History of Terrell Wells, Texas: From Health Resort to Ghost Town

Published: 1952

Updated: July 1, 1995

Terrell Wells, eight miles southwest of downtown San Antonio in central Bexar County, was named for the mineral wells on the land of prominent politician Frederick Terrell and became a post office and health resort in the 1920s. One business and a population of fifty were reported there in 1930, and in 1940 the population was 150. The wells were closed after World War II, and by the 1950s the community was no longer shown on maps. The name was preserved in the local junior high.

Places:

Communities

The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry.

Claudia Hazlewood, “Terrell Wells, TX,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed May 19, 2026, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/terrell-wells-tx.

TID: HRT11

Original Publication Date:: 1952
Most Recent Revision Date:: July 1, 1995

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Place

Terrell Wells

Currently Exists

Place Type

Town

USGS ID

1369739

Town Fields

Has post office: No
Is Incorporated: No

Belongs to

Bexar County

Associated Names

San Jose

Coordinates

Latitude: 29.33968040°
Longitude: -98.51585050°

Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, Texans have a unique opportunity to reflect on the state’s role in the American story. Through exhibitions, programs, educational initiatives, and community events across Texas, Texas America250 encourages celebration, reflection, and commemoration at both local and statewide levels. At the Texas State Historical Association, we are proud to support this important moment through our mission-driven work in history education and public engagement, including Texas History Day, and we invite students, educators, and communities to explore this milestone in meaningful ways.

“

On July 4, 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the greatest nation in the history of the world. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Long may these ideals live in the heart of every Texan and every American. May God bless all who have defended our freedoms that we enjoy each day. And God bless the United States of America.

Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas

History of Terrell Wells, Texas: From Health Resort to Ghost Town

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Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

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