A Day Trip to Historic Fort Phantom Hill Texas

A day trip to historic Fort Phantom Hill is a must when you visit Abilene in West Texas. It’s a neat place to learn about one of the old Texas Forts history. 

After all, it’s only around 20 minutes drive from downtown Abilene to historic Fort Phantom Hill.

Our family made a stop at historic Fort Phantom Hill when we visited Abilene for a long weekend. We came from Fort Worth, and it took around 2h 30m drive to get to Fort Phantom Hill.

A visit to Fort Phantom Hill Abilene TX won’t take much of your time. We spent around 30 minutes in this fort. And, we were the only visitors at the time.

Additionally, Fort Phantom Hill is a dog friendly destination. Make sure to pick up after your dog and keep them on leash all the time.

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What is Fort Phantom Hill?

Fort Phantom Hill was a United States Army post that was built to protect the westward-moving frontier of Texas settlement. It was one of the largest and most important forts in the early 1850s U.S. frontier. 

Originally, it was known as the “Post on the Clear Fork of the Brazos.”

After the military abandoned the post, it served as a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, a resting point on the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail, a camp for the Confederate Frontier Battalion, and a sub-post for Fort Griffin. 

Today, the site is privately owned and operated. The owner deeded the property to the Fort Phantom Foundation to ensure its long-term preservation.

What year was Fort Phantom Hill established?

Historic Fort Phantom Hill was established on November 14, 1851. It was abandoned on April 6, 1854. 

Not long after the soldiers left, the fort was burned. The last commander of the fort was responsible for the action. He was brought before a military court for his act.  

Life at Fort Phantom Hill was hard. Soldiers had to deal with freezing temperatures in the winter and it’s very hot in the summer with temperatures often over 100°F. Come spring and fall they dealt with tornadoes and hailstorms. 

Also, there was never enough rain and grass to feed the horses and cattle at the Fort. And somehow the wind never stopped blowing. 

Building materials were also limited. Most of the buildings had dirt floors and thatched grass roofs. The floor was hard to clean, and it also served as a home for ants, snakes, and other vermint. As for the thatched grass roofs, they got wet during rains and began to rot and smell. A good home for spiders and other insects, too.

How to Visit Fort Phantom Hill Abilene TX

From Abilene, exit I-20 at FM 600 ( W Lake Road) and go 12 miles north on FM 600 (continue past Lake Fort Phantom Hill.) The Fort will be on the right side, with a small portion on the left side of the road. 

Park your car on the paved parking lot. Then walk to the Visitor’s Kiosk to read some information about the Fort. And, to grab a self-guided tour brochure that will take you through the ruins.

There’s a restroom near the Kiosk. Use it before the tour, unless you don’t mind walking back to the Kiosk while on tour.

You will see a wooden sign near the kiosk before you begin the tour. It says:

• Beware of rattlesnakes
• No metal detectors
• No climbing on structures

Please respect the rules while you are on tour. Remember! Fort Phantom Hill is a National Register Historic Site. Therefore, it is also illegal to remove anything from the ground.

Then it’s time to follow the trails along the ruins with the self-guided tour brochure in your hand. The ruins include buildings, foundations, and more than a dozen chimneys.

Here are some of the interesting ruins that you will see:

– The Guard House that was basically the jail. Soldiers were sent here mostly because of fighting and drinking whiskey, called “bug juice.” It was an essential part of maintaining Army discipline.

– The Officers’ Quarters, North Group. You will see several chimneys and a most unusual feature for a Texas fort – cellars.

– The Stone Commissary. It’s a two-level permanent commissary built of stone and a heavy log floor frame. Of all the old Army forts in Texas, the commissary at Fort Phantom Hill was known as one of the best constructed.

– The Hospital. You will see three chimneys and stone frames from a 3-room hospital. Nearly everyone in the fort had been sent to this hospital due to various illnesses. Fevers, stomach ailments, and scurvy caused from the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet were common problems here.

– The Magazine. It’s made of stone and was specially designed with air vents and an arched roof for keeping gunpowder and shot dry. It is located across the road. Watch for the incoming cars when you cross the road.

There’s an old cannon and a couple of old wagons on the ground during our visit. I would think they were placed there by the Fort Phantom Foundation. But, I do not know if they are still there.

Fort Phantom Hill Ghost

Just like any other old buildings or ruins, there’s always stories about people seeing spirits from the past. And so here at Fort Phantom Hill.

Legends has it that the Fort is haunted by restless Indians of frontier times who continue to stalk their ancient ground during the night. Another says it’s haunted by an innocent man who was wrongly hanged near the fort.  

A former Abilene psychic said he saw two men in officer’s uniform in the old Officer’s quarters. 

The nearby Lake Fort Phantom Hill is also said to be haunted by a spirit called “The Lady of the Lake.”

We were visiting in the bright morning and didn’t feel anything. Our dog Snoopy didn’t barking into invisible things either. Not sure if you are visiting in the evening though.

That’s all. It’s a short visit and you will enjoy it like we did.

Fort Phantom Hill Address: 10818 FM600, Abilene, TX 79601.

Distance to closest cities:

– San Angelo, 1h 40m

– Stephenville, 1h 45m

– Weatherford, 2h

– Wichita Falls, 2h

– Midland, 2h 20m

– Lubbock, 2h 30m

– Fort Worth, 2h 30m

– Dallas, 3h