West

Fort Clark is actually near the town of Brackettville. Once called Las Moras the town popped up after the United States government decided on the location of Fort Clark. Later named Brackettville for Oscar Brackett who ran a supply village for the growing Fort.

Near the shores of Las Moras Creek (named for the many Mulberry trees in the area by the early Spanish explorers of Texas, who also camps near the shores) was a perfect spot for a Fort, or any other development in West Texas because of the many springs in the area. The spring was most likely named something else by the many Indians and various tribes that for 12,000 years had camped near the springs. By the beginning of the Civil War three officer's quarters, a hospital, and two storehouse's had been built. During the Civil War, after Texas seceded, federal troops left the Texas Mounted rifles took up residence. The current historic district was built between 1870 and 1875, after the federal government returned.

In 1872, the Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts came to the Fort Clark to serve as scouts for the Army and remained there until 1914. Many infantry units and all Calvary units, including the ninth and 10th black Buffalo Soldiers, were stationed at Fort Clark at different times.

During World War II Fort Clark was a German prisoner of war sub camp. Fort Clark had been primarily a horse-Calvary post and by 1944 mechanical advances but the horses to pasture and the 4000-acre fort closed.

Today Fort Clark Springs is a 2700 acre gated resort. The historical area has over 80 historic buildings, which are all privately maintained. There is a spring fed pool, golf course, military museum and you can spend the night in the old stone two-story Calvary barracks with... of course, the ghosts.

The Marfa Lights, a west Texas mystery that has been seen by thousands for over a century, are just as unexplainable today as ever before.