The rapid westward expansion helped many US town blossom and thrive all over the country. Be it for their stellar trading or fertile land, tiny townships once boomed across the US — until one day, they didn’t. Whether abandoned because of collapsing industry, illness, or simply because its once vibrant citizens relocated, these communities turned into “ghost towns.”
Perfectly (or near perfectly) preserved remnants of our past can still be found around the nation. You just have to know where to go. According to recent data, there are around 3,800 abandoned towns in America, mostly becoming unpopulated between the 19th and 20th centuries for big city dreams and greener pastures.
However, just because people don’t live there anymore doesn’t mean you cannot experience them. Here are 10 of the best-preserved abandoned towns in the US you can still visit today!
St. Elmo, Colorado
Like many abandoned towns in America, St. Elmo (formerly called Forrest City and founded in 1880) was once a thriving silver and gold mining community. About 2,000 folks eventually migrated here looking for their piece of prosperity, but by the beginning of the 20th century, the mines ran dry.
According to its official website, the citizens “got on the last train out of town and never returned.” If you want to give it a chance, I recommend you do this in the summer. That’s when the whole picture is most incredible. You can see its perfectly preserved houses and storefronts and visit the small community.
The Ghost Town Guest House and a general store are still open, which means you can also spend the night in this abandoned town even if the atmosphere is a little, well, unlively.
Terlingua, Texas
Terlingua is another mining town, only this one rose to prominence. According to Visit Big Bend, by the 1930s, the community became the nation’s largest producer of quicksilver. However, by the 1940s, the business leading the mining had gone bankrupt, and many citizens relocated.
Yet, this ghost town has had a sort of renaissance, with newcomers moving in here, making this one-time abandoned town a bit more lively and more attractive to visitors like you.
This strikingly primitive Texas landscape, as well as the ruins of the Chisos Mining Company, create a wonderful setting for relaxation, exploration, and good times. Stop by, have a nice drink, enjoy the shade of the front porch and hang out. You’ll have some stories to share when you get home.
Custer, Idaho
Custer is one of the oldest abandoned towns on this list. Founded in 1879, it quickly became a must-visit place for gold speculators and eventually turned into the home of the Black and Lucky Boy Mines, which employed many of the town’s residents.
According to Visit Idaho, the community reached its peak in 1896 when 600 people were living there. However, in less than 20 years, the place was left abandoned. Fortunately, many of its buildings were preserved, and in 1966, the Challis National Forest decided to take ownership. The community was ultimately added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Now, people can come to see and explore this abandoned town during the summer with free guided tours.
Kennicott, Alaska
By heading north, all the way to Alaska, you can see another perfect example of what it was like living in early 20th-century America (although this place wasn’t actually in the US, as Alaska didn’t become an official American state until 1959).
Kennicott was initially a thriving copper mining community that drew in lots of miners and their families. However, by the 1930s, the whole place had been mined out, only to become an abandoned town in 1938.
Fortunately, the National Park Service stepped in to save it from disrepair and even created a map for a self-guided tour. If you go there, make sure to also visit the Kennicott and Root glaciers, too.
Calico, California
In the 1800s, California was quite a hotbed of activity for miners due to the abundance of gold and other minerals. Several relocated to Calico, a small town in Bernardino County, in search of silver. They did find it — at least for a few decades, until the 1890s, when silver began to lose its value. As a result, those looking for their fortunes left, abandoning their homes.
Luckily, this abandoned town has withstood the test of time with help from Walter Knott. In the 1950s, he purchased the whole area as well as its buildings restoring those that had lost their luster. If you want to give it a shot, you can visit it every day from 9 AM to 5 PM.
South Pass City, Wyoming
Like other places on this list, South Pass City started as a gold mining town in the mid-1800s and had an initial growth until the gold ran dry. You may think that townspeople abandoned their homes on the first pass, however, it’s not the case.
Many of those who came for the gold decided to stay for the fertile land, setting up homesteads and farms. But this didn’t last long, so South Pass City eventually became an abandoned town. However, the community center turned into a historic site in 1968 thanks to the preservation efforts by the state. Alongside a team of dedicated volunteers, they maintained it to this day.
Independence, Colorado
Sometime in the late 1800s, prospectors discovered gold in Independence, Colorado, making others quickly follow suit. The Farwell Mining Company bought most of the leading mines and, by 1881, employed hundreds of folks thereafter, according to the Aspen Historical Society.
The town peaked with around 1,500 residents, and local businesses flourished too — until workers left in search of other riches, leaving their homes. However, in 1975, the Aspen Historical Society engaged in restoring this abandoned town so people could come and see it. You can visit it during summer via a self-guided tour.
Pro Tip: Make sure to also visit the Independence Pass, one of Colorado’s most mesmerizing mountain roads.
Keep reading to discover more best-preserved abandoned towns!
Rhyolite, Nevada
Rhyolite, Nevada, was named after what the place was known for — rhyolite, a silica-rich volcanic rock containing quartz, and the region was found to have plenty of gold-rich quartz. According to the National Park Service, the area once rivaled Mesa, Arizona, and even had its own school for 250 children, stock exchange, and hospital.
However, the financial crisis of 1907 forced businesses and mines to shutter and residents to relocate. Except for Bottle House, the train depot, and a few other buildings, the place is quite ruined.
This abandoned town is still an interesting destination to discover. It is a short drive from Death Valley National Park, and you may know the setting from the 2005 sci-fi thriller, The Island.
Goldfield, Arizona
I guess you know by now what folks were looking for in Goldfield, Arizona. I mean, even the town’s name gives it away. In the mid-1800s, people came here to work in the Mammoth Gold Mine, and it quickly became the type of place that would eventually inspire Wild West movies. Unfortunately, a break in the gold-bearing vein caused the area to decline, resulting in an abandoned town.
If you’re into this kind of movie, you’ll definitely enjoy seeing the general store, boarding house, saloons, and other attractions. Thanks to the Goldfield Gunfighters, you can even see a recreation of an old gunfight. The place is open to visitors every day.
Bannack, Montana
To say that Bannack is located in an isolated region of Montana is an understatement. Despite the lack of telephones, the word got out, so the prospectors, as well as their families, moved here after John White had found gold on Grasshopper Creek in 1862.
According to the Bannack’s official website, the community reached its peak in 1863 with 3,000 townspeople and 2,000 more folks living by the creek. In 1864, the town was named the First Territorial Capital of Montana. Unluckily, the honor lasted one year.
By 1865, everyone was going on to Alder Gulch, where gold had been discovered in 1863. Virginia City eventually became Montana’s capital city, making Bannack an abandoned town.
You may also want to read 10 Extremely Overrated Travel Destinations in the US (and Where You Should Go Instead).
