Texas Spirit Quest #2 - Old Iatan Cemetry Traditional Geocache
Texas Spirit Quest #2 - Old Iatan Cemetry
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Easy walk up and
grab.
The Texas Spirit Quest
is a series of Caches placed by
many individuals, near cemeteries and historic sites in hopes of
paying respect to the many pioneer ancestors that have
‘walked’ before us.
There are hundreds of cemeteries in the rural communities across
Texas. This series will introduce you to many of them. The cache
pages will provide a virtual history tour of the cemeteries,
tombstones and local lore.
While out exploring the many backroads and highways here in West
Texas I came across this old cemetary out in the middle of nowhere.
I do enjoy the history and the knowledge of past lives and towns. I
hope this location will get ya'll to enjoy it to.
BYOP
Iatan began life as a stop on the Texas and
Pacific Railroad in 1881. It was also known as Vista, Texas and the
unusual name is thought to have come from the Williams-Waddell
Iatan Tank Ranch. A post office opened in early 1890 and served the
residents until the mid 1920s when it moved to nearby Westbrook.
Iatan’s school merged the Westbrook schools in 1938 when
there was an approximate population of 125. It dropped to a mere 20
for the 1950 Census and remained at that level for years. By the
1970s only a depot remained – and today only the
cemetery.
Photos courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Sayles of More, Texas.
Iatan was suggested for inclusion by Mr. & Mrs. Sayles who
wrote: We would like to add the small town of Iatan (pronounced
like "I can" only "I tan") which was located between Colorado City
and Big Spring. Iatan became a Ghost Town in the 1960s. Empty
stores and empty houses lined the dirt road of town. The buildings
are now gone; but for those of us whose ancestors lived and died
there; we hope it will not be forgotten. Today, only a cemetery
remains.
To reach the Iatan Cemetery, which was about a mile before reaching
the old town; travel west from Colorado City on I-20 and take the
Iatan Exit (which used to lead you to the old town). Go north about
1 to 1-1/2 miles. The cemetery is on the right.
Congrats to
paleopoppy for First to
Find.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)