Shafter, Silver mining ghost town in Presidio County, Texas.
The former mining settlement sits at an elevation of 1,189 meters near Cibolo Creek, surrounded by the Chinati Mountains of West Texas.
John Spencer discovered silver deposits in 1880, leading to the establishment of the Presidio Mining Company and a town named after Colonel William Shafter.
The cemetery contains graves of early settlers and miners who developed the silver mines, producing over 30 million ounces between 1883 and 1940.
The location along U.S. Highway 67 remains accessible, with the silver mine undergoing periodic reopening attempts by different mining corporations.
The town served as a filming location for the 1971 science fiction movie The Andromeda Strain, transforming the abandoned buildings into a fictional village.
Location: Presidio County
Elevation above the sea: 1,189 m
GPS coordinates: 29.82030,-104.30300
Latest update: May 27, 2025 14:03
Texas contains natural springs, waterfalls, sand dunes and historic sites. The terrain changes from desert to swampland. The state features mining towns, military forts, Japanese gardens and prehistoric locations. Visitors can explore underwater caves, limestone cliffs, and salt marshes. The area includes Native American quarries, Spanish missions, and 19th-century plantations.
Prada Marfa
89.6 km
Cibolo Creek Ranch
5.5 km
Chinati Foundation
59.6 km
Cañón de Santa Elena Flora and Fauna Protection Area
89.5 km
Big Bend Ranch State Park
35.3 km
Davis Mountains State Park
93.8 km
El Paisano Hotel
61.1 km
The Holland Hotel
85.9 km
Fort Leaton State Historic Site
30.8 km
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens
91.8 km
Presidio County Courthouse
61.2 km
Peguis Canyon
56.8 km
Henry M. and Annie V. Trueheart House
93.8 km
Grierson-Sproul House
93.9 km
Museum of the Big Bend
87.2 km
Central Marfa Historic District
61 km
Museum of Electronic Wonders @ FOOD SHARK with Snack Bar & Casita Bar
60.2 km
Fort Leaton State Historic Site
30.9 km
Marfa Lights Viewing Area
64.8 km
Granada Theatre
86.2 km
Rangra Theatres
86.1 km
Palace Theater
61.3 km
Brewster County Courthouse
86 km
Sacred Heart Catholic Mission Church
475 m
Texas Theater
61.3 km
Starlight Theatre
82.3 km
Fortin de la Cienega
4.2 km
Shafter Historic Mining District
848 mReviews
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