One part of a motorcycle ride on September 12, 2015. I had read about Whiskey Gap and I had never been there. Now was the time.
It was disappointing once I got there. Once there were buildings here. Now there is just a historical marker.
Outline of a building foundation. The remains of a rail line run right beside it. Off to Del Bonita. There is nothing except empty prairie between the two.
Del Bonita feels desolate. There are a number of older buildings. There are a couple of homes that people are living in. I found out that the older buildings were moved here from Whiskey Gap. The lettering on the building reads "The Little Ghost Town on the Prairie".
Abandoned.
Del Bonita is on an intersection of Highways 501 and 62. Across the intersection from the old buildings is the General Store and Post Office with a date of 1935 on it. It was also closed. Not sure if it is permanently closed.
More deserted buildings just north of the General Store.
Four schools were centralized here in 1939 with a fifth being added in 1941.
The school closed in 1999. It is abandoned. It is only a matter of time until no one lives here.
Life: Expectations - meet reality. Glad you went there though. It must have been one heck of a place during Prohibition!
ReplyDeleteThat building foundation at Whiskey Gap was the former CPR octagonal water tower. The end of the line was at Whiskey Gap - went all the way back to Raley.
ReplyDeleteI should have taken a closer look. I appreciate the information. Some of this stuff you cannot readily find online.
DeleteGoogle's satellite view of a map showing Whisky Gap still shows the CPR pathway, sometimes even across fields to the NW which have been plowed repeatedly over the years. Visited the stores at Del Bonita a few years ago, nice talk with the owner. Beautiful territory, and perfectly windy with a great horizon! Thanks for sharing the photos!
ReplyDeleteI am an amateur paleontologist and would like to roam the area for fossil bearing outcrops. Wonder if that is possible on the public pasture?
ReplyDeleteNot a clue. Wish I could help.
DeleteThanks. I enjoyed your blog.
DeleteThe picture of the white house and general store was owne by Charie and Mabel Secretan. He was my great uncle. He he and his brother Duel (Julius) walked from Illinois to Canada to get free land. Both became wonderful canadians, gave sons to WWII. Charlie became a store owner, Duel (my grandfather) became a grain agent in Whskey Gap just 20 miles west of this picture.
ReplyDelete