Cemeteries are more than just resting places—they are living records of the past. The Buffalo Gap Cemetery, established in the late 1800s, is the oldest public cemetery in Taylor County and serves as a final resting place for generations of settlers, pioneers, and influential figures who helped shape this community.

Here, you’ll find the graves of buffalo hunters, Civil War veterans, and early settlers. Some names are well-known, others are lost to history. Many headstones bear simple inscriptions—just a name and a date—while others tell fuller stories, etched into stone for future generations to read.

One unusual part of the cemetery’s history came in 1919, when Lake Abilene was built. The town of Bethel had to be relocated, including its cemetery. Many of those graves were moved here to Buffalo Gap Cemetery, preserving their memory even as their original resting place disappeared beneath the lake.

Among the most notable figures in this cemetery is Mabel Reynolds, one of Buffalo Gap’s best-known schoolteachers. She dedicated her life to educating the youth of the town, leaving behind a legacy that is still felt today. Her students, many of whom became leaders and professionals, carried her teachings with them far beyond Buffalo Gap.

Another key figure tied to this site is Mrs. Maxine Perini, whose name is well-known in the Buffalo Gap community. In 1965, she oversaw the construction of the small stone chapel that stands within the cemetery. This quiet retreat was meant to give visitors a place to reflect and find peace, no matter the weather. The chapel continues to serve as a gathering place for those paying respects to loved ones and honoring the history of Buffalo Gap.

If you look closely, you’ll see hand-carved tombstones, some barely legible from weathering over the years. Some graves belong to entire families, while others mark the final resting place of those who died alone on the frontier. Each spring, wildflowers bloom across the cemetery, bringing color and life to a place dedicated to remembrance. It’s a quiet reminder that while people pass on, their legacies remain in the land they shaped.

As you walk through the cemetery, take a moment to reflect on the stories here—the lives lived, the hardships faced, and the history preserved. Now, let’s travel to a place where adventure and survival skills were taught for generations—Camp Tonkawa.