Quick Facts
- State
- Texas
- County
- Wharton County
- Status
- Unknown Status
- Access
- Unknown Access
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
You don't stumble onto Preston by accident. That's rather the point. Preston Earnest Smith (March 8, 1912 – October 18, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and politician who served as the 40th governor of Texas from 1969 to 1973.
Wharton County holds 4 documented ghost towns, including New Gulf, Nottawa, Peach Creek — Preston keeps them company on the map.
The story of Preston
Texas ghost towns run the full arc: cattle railheads, cotton towns the boll weevil broke, and oil booms that went bust.
Preston Earnest Smith (March 8, 1912 – October 18, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and politician who served as the 40th governor of Texas from 1969 to 1973. A conservative member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 35th lieutenant governor from 1963 to 1969.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Preston is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Preston is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.
Good to know
Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.
Preston FAQs
Where is Preston located?
What county is Preston in?
What is the history of Preston?
What remains at Preston today?
Can you visit Preston?
Sources: description based on Wikipedia (“Preston Smith (governor)”), CC BY-SA.