What To Do In Historic Ghost Town Bankersmith, TX
Thinking of traveling to Texas Hill Country? Have you ever heard of Bankersmith, TX? You may want to add this small rustic country town to your list of stops.
I personally had never heard of Bankersmith before. So when I had the opportunity to get away, last weekend, I took full advantage of throwing on my overalls and exploring this Texas Hill Country area. I traveled with my friend Stacy and we drove from Houston together. It took me a minute to soak in Bankersmith but once I grabbed a drink at the bar, ordered some tacos, listened to some local musicians, and chatted it up with some of the locals I let go of all the tension of the city and started to relax. Nature and being outdoors has a way of doing that to you.
Bankersmith is not like a traditional town. It’s a unique country town with a population of ZERO. Yup, you read that right. Zero. Zilch. Like, no one lives there at all.
Before we get into what to do in Bankersmith, TX let’s chat about where it’s located and what exactly it is.
Where is Bankersmith located?
Bankersmith is in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, about 75 miles northwest of San Antonio. It’s about a 4-hour drive from Houston. The town is about halfway between Fredericksburg and Comfort, near the border of Gillespie County. The town was founded in 1913 and is now considered a ghost town. In the 1920s, Bankersmith reached its peak population of approximately 50. It’s believed that after the 1960’s most of the people that were living there left the small railroad town. I
Bankersmith is a short drive from downtown Fredericksburg, Texas. If you would like to learn of some of my favorite Fredericksburg things to do be sure to read the full article HERE.
What is Bankersmith?
Ok, I am going, to be honest with you on this one. This was super confusing for me when I was researching the area. The best way for me to explain it is that it’s not like a typical town. Remember when I mentioned above it’s a ghost town? It’s rural, rustic, and out in the country. It’s a historic texas railroad town destination that has a saloon (full bar/restaurant), dance hall and can hold events here for 500 or more people. It does have areas to sit at the bar indoors and it has a covered patio.
What to do in Bankersmith,TX?
If you are looking to slow your pace, connect with nature, hang with locals and not worry about WiFi then this is your place. It’s a no-frills type of destination and although it’s considered a ghost town there are a few things that you can do here.
Camping Sites
If you are all about camping you can pop a tent at Camp Bankersmith. This is a super primitive overnight accommodation. Campsites are in a large cow pasture across the street from Bankersmith Dance Hall and Saloon. In order to check-in, you will need to stop at the Saloon and check in with the bartender. You can find more info on camping HERE.
RV Sites
If popping a tent is not your style and the RV life is more your speed. There are sites available and you can check out more info HERE.
CAMPGROUND AMENITIES (COMING SOON!)
- Picnic Tables
- Outdoor grills
- Fire Rings
- Tent pads
- Drive Through RV sites
- Miles of hiking trails
- Pond access
- On-site Bathrooms
Lodging
If you would rather stick to a more rustic type of Airbnb Bankersmith has three 1 bedrooms available and two 2 bedrooms available. Be sure to ask if you will have a private bathroom or a shared one. Check out the bedrooms HERE.
Farm Tour
The tour usually lasts 45 – 90 minutes and Adult tickets are $35 in advance and includes a free meal from the Bankersmith Menu. Child tickets (aged 1 – 12) are $10 each. They do offer a military discount through VetTix. Please realize that this is a working farm and if possible, don’t wear flip flops or sandals during the tour. Tours run during all types of weather and the majority is outdoors. You may want to bring an umbrella or raincoat if rain is expected.
To book please contact Farmer Hannah for more information: 830-343-7500
Events
Bankersmith hosts a ton of events throughout the year on their property or at Camp Bankersmith. Be sure to check out their events calendar HERE.
And as always, if you have any specific questions I can always help. Send me an email at lifeofalley@yahoo.com
