My great-great-great grandfather arrived in Indianola in the fall of 1846, along with three small sons, one small daughter, his wife, and his mother. Conditions were horrible, and he, two of his sons, his daughter and his mother all died of cholera while traveling from Indianola to New Braunfels. Only his wife, my great-great-great grandmother, and one of his sons, my great-great grandfather, survived the trip.

A ghost town that is a true ghost town. So sad that it's nothing more than a name in history. Thank you for the tour.

On one of our vacations to Rockport (around 1960), my father drove us to Indianola and related a story about his grandfather.... Capt. Roderick Steele.....who had told him many stories..one of which was about Indianola..where he brought supplies (including contraband during Civil War) to this port....Capt. Steele lived to be 104 yrs old .....having retired from the sea in Port Arthur (after Sabine Pass was destroyed by hurricane) in 1899.....operating a marine insurance business for ports of Orange, Beaumont, Sabine Pass and Port Arthur until his death in 1947. He maintained a suite at Sabine Hotel in Port Arthur where my father would visit for shrimp cocktails after Sunday mass.....Sabine Hotel is last building standing now..my brother and I visited hotel in early 1980's when it was being restored and saw coffee shop where he would have his breakfast of fried mackerel and 2 cold beers at 7 a.m., before going to his offices. Just a bit of lost history.......

Hello Secrets of Texas. I’m back from my weeklong visit to central Texas that you inspired. I went to Washington-on-the-Brazos, Independence, Brenham, Huntsville, La Grange, Navasota … and I toured the painted churches. Had a wonderful time. I ate at two of the Czech bakeries you featured … delicious! When I was at the Wendish Museum in Serbin, the ladies asked me how I found them. I told them I found them by watching your videos, and they remembered you fondly. Thanks for the inspiration. It was a great adventure. Looks like I’ll be planning another … I love a good ghost town. Thanks!

I'M FROM PORT LAVACA! THIS IS MY AREA! I love that you did a video on it. I just can't understand why there isn't more videos, documentaries, dives, excavations, research of Indianola. It deserves so much more. The museum in Port Lavaca is super small but really good with Indianola history and displays. They found one of La Salles ships and it and all its artifacts were on display here in Austin museum. It was so awesome to see. Straight from Indianola.

This is our county. It’s got lots of hurricane scar. A grave is next to the bus stop I waited at as a child. It perplexed me as a child since it was a child buried there. How could a kid like me die? They stopped the train and buried her there. The rail is long gone and the highway marks the way to Indianola. In my teen years I rode the annual trail ride to Indianola and later became a reining trail queen for a few years. Small town stuff that I miss. It’s got life as a fishing destination.

Nice video. 17 homes from Indianola were moved to Cuero, Tx. They were tore down & each board numbered & moved by ox & cart. I own 1 of the 17 homes moved. Big house.

If you’re a Texan you need to there and read all the markers. It’s like the Alamo, it’s a Texan thing. Go see it!🇺🇸🤠

My mother's ancestors were one of the original founding families of New Braunfels their last name was "Schaefer". They came with Prince Karl and the family transported the Bells in their wagon that now hang in the Protestant Church in New Braunfels. Thanks for the history video.

I was able to visit an 1859 house from Indianola this weekend. It was an 1875 storm survivor and dismantled, and moved to Cuero. It was surreal

Holy smokes! This makes sense. My great great uncle Frantizek Dudik came through Port Lavaca from Lipnik, Czechoslovakia in 1891 along with my great great grandfather Vincent Sofka from Austria. They would later settle in nearby German/Czech settlement of Halletsville and Shiner, Texas. The birthplace of my grear grandmother and grandmother. The exciting part is connecting all the dots and being able to see where they would have traveled and why. Dang that's neat!

My family is from Indianola, Iowa. We moved to Texas in ‘87, and I remember going to the beach one day and seeing the signs to Indianola. Such a unique name, I’ve always wondered if there was anything that connected them.

Great video. My great,great, great grandfather James L Allen was mayor of Indianola. He was also the last messenger of the battle of the Alamo. Lots of history there. And great food at the Indianola fishing marina.

I have strong memories of visiting my mom’s aunt when I was maybe 7 yrs old in port Lavaca & her taking us out to Indianola beach to see the ruins at the waters edge. The story about the lives lost really left an impact on me. Thank you for this wonderful and concise presentation.

Wow! Never knew the history of this German waypoint. My great great grandparents (Zander) came through Indianola in the 1840s and eventually settled in the sleepy town of Buckhorn, TX. Thanks for sharing!

As kids my Dad nearly backed a pop up trailer into the bar ditch to read the historical marker there. We camped on the beach and I found lots of bits of blue and white pottery as I collected shells. It looks like the past few storms have eroded the beach alot since the 1960s when we were there.

Oustanding video. I apreciated very much that you made the markers and stones readable in your video.

I love reading about Texas history during the 1840s to 1880s. Interesting trivia - During the summer months, a mysterious disease would kill many people along the coast. It was thought that vapors from the ground were responsible. At first frost, this disease would vanish. It was later learned that mosquitoes were the source of the killer illness and the first frost killed all the mosquitoes. If, and when, the firsts frost occurred was always a big topic back then.

What lovely memories your video brought back. I recalled my favorite things about Indianola, which were the small beach that wasn't sand but instead very small shells, that were not sharp, which we could walk barefoot on; and I will always recall the monument to LaSalle. Thanks again.

Thank you so much for such a fascinating video. I live in Aransas Pass, which is only 73 miles from Indianola, and yet I've never been there. I love your history lesson, and read a little more online after watching your video. The history about Prince Carl is truly awesome! So very sad that the city only survived 40 years. I am so ready for a road trip now so I can visit Indianola. Thanks again.

One of my ancestors came through there. I didn't know the story but I kind of knew a hurricane was going to figure prominently. We have some surviving letter from Dad's side, unfortunately written in archaic German or what my mom thinks is Czech, so we only have a rough translation written by a long dead descendant of theirs. But they talk about fierce storms off the sea and twisters, none of which they'd ever seen before. If you think about it, every Texan descending from those immigrants from the Black Sea area is a miracle, considering how alien and hostile the new country was.

My family immigrated into the u.s. from Germany through Indianola. Some settled near there in Palacios. My grandmother had told me that some of our family had been buried near the shore and their Graves had washed away. I've had a difficult time finding records.

My parents use to take us fishing there in the early 90s. Very creepy and eery area.

I was a Calhoun Co. deputy in the early 80s, and got bored while patrolling the beach at Indianola. I found a dirt road leading up a ridge, and discovered that cemetary. There was no State marker, and many of the graves shared similar dates of death. The thing I remember most from my 7yrs there was the excellent fishing!

Thank you. Blows my mind to think of everything that went down in the past on the ground we walk on all of the time.

Thank you for your video. This was my favorite place while living in the Port Lavaca and Port O’Connor area. Is a very peaceful place where I used to hang around. The food at the Marina little restaurant was very good all the time. For a strange reason going there (almost every day), was the most enjoyable solitude time I had. I I studied the town history and got completely fascinated.

Indianola and Olivia (right down the road) are two of my favorite fishing spots in the state. The bay/river inlets make for some great fishing This area of the texas coast has tons of spots where you can just feel isolated on the beach somewhere. Port o Connor is amazing, magnolia beach is a hot spot for rv'ers and van lifers, sea drift is pretty, etc. Great part of the coast to cruise around and explore all the little towns

Back in the 1990's there was an honest to God "Hole in the Wall" bar named Bill's. It had the first digital dart boards (two of them) my buddies and I had encountered. This place was a gem that only the locals knew about. People were super friendly and a hoot to be around. We stumbled upon this place by accident. As this video indicates; nothing is more than feet from the Gulf including the statue of LaSalle. I am proud to say, I spent two days having a blast and socializing with some people (one guy called "Sparky") that are (?) Texas Treasures!

Another really great story, best video I’ve seen on tragic history of Indianola. my Dad hailed from Lytle, where his dad ran the Mopac depot, til it closed. Dad taught my brothers and I when very young how this main port community was the early state Capitol then an important RR terminal BEFORE Galveston, then the 1875 hurricane happened…. Thanks a bunch!

Once again, excellent Texas history content... I can imagine the challenges my ancestors encountered crossing the ocean arriving to this land. It's amazing what history can be learned from visiting a cemetery. Came across a group of headstones once that all had the same date of deceased; Googled it and it was a family murder suicide more than a century ago, committed by the mother.

Loved the sound of the crashing waves. Great all around video. Thanks for sharing it. You've got a new subscriber.

Went to highschool in port lavaca. Never knew about indianola. thank you

My family has has camp in Matagorda since the 50s. Made a few boat rides out to Indianola. Nice place to get a fried shrimp basket.

amazing history of a long ago Texas town...sad, but interesting

You produce some of the coolest and informative videos thank you

This is a cool place has a great bar/restaurant and fishing pier. Has the good ole historical markers and even a nice beach, watch out for the oyster beds they'll get you! 7 stiches later and 1 shot later! Would go again.

I have always thought of visiting Indianola, and Velasco. I collect old docs. I have some RT issued from Velasco. My German ancestors came to Texas starting 1845. They came through Galveston. Can you imagine a trip on a Bark (sailing ship) from Bremerhaven to Galveston ? What a rough trip. Near where I live is the only remaining RT/US border marker. It is southeast of Deadwood.

I was born in Victoria Texas but grew up mostly in Anderson county up in East Texas. As far as I can remember this is the first time I've heard of this town and I thought I was pretty up on my Texas facts for the most part. I don't remember ever being taught fish in school in Texas history or it being mentioned on any of the travel shows. All the way it was only around for a few years, it seems it should have been mentioned at least since it was considered the capital of Texas for a little while. Leave me feeling a little frustrated of what is put into books and what is left out of books. 😟

❣️Great video!--Loved hearing the water slap against the shore!❣️

Hello It’s funny. I was just there Thursday checking it out. Didn’t spend much time there since I was driving to Longview from Corpus Christi. The demise of Indianola is sad. I hope to spend more time there next time. Thank you for all the time and work on your videos for us to enjoy

I really enjoy your videos on the history of Texas. As a fairly new resident, there's much I need to learn. Thanks again

Hey man, just watched your video. Outstanding little documentary brother! In fact I'm going to plan a small road trip down there and check that cemetary out. I'm in Old Town Spring Tx. Look forwards to seeing more of your work. Liked your music and the way you did your editing. Great sounds.

My grandma is full blooded German she grew up in Germany and ended up here in Texas! full blooded German grandma full black Indian grandpa and two daughters my mother and aunt packed up and moved and settled in Calvert Texas and We now live in Galveston Texas where I was born and raised and I always wondered how my German grandma ended up in a small country town in Texas I wish I would have listened more and asked more questions she told me stories about her brother and hitler and so many other things

That's our vacation spot. We usually go fish and hang out at the Indianola Fishing Marina while we're down there. Hopefully we'll get down there some time this summer. Thanks for the tour around. Did you know about the ship they found in Matagorda Bay? It was one of La Salle's ships. They have an exhibit about it in Port La Vaca

I’m from Port Lavaca and I remember in school we took field trips down to magnolia then into Indianola .And the old ranger cemetery in town .

Very fascinating video; thanks for sharing your journey with us.

Thanks for doing a video on Indanola! My Nana grew up telling me about it and her and my Uncle Dusty claim at one time you could still see some of the train tracks under the water at low tide. She gave me a book on it which I'm working on reading; the absolute cruelty to the German settlers, in this area, is appalling.

Thank you for your video!-Our family came over from Germany through the port of Indianola in the 1850s..... They settled around Fredericksburg. I appreciate your Texas history, informative, entertaining. New Subscriber to your channel! BTW-Charlie Robison song... "Indianola", good one!

Heh. I was taken to Indianola for the first time in 1966. I met Ed Bell, and pestered him relentlessly for years to teach me anything and everything about fishing. I don't know why he put up with me, other than the fact that I loved it as much as he did. He would let me come into his little one room cottage and look at all the old maps and pictures he had. There is nothing you could call "beautiful" about Indianola, but I love it like no other place.

When you look at the geographical placement of Indianola -- an island between two tiny peninsulas which are barely above sea level -- one wonders exactly WHY people would have chosen such a place to try to build a city. Apparently the hurricane of 1875 wasn't warning enough. The then-organist of St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin, Fannie Crooker, took her first (and only) vacation to Indianola in August, 1886 and was killed in the hurricane, which came ashore just below category 5 hurricane strength with 155 mph winds.

Amazing video. My wife is from The Great State and we will add this site to our next road trip sir !!

Hurricane Carla shifted LeSalle's statue several inches on it's base. 1961

Nice! Thanks for the history, it was very interesting! I enjoy the Magnolia Beach and the Port Lavaca area.

I live in Port Lavaca. Born and raised

Thaank you for this virtual tour. More pls.

I live 25 minutes from there, been going there since I was a child. Still have people living there and the fishing is decent. Beautiful memories of a beautiful place.

Enjoyed your video! I retired to Indianola and live here now on Zimmerman road. You actually filmed on my property at the 5:02 point of the video. One correction I need to point out is you say the town has subsided under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is actually in Matagorda Bay. Thanks for the video.

Thank you for sharing this amazing piece of our greats states history!!!

very good research/doc. very interesting story. thank you.

Wonderful video!! I love this kind of history tied into modern day Texas.

Very interesting! Something I don't recall hearing about before. I'm glad KZfaq suggested it to me a year later.

My Great great Grandfather hauled freight by 8 mule teams between Indianola, San Antonio and Chihuahua soon after arriving in Texas from Düsseldorf. I would love to find out how long that trip took

Thank you so much for this. Part of my family heritage!

Great post, very historic, I knew nothing of the city, thanks for posting.

WOW I used to fish the hell outa that pier a decade ago. Granted I did more fishn on the one it replaced. Great upload and take on Indianola! P.S. That fishery has great live music on the weekends, my dads band plays there every now and again. The Crossroads Troubadours

Always fun to see other Indianola’s! I grew up in a small Indianola Washington.

Wow just found your channel. My great grandfather immigrated thru Indianola and settled Between Llano and Fredericksburg. The land and original cabin are still standing to this day and still owned by the family.

I enjoyed the video. I try to imagine what it was like for my Great grandfather, Joe Klar, his wife and their sons . Who traveled from Germany in 1880., The hardships they saw and endured In hopes of a better life for their family. I was always told that German settlers wanted to settle in the Hill country as it reminded them of where they had come from.

NO FLOWERS @ GRAVE SITES , THESE BRAVE SOULS ARE LONG FORGOTTEN...

🦅♥️🇺🇸♥️🇩🇪 God Bless these immigrants from Germany that helped found in the United States of America, my great-grandfather George Staudohar the 1st settled in the midwestern plains of Illinois, he was a farmer, and had several children , St George Illinois was named after my great grandfather, ‼️

Thanks for this video. My maternal great-grandparents came into Indianola, I believe, probably in the 1870's-80's. They were German, Austrian and Polish.

My family book starts out with the arrival of my great grandmother Agnes Zimmermann, who arrived by ship in Indianola in 1867. She then traveled by foot and oxcart to Comfort, Texas near Kerrville.

Thanks for this great video. I live down the road in Portland. I`ll have to make a little road trip up there...

Sad situation.... Thanks for the video.

Visited site several times with my late husbands folks. Her parents immigrated to Indianola then moved to Cuero.Rven as a history buff It always gave me goosebumps.

Btw, I look forward to your videos every week...

I went to Fredricksburg this past summer and one of the museum's mentioned this place, it was where most of the settlers of that town came into Texas.

Wow. Great video. Id love to know more about this area before it became a port for Europe. Fascinating.

Good video, I was just down there in Port Aransas, I wish I had seen this video before I went down there, I would have definitely visited that area

Love you work, keep it up! 👍

Much as Indianola was a German immigrant town, only 5 miles to the NE was/is what remains of Olivia, a town primarily where Swedish immigrants settled. It was similarly devastated by the same hurricanes, and the people moved on to other places.

Anyone remember Charlie Robison’s song, “Indianola”? A long gone friend played it for me decades ago. It’s a good one!

My great-great-great grandpa came from Germany and settled in High Island. From there we have multiplied. When I was a kid, at family reunions, we could basically map out ever generation from a single ancestor, now there are way too many Kahlas.

My grandparents live in Point Comfort. I used to stop by here a lot as a kid. The rumor I heard a bunch as a kid that the statue you showed at 1:24, is haunted and that if you drive around it at night the statue will watch you and spin as you drive around it.

amazing to me ,,history is our legacy ,,seeing the graveyard reminds me of something that happened to me and my friend , we were driving to lake sam rayburn were we lived coming home from work in Houston TX ,we had a we had few beers and had to stop for a pee break ,,we turned off onto an old country road and went a ways and got out to do our thing ,i noticed we had stopped beside an old cemetery ,we were curious ,it was all grown up but u could read the head stones ,some of them were from folks born in the 1700s ,,it was the oldest graves id ever seen ,,all grown up and forgotten ,,made me want to clean it up

Thanks for sharing!

Great video. I've been watching the TV 1883 with a large amount of German immigrants on the Oregon trail. I was like "why are there so many Germans in Texas?" This video explains it well.

From Victoria TX, we go about every other weekend to the marina, love it

So many of those people died so young! Makes me feel like a failure at 72.

Great video! Thanks

great video, thank you for the history lesson

Awesome info thank you

Outstanding video. Thank you sir.

I love Texas

Very interesting n informative. Thanks

Family on my mother’s side immigrated to Indianola in the early 1800s. Most of which had settled in New Braunfels by the 1870s. My Grandmother was the last generation that still spoke fluent German, And still had a thick German accent.

Very interesting...Thank you...👍💯

My last name is Wilmeth and my dad used to always tell me a story about a relative that used to own like 75% of Dallas but had a gambling problem and sold it all for less than a million dollars. I always thought he was exaggerating, but later on in life I was driving through Texas and saw Wilmeth road. So when I got home and did some googling and found that there's also a Wilmeth neighborhood, a Wilmeth school, and even a ghost town called Wilmeth, Texas. Would LOVE if you guys did a video on Wilmeth, Texas!

I believe this is fairly close to the Guadalupe river and they would more or less traverse up river on foot to the hill country, about 150 miles inland depending on the final destination.

I grew up in Angleton..also low lying..thank you for the history.