Author: Margaret Brooks / Source: Daily Facts Daily
15 Amazing Ghost Towns You Have to See
In the past and through modern times, towns often sprung up near resources. You’ve seen movies about old west mining towns built near a silver mine, or logging towns thriving around a lumber mill. Without modern transportation, the logical option for companies harvesting natural resources was building a town at the site of the harvest.
We use logging and mining only as examples. Cities and towns, like Las Vegas, were built for other reasons as well. Vegas managed to stay alive, but many towns developed around a natural resource, or for whatever reason, were abandoned after the supply dried up. Gold mines and forests eventually ran out of gold or wood, and the people migrated to a new town.
Many of these towns are still around today, and some remain preserved just for tourists. We’ve put together a list of 15 amazing ghost towns you have to see to help you find these destinations without wasting hours sifting through fake ghost towns online. Most are listed as historical sites in their state or part of a national park, so check their websites for more details or help planning a trip.
Bodie, California
Bodie was a thriving gold mining town in the late nineteenth century. When the gold mine was played out, residents moved on to seek their fortunes elsewhere. It doesn’t seem impressive at first, but Bodie is almost a blueprint for what Hollywood depicts as a mining or old west town.
The history of Bodie contains everything from shootouts and fights in the streets to hideouts for outlaws. At one point over 10,000 people called Bodie home.
Kennecott, Alaska
Kennicott is at the end of a dirt road that is 60-miles long. When the copper mine was tapped out in the 1930s, the town died out with it. At one time, this mining town had a hospital, a school, skating rink, and many other things you expect to see in many modern cities.
The town and the area around it are dangerous if you aren’t familiar with the town. The state recommends taking one of the guided tours if you plan to visit Kennicott.
Cahawba, Alabama
For about seven years, Cahawba was the capital of the state of Alabama. It thrived as a river town until after the Civil War. After the people left, nature began its work to reclaim the land where Cahawba stood. The Alabama Historical Commission is currently working with historians and archaeologists to restore Cahawba.
Calico, California
Calico gives us a glimpse into what the world looked like for miners in the late 1800s. During what amounted to the most significant silver find in history, Calico grew into a town that produced over twenty million dollars in silver in a little over a decade. Some of the town is restored to its original state while other portions remain a work in progress.
Rhyolite, Nevada
Rhyolite is just northeast of Death Valley National Park. That’s not our idea of a great place to live, but at its founding Rhyolite was part of a gold rush that at one time consisted of more than 2,000 claims. After a massive gold discovery nearby, the town grew at a fantastic pace.
In less than five years, from 1904 to around 1907, Rhyolite grew to include a school, hospital, stock exchange, and an ice plant. However, by 1920 the town was practically abandoned because the mine closed, and the gold was gone.
St. Elmo, Colorado
St. Elmo was once a booming mining town. From around 1870 to…
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