Only Three Prisoners Ever Escaped From This Tiny Texas Jail

The historic Armstrong county jail in Claude, Texas is the definition of 'small but mighty'.

Traveling through Claude on US-287, you'll need to keep a sharp eye out for the stout structure to see it. Blink, and you'll miss it--maybe.

Historic and Sturdy Structure

Situated right along the busy highway that traverses Claude, the Armstrong county jail is compact and squat, resembling more like a fortress the longer one examines the building.

The tiny jail was built in 1953 using the same stone blocks that were used in the county's first jail in 1894. The blocks were quarried from Dripping Springs in Palo Duro Canyon and transported an exhausting 14 miles via wagons back to Claude to be used in building the county confines.

The monumental effort of lugging the heavy stone would soon pay off as the jail became known for its it's security measure: 20-inch walls. The solid slabs proved impossible to chip or tunnel through.

Indeed, the final line of the historical marker reads

The Final Fugitive

The Armstrong county jail spent the better part of the 20th century as a miniature Fort Knox. The first floor housed the sheriff's living quarters and the second floor housed the inmates. But like many historical buildings, the upkeep of an outdated structure proved too much for the county budget and the Armstrong county jail shuttered its doors in 2022.

But the historic and sturdy confinement would have one last jailbreak by a brazen, emaciated prisoner to memorialize the stalwart structure's closure.

The escape unfolded in a startling scene that can still be seen today by anyone who stops at the Allsups that sits cattycorner to the jail.

The final fugitive who made a bold break for freedom can be seen making his swift getaway, clambering up the fence that surrounds the west side of the squat building.

And he's not alone.

The escapee can be seen with a curious companion: a remarkably vocal goat.

Visitors to Claude may be lucky enough to catch sight of the escapee and his abetor. But don't blink, you might just miss the great escape of the Armstrong county jail's very last fugitive.