10 of America’s Best-Preserved Abandoned Towns You Can Actually Visit

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.