List of ghost towns in Nevada



Most ghost towns in Nevada in the United States are former mining boomtowns that were abandoned when the mines closed. Those that were not set up as mining camps were usually established as locations for mills, or supply points for nearby mining operations.
In Clark County, settlements along the Colorado River have been submerged underneath the reservoirs of Lake Mead or Lake Mohave.

Conditions

Ghost towns can include sites in various states of disrepair and abandonment. Some sites no longer have any trace of buildings or civilization, and have reverted to empty land. Other sites are unpopulated but still have standing buildings. Still others may support full-time residents, though usually far fewer than at their historical peak, while others may now be museums or historical sites.
For ease of reference, the sites listed have been placed into one of the following general categories.
;Barren site
  • Site is no longer in existence
  • Site has been destroyed, covered with water, or has reverted to empty land
  • May have at most a few difficult-to-find foundations/footings
;Neglected site
  • Little more than rubble remains at the site
  • Dilapidated, often roofless buildings remain at the site
;Abandoned site
  • Buildings or houses still standing, but all or almost all are abandoned
  • No population, with the possible exception of a caretaker
  • Site no longer in use, except for one or two buildings
;Semi-abandoned site
  • Buildings or houses still standing, but most are abandoned
  • A few residents may remain
;Historic site
  • Buildings or houses still standing
  • Site has been converted to a historical site, museum, or tourist attraction
  • Still a busy community, but population is smaller than in its peak years

List of ghost towns in Nevada


TownOther namesImageCountyEstablishedDisestablishedStatusNotes
AlturasClark1861In El Dorado Canyon near Techatticup Mine in the Colorado Mining District.
AuroraMineral1860Neglected siteAccording to published time-lines, Aurora's population suffered greatly in 1865. Only two mills were still in operation. In 1866 much of the town was leveled in a Great fire That burned most of the business district. A second fire followed in 1873, and by 1880 the population had dropped down to less than 500 persons.
AustinLander1862Historic siteClifton was still active in 1865 but when the mill closed in 1867, the town was abandoned. While Austin's mining activity was at its peak during the late 1860s...
BeattyNye1905Historic siteAround Indian Springs, Nevada. Beatty is known for two things, as a gateway to Death Valley and the ever-popular road trip stop, the Death Valley Nut and Candy Company.
BellevilleMineral1872 1892 By the late 1880s pipes delivered water to Candelaria and allowed local mills to begin operation, reducing the need for shipping costs. Belleville could not survive the competition and was deserted by 1892.
BelmontNye18651922Semi-abandoned siteFormer Nye County courthouse in Belmont is preserved as Belmont Courthouse State Historic Park.
BerlinNye18971911Historic sitePreserved within Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park
Bermond StationFrenchmanChurchill19201926The site was also known as Frenchman or "Frenchy's and later as Bermond Station from 1920 to 1926.
BlairEsmeralda19061916Neglected siteThe site of the largest stamp mill in Nevada, at the time
Bristol WellsLincoln18721905Abandoned siteBy 1893, however, Bristol Well fell out of use. In 1900, a copper leaching plant was built to treat ore from the Bristol Mine, but it only operated for two years. After the railroad was completed through Lincoln County in 1905, Bristol Well wasn't used again.
Broken HillsMineral19131940Neglected siteBroken Hills is a ghost town in Mineral County, Nevada. It was primarily the site of the mining operation of miners, Joseph Arthur and James Stratford from...
BullfrogNye19041907Neglected siteFounded just south of Rhyolite, had a rivalry with Rhyolite. Rhyolite eventually won out before becoming a ghost town as well.
BullionvilleLincoln18701882Barren siteA reliable water supply supported milling in town until nearby Pioche built waterworks to supply water to Pioche mills. Afterward, Bullioniville was slowly abandoned.
Cactus SpringsNye19101935Cactus Springs is a ghost town in Nye County, Nevada. It is currently within the boundaries of the Nellis Air Force Range.
CallvilleClark18641869Submerged under Callville Bay of Lake MeadSteamboat landing, County seat of Pah-Ute County, Arizona Territory, post office
CandelariaMineral18641939Neglected siteThe Northern Belle mine produced 15 million dollars in silver during production.
ChafeyDun GlenPershing19081913Was originally called Dun Glen.
CharlestonElko18761956Abandoned siteCharleston is a ghost town in Elko County, Nevada, United States.... It lies along the Bruneau River just south of the Mountain City and Jarbidge Ranger...
CliftonLander1862Semi-abandoned siteJust west of Austin.
CoaldaleEsmeralda18941993Neglected siteLeaking fuel tanks forced closure of the gas station around 1993, and with no other reason to stop, the place folded. Sometime in the mid 2000's the restaurant mysteriously caught fire. Over the years, a number of people were involved in what would be known in later years as Coaldale.
CobreElkoBy 1937, only about 20 people lived in Cobre, and in November 1948 the Southern Pacific abandoned the station. Ore shipments continued through Cobre until June 20, 1983, when the smelter at McGill closed. Today, not much remains of Cobre and a large cinderblock engine house from the 1960s dominates the site.
Colorado CityClark1861Submerged under Lake MohaveSteamboat landing near the mouth of El Dorado Canyon in the Colorado Mining District.
ColumbusEsmerelda18651881Neglected site
ComoLyon18611930sPost office 1879–1881, 1903–1905; mining town occupied intermittently, activity finally ceasing in the 1930s after the closing of a sawmill.
CortezLander18631930George Hearst mined at the area in the 1860s.
Crystal SpringsLincoln
CurrantNye18651871
DaveytownHumboldt19101930
DeethElko18691915A depot and trading center for local ranchers and ranchers from adjacent counties.
DelamarLincoln18901909In 1897, Delamar had a population of 3000.
DelanoElko18721927The town was the site of a small gold-mining district that saw production from the 1870s to the 1960s.
Dixie ValleyChurchill1861
Dun GlenPershing18621894Later became Chafey.
EaglevilleMineral18851915Neglected site
El Dorado CityClark18631880sBarren siteMining camp in El Dorado Canyon in the Colorado Mining District. Site of the El Dorado Mills.
EtnaPershing18651872
FairviewChurchill19051919At its height, Fairview had 27 saloons.
Fish Lake ValleyEsmeralda
FlaniganWashoe19091973
Fort ChurchillLyonPreserved within Fort Churchill State Historic Park
FrenchmanChurchill19061920The site was also known as Frenchy's and later as Bermond Station 1920–26
GenoaMormon StationDouglas1851Historic siteOriginally called Mormon Station. Now part of Mormon Station State Historic Park
GolcondaHumboldt18691908Semi-abandoned townGolconda's hot springs were a famous landmark for westbound travelers.
Gold CenterNye19041919Barren siteThe origin of Gold Center’s name is a mystery, for it was not the center of anything and it had no gold. It was a critical water source for nearby Bullfrog and Rhyolite and at one time had a large brewery and the only distilled water ice plant in Nevada.
Gold PointEsmeralda
GoldfieldEsmeralda1902Semi-abandoned town
GoodspringsClark1900
GrantsvilleNye
HamiltonCave CityWhite Pine18681931Hamilton was originally called Cave City, because early arrivals set up camp in nearby caves.
Hardin CityHumboldt18581866Neglected
HikoLincoln18651882Semi-abandoned townHiko was a Native American expression meaning "white man's town".
IoneNye18631930sAt its peak, Ione had 100 houses and a population of 500.
JacobsvilleLander1859Late 1870sA Pony Express station and the first seat of Lander County.
JarbidgeElko1909
JessupChurchill1908
JohnnieNye18901935Barren siteWater in town was scarce. It was drawn from a spring four miles away, packed in canvas bags, and hauled to town by donkeys.
JohntownLyon18531860sBarren siteConsidered to be the first ghost town of Nevada.
JungoHumboldt19111952BarrenPost office from January 1911 until May 1952
Lahontan CityChurchill19111915NeglectedDeveloped to house workers during the construction of Lahontan Dam
LanderLander18801921
LoganLincoln18651930
LouisvilleClark18611862In El Dorado Canyon near the Techatticup Mine in the Colorado Mining District.
Lucky Jim CampClark1862Barren siteIn El Dorado Canyon near the Techatticup Mine in the Colorado Mining District.
MariettaMineral18671894Neglected site
MazumaPershing19071912Post office: 1907–1912. Site of flash flood that killed at least eight and destroyed most of the town.
MetropolisElko1909
MidasGold CircleElko19081942The camp was first called Gold Circle, but when the post office was established in 1907, officials decided that Nevada had too many towns with "gold" in their names, and the town was renamed Midas.
MillersEsmeralda
MiriamChurchillNon-agency station of the SPRR
Mountain CityElko1870Semi-abandoned town
Nevada CityChurchill19161919A co-operative colony
OcalaChurchill
OsceolaWhite Pine
PalisadeEureka18681910
PalmettoEsmeralda18661920sNeglected siteMiners named the town after local Joshua trees, which they thought were related to the palmetto tree.
ParranChurchill1910A telegraph station and post office. Post office closed 1913.
Pine GroveLyon18661918Abandoned siteSeveral buildings remain.
PioneerNye19081931Barren sitePost office 1909-1931
PoevilleWashoe18641880Post office 1874-1878
PotosiClarkBarren site
Quartz MountainNye19051922Barren siteLocated inside the Nellis Air Force Base Bombing and Gunnery Range.
RagtownChurchill1854Leeteville may be the same location.
RawhideMineral1907Barren siteRawhide Mining Co. has destroyed any remains of the town. Now it is just an open pit mine.
Devastating fire in 1908, $1 million in property damage and thousands left homeless.
RhyoliteNye19051916Abandoned sitePost office closed 1913
Rio TintoElko19321948A few houses and the school remain.
RiovilleJunction CityClark18691906Site is now under Lake Mead.Originally Junction City, Rioville had a post office from 1881 to 1906.
RochesterPershing19121942
Ruby HillEureka18731910
RuthWhite Pine
Saint JosephClark18651868BarrenSite located west of the north end of Overton Airport and east of the Muddy River. It burned down in 1868. Town name and population moved to what is now Logandale.
St. ThomasClarkSubmerged beneath Lake Mead. Ruins became visible when the waters of the lake were lowered.
Salt WellsChurchill2007Site of a borax plant, bar, gas station and former brothel
San JacintoElko18701938A former mining boomtown that was incorporated April 9, 1888. Its Post Office closed in April 1938.
San JuanClark1862The camp was abandoned just weeks after being established.
ScossaPershing19311937One of the last important mining camps in Nevada.
Seven TroughsPershing19071918
Silver CanyonLincoln
SimonsvilleClark18651870sBarrenOriginally called Mill Point, located west of the south end of Overton Airport and east of the Muddy River.
Spruce MountainElko
Star CityPershing
StillwaterChurchill1862
SulphurHumboldtNeglected
TempiuteLincoln18681957In the 1950s, the Lincoln mine was one of the primary producers of tungsten in the U.S.
TenaboLander19071930s
Treasure CityWhite Pine1869
TyboNye
UnionvillePershingSemi-abandoned town
VernonPershing1905
VyaWashoe
Washoe CityWashoe18601910sNeglected site
White Cloud CityChurchillAlso known as Coppereid
White PlainsChurchill18791909"No vegetation meets the eye when gazing on the vast expanse of dirty white alkali."
WonderChurchill1906Post office closed 1920