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Abandoned Buildings in a Small Desert Town

Keith Dotson
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Desert Road Trip: First in a series of articles about my recent West Texas photo journey

I made a recent sojourn to the desert and mountains of West Texas. This is the first report from that trip.

I traveled with a list of things to see and a defined itinerary, but this was my first of many unexpected stops. I was drawn from the interstate by a siren song . . . actually, as I drove by this small town, I spotted a tall brick building that had all the hallmarks of something interesting to shoot — so, I took the town’s exit to explore.

It’s an eerie feeling walking or driving through a town that’s so silent and abandoned that it feels like a place forgotten by time. Even though it seemed empty, I had the feeling of eyes on me. There was one man operating a big machine on his property, and a few occupied homes where I had the sensation that people were peeping through their windows to keep an eye on me.

Black and white photograph of an abandoned high school in Toyah, Texas. The decaying structure was built in 1912.
Black and white photograph of an abandoned high school in Toyah, Texas. The decaying structure was built in 1912.
Black and white photograph of an abandoned high school built 1912 in Toyah, Texas. I could hear the roof tin squeaking in the wind, and pigeons cooing in the rafters.
Black and white photograph of an abandoned high school built 1912 in Toyah, Texas. I could hear the roof tin squeaking in the wind, and pigeons cooing in the rafters.
This friendly fella greeted me as I approached the old house. While he seemed OK with my presence, there were other dogs roaming around so I didn't go near the house.
This friendly fella greeted me as I approached the old house. While he seemed OK with my presence, there were other dogs roaming around so I didn’t go near the house.
Dream home: This old house may have been someone's pride and joy, but now it's sagging, empty, neglected, and open to the elements.
Dream home: This old house may have been someone’s pride and joy, but now it’s sagging, empty, neglected, and open to the elements.
An old stone house left abandoned on the edge of town with the wide desert visible in the distance.
An old stone house left abandoned on the edge of town with the wide desert visible in the distance.
Black and white photograph of a desert fence post with rusty barbed wire.
Desert fence post with rusty barbed wire.

Behind-the-scenes photographs

For additional context, below are a few iPhone photographs taken on location.

Photograph of a building with abandoned vehicles that has collapsed after a fire.
This is the first thing I encountered after exiting the highway to visit Toyah
Side view of the abandoned old high school in Toyah, Texas. The RV belongs to a neighboring house.
Side view of the abandoned old high school in Toyah, Texas. The RV belongs to a neighboring house.

If you enjoy photographs of abandoned places, check out my book available in print on Amazon, or as a digital download

Printed book on Amazon

Digital download here

Close-up look at the front entrance of the abandoned high school in Toyah, Texas. A round window casing from above lies on the steps and mounds of dirt from dust storms are heaped on the steps and inside the open doors.
Close-up look at the front entrance of the abandoned high school in Toyah, Texas. A round window casing from above lies on the steps and mounds of dirt from dust storms are heaped on the steps and inside the open doors.
The dust of the ages on my hiking boots.
The dust of the ages on my hiking boots.
The remarkable stone gravestone of John L. Moore, one of the more elaborate markers in the old windswept cemetery in Toyah, Texas.
The remarkable stone gravestone of John L. Moore, one of the more elaborate markers in the old windswept cemetery in Toyah, Texas.

Thanks for reading.

Be sure to visit me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest, or on my website at keithdotson.com.

~ Keith

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