11. Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico
Perched right on the Texas-New Mexico border, Glenrio thrived as a bustling stop along historic Route 66. The town’s prosperity faded abruptly when Interstate 40 bypassed it, leaving homes and businesses deserted. Glenrio’s story shows how the fate of small towns can hinge on shifting transportation routes, transforming vibrant communities into ghost towns almost overnight.
