Take a step back in time when you visit the ghost towns scattered across the country. Many of these towns had a boom in mining times. Eventually, the resources dried up and the people left for new opportunities. Here are some of the best towns you can still visit to get a taste of what an old mining town looked like.

St. Elmo, Colorado

Once a booming gold and silver mining town, St. Elmo is now a place where you can drive your new Ford for sale and experience a blast from the past. When the mines dried up, the settlers took the last train out of town and never looked back. Now you can shop at the original general store during certain months of the year.

Kennecott, Alaska

In its heyday, Kennecott was a forerunner in copper mining. Once the mine dried up, the company left along with the residents. Luckily, the National Park Service has preserved this unique town and you can take a guided tour through it.

Rhyolite, Nevada

Located near Death Valley National Park, Rhyolite was once known for quartz. This town was quite large and boasted hotels, a hospital, an opera house, and a stock exchange. The financial panic in 1907 was the beginning of the end for this town and in 1916 the lights and power were turned off for good.

Nevada City, Montana

Once a gold mining town, Nevada City was restored to glory by the Bovey family. The unique thing about this place is the live interpretations in the open-air museum experience.

Nelson, Nevada

Mining gold in the Tehatticup Mine was fraught with rivalry and disputes in its day. The mines stayed open until the 1940s, but a flash flood in the 1970s in nearby Nelson’s Landing ended the opportunities in this area. This location is used often for film and video shoots.

Calico, California

Restored by Walter Knott, Calico offers a peek into the past of a silver mining town. Miners in the 1800s found plenty of gold, silver, and minerals, but when silver dropped in value, the miners left and never returned.

Independence, Colorado

Take a self-guided tour through this once-thriving gold mining town. It boomed around 1881 with the population topping out at 1,500. Once the mines weren’t producing as much, the town deteriorated and went ghost. In 1975, the Aspen Historical Society decided to protect the ruins and you can now tour it.

Custer, ID

Located in the Challis National Forest, Custer was a gold mining town that boomed around 1896. It had eight saloons, a laundry service, and a stamp mill. For 15 years it thrived until Custer’s Mills shut down and the people had to leave. It’s now part of the National Register of Historic Places.

Which Ghost Town Will You Visit First?

Step into one of the most unique eras in history when you visit one of these ghost towns. You could set up an epic road trip that takes you through multiple towns to truly get a taste of what mining booms looked like.

Jane