Ghost Towns in Nevada
35 documented ghost towns
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History
Nevada's landscape is dotted with silver mining ghost towns from the Comstock Lode era. The desert climate preserved structures remarkably well.
Regions: Great Basin • Mojave Desert
All Ghost Towns
Aurora
Aurora was so big it was capital of BOTH Mono County, California AND Esmeralda County, Nevada—until surveyors figured out it was in Nevada. Mark Twain...
Austin
Austin was site of the Reese River silver rush after a Pony Express horse kicked over a silver-rich rock in 1862. But its greatest legacy is Reuel Gri...
Belmont
Belmont was Nye County seat from 1867-1905. The impressive 1876 courthouse is preserved as a state historic park. The town had 10,000 residents, inclu...
Berlin
Berlin is Nevada's best-preserved ghost town with a 30-stamp mill and numerous buildings in a state park. The same park contains Ichthyosaur fossils -...
Candelaria
Candelaria was a silver mining town that peaked at 1,500 residents. Several impressive stone buildings survive. The town had an unusual cemetery arran...
Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek boomed and busted three times with silver discovery cycles. About 50 people still call this remote eastern Nevada town home....
Delamar
Delamar was called 'The Widowmaker' because silica dust from dry drilling killed over 400 miners from silicosis. The cemetery is full of young men. St...
Eureka
Eureka was the 'Pittsburgh of the West'—16 smelters processed ore from 50+ mines. It pioneered silver-lead smelting in America and became Nevada's sec...
Fairview
Fairview had 2,000 residents after the 1906 gold strike. Virgil Earp (Wyatt's brother) served as deputy here. A famous bank robbery occurred in 1909. ...
Gold Point
Gold Point is kept alive by longtime Sheriff Herb Robbins who bought most of the town and restores buildings. You can rent historic cabins to stay ove...
Goldfield
Goldfield was Nevada's largest gold rush, exploding to 20,000 people by 1907. The Goldfield Hotel, an elegant four-story landmark, still stands but is...
Goldwell Open Air Museum
Goldwell is an outdoor sculpture park near the ghost town of Rhyolite. Belgian artist Albert Szukalski created the iconic 'Last Supper' plaster ghost ...
Grantsville
Grantsville was a silver camp that boomed briefly. It is located just south of the more famous Berlin ghost town (known for its Ichthyosaur fossils). ...
Hamilton
Hamilton exploded to 10,000 people after the Treasure Hill silver strike. At 8,000 feet, winters were brutal. Fires and declining ore killed the town....
Ione
Ione was the original Nye County seat, with 600 residents at its peak. When the county seat moved to Belmont, then Tonopah, Ione faded. Today, one res...
Jarbidge
Jarbidge is one of the most remote towns in the continental US. In 1916, it was the site of the last stagecoach robbery in America. Only about 12 peop...
Lucky Boy
Lucky Boy boomed when silver was discovered in 1908. Within months, the town had 800 residents, multiple saloons, and a newspaper. The ore played out ...
Manhattan
Manhattan was a gold mining town that peaked at 4,000 during the early 1900s boom. About 50 people remain today. The community hall and a few business...
Metropolis
Metropolis was planned as a major farming city. The plan for 7,500 people never materialized. The impressive school and hotel ruins remain....
Nelson
Nelson (originally Eldorado) was a gold and silver mining town with a violent history. It is now a popular filming location and tourist attraction wit...
Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley is a historic ranching community in a picturesque valley surrounded by the Santa Rosa Range. The town retains old stone and adobe buil...
Pioche
Pioche was reportedly so violent that 72 people died of violence before anyone died of natural causes. The Million Dollar Courthouse still stands, alo...
Rawhide
Rawhide boomed and busted in just five years. Promoter Tex Rickard (later Madison Square Garden founder) ran the Northern Saloon. Elinor Glyn, scandal...
Rhyolite
Rhyolite is Nevada's most famous ghost town, known for the bottle house made of 50,000 bottles and the striking bank ruins. Near Death Valley....
Searchlight
Searchlight was a gold mining town that once had more people than Las Vegas. Senator Harry Reid grew up here and often spoke about its poverty. About ...
Seven Troughs
Seven Troughs was built in a narrow canyon that proved deadly. Multiple flash floods swept through, killing residents and destroying buildings. The re...
St. Thomas
St. Thomas was a prosperous Mormon farming community until Hoover Dam was completed. In 1938, Lake Mead submerged the town. During severe droughts, th...
Survival Town
Survival Town was built to be destroyed—a mock American town with furnished homes and mannequin families, nuked during 'Operation Teapot' in 1955 to t...
Tonopah
Tonopah was a silver/gold boomtown that peaked at 20,000. About 2,500 remain. The Mizpah Hotel is reportedly America's most haunted....
Tuscarora
Tuscarora was a 4,000-person silver and gold town. Today about 14 artists and recluses remain. The Tuscarora Pottery School attracts students internat...
Tybo
Tybo (Shoshone for 'White Man's District') was a silver and lead camp. It had a violent reputation. The most prominent ruins today are the charcoal ki...
Unionville
Unionville was a silver mining town where a young Mark Twain lived and failed to strike it rich in 1861-62. He wrote about it in 'Roughing It.' About ...
Virginia City
Virginia City was built atop the Comstock Lode, the richest silver deposit ever found in America. At its peak, it was one of the largest cities in the...
Ward
Ward's charcoal kilns are the best-preserved in Nevada—six massive beehive ovens that made charcoal for silver smelters. When the railroad brought coa...
Wonder
Wonder was a gold mining town that peaked at 1,500 residents. Stone ruins of buildings remain in the remote Wonder Mountains. The town had a newspaper...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ghost towns are in Nevada?
We have documented 35 ghost towns in Nevada. These range from completely abandoned mining camps to semi-inhabited historic settlements.
Are ghost towns in Nevada safe to visit?
Most ghost towns are safe to explore, but exercise caution. Watch for unstable structures, mine shafts, and wildlife. Some are on private property - always check access rules before visiting.
What should I bring when visiting ghost towns?
Bring water, snacks, sun protection, sturdy shoes, a flashlight, and a first aid kit. Many ghost towns are in remote areas without cell service, so download offline maps.
Can I take artifacts from ghost towns?
No. Removing artifacts, bottles, or debris is illegal and destroys historical sites. Take only photos and leave only footprints.
What's the best time to visit ghost towns in Nevada?
Spring and fall offer the best weather for exploring. Summer can be extremely hot in desert locations, while winter may make roads impassable.