Winkelmann, Texas

Ghost town in Texas, US

Ghost town in Texas, United States

Winkelmann
Ghost town
Winkelmann in 2009
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Washington
Named for	Ray Winkelmann

Winkelmann is a heritage tourist ghost town in Washington County, Texas, United States.

History

Local developer and antiques dealer Ray Winkelmann purchased and collected about 150 historical buildings. In 1983, he purchased a five-acre plot outside of Brenham, on U.S. Route 290, and moved 19 buildings to the property. The restored structures included schoolhouses, plantation houses, a saloon, and a general store. Tourists arrived and Winkelmann operated the saloon, the general store and a restaurant, and leased other buildings to local businesses. The town became a group tour destination, with upwards of 90 people working there at its peak.^[1]^[2]^[3]

In 1986, during an economic downturn, the town was lost to the Washington County State Bank. It was auctioned in 1989, went through several ownerships, and was abandoned by 1994.^[1] In 2022, one building and a restaurant sign were left standing.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Association, Texas State Historical. "Winkelmann, TX". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
^ ^a ^b CharlieCharlie (2022-08-12). "A Weird Texas Ghost Town That Never Technically Got Its Start". Mix 94.1. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
^ Taylor, Tamme TaylorTamme (2022-08-30). "A Ghost Town in Reverse? Welcome to Winkelmann, Texas". US105. Retrieved 2024-08-09.