Glenn Springs, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glenn Springs, Texas
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Ghost Town
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Topo Map of Glenn Springs, Texas
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| Nickname(s):
Glenn Spring, Texas
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 Glenn Springs, Texas
Location in Texas
Glenn Springs, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Brewster |
| Elevation | 2,447 ft (746 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
79834
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| Area code | 432 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2034866 |
Glenn Springs is a historic place in Texas, United States, where no one lives anymore. It's known as a ghost town. The area had a natural spring that provided fresh water. This spring was very important for Native American groups like the Apache and Kiowa when they traveled through the region.
This small, quiet settlement is located about 11 miles (16 kilometers) south-southeast of the Panther Junction visitor center. Today, it's part of the Big Bend National Park. You can only get there with a special car that sits high off the ground. The National Park Service also has a campsite for adventurers at Glenn Springs.
Military History at Glenn Springs
Glenn Springs was once a place where soldiers stayed. On May 5, 1916, it was attacked by soldiers led by a Mexican general named Pancho Villa. During this attack, one civilian and three U.S. Army soldiers were killed, and several other soldiers were hurt. This event, known as the Raid on Glenn Springs, happened just 57 days after another famous attack in Columbus, New Mexico.
The Wax Factory
Long ago, when Texas was part of Spain, a special plant called candelilla was collected in the Big Bend and Chisos Mountains areas. This plant made a soft wax. This wax was used to make candles for Spanish missions and religious groups like the Franciscans and Jesuits.
In 1914, two people named W.K. Ellis and C.D. Wood built a wax factory right by the springs at Glenn Springs. Many people who lived in the nearby Chihuahuan Desert mountains worked there. By 1916, this factory had a special room with boilers, tall smokestacks, and big tanks to get the wax out of the plants. It also had a system to store water needed for making candelilla wax.
