Pisek, Texas: A Ghost Town Born of Railroads and Czech Heritage

Pisek is a ghost town in northern Colorado County, Texas. The community developed in the late 19th century as Czech and German immigrants settled the area. Its history is closely tied to the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway (the Katy).

Origins and Settlement

Before 1887, the settlement existed at a crossroads about three miles north of present-day Pisek. That original site became known as Lone Oak, named after a distinctive oak tree nearby. It served local farmers, many of them Czech and German immigrants.

In 1887, when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad extended its track into the area and built a turntable, residents moved closer to the line. The railroad initially referred to the stop as Sandy Point, but settlers preferred the name Pisek, after the town of Písek in the Czech Republic. In Czech, pisek also means “sand,” reflecting the soil in the area.

Growth and Institutions

By the mid-1890s, Pisek had a small business district that included a saloon, a cottonseed warehouse, and several stores. A post office operated under the name Pisek from 1896 until 1907.

The settlement supported farmers in surrounding communities and briefly thrived as a shipping point thanks to the railroad.

Decline

After the Katy Railroad extended further to Houston, the Pisek turntable was removed. At the same time, improvements in roads allowed easier access to nearby towns. With fewer reasons to remain, commercial activity at Pisek dwindled.

The post office closed in 1907, and mail was rerouted through Fayetteville. Over the next decades, residents and businesses gradually moved back to Lone Oak. By 1941, the last store in Pisek had closed and reopened at Lone Oak. After that, Pisek ceased to function as a community center. The railroad later renamed the stop Nickols, though local people continued to remember it as Pisek.

Present Status

Pisek is now classified as a ghost town. Only traces of the community remain, such as the railroad right-of-way and area landmarks. The location is near the old Katy (now BNSF) tracks in northern Colorado County, roughly three miles from Lone Oak.

Although no formal town remains, Pisek is remembered for its role in Czech and German settlement patterns in the region.

Interesting Facts

• Multiple Names: The community went by several names at different times—Lone Oak, Sandy Point, Nickols, and Pisek.

• Final Decline: In 1941, the last store moved to Lone Oak, marking the end of Pisek as an active settlement.

• Historical Marker: Near Lone Oak stands a Texas Historical Marker honoring Mary Theresa Hennecke Juergens, a pioneer woman who survived capture during the Texas Revolution. While not specifically about Pisek, it reflects the early hardships of settlers in the region.