It is always mesmerizing to walk around a ghost town…
It has been almost 36 years now that I’ve been visiting ghost towns whenever there was one located near a place I’ve decided to visit, and with over 3,800 ghost towns across the United States, I could experience quite a lot of different wonders. From real towns from the gold rush era, to abandoned famous western movie sets, there’s plenty to enjoy with American ghost towns!
What is a ghost town?
A ghost town is an abandoned village, town, or city, with substantial structures (buildings or infrastructures) still visible. The ones that preserve historic architecture have become tourist attractions. Some are deserted, which means nobody is maintaining the structures and you visit them at your own risks. Ruins are full of historic vibrations and you’ll probably be alone or barely meet anyone if you visit small and remote ones. Expect more people for bigger and well-known ones like Bodie or Calico in California. On the opposite, some are teeming with life and activities, especially made for tourists to offer them a time-warp experience. They usually have live shows reenacting famous past events and people working there in full costumes. Some offer a mixture of both experience, with a visitor center-type maintained building giving you a plan and some instructions on how you can enjoy the derelict buildings of the ghost town. Some are entirely private and can only be enjoyed from a distance. Whatever the type, each is worth a visit as they will bring you different emotions and adventures, and will entice you to learn more about their respecting history and reasons for abandonment. There’re no two ghost towns alike!
Do you want to include a visit to a ghost town in your next trip? I can help you find the best ones according to your destinations:
What to expect in a ghost town
While a good part of US ghost towns are registered on the National Register of Historic Places, some can be privately owned while others can be part of the state or national park system. Some are bought by private individuals to live in or develop into tourists attractions. Depending on the ghost town, expect these totally different experiences:
- Small and scattered buildings, with few left in good condition and a lot of broken ones VS many buildings with some in pretty good shape, some well maintained or even fixed where people can enter and visit.
- Hard to reach and roads may be closed in winter, or the dirt roads leading there might require a 4WD and could be long and barely accessible or maintained VS a few miles on a dirt road with clear signs and parking lots.
- Real towns that were once well alive and full of activities VS abandoned movie sets specially built for some shootings.
- You visit on your own with little to no guidance, usually free of charge or just a small maintenance fee, don’t expect to find commodities VS guided tours and visits, with activities such as shows, mine tours, gold panning, some bars and gift shops, even restaurants and inns.
Experience a living ghost town!
The words “living” and “ghost” shouldn’t be linked with the same thing, right? Well, you’re wrong when dealing with certain ghost towns, such as Randsburg, CA, situated in the Mojave Desert. Once a silver mining town, it continued being populated even after the mine closed in 1929 and was thus, never really abandoned. Part of the Yellow Aster lode mine, properties were shortly remined in the 80’s and 90’s. It still has a little less than 70 souls living there. They welcome tourists and have shops open on weekends only. What makes it a ghost town then? Some people moved in abandoned structures and fixed them, some have them in their backyards, new structures were built around old ones… keeping a rich part of this American history intact! Definitely worth a visit! Learn more in the link below:
https://www.desertusa.com/cities/ca/randsburg-ca.html
General rules and tips to visit a ghost town
To make the most enjoyable visit possible, always follow these few tips according to the type of ghost town you want to experience:
THE GHOST TOWNS DOS & DONTS
– Remember, you’re visiting at your own risks!
– If you visit an off-road town, use a 4WD.
– Bring a paper map, as signals might be hard to keep in remote places.
– Always bring enough food, water, extra-clothes and blankets.
– Don’t forget first aid kits, phone and extra batteries, flat tire equipment.
– ALWAYS follow weather reports, make sure you are aware of the weather and check it regularly. Be aware of potential flash floods, as they can be deadly.
– Do not take any risk if you are not sure.
– Do not enter private lands or properties if the ghost town is private property.
– Plan your trip so you have enough time to safely travel back the dirt roads before dark.
– If there are accommodations in a ghost town, book in advance as it can fill up quickly.
– Follow the rules and stay away from unauthorized buildings or other left items.
– Don’t touch or climb structures or items.
– Do not pick anything to bring home.
– Many abandoned and lone places can have some graffitis or other markings from people stopping by, whether recent or “historic” ones. Do not do the same and respect history.
Schedule a visit to a ghost town now!
I’ve always enjoyed visiting ghost towns, and enjoy going back to the ones I liked. I still find new ones even after all these years. Old mines or gold rush era towns full of history and a strange eerie feeling of loneliness and poetry is sure to give your trip a little something special to remember. It is both fun and instructional, and will delight little ones and grown ups alike. Feel free to browse the links below to find a few ideas on your next destination! And remember, leave only footprints, bring only memories!
Bodie State Historic Park (ca.gov)
Vulture City Ghost Town (vultureminetours.com)
Ghost Towns and History of the American West
For more destinations ideas or infos, find me at USAWITHGIGI.COM!
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