Salt Flat, Texas Ghost Town – Legends of America

Nestled within the vast expanse of Hudspeth County in West Texas lies Salt Flat, a ghost town that whispers tales of a bygone era. The town derives its evocative name from its geographical setting: a desolate, dry salt pan characterized by a flat terrain encrusted with salt and various minerals. This saline landscape owes its existence to the shallow lakes that once graced the Rio Grande Valley, formed by rainwater cascading down the slopes of the Guadalupe Mountains.

A History Etched in Salt and Strife

For centuries, the indigenous peoples of the region and Mexican settlers had harvested the salt deposits, utilizing them for a variety of purposes. However, the late 1860s witnessed the eruption of a bitter dispute over the ownership of these valuable salt resources. El Paso businessmen sought to claim dominion over the salt deposits, igniting a conflict that would become known as the El Paso Salt War. This tumultuous period, spanning twelve years, pitted the businessmen against the local populace and against themselves, resulting in an estimated 30 fatalities and numerous injuries. The Salt War embroiled factions on both sides of the border and eventually necessitated the intervention of the Texas Rangers and the United States Army to restore order. As a direct consequence of the Salt War, Fort Bliss in El Paso, which had been decommissioned in 1877, was re-established that same year.

Interestingly, Salt Flat itself did not exist during the volatile years of the El Paso Salt War. The town’s origins can be traced back to the 1920s. In 1928, Edwin W. Hammack, the son of a rancher from Van Horn, Texas, learned that a new highway connecting El Paso and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico was slated to traverse the area. Prior to this development, the only routes connecting the flats to El Paso were rudimentary tracks that followed buried oil pipelines.

The Birth of a Roadside Oasis

Seizing the opportunity presented by the impending highway construction, Hammack erected a store and gas station along the proposed route. When traffic began to flow in 1929, his establishment opened its doors, serving as a vital refueling and supply point for travelers. From its inception, Hammack’s store also functioned as a bus station, catering to the transportation needs of the community. Shortly thereafter, another entrepreneur named Arthur Grable established a similar store and gas station a short distance to the west. Both Hammack and Grable expanded their operations by adding cafes and tourist courts, providing weary travelers with much-needed respite and sustenance.

In 1932, tragedy struck when an aircraft crashed in the nearby Guadalupe Mountains due to dense fog. In response to this incident, the federal government constructed an emergency aircraft landing strip at Salt Flat. This airfield operated around the clock until the early 1960s, when advancements in navigational technology enabled aircraft to safely navigate the mountains even in adverse weather conditions.

The Decline of Salt Mining

Concurrently with the rise of Salt Flat as a roadside stop, salt mining continued to be a significant economic activity in the area. Men extracted salt and loaded it onto wagons or trucks, which then transported the precious mineral to customers as far north as the Sacramento Mountains and as far south as Van Horn and Marfa. However, the late 1930s brought about a decline in salt production. Irrigation water pumping in the nearby town of Dell City caused the water table to drop significantly, reducing the natural deposition of salt and rendering mining operations unprofitable.

A Post Office and Fluctuating Fortunes

In 1941, Salt Flat was granted its own post office, with Ben H. Gilmore serving as the first postmaster. At that time, the town was home to approximately 20 residents. The post office closed briefly after just three years, but it was reopened in 1947, signifying the town’s continued importance as a local hub.

Salt Flat reached its zenith in the late 1940s, boasting an estimated population of 70 residents. In the early 1960s, the town’s population peaked at approximately 125. However, the ensuing decades witnessed a gradual decline in population. By 1970, the population had dwindled to 35, and the downward trend continued. The town’s post office, a symbol of its connection to the wider world, permanently closed its doors in January 2004.

Salt Flat Today: A Glimpse into the Past

Today, Salt Flat stands as a poignant reminder of a bygone era. The town comprises a handful of mostly abandoned buildings, a testament to its diminished population. Despite its desolate appearance, a Greyhound bus stop remains in operation on the side of the old 1929 cafe. However, the bus only stops if passengers are present and flag it down, underscoring the town’s reduced status as a transportation hub.

Local residents offer a word of caution to travelers contemplating a leisurely drive through the alluring white Salt Flats. While the landscape may appear solid and flat, many unsuspecting motorists have found themselves mired in the sands, facing substantial towing expenses to extricate their vehicles.

Salt Flat is situated in northeastern Hudspeth County along U.S. Highway 62/180, approximately 90 miles east of El Paso, 43 miles northeast of Sierra Blanca, and 21 miles southwest of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.