Thats why I love living near the U.S.Texas/ Mexican border, plenty dust devils, cats, chihuahuas, chickens, cactus, lonely communities and nights are sacred and silent. Excellent content!
@@robertspringer3555 I'm curious about what you said. I'm from El Paso. I know Baja is somewhat popular with nomads enjoying beaches and food. But when you go to Mexico with your RV where do you enjoy going?
I love the border town videos. The churches are lovely. The desert is beautiful. The cemetery was unlike any I’ve ever seen. Thank you for going in. I hope the constipated dog is feeling better! The last two towns have nice homes. Appreciate you and your videos so much! ❤
Except he is so boring wiith the exact same info everytime-never talks to anyone either,just him droning on,these videos are best watched with the sound off as he basically adds nothing to what you can see.
I love that you get off the beaten path and have that sense of adventure. You are blessed to have a wife who supports you and goes along on your travels.
One of my favorite videos. When living in El Paso I got out and explored the area. The people were so friendly and helpful and nice. It was so different from anything I had ever seen before. Thanks for bringing back fond memories!
I enjoy your videos so much. I find these old towns endlessly fascinating, even though circumstances can be sad. I love old churches and cathedrals, too, they are so beautiful and special. The desert landscape is beautiful, and it's always lovely when the kitty cats come out to say "hello" !! Thank you so much for all your wonderful videos. 😊
What most consider uninteresting and boring comes from the inability to sit quietly, observe, think and enjoy serenity. You know almost the entire human race.
I used to paint old churches at one time by myself. Inside and outside. Hard work but it made me feel good to bring them back to their glory. I did them by hand.
Fort Hancock, eh? I find I'm so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.
It is amazing that we have so much empty space in America. I love these videos when you show a different way of life. I've been all over America. I saw old slave shacks in the south that were still lived in by poor people. I've seen Indian Reservations with starving Americans living there. Thank you
I grew up in El Paso, my Pops and I used to ride in his MG through those small towns as we traveled for football, wrestling,and basketball tournaments.
Those adobe homes are one of my favorite architecture styles very efficient homes if done right. My favorites are the stone adobe fusions they just have that look i tend to gravitate too.
I've been in Ft. Hancock quite a few times. It's small of course, but it's also quiet, nearly crimeless, historically famous, has solid citizens who are very friendly and great nights to view the Milky Way and sit outside and enjoy nature. All basic services are present and it's a short drive to anywhere else you'd chose to go. That ditch with water running after Acala is an irrigation canal for farmers. Tornillo is pretty nice. As for the low high School graduation rate it's typical and related to future traditional thinking within the traditional Hispanic culture of continuing to have young people take over farms by each generation. You don't need a high school diploma to do what you've grown up learning and doing.
My wife and myself had a opportunity to visit friends in Texas about 6 years ago, we loved our visit we travelled around Texas for about six weeks exploring as I’ve always enjoyed the American western history, but we had so many places we didn’t have the time to explore, so my favourite video you are doing are these ones on the small towns , thank you for your time and passion. Ash from New Zealand
I can hardly believe West Texas had a couple from the awesome country of New Zealand and we didn't give you a parade. We messed up. You must have sneaked over the border. Please return. And bring a forlorn hobbit with you. 😅😊
@@ashmurdoch5470 Well, if you come back to Texas we'll consider giving you a Texican citizenship application. It's much easier than a US form to be an American citizen and Texans don't pay personal income tax. Texas government thinks if you earned wages you should be able to keep them. We also have lots of hills for hobbits to live in, no earthquakes like your country and sadly not even a good dormant volcano. Otherwise we got about everything else.
These border town videos are one of my favorites! Glad you mentioned Shawshank redemption scene in Ft Hancock. Also Morgan Freeman also mentions the location of the letter mailed as Ft Hancock Tx "Right on the border" Another awesome video! Thanks!
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip have you been too Plainview tx,I seen your video where you were in tulia tx,and Happy Texas,I used to live there,but my hometown is Plainview Texas!!
Thank you for the video. It brought back memories of the early 70's where I would visit my dad on weekends on a farm south of Tornillo. Activities included chasing cattle and climbing hay bales. One character of note in Fabens was a cowboy who put rattlesnakes in the cab of his truck to protect his tools. We called him rattle snake Charlie. Thanks again for the video.
It's nice to see the bike path. Especially in lower income areas being able to safely bike around town is such a positive. It's good to see small communities like this getting some kind of quality of life improvements rather than just being abandoned.
"So quiet, so desolate."...Sounds like "Heaven on Earth" to me and EXACTLY why I retired in Hudspeth County. Only difference from where you shot this video, an area called "the lower valley," my home on two acres is located in the far northwest corner of the county, an area called "The Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains," just south of the New Mexico state line. Due to my substantially higher elevation at approximately 5300 feet, the temperatures are notably cooler than down on the Rio Grande, especially in Summer. After living most of my life in congested mega-millions populated urban metro areas, I do so love the quiet and the solitude of being in "the middle of nowhere."
I know that county, your living area very well. I used to be a park ranger at Hueco Tanks State Park. Now that's a very interesting place that very few have seen. I bet this channel host hasn't been there.
It has been almost 20 years...but I visited El Paso by accident. I was in the Southwest for my brother's wedding, and took the scenic route home. I absolutely loved that part of Texas and New Mexico. The barren landscapes were fascinating. I visited the actual border back in Arizona at a cool town called Douglas. And my high school Spanish got the best workout it's had until this year. I remember getting pulled over due to my North Dakota plates. The officer ended up apologizing and admitting he expected something else when he saw my plates. I probably should have been angry, but it was my first time ever being pulled over, so that freaked me out quite a lot! You've definitely reminded me that I want to go back. Such a beautiful part of the country. I wish I'd had a dashcam and a digital camera back then!
It's not everybody up of tea. Unless you're British. But some of us west Texans would rather live in the grandeur of this wild, rugged, beautiful part of the world than anywhere else. We just visit other places. 😮😅😂
Another good video! I think the desert is pretty in some areas, but keeping things clean with all the dirt and no grass must be a nightmare, especially when the wind blows LOL
@ 25:35 On the cross for Mr. Nicolas Sierra, the left date should be the date he was born: 5-25-1903; died 4-26-1975. The vertical inscription simple says: descansa en paz --> rest in peace. I've lived in this area for the last 45 years and still love it. Like your videos. Thanks.
My aunt and uncle were the postmasters there for many years and you drove by Miller farms. You missed the cafe and the old merchantile (now closed) name Arturo's in Ft. Hancock. They also had a nice school there. My grandmother's old house is right next door. That's where I spent many Christmases and summer vacations. I've been in both of those churches and my family is most of the congregation of the Baptist church. I Catholic girlfriend and I attended the mission church there.
The dog reminded me of an episode from WKRP in Cincinnatti where Less Nessman was reading the news: "A man was bitten downtown today by a Chai-HUa-HUa. For those unfamiliar with it, the Chai-HUa-HUa is a vicious breed from Mexico bred to inflict grievous wounds about the ankle area". Excellent video, thanks man.
Old cemeteries are my favorite to visit. Perhaps you could show a bit more of them from time to time? Thanks for the walk through of La Isla Cemetery. As always, great video. Much appreciated.
I love your videos! They are so educational, but fun. It's so interesting to see how other towns and cities live. Thank you for taking the time to do these videos 😊
Glad you highlighted the Sonic Ranch. There's really no place like it and most people would be surprised at the amount of big names that have recorded there! It's on an absolutely beautiful property.
If you really wanna visit some remote places take us 54 through Kansas towards New Mexico, hop on 40 west for 65 miles and hop back on us 54 south. You’ll go through a town called Vaughn New Mexico, stay on 54 once you go through Vaughn (it’ll be a left turn a couple miles past Vaughn). Now start looking at your map and head towards Roswell. Beautiful desert with some seriously remote places.
IDK if it is possible but I would love to see a nighttime drone flight over some of the abandoned or semi- abandoned towns. A daytime flight in those types of towns would be cool to see also. Watch out for the Air Force though they are shooting balloons like at a carnival these days. ;)
I totally enjoy the videos. Its sad that so much of our ways of life are abandoned and left to be reclaimed by nature.i enjoy all the research that you do to give us an informative and fun video. I have truly learned alot from your videos.
Mr. Spoda, I don't know if I may ba of any help but tornillo means Screw, I love your videos and so all of the old towns. Thanks pilgrim from Del Rio, TX.
Thanks for sharing the backroads. The area is on my bucket list for this year's travel, but probably not so close to the border. Cemeteries are among the most fascinating places along the way, each with stories to tell if you stop to listen. Stay safe and off the interstate.
My college buds and I once RV-ed from Phoenix to South Padre via these roads. We accidently left one of use at a Fort Hancock pit stop. We drove about 45mins before we realized he was missing. This was in 1990 -- no cell phones. It was quite the experience for a group of MN stoner boys.
Also, the cross with Nicolas Sierra 1903-1975 is my ancestor! This family is in my tree. My great grandmother had step siblings who were Sierra and these gravesites are their relatives.
My great grandfather and his brothers were born in Ft Hancock in the 1890’s. His family was from San Ignacio, Porvenir and San Elizario before we had a border. He raised his children in Tornillo, migrated to California. Our ancestors come from New Mexico’s Spaniards who settled in Paseo del Norte due to the 1680 native revolt in NM.
Those were not drainage ditches. That's the water they use for irrigation. And all those pecan farms. I live in San Elizario Tx about 18 miles west of Tornillo. Enjoy your videos.
I am so glad that you are doing this type of video exploring off the beaten path. I really like the way you explore and do a little research on the places you visit. It's a pleasure traveling with you thank you very much.
I love how you give the info on each town/city. And you and Nicole giving the hotel ratings is very informing. Again thank you and look forward to many more videos to xome
Fabens has one of the best steak houses in Texas! It's on the other side of the freeway about 6 miles in on a ranch. It's called Cattlemens Steak House.
Its amazing how 1000 people in a town in your country and the place still looks terrible, and here where i am small towns of like 500-600 people are bustling places.
As a Kiwi from down under I find what you are doing fascinating. I would be interested in you talking about the main industries and key employers of these towns where possible
I was driving through this place on Highway 20-10 El Paso, TX, twenty years ago from East to West, back and forth a few times. I also on the Amtrak route from Los Angles to Jacksonville, Floria May 2005… Thanks for share this video.
Not sure why this vid popped up, but glad it did! At first I was thinking this might be boring, then I reset my stupid judgmental mind and pretended I was you. Curious, as I have not seen this part of the borderlands. Grateful I watched all the way through. Thankyou
Super cool trivia bit about Shawshank Redemption!! One of my favorite movies ever! Another small bit of movie trivia is the movie No Country For Old Men was predominantly filmed on location in far west Texas, in and around El Paso!
Im so glad that you are spotlighting the far west Texas area. Some of best honey I purchased was in Fabens. I also fished at a local dam in the east parts of Fabens. Im not sure if that place still exists. You will certainly see ghost towns on your trek to El Paso and points west.
That would be Ceballos honey. It is the best. We buy Some every time we go and visit family in Fabens. I am from Fabens. It’s not the same as it was when I lived there. Don’t recognize a lot of the people anymore. I left in 87.
A lot of the Shawshank movie was filmed a few miles from me. They used the County court house and some of the old warehouses in Upper Sandusky,Ohio for a lot of the movie.
Thank you for your wonderful videos, love them. especially on a wet dreary day in the west of Ireland. Wonderful to see Fort Hancock as The Shawshank is my all time favourite movie. I was in Texas but never got to see the Rio Grande.
I lived in Monahans in the 80s, doing oilfield work. I used to get down close to the border and agree - some of those towns are pretty cool. I wasn't there that long, but the area grows on you.
Dry hot weather, sparse vegetation, much sun - this is beautiful location perfect to health and stable healthy mood. Though the vast majority of contemporary folks appreciate heavily urbanized areas which lure them with easy, loud and vibrant living. That's why these beautiful places lack population. Borders of any countries must be heavily populated, otherwise one day they may become contested by adjacent folks on the other side of the border. The same was and is in my country which lost 1/3rd of its area to adjacent countries, because people scornfully denied opportunity living in distant, sparsely populated border proximity areas which were subsequently seized by folks of adjacent countries.
Very interesting. In 1996 I did a two-week tour of these border towns. I will be looking to move from Houston soon and will start to looking at these locations. Thank you so much for going down memory lane.
Since I was a kid I’ve been fascinated with watching old western movies, and want to visit some ghost towns out there. They need to fix the border situation, but it would actually make sense to repopulate that area because of those dying towns and populations. For some reason they’re being moved everywhere inside the country besides right there. New immigrants could actually rebuild that area.
The "new immigrants" aren't going to rebuild anything. They've come here to sponge off of the taxpaying founding stock. The majority of them end up on government handouts.
Apparently you know nothing of Texas. Yes, Texas has open spaces but there is little public land in the state and a vast majority of land is privately owned so unless property is taken from landowners, I doubt Texas will be populated. The Federal Government (BLM) owns 80% of Nevada. There is plenty of public land there.....
Low crime rate for these towns brings to mind the scene in the Clint Eastwood/Telly Savalas film "Kelly's Heroes" where Captain Maitland tells Sergeant Joe to take a few days R&R in the deserted French town and not to loot. Joe responds to Maitland, "Loot? There's nothing here to loot!" 😂
I just want to say I absolutely love what you are doing. I am actually jealous of you and your wife. We would love to do what you do. I have watched a ton of your videos but just today saw you what I assume was your first one. Where you show selling the house. Awesome!!! Keep up the great work.
We love your videos!!! Thank you and they are a highlight of our week here, in tiny Tubac, AZ. Maybe y'all will come through here. We just had an arts festival with hordes of people. It's actually ending today. Town will revert to normal (without detours and no automobile zones). 😉😁 🌵
love the content as always Lord. Could you update us every now and then with a map of what you've covered so far, like just a line (maybe with stops) similar to the way you did it awhile back? I'd love to see it
Watching from Wales. UK. I love your content. I’ll almost definitely never get chance to visit these places so it’s good to see that they exist. I’ve only ever been to Florida, Disney with the kids, but would love to see the real US. One day hopefully I’ll get chance to take a proper look around….🤞
Those tires you see, the border patrol drags them down that gravel to keep the dirt fresh.. so they can watch for tire tracks and people tracks along the border fence
Thats why I love living near the U.S.Texas/ Mexican border, plenty dust devils, cats, chihuahuas, chickens, cactus, lonely communities and nights are sacred and silent. Excellent content!
I love it there.
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip yes I live in acala part time got 10 acres and will put the RV for 3 months then down to Mexico
@@robertspringer3555 I'm curious about what you said. I'm from El Paso. I know Baja is somewhat popular with nomads enjoying beaches and food. But when you go to Mexico with your RV where do you enjoy going?
Don't forget the stars at night, beeeautiful
You forgot tumble weeds my favorite 😍
I love the border town videos. The churches are lovely. The desert is beautiful. The cemetery was unlike any I’ve ever seen. Thank you for going in. I hope the constipated dog is feeling better! The last two towns have nice homes. Appreciate you and your videos so much! ❤
Thanks, Alexandra! The dog is fine. I saw him running off without issue in my rear view mirror. :)
The pup most likely had anal gland problems. Or worms.
@@standunitedorfall1863 Made me sad for it. Hope someone is taking care of him / her.
There is a charm to those areas I guess the awareness of proximity influences the local mainstream culture of the area (?)
I appreciate him too
Love your videos - without them many of us would never know how rural small-town America looks... very interesting indeed...
so true.
Yes you’re building the reputation of being the guy that shows us all the small towns and places others don’t. I love it. Keep up the good work
Except he is so boring wiith the exact same info everytime-never talks to anyone either,just him droning on,these videos are best watched with the sound off as he basically adds nothing to what you can see.
Robertosborne then don't watch.
He is very informative
Excellent at telling everything about these gem towns that no one ever saw before
I love that you get off the beaten path and have that sense of adventure. You are blessed to have a wife who supports you and goes along on your travels.
I am! :)
Well, let's remember that while he documents his adventures someone has to feed him, pamper him and makes sure he follows directions. 😂😂😂
One of my favorite videos. When living in El Paso I got out and explored the area. The people were so friendly and helpful and nice. It was so different from anything I had ever seen before. Thanks for bringing back fond memories!
I enjoy your videos so much. I find these old towns endlessly fascinating, even though circumstances can be sad. I love old churches and cathedrals, too, they are so beautiful and special. The desert landscape is beautiful, and it's always lovely when the kitty cats come out to say "hello" !! Thank you so much for all your wonderful videos. 😊
I agree with everything you said. :)
What most consider uninteresting and boring comes from the inability to sit quietly, observe, think and enjoy serenity. You know almost the entire human race.
I used to paint old churches at one time by myself. Inside and outside. Hard work but it made me feel good to bring them back to their glory. I did them by hand.
The cross at La Isla says something like: They have not died but live in the hearts of their loved ones, in the memories of their daughters.
Y chuy garcia , descanse en paz, madre ❤
Fort Hancock, eh?
I find I'm so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.
Such an uplifting scene...
Nailed it!! :)
One of the best endings ever.
35MM Only one way I know. Go!
It is amazing that we have so much empty space in America. I love these videos when you show a different way of life. I've been all over America. I saw old slave shacks in the south that were still lived in by poor people. I've seen Indian Reservations with starving Americans living there. Thank you
They haven’t run out of booze
I grew up in El Paso, my Pops and I used to ride in his MG through those small towns as we traveled for football, wrestling,and basketball tournaments.
Those adobe homes are one of my favorite architecture styles very efficient homes if done right. My favorites are the stone adobe fusions they just have that look i tend to gravitate too.
I've been in Ft. Hancock quite a few times. It's small of course, but it's also quiet, nearly crimeless, historically famous, has solid citizens who are very friendly and great nights to view the Milky Way and sit outside and enjoy nature. All basic services are present and it's a short drive to anywhere else you'd chose to go.
That ditch with water running after Acala is an irrigation canal for farmers.
Tornillo is pretty nice.
As for the low high School graduation rate it's typical and related to future traditional thinking within the traditional Hispanic culture of continuing to have young people take over farms by each generation. You don't need a high school diploma to do what you've grown up learning and doing.
My wife and myself had a opportunity to visit friends in Texas about 6 years ago, we loved our visit we travelled around Texas for about six weeks exploring as I’ve always enjoyed the American western history, but we had so many places we didn’t have the time to explore, so my favourite video you are doing are these ones on the small towns , thank you for your time and passion. Ash from New Zealand
I can hardly believe West Texas had a couple from the awesome country of New Zealand and we didn't give you a parade. We messed up. You must have sneaked over the border. Please return. And bring a forlorn hobbit with you. 😅😊
@@PlanetEarth3141 , we are talking about a return lol
@@ashmurdoch5470 Well, if you come back to Texas we'll consider giving you a Texican citizenship application. It's much easier than a US form to be an American citizen and Texans don't pay personal income tax. Texas government thinks if you earned wages you should be able to keep them. We also have lots of hills for hobbits to live in, no earthquakes like your country and sadly not even a good dormant volcano. Otherwise we got about everything else.
These border town videos are one of my favorites! Glad you mentioned Shawshank redemption scene in Ft Hancock. Also Morgan Freeman also mentions the location of the letter mailed as Ft Hancock Tx "Right on the border" Another awesome video! Thanks!
Thank you, RR!
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip have you been too Plainview tx,I seen your video where you were in tulia tx,and Happy Texas,I used to live there,but my hometown is Plainview Texas!!
Thank you for the video. It brought back memories of the early 70's where I would visit my dad on weekends on a farm south of Tornillo. Activities included chasing cattle and climbing hay bales.
One character of note in Fabens was a cowboy who put rattlesnakes in the cab of his truck to protect his tools. We called him rattle snake Charlie. Thanks again for the video.
The snakes are a fantastic idea. I'll think of that.😁
It's nice to see the bike path. Especially in lower income areas being able to safely bike around town is such a positive. It's good to see small communities like this getting some kind of quality of life improvements rather than just being abandoned.
I agree.
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip The price of used cars right now...we're going to need a lot more bike lanes.
"So quiet, so desolate."...Sounds like "Heaven on Earth" to me and EXACTLY why I retired in Hudspeth County. Only difference from where you shot this video, an area called "the lower valley," my home on two acres is located in the far northwest corner of the county, an area called "The Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains," just south of the New Mexico state line. Due to my substantially higher elevation at approximately 5300 feet, the temperatures are notably cooler than down on the Rio Grande, especially in Summer. After living most of my life in congested mega-millions populated urban metro areas, I do so love the quiet and the solitude of being in "the middle of nowhere."
I know that county, your living area very well. I used to be a park ranger at Hueco Tanks State Park. Now that's a very interesting place that very few have seen. I bet this channel host hasn't been there.
It has been almost 20 years...but I visited El Paso by accident. I was in the Southwest for my brother's wedding, and took the scenic route home. I absolutely loved that part of Texas and New Mexico. The barren landscapes were fascinating.
I visited the actual border back in Arizona at a cool town called Douglas. And my high school Spanish got the best workout it's had until this year. I remember getting pulled over due to my North Dakota plates. The officer ended up apologizing and admitting he expected something else when he saw my plates. I probably should have been angry, but it was my first time ever being pulled over, so that freaked me out quite a lot!
You've definitely reminded me that I want to go back. Such a beautiful part of the country. I wish I'd had a dashcam and a digital camera back then!
Lived in Douglas 3 months in 1948
It's not everybody up of tea. Unless you're British. But some of us west Texans would rather live in the grandeur of this wild, rugged, beautiful part of the world than anywhere else. We just visit other places. 😮😅😂
The High School gave me an Over the Edge vibe, a movie from the 80s. My bad 1979.
Bless all those souls in that cemetery.
Another good video! I think the desert is pretty in some areas, but keeping things clean with all the dirt and no grass must be a nightmare, especially when the wind blows LOL
And no rain to wash the dust off...
Blazing Saddles comment type: "We don't need no stinking rain water."
It is! And I live in a small city of 30k. Between the wind and dust, a roomba could run 24 hours a day! Haha.
@ 25:35 On the cross for Mr. Nicolas Sierra, the left date should be the date he was born: 5-25-1903; died 4-26-1975. The vertical inscription simple says: descansa en paz --> rest in peace. I've lived in this area for the last 45 years and still love it. Like your videos. Thanks.
Enjoyed The Cemetery Tour - A Quiet Sacred Place 🙏 goldie 🙏 Sunday, February 19, 2023.
🙏 IN LOVING MEMORY 🙏
Love to see these kind of videos from TX/Mexico
My aunt and uncle were the postmasters there for many years and you drove by Miller farms. You missed the cafe and the old merchantile (now closed) name Arturo's in Ft. Hancock. They also had a nice school there. My grandmother's old house is right next door. That's where I spent many Christmases and summer vacations. I've been in both of those churches and my family is most of the congregation of the Baptist church. I Catholic girlfriend and I attended the mission church there.
Awesome videos! If you get the chance you should head down to Terlingua! Or drop by Valentine and see the Prada store!
I love all these beautiful old old churches that you come across.
The dog reminded me of an episode from WKRP in Cincinnatti where Less Nessman was reading the news: "A man was bitten downtown today by a Chai-HUa-HUa. For those unfamiliar with it, the Chai-HUa-HUa is a vicious breed from Mexico bred to inflict grievous wounds about the ankle area". Excellent video, thanks man.
Cool, thanks for the info! :)
Rofl. Totally true. lolol 🤣
Old cemeteries are my favorite to visit. Perhaps you could show a bit more of them from time to time? Thanks for the walk through of La Isla Cemetery. As always, great video. Much appreciated.
Sonic Ranch fun fact: the Mixing Console in their main studio is the same one that was used at Motown during its heyday!
You're right!
I love your videos! They are so educational, but fun. It's so interesting to see how other towns and cities live. Thank you for taking the time to do these videos 😊
Glad you highlighted the Sonic Ranch. There's really no place like it and most people would be surprised at the amount of big names that have recorded there! It's on an absolutely beautiful property.
I would have loved to get a closer look but they had a no trespassing sign up. Still, clearly a fascinating place.
If you really wanna visit some remote places take us 54 through Kansas towards New Mexico, hop on 40 west for 65 miles and hop back on us 54 south. You’ll go through a town called Vaughn New Mexico, stay on 54 once you go through Vaughn (it’ll be a left turn a couple miles past Vaughn). Now start looking at your map and head towards Roswell. Beautiful desert with some seriously remote places.
IDK if it is possible but I would love to see a nighttime drone flight over some of the abandoned or semi- abandoned towns. A daytime flight in those types of towns would be cool to see also. Watch out for the Air Force though they are shooting balloons like at a carnival these days. ;)
I totally enjoy the videos. Its sad that so much of our ways of life are abandoned and left to be reclaimed by nature.i enjoy all the research that you do to give us an informative and fun video. I have truly learned alot from your videos.
Thank you, Joann!
Thank you for the video. One thing I missed was the deputy sitting in the shadow of a tree in his rocking chair with his rifle on his knees.😁
Absolutely love your videos brother! Keep em coming!
Thank you!
Mr. Spoda, I don't know if I may ba of any help but tornillo means Screw, I love your videos and so all of the old towns. Thanks pilgrim from Del Rio, TX.
Thanks for sharing the backroads. The area is on my bucket list for this year's travel, but probably not so close to the border. Cemeteries are among the most fascinating places along the way, each with stories to tell if you stop to listen. Stay safe and off the interstate.
This is awesome. Crystal blue sky and some dust.
My college buds and I once RV-ed from Phoenix to South Padre via these roads. We accidently left one of use at a Fort Hancock pit stop. We drove about 45mins before we realized he was missing. This was in 1990 -- no cell phones. It was quite the experience for a group of MN stoner boys.
It sounds like a blast to me. I would be stoned for sure.
Thank you for this. I like traveling through your eyes.
Also, the cross with Nicolas Sierra 1903-1975 is my ancestor! This family is in my tree. My great grandmother had step siblings who were Sierra and these gravesites are their relatives.
I believe Fort Hancock, TX is mentioned in “The Shawshank Redemption” as the place Andy crosses the border.
You're right, it is. :)
Of course you mentioned it later…😅
My great grandfather and his brothers were born in Ft Hancock in the 1890’s. His family was from San Ignacio, Porvenir and San Elizario before we had a border.
He raised his children in Tornillo, migrated to California. Our ancestors come from New Mexico’s Spaniards who settled in Paseo del Norte due to the 1680 native revolt in NM.
Those were not drainage ditches. That's the water they use for irrigation. And all those pecan farms. I live in San Elizario Tx about 18 miles west of Tornillo. Enjoy your videos.
I am so glad that you are doing this type of video exploring off the beaten path. I really like the way you explore and do a little research on the places you visit. It's a pleasure traveling with you thank you very much.
Thank you!
If I could retire anywhere I have two places I would like. Either South Florida or extreme Southwest Texas. Love the desert
Ft. Hancock , TX. Is my home town. I grew up there. My parents are at the cemetery there. For ever in my heart.
I love how you give the info on each town/city. And you and Nicole giving the hotel ratings is very informing. Again thank you and look forward to many more videos to xome
Thank you, Jason!
Fabens has one of the best steak houses in Texas! It's on the other side of the freeway about 6 miles in on a ranch. It's called Cattlemens Steak House.
So cool ,I love the colors of the desert
I absolutely love traveling the desert so peaceful I lived on a border town for 30 years El Paso Texas
The give-away for Tornillo is all the house have bars on the doors and windows.
Its amazing how 1000 people in a town in your country and the place still looks terrible, and here where i am small towns of like 500-600 people are bustling places.
Which country do you live in?
That cat 😸 had no idea he or she was going to be on a Lord Spoda video 🤣
As a Kiwi from down under I find what you are doing fascinating. I would be interested in you talking about the main industries and key employers of these towns where possible
I try, but it can be tough finding that info.
I was driving through this place on Highway 20-10 El Paso, TX, twenty years ago from East to West, back and forth a few times. I also on the Amtrak route from Los Angles to Jacksonville, Floria May 2005…
Thanks for share this video.
I enjoyed my time in El Paso while stationed at Ft Biss 90-94.
I really enjoy your videos👍 Thanks for sharing. You don’t have to go to the famous national parks to see some impressive scenery.
Agree with you on the beauty of the desert... can't beat it.
This was a hilarious episode, the idea of filming schools and then the chihuahua lol, love your vids man
Not sure why this vid popped up, but glad it did!
At first I was thinking this might be boring, then I reset my stupid judgmental mind and pretended I was you. Curious, as I have not seen this part of the borderlands.
Grateful I watched all the way through. Thankyou
Thank you for the kind words. :)
Thanks for your videos, always interesting and soothing. Cheers from France 🇫🇷
Thanks, Pierre!
Excellent ride Lord Spoda. Have a wonderful week ahead. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Jonathon.
Super cool trivia bit about Shawshank Redemption!! One of my favorite movies ever! Another small bit of movie trivia is the movie No Country For Old Men was predominantly filmed on location in far west Texas, in and around El Paso!
Im so glad that you are spotlighting the far west Texas area. Some of best honey I purchased was in Fabens. I also fished at a local dam in the east parts of Fabens. Im not sure if that place still exists. You will certainly see ghost towns on your trek to El Paso and points west.
That would be Ceballos honey. It is the best. We buy
Some every time we go and visit family in Fabens. I am from Fabens. It’s not the same as it was when I lived there. Don’t recognize a lot of the people anymore. I left in 87.
There should be a fence 😊.... thank you for your great work...God Bless and be safe☦️
I seen a dollar general. I do believe I have seen a dollar general in every video I have watched and I've watched a bunch of these videos.
A lot of the Shawshank movie was filmed a few miles from me. They used the County court house and some of the old warehouses in Upper Sandusky,Ohio for a lot of the movie.
When you said the middle of February, I realize how fast time is going by
It's crazy.
Thank you for your wonderful videos, love them. especially on a wet dreary day in the west of Ireland. Wonderful to see Fort Hancock as The Shawshank is my all time favourite movie. I was in Texas but never got to see the Rio Grande.
Thank you, Anne!
There you go huh, it's very good to follow your videos, I'm already getting to know these beautiful places, very good indeed
I’d like to see mom & pop diners if there are any left in your wonderful videos. Keep up the great videos
I lived in Monahans in the 80s, doing oilfield work. I used to get down close to the border and agree - some of those towns are pretty cool. I wasn't there that long, but the area grows on you.
That cemetery with the wooden crosses had me cry n that's so sad, got so emotional.
Amazing place.
Thank you for sharing g these places onyou tube, it gives people tosee what is happening in towns. Pat
Dry hot weather, sparse vegetation, much sun - this is beautiful location perfect to health and stable healthy mood. Though the vast majority of contemporary folks appreciate heavily urbanized areas which lure them with easy, loud and vibrant living. That's why these beautiful places lack population. Borders of any countries must be heavily populated, otherwise one day they may become contested by adjacent folks on the other side of the border. The same was and is in my country which lost 1/3rd of its area to adjacent countries, because people scornfully denied opportunity living in distant, sparsely populated border proximity areas which were subsequently seized by folks of adjacent countries.
Nice video. I really enjoy seeing the Churches
Very interesting. In 1996 I did a two-week tour of these border towns. I will be looking to move from Houston soon and will start to looking at these locations. Thank you so much for going down memory lane.
All that dirt & dust made me kinda thirsty
Very comprehensive video thank you so much!
Since I was a kid I’ve been fascinated with watching old western movies, and want to visit some ghost towns out there. They need to fix the border situation, but it would actually make sense to repopulate that area because of those dying towns and populations. For some reason they’re being moved everywhere inside the country besides right there. New immigrants could actually rebuild that area.
The "new immigrants" aren't going to rebuild anything. They've come here to sponge off of the taxpaying founding stock. The majority of them end up on government handouts.
Apparently you know nothing of Texas. Yes, Texas has open spaces but there is little public land in the state and a vast majority of land is privately owned so unless property is taken from landowners, I doubt Texas will be populated. The Federal Government (BLM) owns 80% of Nevada. There is plenty of public land there.....
That's a great idea instead of bringing them to park Ave lol
You need to go to Alpine, TX and south of there to the ghost town of Terlingua and Lajitas. Right outside of Big Bend National Park.
Lord Spoda I and my wife Love your videos, and we can't wait till the next one, Oh! and one thing we always look for is the cat Lol!
Awesome, Jesse!!
Low crime rate for these towns brings to mind the scene in the Clint Eastwood/Telly Savalas film "Kelly's Heroes" where Captain Maitland tells Sergeant Joe to take a few days R&R in the deserted French town and not to loot.
Joe responds to Maitland, "Loot? There's nothing here to loot!" 😂
I just want to say I absolutely love what you are doing. I am actually jealous of you and your wife. We would love to do what you do. I have watched a ton of your videos but just today saw you what I assume was your first one. Where you show selling the house. Awesome!!! Keep up the great work.
Thanks!!
I'am French and it's a very pleasure to visit America with you.Thanks very much
Awesome, Momo!
Thank you for another great video. I am learning a great deal about places I’ve never seen before!
Awesome!
We love your videos!!! Thank you and they are a highlight of our week here, in tiny Tubac, AZ. Maybe y'all will come through here. We just had an arts festival with hordes of people. It's actually ending today. Town will revert to normal (without detours and no automobile zones). 😉😁 🌵
You never know, Tubac might show up in my videos soon. :)
Passed near Fabens many times towing my RV, have spent the night several times in the Fabens rest area on I-10.
love the content as always Lord. Could you update us every now and then with a map of what you've covered so far, like just a line (maybe with stops) similar to the way you did it awhile back? I'd love to see it
Amazing old church and cemetery 🪦 very old. A lot of history there.
Ah man gotta get deeper down there, I spent a month out in big bend national park hiking, spent time in Redford
Thanks for taking us along. Safe travels
Watching from Wales. UK. I love your content. I’ll almost definitely never get chance to visit these places so it’s good to see that they exist. I’ve only ever been to Florida, Disney with the kids, but would love to see the real US. One day hopefully I’ll get chance to take a proper look around….🤞
West Texas here love your content !
I was stationed in El Paso at Ft. Bliss in the mid to late 80's. Went to Juarez a few times.
Happy to see you posted a video today. Enjoyed it very much.stay safe .
Thanks, you too, Mary! :)
Those tires you see, the border patrol drags them down that gravel to keep the dirt fresh.. so they can watch for tire tracks and people tracks along the border fence
Messco is on both sides now
Thx a lot ol jo and crew....