Record

About Contrabando

The Contrabando is a vacant and artificial ghost town used as a filming location within the Big Bend Ranch State Park, 9.5 miles (15.3 km) west of Lajitas, Texas, between Texas State Highway 170 and the Rio Grande, the international border with Mexico. The Contrabando consists of an original adobe building called 'La Casita' and several later additions that became part of the Contrabando during its use as a movie set.
From Wikipedia, "Contrabando", CC BY-SA 4.0.

This is a site record: what public sources say about Contrabando, gathered in one place. We haven't written a full guide yet, so history, current access and photos are still to come. Treat the status as unknown until a guide confirms it.

Map

Where Contrabando is

USGS topographic map around Contrabando — USGS topographic map, The National Map (public domain). The pin marks the coordinates in the record; old townsites are often a little off.

Historic maps

7 historic USGS maps cover Contrabando

Topographic sheets from the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain), oldest first. Older sheets often show the camp, mines and roads while the place was alive. The downloads are large map scans; USGS topoView shows them in the browser.

1903 Terlingua sheet, 1:125,000 · GeoTIFF download
1904 Terlingua sheet, 1:125,000 · GeoTIFF download
1931 Lajitas sheet, 1:62,500 · GeoTIFF download
1959 Emory Peak sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1965 Emory Peak sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1971 Santana Mesa sheet, 1:24,000 · GeoTIFF download
1985 Chisos Mountains sheet, 1:100,000 · GeoTIFF download

Directions

Getting there

Google Maps directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

Before you go

Many ghost town sites are on private land, active mining claims or tribal land. Check land status and ask permission.
Roads to old townsites are often unmaintained dirt. Map apps may route over closed or impassable tracks.
Removing artifacts from public land is illegal under federal and most state laws.

Nearby

Other sites near Contrabando

Straight-line distance to other mapped sites in our Texas index.

Lajitas7.5 mi E · Brewster
Terlingua17.1 mi E · Brewster
Castolon25.6 mi SE · Brewster

Sources

Wikipedia, "Contrabando": coordinates and summary.
Wikidata Q5165630.
USGS 3D Elevation Program, elevation at the coordinates.
USGS The National Map and Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain).