Pandale, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pandale, Texas
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 Pandale, Texas
Location in Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Val Verde |
| Elevation | 1,650 ft (503 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
78840
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| Area code | 830 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1378828 |
Pandale is a small, remote place in the desert of Val Verde County, Texas. It is often called a ghost town because its population is much smaller than it used to be. People often use Pandale as a starting point for exciting canoe and kayak trips on the Pecos River. You won't find any shops or services here, making it a truly remote spot.
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Where is Pandale?
Pandale is located in Val Verde County, right where a bridge crosses the Pecos River. It's about four miles south of where two roads, Ranch to Market Road 1024 and Langtry-Pandale Road, meet. You can reach Pandale by driving north from a town called Langtry on an unpaved road.
The area is quite remote. In 2000, only about 20 people lived there permanently. This number has grown a little, mostly with retirees. However, during the deer hunting season from November to January, many hunters visit. They often own hunting leases on small pieces of land nearby.
A Look Back: Pandale's History
Long, long ago, prehistoric people lived in the Pandale area. They left behind tools like arrowheads, and one type of arrowhead is even named "Pandale" after this place!
The name "Pandale" comes from its shape: it's a "pan"-like (flat) area in a "dale" (valley). The town started as a settlement where people could cross the Pecos River. Around 1928, it became a community focused on ranching.
Pandale once had its own school. But in 1969, the school district joined with the Comstock Independent School District, and the school closed. Today, there's still a small general store that's open part-time. There's also a cabin lodge near the river crossing called Pandale Crossing River Resort. The town no longer has a post office.
Some of the old buildings in Pandale include a two-story stone house that belonged to Henry James Young Mills. There's also an old building that used to be a garage and a general store, also owned by the Mills family. You can also see a single-room schoolhouse that was used for Sunday school.
Fun on the Pecos River
Pandale is a very popular spot to start a canoe or kayak adventure down a wild part of the Pecos River. These trips usually last several days. If you plan to go, you need to be well-prepared, in good physical shape, and have experience with whitewater. It's very important not to try this trip alone!
Learning in Pandale
Pandale used to have its own school district, called the Pandale Common School District. In 1964, only 11 students attended the school. Before 1976, this district merged with the Comstock Independent School District.
Today, students in Val Verde County, where Pandale is located, can attend Southwest Texas Junior College.
