Entry No. 41 — the San Antonio file — filed under: ruins

Ruins of St. Dominic Catholic Church

Established in 1847 by Alsatian pioneers, this sandstone and limestone church was completed in 1854 but tragically gutted by a fire in 1912. Following the disaster, the congregation relocated to New D'Hanis, leaving the elegant arched ruins to be reclaimed by nature. Today, the skeletal stone walls stand adjacent to the historic Old D'Hanis Cemetery, which contains graves of early settlers dating back to the mid-19th century.

The move: Stroll through the peaceful historic cemetery to admire the hand-carved, German-inscribed headstones, and capture photographs of the striking, vine-covered sandstone arches from a safe distance.

📍 Before you go The ruins and the adjacent Old D'Hanis Cemetery are part of a registered historic district that is open to the public, though visitors should remain outside the fragile, fenced-off portions of the stone structure for safety.

• 📍 Hondo
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 440 Co Rd 5226, Hondo, TX 78861, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Atlas Obscura · austinchronicle.com

last checked: 2026-07-20