“Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Wyoming” by Ken Lund
For many travelers, Wyoming is a desirable destination for its national parks. However, this state is home to much more than just beautiful landscapes. In fact, it’s famous for many reasons, including that it was the first in the country to give women the right to vote and for having 10 of the largest coal mines in the U.S. You might also be surprised to find that Wyoming has a handful of ghost towns scattered across it. Below you’ll discover five of the top ghost towns to venture to while in The Cowboy State.
Fort Laramie
The Background
Situated next to the Laramie and North Platte Rivers, Fort Laramie was a 19th-century fur trading and military center. It was designed to revive America’s fur trade by swapping goods with local Native American tribes.
Eventually, the land was abandoned in 1890. Calvary troops stormed the grounds once it was deserted and collected wood and other materials that they thought were important to store away for the future. In the 1980s, the land was designated a historic district.
Why It’s Notable
Fort Laramie is a notable spot because of its rich history. It not only served as a fur trading site, but provided goods to those traveling along the nearby Oregon Trail. It was also connected to part of the Pony Express and the transcontinental telegraph system.
Visitors will find plenty of restored and ruined structures to view. These include the Old Bakery, Guardhouse, Captain’s Quarters, Post Trader’s House, and Cavalry Barracks.
Where to Find It
To get to this historic spot, drive down Interstate 25 and then turn onto U.S. Highway 26. Continue down this road until you reach the town of Fort Laramie. Once you do, turn on State Route 160. You’ll need to drive down this road for about three miles before you see a sign for the ghost town.
Helpful Tips
The temperatures can get to be a little warm during the summer, especially if you plan to walk a lot. Because of this, make sure to carry plenty of water with you.
South Pass City
(photo:
The Background
South Pass City was a sought-after gold mining town during the 1800s that also served as a telegraph station for the Oregon Trail. The area quickly grew to a population of 2,000 but soon dwindled when gold reserves started to disappear.
Why It’s Notable
South Pass City was most famously traveled to by Samuel Clemens in 1861 who wrote a small description about it in one of his books called Roughing It. It was also the home of Esther Hobart Morris who was the first woman in the country to serve as a Justice of the Peace.
In addition to this, South Pass City is near Burnt Ranch which is a monument that indicates the crossing of the Westward Expansion Trails.
Where to Find It
To get to South Pass City, you’ll want to begin your journey in Lander. Drive down Interstate 287 and then turn onto State Route 28. Continue down this road until you find S Pass City Road. After turning onto it, drive down it for a few more minutes. You should soon see the ghost town on your left.
Helpful Tips
Make sure to wear heavy-duty shoes. The ghost town is situated on rocky ground and has over five trails you can venture down that could be a bit strenuous for some if you don’t have the correct footwear.
If you prefer to not tour the grounds yourself, there are tours available. Depending on the tour, you might need to sign up ahead of time.
Miner’s Delight
The Background
Located near the western edge of Wyoming, Miner’s Delight was founded by Jonathan Pugh in 1868. It was a popular place for mining thanks to the vast amount of minerals (especially quartz) found in the nearby mountains. Throughout its duration, its popularity fluctuated with the times. During the late 1800s it was almost abandoned before new minerals were found during the early 1900s that revived the population. Today, the land is uninhabited with the exception of old timber structures.
Why It’s Notable
Miner’s Delight was the childhood home of Calamity Jane, a frontierswoman known for her sharp-shooting skills.
In 1893, Miner’s Delight was home to a scandal known as the brass lock service mystery. Letters sent from the town were discovered to have been stolen despite the postmaster placing them in a thick bag with a secure brass lock. The mystery perplexed many, but was soon found to have been caused by a woman known as Stella Gatilin who suffered from kleptomania.
Where to Find It
To reach Miner’s Delight, start out from Atlantic City and take Country Road 237. Drive along it for a few minutes and turn on BLM Road 2324. You’ll want to travel down this pathway for about two miles. You should then start to see guideposts indicating where the ghost town is.
Helpful Tips
The parking lot is about ¼-mile away from the ghost town so you’ll need to be prepared to walk. Miner’s Delight also has a beautiful mountainous backdrop so be sure to bring your camera.
Kirwin
(photo: jolene.velarde)
The Background
A short drive away from Meeteetse, Kirwin was founded in the late 1800s when pioneers discovered gold and silver in its Tumlin Mineshaft. The town grew to house over 200 residents but was later abandoned in 1907 when a snowstorm caused a destructive avalanche that killed a few people. Today, the town is frozen in time and contains over 38 well-preserved buildings to view, such as a post office, stables, and boarding house.
Why It’s Notable
The ghost town was a favorite spot for Amelia Earhart who was building a small cabin within it before she tragically disappeared over the Pacific Ocean.
Where to Find It
Kirwin rests within the Shoshone National Forest. To get to it, go to the national forest’s Brown Mountain Campground. Follow the nearby Wood River Road for about an hour. The road will eventually come to a dead-end at the ghost town.
Helpful Tips
Kirwin is situated in the Absaroka Mountains so you need to have a four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach it. However, if you don’t have one, there are a few car-pooling services available.
Grand Encampment
(photo: whatisee925)
The Background
Grand Encampment is nestled near the Wyoming and Colorado border and was a bustling town famous for its copper deposits and smelting facilities. The town had so much copper that a steam-powered tramway was built to transport it. In the early 1900s mining operations stopped but the area was used as a sawmill site until 1998. \
Why It’s Notable
The tramway inside the town was once one of the longest in the world at 16 miles. Unlike many ghost towns, Grand Encampment still has a few residents. Its buildings are also well-preserved and visitors can tour them, including a two-level outhouse.
Where to Find It
You can reach Grand Encampment by traveling through the nearby town of Riverside. Follow Route 230 and then turn onto Route 70. You’ll drive along this road for about 10 minutes before reaching 6th Street. Turn onto this street and look for MacFarlane Avenue. Continue down MacFarlane Avenue until you see 8th Street which will take you directly to Grand Encampment.
Helpful Tips
Grand Encampment hosts various events throughout the year that might be intriguing for some. These include a rodeo in June and melodramas at its historic opera house.
The town is also a prime spot for wildlife, so be sure to bring your camera and binoculars.
Wyoming is home to a vast amount of ghost towns that each have their own distinctive history. If you’re looking for a unique way to explore this state, consider stopping by one of these extraordinary areas.
