SHAFTER LAKE

NAME: Shafter Lake COUNTY: Andrews ROADS: 2WD GRID: 1 CLIMATE: Warm winter, hot summer BEST TIME TO VISIT:Winter, spring, fall

COMMENTS: Near Andrews. REMAINS: One building.

Shafter Lake is a large natural salt lake discovered in 1875 by a Colonel William R Shafter. The town of Shafter Lake came into being as a result of land speculators seeing the area as a natural site for a town. In 1906, the promoters began a campaign to advertise the up and coming town "as a city of a thousand wonders." By 1910, Shafter Lake had a population of five hundred residents and a number of new businesses. In that same year, Andrews County was organized and Shafter Lake competed with the town of Andrews to be the site of county government. Shafter Lake lost in the election. After losing its bid to become the county seat, the town began losing its population to Andrews. The severe drought of 1917-18 hastened its demise and its post office closed in 1929. Today, there is but one original building still standing which is a ranch house built in 1908 but visitors will see several modern structures that are part of a ranching operation at the site. SUBMITTED BY: Henry Chenoweth

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