The Enchanting Ghost Towns of the American West

Even if it’s no longer used for this purpose, it remains a magical place, as if suspended in time. Pioneertown today mainly thrives on tourism: many travelers come here to stay in Western-style buildings, feeling like protagonists in a Sergio Leone film. There are themed motels, souvenir shops, and of course, historical reenactments in costume (especially during summer weekends) along Mane Street, in addition to shows, concerts, and much more.

Deadwood - Pioneertown - Tombstone
GHOST TOWNS OF THE WEST - PHOTO GALLERY 

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3) Goldfield (Nevada)

Goldfield, founded in 1902 during the gold rush, was abandoned after a series of floods in the 1920s. Unlike the previous towns, it is known not for its Western heritage, but for phenomena related to the paranormal: it is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman abandoned and then imprisoned with her newborn child inside the Goldfield Hotel.

Beyond this macabre yet fascinating legend, it's worth visiting this ghost town of the West to admire its structure as an abandoned mining center, among unused railway tracks and railcars scattered around the historic gold mines, a testament to how a civilization can rise and vanish into thin air, leaving behind ruins full of poetry.

4) Deadwood (South Dakota)

Deadwood, a small village in South Dakota, is a ghost town of the West with plenty to do and see. The name might sound familiar: about twenty years ago, a TV series bearing its name was filmed here. But Deadwood is much older, dating back to the gold rush era of the 19th century, when houses, shops, and saloons in pure Western style were built.

Besides participating in historical reenactments, it's recommended to visit Mount Moriah Cemetery, a place full of inspiration where Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, key figures of the Western era, are buried. It's also worth visiting the Broken Boot Gold Mine, to tour the inside of the gold mine, which today has become a beautiful museum.

GHOST TOWNS: THE MAP

5) Bodie (California)

Among all the ghost towns of the West, Bodie is certainly the best preserved, so much so that it has been recognized as a national historic landmark. Visiting it is the most authentic way to understand how life was in California during the gold rush (1870s and 1880s). Today, that era is a distant dream, and the town, in perfect condition, continues to live as if suspended in time, thanks largely to tourism.
Photography enthusiasts can capture about 200 abandoned wooden buildings, including the Methodist church, the school, the barber, and the saloon, on whose counter even remains of broken bottles and plates can still be found. Bodie is open year-round, but those wishing to extend their visit to Bodie State Historic Park should check official sources first, as visits are not always possible.

6) Kennecott (Alaska)

Kennecott is a remote place: it is reached by traveling over 100 kilometers on the road leading into St. Elias National Park (the largest in the USA). In this northern West ghost town, between 1910 and 1940, the population worked hard at extracting copper, a metal of fundamental importance for the industrialization process, but the mine was depleted by 1938.
The place is perfectly preserved and very fascinating to visit.

It’s necessary to turn to official St. Elias guides, who lead visitors on an engaging and educational tour, lasting about two hours. Once in Kennecott, it's also worth admiring the glaciers surrounding the location.

Bodie - Goldfield - Kennecott
GHOST TOWNS OF THE WEST - PHOTO GALLERY 

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