Ghost Towns of the American West

Welcome to Ghost Towns of the American West, a site dedicated to showcasing abandoned or mostly abandoned towns in the Western United States. These towns were once thriving communities boasting hundreds or even thousands of residents. As mines tapped out and the country evolved, many residents moved away leaving empty buildings and streets frozen in time.

Today, these places survive because of the hard work of former residents, preservationists, and historic societies. For every town that is preserved, there are many more that slowly decay. You can help by supporting preservation efforts and responsible tourism to keep these places alive for future generations.

What are ghost towns?

A ghost town is an abandoned village, town, or city, usually one that contains substantial visible remaining buildings and infrastructure such as roads. Ghost towns are common in mining or mill towns in all the western states, and many eastern and southern states as well.

Where did everyone go?

Factors leading to the abandonment of towns include depleted natural resources, economic activity shifting elsewhere, railroads and roads bypassing the town, and natural or man-made disasters. In some cases towns are not completely abandoned, but have a dwindling number of remaining residents.

Know a place? Submit a town!

Although many ghost towns exist today as clusters of substantially intact buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, there are many towns that are close to disappearing forever. If you know of a town that should be documented, please submit it using this form. Together we can keep history alive.