Ghost Town Primer
Winter 2024-2025
A quick history—plus how-to guide—for visiting the state’s many uninhabited burgs.
BY MEGG MUELLER
Nevada is known for many things: Las Vegas, mining, and wide-open spaces, for example. While some people may be aware, it’s perhaps less known that the state is home to more ghost towns than currently populated ones.
Many states have ghost towns, but here, there are more than 600 spread across the desert landscape. That figure outnumbers populated towns almost five-to-one, based on the approximately 175 zip-coded locales in the state.
So just how did Nevada end up with so many places no one wanted to call home any longer? And what is a ghost town, exactly? Are there really “living” ghost towns? Read on for the answers to these questions and more.
So Much More Than Just a Desert
Nevada’s geology played a significant role in creating these often-short-lived towns. Rich mineral deposits—particularly gold and silver—dotted the landscape, just waiting to be discovered.
When such potential wealth was found, it would spark a rush to the area. Overnight, towns sprang up around mining sites because where the prospectors went, support businesses followed; grocery stores, mining supplies, hotels, and of course, saloons rose up as fast as the miners’ tents. You can’t throw a rock in Nevada without hitting a town that can claim it was once the largest in the state, if only for a short while.
Mining activity fluctuated as easily found ore was depleted and a new claim was found elsewhere in the state. This led to the boom-and-bust cycle responsible for so many of the rapidly vacated towns we see today.
Location, Location
Another factor in the proliferation of ghost towns was the often-remote nature of the ore discoveries. Lucky prospectors might stumble upon a rich deposit while simply traveling to the next town, and if ore was found in an incredibly secluded location, it didn’t stop people from coming in droves. Towns would spring up in harsh environments, far from major cities or infrastructure, and when the silver or gold ran dry, people were just as quick to leave. These locations made it challenging for people who wished to remain: a lack of water, harsh weather conditions, and isolation all contributed to the decline of these settlements.
Future Forward
While prospectors raced around the state in search of fortunes, leaving a trail of now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t towns in their wake, another factor began to have impact.
As mining techniques evolved, older methods and infrastructure became obsolete. Towns dependent on outdated practices often struggled to survive as newer mines and more efficient methods were developed elsewhere. Once the easily mined ore was gone, towns that used slower—and often more-costly—methods of extraction to get the harder-to-find samples simply couldn’t compete. People moved on to potentially greener pastures.
Along those same lines, the development of railroads greatly affected the fortunes of Nevada’s towns. Settlements that were well-connected to rail lines prospered, and new ones sprung up to take advantage as well. Those reliant on more pedestrian means faced tough challenges: Supply issues and the difficulty of moving mined ore to market caused a natural exodus to towns better situated near railways.
Step Into History
The misfortunes of these pioneering Nevada towns were many, but through today’s lens, we could consider them good luck. Visiting these once-bustling settlements is a fantastic way to explore Nevada’s wide-open space. But what can you expect to find when you venture to one of these towns? The short answer is just about anything.
Some towns are barely recognizable by a couple stone foundations or the scant remnants of mining operations. Other times, you’ll round a bend in the road to discover half a dozen or more structures rising amid a landscape that is working hard to reclaim the land.
Not knowing what is out there is half the fun for some. These intrepid folk grab a map or get directions from a book or website and head out to discover what may (or may not) be left. For others, rigorous research is required to determine not only the location but the current state of the ghost town. These folks read about the town’s history and look for the latest updates from fellow travelers. The good news is whichever way you choose to ghost town (yep, it’s a verb), there are plenty of locations to satisfy.
Make A Plan
Many choose which ghost town to visit based on proximity, but if you’re looking for a great reason to take a road trip, you couldn’t find a better one. Whether you plan the ghost town visits around the road trip, or vice versa, you’ll be sure to have a memorable time. If you don’t have any towns in mind, check out travelnevada.com/ghosttown for suggestions on some tried-and-true locations.
Over time, some towns have been deemed honorary ghost towns due to historical origins and current things to see, but they don’t fall under the definition of a ghost town for one specific reason: People still live there. These living ghost towns are worth a visit, but please be aware that sometimes residents may not love having their home called a ghost town; always be respectful of private property.
That advice goes for the uninhabited ghost towns as well. While a building might look abandoned, it could very well be privately owned, just not currently occupied. Even if these places “look” abandoned, don’t assume anything and make sure that you practice Leave No Trace ethics. And don’t forget Leave No Trace also means don’t take anything but pictures while visiting.
Visiting ghost towns is an incredible way to feed many birds with one scone: These excursions often combine road trips with history, education with outdoor recreation, and family fun with low-cost adventure. Consider this your invitation to make history come alive.
