichael]

There all sorts of ghost towns in Texas. I grew up in Uvalde TX. Several in my county.

[@pamlaenger6870]

Hi John! I enjoy all your videos! I LOVE GHOST TOWNS!!!! BTW - I’m pretty sure it’s pronounced Draaaaco. Long a. I say this because Draco was John Wayne’s sidekick in the movie McLintock. Please keep on posting videos. Have you ever been to Louisiana?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you Pam! And thanks for the pronunciation- not much info about Draco online. I’ve been to Louisiana many times but no videos … yet!

[@brendacejda7069]

First, the courthouse is amazing! What a unique and lovely structure! And, I had relatives who lived in Boonesville! It was a number of years ago, but a great, great uncle was involved in the discovery of oil. I've always wanted to visit there, and now, because of your video, I can say "I've seen the high points of B'ville!" Thank you for taking us along!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh wow that’s awesome! Nice little community!

[@billiegutierrez2506]

That court house is fabulous looks like something you’’d see in a Disney movie I love the small quaint little towns. What an amazing road trip thanks for sharing travel safe. Oh who’s your little friend? Lol

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yes I thought the same thing. Like a castle!

[@artgirten7818]

Well done, John! Any video that includes things spinning in a playground is entertaining!...as are the cemeteries. Thanks!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Always love some classic playground equipment :)

[@ronald9279]

I was thinking a wise town, not a county. I was wrong again.😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

:)

[@Liljuggbean]

I worked at the power plant in Wise county near Westbrook a couple times.When I would work nightshift and if you were standing on top of the unit, you could see all the lights illuminating from Fort Worth in night sky it was a cool site

[@JOHNDANIEL1]

Your getting close to our area! We better get the BBQ stoked up.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😋

[@elizabethmurray3221]

Another video, Wisely done. That goat was a little disappointed that you didn’t share anything tasty. I also think he was asking for devine intervention. Please Lord, can’t anyone show up with a snack!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha very true! He was certainly a friendly guy 😂

[@jimdeavenport9952]

My family lived about 3 miles north of Balsora off of the same County Road he took to get to Cottondale when i was younger from 1969 tto 1973. I learned to drive on the county rodes back then, when I was about 13. I knew the southern part of Wise County like the back of my hand.

[@TheAsif5182]

i love to comment on every video u made .cuz it deserves more or less . but atleast its calms my soul and cool my depression since i am now in saudia arabia for work purpose .last week i left pakistan .being living alone your videos helps alot to me . i wish i could be in america so life would be different than here .😢😢😢😢

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Hang in there! Hope things get better!

[@Federalwaywebbs]

I doubt you’ll read this in time, but Montague is a MUST stop while you are in the area. You’ll know why when you get there.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Unfortunately I’m not there now 😞

[@bertholini2810]

Very nice, seriously. You covered a lot of ground in a fairly small space. Thank you for posting, be good, be safe !!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks, will do! You too!

[@empressvogt]

Tha tjoke made me laugh. Also you continue to make friends!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂😊

[@lindastepp9842]

I like hearing the history of areas, a "Wise" choice you made on this video ... 😎

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😊😎👍🏼

[@davidskinner3076]

Awesome, thank you

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

You bet!

[@morgunstyles7253]

Thanks for the video

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

You bet!

[@juliogonzales5441]

THANK you for WISE Guy COUNTY 😂

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂

[@papabear562]

Did you try out the merry go round? 😆 Great video!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It was too rickety for me haha

[@marcelinatejada53]

Watching from Philippines 🇵🇭Febuary 21,2024 beautiful place with amazing views see you around 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you so much 😃

[@Roadtripmik]

Interesting: ghost towns near sprawling dallas

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yep - and I think there were more up north.

[@ronfullerton3162]

Another interesting area! The design and build of that county courthouse was really interesting, definitely not brick and squared off as many are. The winding country roads brings back memories of several roads I traveled back when, but they were either abandoned or "brought up to grade" to modernize them. So fun to see those little communities, just hurts to know them and their histories are dying out. Poor old Billy was hoping you either had a treat for him, or at least a good scratching. As far as an animal goes, I better that goat is a real character. It so readily came up to you, and started putting on a show. Thanks for another great road trip!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That goat was very friendly haha. I'm guessing he's been around a lot of humans - didn't take much for him to trot over :)

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy There is no doubt he has human experiences the way he reacted. I bet he could be an ornery character, but fun.

[@rossbryan6102]

I MANAGED TO GET THROUGH THAT AREA ON 81 HIGHWAY A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT MISSED THE ORNATE STONE COURTHOUSE!! DANG!!!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It was a good one!

[@roberteshaw9520]

Hey Coach. Good work. As regards the goat in the out take he may have been on something, I'm just saying, something seems just a bit off.Careful out there.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Could be! 😂😂

[@francisbarlow9904]

Something I struggle to get my mind around and it makes me chuckle, how can a habitation of 6,500 be classed as a city, when I live in a village of 15,000 people (not even a town let alone a city). I suppose in England a city usually has a Cathedral or a Minster and is much bigger, with a median of about 60,000 people. We use the term Hamlet for a habitation without a church or chapel. Once again John, a cracking video, thank you very much.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

And each state here has different definitions of what a town, village, etc are. I’d prefer they all get together and have common terms!

[@Mikell-h2c]

I live in upstate ny and a gas station down the road on rt. 20 has a drive up phone ❤

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice! Love that :)

[@morgunstyles7253]

Balsora is just UP the road from boonsville

[@Marconius-SPQR]

Surprised it didn't include Aurora, Texas. That's where the extraterrestrial is buried.

[@garyleibitzke4166]

This is not the Texas most people think of, especially if they've never been to the state physically.

[@alerobabes01]

I haven't been to Texas yet. I hope to someday.

[@DRAGONSLAYER1220]

Born & raised in Boyd.

[@larryclark4791]

Interesting towns, thankful they are trying to stay alive. I heard that Machine-gun Kelly never shot anyone with it, he just carried it.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That's pretty fascinating - I didn't know that!

[@asimplehorseman4648]

Every time I watch your videos I can't help but feel that we as "the masses" have been lead to societal structures that aren't really good for human existence. Add into that the old adage "the best kept prisoners are those that can not see the walls that confine them". Myself, I'm not seeing any confinements in these old townships, just sayin. To see the farm is to leave the farm.....

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thought provoking 🤔

[@morgunstyles7253]

The goat was saying hello, and wanted you to scratch his chin and neck. Its what they do. Pt2. If he has his balls, dont touch his beard.. Or at least go wash your hands. Those that know,...know why.

[@williamwilliams1139]

Love your videos but my only complaint is when your describing stuff the cameras on you. So I’m looking at you standing in front of a door for 10 mins. Or you sitting in your car! Can’t you do voiceovers??

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Hi William - I always appreciate constructive criticism and I’m very thankful you watch my videos! So I’m going to respond kindly back. To start, let’s be accurate. I went back over this video and I’m on camera for a total of 3 min 24 sec. I didn’t stand in front of a door for 10 min. Where I sat in my car at Draco, I’m on camera for about 10-15 seconds and then show the town sign and the empty roads, including cows! There wasn’t anything to show. Most of the time there’s not much to show in these towns, and not much historical info online. While I’m no super model, I figure showing myself here and there is better than showing a road or parking lot 🤷🏼‍♂️ Most really well-known KZbinrs are on camera much longer than me. And yes I do voiceovers sometimes - like the entire end of this video with Machine Gun Kelly!

[@williamwilliams1139]

Thanx for your swift reply All I’m saying us my gold standard is Joe & Nics road trip. The only time you ever see them is at the end of the video for maybe 20 secs when theu say goodbye. However i don’t want to seem petty. So please continue your fine & interesting site.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I hear ya, and I think their channel is great but definitely different than what others try to accomplish. That’s the great thing about KZbin - lot of options to view!