Out on the frontier during the mid 1700s, in today's state of Texas, Spanish Colonials struggled to retain their foothold in the New World. While these establishments met a number of obstacles and hardships, Spanish authorities supported still another new outpost on the San Saba River. Hoping to minimize Indian raids in and around San Antonio, the Presidio San Luis de las Amarillas (Presidio de San Sabá) and mission were established in 1757. Located about 125 miles northwest of San Antonio, a fort was built on the north side of the San Saba River. Four miles from the presidio, one of the largest missions in western Texas was established on the south side of the river. Mission founders soon discovered while befriending the Apache Indians, they had made enemies of the northern tribes of the Comanche. Far superior to Spanish Colonial forces, the well equipped Comanche warriors conducted raids and lead devastating massacres. Constant harassment eventually lead to the abandonment of the San Sabá Mission. The mission complex was eventually destroyed in 1758.
   A string of San Antonio’s missions offer some of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial Period structures, ranging in all stages of preservation. Unfortunately, only minute traces of the mission and presidio at San Saba exist today. These ghostly ruins at San Sabá Presidio are only replicas, recreated in 1936. Ambitious Texas Centennial efforts to duplicate the presidio were abandoned and lay incomplete, adding another chapter to Texas history.

     Area Map