20 American Ghost Towns That Feel Like Wild West Time Capsules
Step Into The Past
America’s Wild West is full of boom-and-bust stories of gold rushes, silver strikes, and frontier life. Places that once thrived with miners, merchants, and outlaws became abandoned as soon as the boom ended. Today, they stand frozen in time, offering a fascinating albeit eerie glimpse into Wild West life, and serve as a reminder of the impermanence of prosperity. Here are 20 American ghost towns that will transport you to a different era.
1. Bodie, California
Bodie, California, is one of the most famous ghost towns in the US. Known for its lawlessness, Bodie experienced a boom when miners struck gold there in 1876, but by the 20th century, the gold was depleted, and the town was abandoned, locking it in time.
2. Jerome, Arizona
Jerome, Arizona, was a thriving copper mining town in the early 20th century, but by the mid-1900s, the mines were mostly closed and the town was abandoned. The town is known for its well-preserved old buildings dramatically perched on the steep hillside.
3. Rhyolite, Nevada
Famous for its rapid boom-and-bust story, Rhyolite, Nevada, experienced its heyday in the early 1900s when gold was struck nearby. A stock exchange and massive bank building were built, but by 1916, most of the town's residents had left. It now sits in ruin in its stark desert setting.
4. Silverton, Colorado
Silverton was a silver mining town nestled in the rugged San Juan Mountains. It was founded in the late 1800s during Colorado's silver boom. By the early 20th century, most of the town's mines had closed, but Silverton lives on as a charming tourist destination.
5. Bannack, Montana
Bannack is an exceptionally well-preserved historic town in Montana, once known for being a hub for outlaws. It was founded in the 1860s after gold was discovered and quickly grew into a bustling town with thousands of residents. However, by the late 19th century, the gold was mostly depleted, and everyone slowly moved away.
6. St. Elmo, Colorado
One of the best-preserved ghost towns in the Rocky Mountains, St. Elmo was founded as a gold mining town in the 1880s, complete with saloons, brothels, and general stores. It declined by the 1920s, but many of the original buildings are still standing, appearing just as they were in 1900.
Rolf Blauert Dk4hb on Wikimedia
7. Kennecott, Alaska
Kennecott, Alaska, is famous for its abandoned copper mines, red brick buildings, and striking setting amid glaciers and rugged mountains. Its boom period was in the early 1900s, but by 1938, the copper was depleted, and the town was abandoned. It's now well-preserved as part of the Wrangell-Saints. Elias National Park.
8. Old Town Spring, Texas/New Mexico
Walking through Old Town Spring, it's easy to picture cowboys having a showdown at the saloon. It was founded as a stop along trade routes in the 1800s, and while it declined, it was never fully abandoned and now exists as a tourist destination known for its historic charm.
9. Garnet, Montana
Garnet was founded in the late 19th century as a gold mining settlement during Montana's gold rush. By the 1910s, gold in the area was depleted, and residents gradually moved aw, ay but much of the original buildings remain intact to this day.
10. Ashcroft, Colorado
Ashcroft, Colorado, was founded as a silver mining town in the 1880s. Set at 9,000 feet elevation, it's known for its dramatic and eerie aesthetic, with the historic buildings often dusted in snow.
11. Dawson, New Mexico
Dawson was founded as a coal mining town in the early 20th century and quickly grew into a thriving community. However, a series of catastrophic explosions killing hundreds of miners led to the town being abandoned, leaving behind a tragic and eerie atmosphere.
Legends of America Archives on Wikimedia
12. Glenrio, Texas
Glenrio, Texas, was a railroad town situated right on the border between Texas and New Mexico. Still rife with Route 66 nostalgia, it thrived during the peak of America's Mother Road, but the addition of new highways caused traffic to vanish by the 1970s.
13. Mystic, South Dakota
Mystic, South Dakota, was founded as a farming and trading village in the late 1800s. It was abandoned by the 20th century as changing demographics and new roads caused a decline in business. The little-known ghost town captures what small, everyday life on the frontier would've looked like.
14. Santa Claus, Arizona
Unlike the industrial mining towns on this list, Santa Claus was founded as a themed tourist destination in 1937, giving it a quirky twist. It featured a Santa-themed post office, a gift shop, and other kitschy attractions, but by the 1940s, the novelty had faded and the town was mostly abandoned.
15. Shaniko, Oregon
Shaniko, Oregon, was known as the "wool capital of the world" during its peak in the early 1900s, but when railroads rerouted the wool market, the town declined. It stands as a well-preserved historic frontier town frozen in time.
16. Virginia City, Montana
One of the best-preserved ghost towns in the Western US, Virginia City was established after gold was struck nearby in the 1860s. At its peak, it had over 10,000 residents and a slew of saloons, hotels, schoolhouses, and other businesses, but as gold production slowed, the town was largely abandoned. Today, it stands as an open-air museum and tourist attraction.
17. Tombstone, Arizona
A town named Tombstone was destined to become a ghost town. It was founded in 1879 when silver was discovered, but when silver prices fell, the mine closed and the town's residents left. Today, it stands as a tourist attraction known for its historic buildings and wild west feel.
18. Calico, California
Calico in the Mojave Desert was founded in the 1880s as a silver mining community, but when silver prices fell, the mines closed, and the town was abandoned. It was purchased in the 1950s by a businessman who had the town restored as a historic park.
Enrico Stirl a.k.a. Germaneon on Wikimedia
19. Aurora, Nevada
After gold and silver were discovered nearby, Aurora, Nevada, grew rapidly into a bustling hub. However, harsh winters, poor infrastructure, and dwindling resources cause the town to be abandoned.
20. Goldfield, Nevada
Goldfield was once one of Nevada's richest gold mining settlements with over 20,000 residents. However, as gold production declined in the 1910s, so did the town, and it was completely abandoned.
