San Fernando Academy still dominates the village of Pontotoc even though only parts of two rock walls remain standing. The town sprouted at what was the intersection of military roads from Fort Mason and San Saba. A series of unfortunate events turned the community into a ghost town with pioneer-built ruins serving as headstones.
Take a spring day to drive northwest from Llano on TX-71 through the valley with granite outcroppings. Make a circle back to Austin on country roads to TX-29 or TX-16. The highways pass through Fredonia, Katemcy, and Grit, but few of the villages have the history of Pontotoc.
Settlers arrived in the valley after the threat of attack had been removed in the 1850s. In 1883, the academy opened in a thriving Pontotoc.
It all began to fall apart in 1887.
A series of summer droughts killed the crops and brutal winters took the rest. Then typhoid fever required the opening of a second cemetery. By the time the school closed in 1890, the village was in a death spiral. A fire in 1947 was the last straw.
Carl and Frances Money have revitalized the settlement with their Pontotoc Vineyard. Dotson & Cervantes winery has a tasting room in the old post office and Akashic Vineyard Winery will soon occupy the barber shop.
Pontotoc is a little less than two hours from Austin and 20 miles northwest of the barbecue in Llano. Actual times and distances may vary.
1,283rd in a series. Collect them all. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of “Day Trips,” is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 40312, South Austin, TX 78704.
This article appears in February 26 • 2016.