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Texas Ghost
Town
CAMP
VERDE,
TEXAS
Kerr County, Texas
Hill Country
FM 480 and Highway 173
Just North of Bandera Pass
7 miles from Center
Point
10 miles from Kerrville
10 miles from Bandera
52 miles NW of San Antonio
Population: 41 (est)
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Kerrville
Hotels |
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Camp
Verde Creek
TE photo |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The post was opened in 1855 on the banks of the scenic Verde Creek.
It is most famous for the experiment with camels that was the brainchild
of U. S. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. It wasn't a bad
idea considering the climate and terrain of the San Antonio to El
Paso road. In fact, it would've succeeded, had it not been for one
unforeseen factor - other animals panicked when they smelled the scent
of the camels.
One of the few relics of this period is on display in the Frontier
Museum in Bandera
- a pillow stuffed with camel hair. A pair of socks knitted from camel
hair was sent to then President Franklin Pierce. We regret
we have no information on his response. |
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The
Camp Verde General Store and Post Office
TE photo |
The general store
opened in 1857 and served the soldiers of the Camp. The store's owner
was mostly only open the few days immediately following payday. The
post office opened in 1887 - long after the war.
Today the store
is picturesque in it's solitude, but has lost some of its quiet dignity
with all the signs and banners. There's a nice roadside park
facing the store on Verde Creek. |
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The
Camp Verde General Store Today
TE photo |
The camp was
captured by Confederate forces in February of 1861. They inherited
the camels and a few Egyptian handlers and put them to work
hauling cotton to Mexico to trade to the British for much needed supplies.
The camels multiplied and reportedly were sold to a circus. Actually,
they were dispersed to many circuses, a few zoos, and two men from
Bastrop County even employed them in a another failed venture to haul
mail to Mexico City.
Nearby was a canyon that was used as a makeshift Prisoner of War
Camp for nearly 600 Union prisoners in the early part of the war.
The post was totally abandoned in 1869, although a Company
of Texas Rangers used the remains of the fort as a campground
for some time.
Camp Verde was also the post for the Confederates responsible for
the lynching of 8 men near the Camp in 1862. (See Bandera
Tragedy Tree) |
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Bandera
Pass Marker
TE Photo |
Continuing South
on Highway 173 will bring you to an obvious gap in the hills
- and a granite marker from 1936 - telling the history and
significance of Bandera Pass. This is also the dividing point
of Bandera and Kerr Counties.
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Camp Verde
Texas Forum
Anyone with
information, stories or photos of Camp Verde, Texas, please contact
us.
© John Troesser |
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