Senterfitt, Texas: A Stagecoach Stop Turned Ghost Town in Lampasas County

Senterfitt was established in the 1860s by Reuben S. Senterfitt, a cattleman who settled in Lampasas County during the post–Civil War ranching boom. He became one of the region’s most prominent citizens and donated land for a townsite, a school, and a cemetery. The community took its name from him.

In 1873, residents organized a school through public subscription, and by 1878 they had constructed a larger building. This structure served multiple roles: it functioned as the local school, doubled as a church for services, and included an upstairs lodge room for the Masons. Education and religion were deeply tied to community life, with early teachers and preachers becoming central figures in Senterfitt’s short-lived prosperity.

A post office was established in 1877, giving the town official status and connecting it to stagecoach and mail routes. Senterfitt became a stage stop on two important lines: the route from Austin westward and the route linking Fort Worth with Fort Mason. This made it a convenient resting and supply point for both local ranching families and travelers crossing central Texas.

Growth and Community Life

During the 1870s and 1880s, Senterfitt developed into a lively rural center. It supported a range of businesses, including general stores, saloons, hotels, a livery stable, and a telegraph office. Mills and cotton gins processed crops and wool from surrounding ranches. Freight shipments of cotton, wool, pecans, and hides passed through Senterfitt, reflecting the area’s economic focus on ranching and trade.

The town grew to several hundred residents and became known for its social and civic life. The schoolhouse acted as a hub for worship, community meetings, and even recreation, with swings and games of croquet enjoyed on the grounds. Religious services were held there regularly, and the presence of a Masonic lodge underlined Senterfitt’s importance as a gathering place in northern Lampasas County.

Decline and Abandonment

Senterfitt’s rise was short-lived. In 1885, the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway laid tracks across western Lampasas County. Instead of passing through Senterfitt, the railroad built its line a few miles away, creating a new community first called Montvale and later known as Lometa. The railroad quickly became the dominant mode of travel and shipping, and Senterfitt’s businesses and residents began to relocate closer to the rail line.

The post office closed in 1886, marking the beginning of the end. By the turn of the century, only the schoolhouse and cemetery were left. The school eventually burned, leaving the cemetery as the sole remnant of the community.

Present-Day Remembrance

Today, Senterfitt is considered a ghost town. The site is commemorated with a Texas Historical Commission marker that recalls its once-thriving existence. The Senterfitt Cemetery still stands, preserving the memory of the families who built the community. It holds the graves of early settlers and veterans, with burials ranging from the Civil War era through the Vietnam War.

Although little remains of Senterfitt’s physical structures, its history is preserved through local records, historical markers, and the cemetery, which continues to serve as a link between modern Lampasas County and its pioneer past.