Terlingua, Texas

Population 58

Located five miles west of Study Butte, near the west entrance to Big Bend National Park, Terlingua’s big claim to fame is that it’s the “Birthplace to all Chili Cookoffs”. Technically it’s a ghost town, except for four days in the fall when visitors stream in for the cookoff. That said it’s best to stop in during the non-chili days to have a look at the historic Terlingua Cemetery (www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2228459/terlingua-cemetery). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cemetery dates back to 1902; and although it’s fairly level there are some narrow spots and patches of uneven ground between the gravesites. Even if you can’t get past the first set of plots, it’s still worth a stop as the entrance pillars have niches filled with everything from candies and bottle caps, to photos, shells and even an odd personal item or two. Add in the graves, which are adorned with an assortment of candles, fetishes and charms, and you have an excellent photo op.