You’ll find Lajitas, Texas nestled along the Rio Grande, where this former mercury mining boomtown has evolved from ancient river crossing to military outpost to ghost town to luxury resort. Once essential for its strategic location and cinnabar mines during World War I, the town declined after mining operations ceased in 1947. Today, you can experience its remarkable transformation while discovering unique local traditions, including its famous beer-drinking goat mayors who’ve ruled since 1985.
Key Takeaways
- Lajitas transformed from a thriving mercury mining town to a ghost town after operations ceased in 1947 and residents left seeking opportunities.
- Located at a historic Rio Grande crossing point, Lajitas served as a crucial commerce hub before becoming abandoned in the mid-20th century.
- The town’s decline followed World War I’s peak mercury production period, with final mining operations ending completely by 1973.
- Fort Lajitas, established in 1915 for border security, was abandoned after the Mexican Revolution, contributing to the area’s ghost town status.
- The former ghost town has been revitalized as Lajitas Golf Resort, featuring luxury accommodations across 27,000 acres of desert landscape.
From Ancient Crossroads to Mining Boom
While many Texas ghost towns faded into obscurity, Lajitas began as a vital crossroads long before its mining boom days. You’ll find its roots at the San Carlos ford, where ancient trade routes crossed the Rio Grande on smooth Boquillas flagstone – hence the name “little flat rocks.”
For centuries, this strategic crossing served as the best passage between Del Rio and El Paso. Indigenous heritage runs deep here, from early Mexican Indians to Apache and Comanche tribes who controlled these lands. The area became a substation port in 1900 to manage the growing cross-border commerce.
By the 1850s, Anglo-Americans discovered what natives had long known – Lajitas’s prime location made it invaluable for commerce. As mining operations sparked in nearby Terlingua, the settlement grew rapidly, establishing a store, saloon, adobe church, and school. The discovery of quicksilver in Terlingua in the 1890s brought an unprecedented wave of prospectors and miners to the region.
The Rise and Fall of Mercury Mining
You’ll find Lajitas’s fortunes transformed when cinnabar discoveries in the late 1800s sparked intensive mercury mining operations, with the Chisos Mining Company emerging as the dominant force by 1903. Native Americans first utilized the cinnabar deposits to create their war paint centuries before commercial mining began.
The district’s mercury production peaked during World War I as European supply disruptions and military demands for ammunition manufacturing drove prices skyward, making Terlingua mines among America’s leading producers. Mexican laborers from San Carlos-Ojinaga region provided much of the skilled mining workforce.
Your understanding of Lajitas’s eventual decline begins with the post-war mercury surplus of the 1920s, followed by the Great Depression‘s devastating impact, and culminates in the Chisos mine’s 1942 bankruptcy and the area’s final mining shutdown by 1973.
Mining Boom Begins
In the late nineteenth century, the discovery of cinnabar in Texas’s Big Bend region launched a significant mercury mining boom that would shape the area’s destiny for decades to come.
The rugged desert mountains attracted prospectors who’d recognized the value of quicksilver, particularly for military applications in detonators and explosives.
You’ll find the turning point came in 1903 when the Chisos Mining Company established operations, quickly becoming the region’s dominant producer. The industry eventually produced hundreds of thousands of mercury flasks until operations ceased in 1947.
Miners worked deep shafts throughout the Terlingua Quicksilver District, spanning Presidio and Brewster counties, hauling ore by cart and burro. The workers created homes using limestone and adobe, reflecting the readily available materials of the area.
When World War I erupted in 1914, demand for mercury skyrocketed as European supply chains faltered.
The disruption of traditional suppliers like Spain and Italy positioned American mines to thrive, transforming Lajitas and nearby Terlingua into bustling boomtowns.
Mercury Production Peak Years
During the first two decades of the twentieth century, mercury production around Lajitas reached unprecedented heights as global events transformed the region into America’s quicksilver powerhouse.
You’ll find the Chisos Mining Company at the heart of this boom, dominating the Terlingua District after its 1903 establishment. World War I‘s eruption in 1914 sent mercury demand skyrocketing, as you needed it for manufacturing explosives.
Three key factors fueled the region’s mercury mining success:
- European supply disruptions from Spain and Italy opened new market opportunities
- Railroad connections enabled efficient global distribution in cast-iron flasks
- Advanced mining techniques allowed deeper exploration of cinnabar ore deposits
The area’s strategic importance grew as wartime industries relied heavily on mercury for detonators and thermometers, making Lajitas a vital player in America’s industrial might.
Devastating Economic Aftermath
The glittering heights of mercury mining’s golden age came crashing down in the decades following World War II, transforming Lajitas from a bustling mining hub into a virtual ghost town.
You’d hardly recognize the once-thriving community as economic decline swept through the region like a dust storm, forcing residents to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Life Along the Rio Grande
Life along the Rio Grande flourished thanks to a unique convergence of fertile delta soils, semi-arid climate, and abundant water resources.
The Rio Grande Valley creates an oasis of life where rich soils, gentle climate, and plentiful waters meet in perfect harmony.
You’ll find a rich tapestry of cultural heritage stretching back 12,000 years, when indigenous practices focused on sustainable agriculture and careful stewardship of river ecosystems. The Coahuiltecan tribes were among the earliest hunter-gatherers to inhabit this region. The region’s diverse landscape supported thriving communities through its natural bounty. The area sits near the Balcones Fault, which marks the boundary between lowland and upland Texas.
- You’re looking at fertile alluvial plains that stretch roughly 100 miles from the Gulf, perfect for growing citrus and winter vegetables.
- You’ll experience a semi-arid climate with mild winters that enables year-round farming.
- You’re situated in an area where ancient hunters tracked bison and fish, demonstrating the land’s long-standing ability to sustain life.
Today, these same geographic features continue shaping life along this historic waterway.
A Town’s Military Legacy
Founded as a U.S. Army post in 1915, Fort Lajitas played an essential role in border security during the Mexican Revolution.
You’ll find its military impact was most significant when Gen. John J. Pershing‘s troops established a major cavalry post in 1916 to counter Pancho Villa’s raiders.
The fort served as part of a larger military strategy, with 100,000 troops stationed along the border from Texas to California.
While few permanent structures remain today, except for the Cavalry Post Motel’s foundation, the Army’s presence shaped Lajitas profoundly.
The fort was primarily constructed as a temporary military facility before being abandoned in 1920.
The addition of an Army Air Corps landing field at Johnson’s Ranch in 1929 enhanced aerial patrols and troop transport capabilities.
Military operations influenced local commerce, the post office’s operations, and the protection of ranches and trading posts throughout the region.
The area later saw continued aviation activity with the construction of a 4,700 foot runway at Lajitas Resort in the early 1970s.
The Famous Goat Mayors of Lajitas
You’ll find that Lajitas’s most unconventional leaders were its beer-drinking goat mayors, starting with Clay Henry I‘s election in 1985 and continuing through several generations of Clay Henrys.
As the town’s unofficial mascots, these goat mayors performed ceremonial duties like greeting tourists and posing for photos, with Clay Henry III becoming particularly famous for his ability to drink Shiner Bock straight from the bottle.
The mayoral legacy continues today, with Clay Henry IV or V serving as the town’s symbolic leader and maintaining Lajitas’s reputation as a quirky tourist destination in the Texas desert.
Clay Henry’s Beer Legacy
Three generations of beer-drinking goats named Clay Henry served as the unconventional mayors of Lajitas, Texas, beginning in the 1980s.
Their legendary beer traditions became central to Lajitas’ unique form of goat governance, with Clay Henry I famously consuming up to 40 Lone Star beers daily.
You’ll find their legacy preserved at the Thirsty Goat Saloon, named in their honor.
These beer-loving mayors left an unforgettable mark on local culture:
- Clay Henry I established the tradition before dying in a drunken fight with his son over a female goat in 1992.
- Clay Henry Jr.’s brief tenure ended in 1998 when he couldn’t match his father’s larger-than-life presence.
- Clay Henry III won a contentious election in 2000 against a wooden statue and a ranch dog, reviving the family’s political dynasty.
Mayoral Duties and Antics
While most towns elect human officials to manage civic affairs, Lajitas embraced a uniquely Texan approach by installing beer-drinking goats as its ceremonial mayors.
You’ll find these goat mayors attending town events and welcoming visitors, embodying the community’s quirky spirit through their memorable antics.
The most famous of these four-legged leaders was the Clay Henry dynasty, whose members turned public appearances into pure community spectacle.
In 2001, Clay Henry III survived a dramatic cage break-in and castration incident, yet continued serving as the town’s beloved mascot.
Between posing for tourist photos at the Starlight Theater and starring in promotional materials, these unusual mayors helped put Lajitas on the map.
Their beer-drinking performances and occasional goat-on-goat conflicts only added to their folkloric appeal.
Political Dynasty Continues Today
Since its inception in 1985 with Clay Henry I, Lajitas’ distinctive goat mayoral dynasty has endured through multiple generations, marking nearly four decades of unconventional local governance.
This unique form of political satire has seen the torch passed from father to son, though not without controversy and challenges along the way.
Today’s goat governance continues to captivate visitors and locals alike, with the current Clay Henry maintaining these time-honored traditions:
- Serving as the town’s primary ambassador and tourism draw
- Appearing at local events and photo opportunities with visitors
- Upholding the quirky beer-drinking reputation established by the original Clay Henry
Despite periods of uncertainty and succession disputes, the dynasty’s persistence into the 2020s demonstrates Lajitas’ commitment to preserving its unconventional political heritage.
Modern Desert Oasis: Resort Life in the Ghost Town
Today, the once-abandoned ghost town of Lajitas has transformed into a luxurious desert retreat at the Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa.
You’ll find this 27,000-acre property nestled between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, offering unparalleled views of Texas mountain country.
The resort amenities blend Old West charm with modern comfort across 101 guestrooms in themed buildings like the Badlands Hotel and Cavalry Post.
Experience frontier elegance in uniquely themed lodgings, where Western heritage meets luxury across 101 distinctive rooms at Lajitas Resort.
You won’t run short on outdoor activities, from teeing off at Texas’s #1-rated golf course to ziplining across 8,000 feet of desert terrain.
Take a horseback ride through historic trails, paddle the Rio Grande, or unwind at the Agave Spa.
After sunset, you can savor a meal at Candelilla Cafe or catch live music at the Thirsty Goat Saloon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Current Real Estate Prices and Availability in Lajitas?
You’ll find median home prices around $60,000, with real estate trends showing 351 property listings ranging from $31,250 land parcels to $700,000 luxury homes – despite a 21.7% county-wide price decline.
How Extreme Are Summer and Winter Temperatures in Lajitas?
You’ll experience significant climate extremes, from scorching 102°F summer days to near-freezing winter nights. Seasonal variations bring 60°F temperature swings, with hot, breezy summers and mild, chilly winter days.
Are There Any Paranormal Activities Reported in Abandoned Lajitas Buildings?
You’ll find numerous reports of ghostly encounters in abandoned buildings, including shadowy figures, unexplained orbs, mysterious footsteps, and sudden cold spots that investigators and visitors frequently document.
What Border Crossing Regulations Currently Apply at the Lajitas Crossing Point?
Like a steel gate slammed shut, you can’t legally cross at Lajitas – it’s completely closed as an official port of entry, with no customs facilities or border crossing regulations currently in effect.
Which Indigenous Artifacts Have Been Discovered in the Lajitas Area?
You’ll find native tools like projectile points, stone implements, and pottery shards that showcase cultural significance through burned rock middens, hunting equipment, and ceremonial objects along the Rio Grande.
References
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/trip-ideas/texas/quirky-small-town-tx
- https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/lajitas-tx
- https://quiltripping.com/terlingua-and-lajitas-a-tale-of-two-cemeteries/
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lajitas-ghost-town
- https://www.texasescapes.com/WestTexasTowns/Lajitas-Texas.htm
- https://visitbigbend.com/lajitas-history/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lajitas
- https://texastimetravel.com/cities/lajitas/
- https://abcvisions.com/lajitas-small-town-southwest-texas/
- https://www.houstoniamag.com/travel-and-outdoors/2013/11/west-texas-tour-november-2013
