If the community has lost its commercial or population center and has faded dramatically from its peak, it may be considered a ghost town. The directors of the group were Wyandot-related, and the resulting organization has since installed new grave markers. Some of the ghost towns in Nebraska that make for an interesting visit full of history and amazement include: Antioch, Nebraska Antioch is a ghost town located in Sheridan County along Nebraska Highway 2 about 15 miles east of Alliance. Oil Hill, Butler County Post Office 1918-1969 The townsite is on private property, but the Kansas Turnpike does pass under Oil Hill Road just outside of El Dorado. Dubuque, Russell & Barton Counties Post Office 1879-1909 A beautiful Catholic church and cemetery are all that remain. Are there ghost towns in Kansas? Reamsville/Beaver, Smith County Post Office 1878-1941 A small population remains. An historic California gold-mining town located at an elevation of 8,375 feet south of Bridgeport islike most of the Eastern Sierra . An early settlement of Douglas County, Kansas, Vinland is situated along theAtchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroadabout seven miles south ofLawrence. Hopewell/Fravel, Pratt County Post Office 1904-1908 & 1916-1973 A small population (approx. What is it about ghost towns that is so beautiful, yet disturbing at the same time? 7 Ghost Towns For Sale Right Now Nipton, California You might not call it an actual ghost town because it does have inhabitants. The land itself had an ominous feeling. Elmdale used to be a bustling community, with a brick school and gymnium next to it. Elk Falls, Elk County Post Office 1870-present A small town of about 100 now, home of the annual Outhouse Tour, claimed to be Outhouse Capital and home of historic Elk Falls Bridge. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Overland Emigrant and Freight Train, Operated by Sprague & Digan in Kansas, April 1, 1866, en route to the Far West. The town was first surveyed in 1825, and was nicknamed the Diamond of the Plains by early traders. An old school sits quiet and abandoned in Big Springs by Kathy Alexander. Dispatch, Smith County Post Office 1891-1904 A church, some houses, and a cemetery remain. Authorities are warning visitors to stay out of what's been dubbed a "ghost town." Screengrab:. National Historic site. Citizens quickly got to work on issuing . Roxbury, McPherson County Post Office 1872-present A small population of about 70 remains in the area. Miller, Lyon County Post Office 1887-1905 & 1912-1958 A small population and some abandoned businesses remain in the area. For example, a 56.48-acre area with a farmhouse is on sale now for $225,000. It got its starts as an agricultural community. Melmont 9. In 1891, a stone church was built nearby. The stunning village is being sold now for $5.5 million. Palermo, Doniphan County Post Office 1855-1904 A small population remains eight miles southeast of Troy near the Missouri River. That concludes our list of ghost towns in Kansas but that doesnt mean thats all there is to find. Cato, Crawford County Post Office 1858-1905 The Cato Historical Preservation Association meets at 6:30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Arcadia Community Center, Arcadia, Kansas. Source: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, Source: Symphony in the Flint Hills Field Journal, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images, Symphony in the Flint Hills Field Journal. If youre up to the challenge of closing on a spectral sale, here are five properties worth viewing. Originally called Deer Creek until 1899, when the post office opened. The army destroyed most of the town, but the old capitol building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Chesaw 16. Wakenda 9. Its post office lasted from 1886 to 1965. Preferablyduring the day. Shields, Lane County Post Office 1887-1994 A small population and numerous buildings remain, but no open businesses. Franklin, Douglas County Post Office 1853-1867 An early stage stop near Lawrence, Kansas. Farlington is located just southwest of Crawford State Park on K-7. 1 min read. Several ruins of the downtown and old consolidated school remain. Meridian Community Church 35.84444, -97.24814 History: Meridian takes its name from the Indian Meridian that runs through it. Calista, Kingman County Post Office 1886-1896 & 1902-1955 An old grain elevator and a couple of houses remain. The town is part of the Bleeding Kansas history. .Established in 1882, this railroad town is now practically a ghost town. Guittard Station was a major stop for the Pony Express. Peoria, Franklin County Post Office 1857-1934 A small population remains, and Peoria Township is named for it. Fairport, Russell County Post Office 1881-1959 A small population remains. Located near the Kansas border, it is the site of several infamous battles. That year, it was the largest railroad cattle shipping point in the state, hauling about 1,800 to 2,000 cars of stock annually. In 2015, the former mining town's price sharply dropped to only $250,000 after a few failed offers. Throughout the community are numerous old buildings and homes in various states of disrepair. A few original homesteads have been fixed up and urban explorers can still see where the old original sidewalk was. Moselle 2. Vinland, Douglas County Post Office 1868-1954. The Nonchalanta hotel: A big thank you to Tom Reed, who hails from the ghost town of Ravanna in Finney County, Tom McCoy of Ness City and Harlan Nuss, who rents the . Kansas Ghost Towns Overland Emigrant and Freight Train, Operated by Sprague & Digan in Kansas, April 1, 1866, en route to the Far West. Garber 7. In 1879, the Pfeifer people built a beautiful church and dedicated it to the town and its people. Neuchatel was settled during the mid-1800s by hunters and trappers who moved in after the Native Americans. Another ghost town that's sale made national news was Scenic, South Dakota. Take a look at over 300+ Abandoned Places in Kansas locations from all over the Sunflower State. The darker possibility is that towns become abandoned because of tragedy such as natural disasters, war, or disease. For sale or wanted only. The old school has been restored. Of all the ghost towns in Kansas, Le Hunt is one of my top favorites to visit, especially in summer. 2. Ghosttowns.com Presents: GHOST TOWNS: AKRON - 4; ALBANY - 3; ALIDA - 3; ALICEVILLE - 4 APPLETON - 3; ARKALON - 2 ; BAKER - 1; BALA - 3; BARCLAY - 4; Nobody wanted it! Aulne, Marion County Post Office 1887-1954 Located in Wilson Township, it was a station on theChicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroadsix miles south ofMarion. The site of Kanona is currently on private property. It does not store any personal data. Dunlap is one of the most unique ghost towns in Kansas given its deeply rooted history. Water Valley is selling for the low price of $725,000. Harlan was home to Gould College, which lasted from 1881 until 1891. Few remains exist, but a monument to Diamond Springs was erected in Diamond Springs Cemetery. Several area homes, vacant business buildings, and a population of about 30. On the weekends a band would play up there, the music spilling out into the streets. If you love to be spooked and you enjoy a creepy and haunted attraction, you are in luck! In Kansas, many small towns have been lost due to increased technology in agriculture. This northern California town boasts of scenic riverfront views, swimming holes, and its very own haunted cemetery. The historic Winifred Bank building, chartered in 1910, still stands by Kathy Alexander. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ghosts or not, this place shows a delightful dedication to detail. Franklin 5. Private party for sale and wanted ads are free. Mildred, Allen County Post Office 1907-1973 2020 estimated population of 25. Kendall/Zamora, Hamilton County Post Office 1879-present A small population remains. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. In 1967, a passionate antiques dealer named Kenneth Tuttle began to build a village of 19th and 20th century homes and structures. Old buildings and storefronts are staged to mimic an 1880s era western town. When I first heard about the dilapidated state of Six Flags New Orleans, I just knew I had to go. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Le Hunt was home to several notable figures, including cowboy movie star Tom Mix. In the 1950s, Castleton, Kansas, was a thriving community based around slate mining. This town is in my second book, Ghost Towns and Other Historical Sites of. The town became a notable safe place for freed and escaping slaves during the late 1800s when African American activist Benjamin Pap Singleton came into town. Both buildings sit on a low hill, and theres little to distinguish one from the next. Generally, the term ghost (or dead or extinct) town is a place that was once thriving but has since changed in some essential elements: the population decreased, the town annexed, buildings. We rate ghost towns in Wyoming based on their status. Iron Gate Trail 7. The church and several other buildings still stand. Bazaar peaked in about 1921, with a population of 100. Black Wolf is currently on private property. Centropolis, Franklin County Post Office 1854-1930 A small population remains on a county road about ten miles northwest of Ottawa. In 2003, Marquette began distributing lots on 50 acres of formerly agricultural land. The state of Kansas is working to draw new residents to low-population counties in its Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ). Most of these buildings are long abandoned, including a bank, a town hall, a couple of stores, a work garage, and a few homes. Today, just a handful of people live in the old town, where several buildings sit abandoned and deteriorating in the elements. In 1879, the towns name was changed to Camden, and in 1883, it was changed back to Skiddy. In 1893, Garfield County was annexed to Finney County, and the feud was over. While Castleton isnt the most exciting of ghost towns in Kansas, its worth checking out if youre passing through the area. The area was settled by Joseph Dunlap, who represented Native American tribes in the region. In the 1880s, Hunnewell flourished as a busy shipping point for Texascattle and, like otherKansas Cowtowns, had a bawdy reputation for a time. Holy Cross Church in Pfeifer, Kansas by Kathy Alexander. Arvonia, located southeast of Reading, Kansas on the shoreline of Melvern Lake. Ghosttowns.com-the best source of information on ghost towns in the U.S. Ghost towns are listed by state & include biographies, pictures, and other detailed ghost town info. Alcove, Marshall County Now a well-preserved park. But all good things come to an end.. 82 was formed in July of 1871 by the county superintendent. Ransomville, Franklin County Post Office 1878-1914 -The Ransom house still stands, as do some other houses and buildings. For those who want to live near work, the city will also match an employer's housing contributions for up to. Learn how to uncover more abandoned places and the techniques used to capture their beauty. This is an incomplete list of ghost towns in the state of Kansas. Abandoned Places In Oklahoma 1. Above city hall, there was a dance floor. Marietta, Marshall County Post Office 1890-1959 A small population and a few buildings remain. Prairie City, Douglas County Post Office 1857-1883 A cemetery, ruins of an old church, and an abandoned stone house are all that remain of the town. In August 1862, Bill Anderson attacked the town. MARQUETTE, KANSAS. Bluff City was initially founded as a fraud in 1873 to swindle money from the Kansas legislature. The land also comes with its own ghost stories, according to property realtor Stacie Montgomery. Estimated population of 76 in 2020. Later that year, Dick Yeager visited the town. At its peak in 1910, this Kansas ghost town had 21 residents. The town's history makes the two-bedroom home unique and desirable, the listing agent told Insider. 471609 [2] Website. Barnard, Lincoln County Post Office 1888-present Though there are a few remaining businesses today, and the post office is still in operation, the population of this once prosperous community has dropped to just about 63 people. The population was 130 at the 2010 census. Though the relics are interesting, the property value is tied to the land. Rustic Barn near Huron, Kansas, by Kathy Alexander. Though it lost that honor more than 150 years ago, the town still survives, with a population of over 600, as a suburb of Lawrence, Kansas. Still has several homes and an active church. It still retains its post office and just a few businesses. Originally called Zamora when a post office opened in 1879. The gravestones are untouched, but the ghost town is well worth the trip. There are still the foundations of 30 buildings on the property. Though it is officially an extinct town because it no longer has a post office, it still displays several homes, buildings, and a small population. One of the only remaining buildings in the ghost town of Clements, Kansas, is for sale for $95,000. Have you visited any of these Kansas ghost towns? Price: $99,000 Ghost town adjacent: This 62-acre parcel in a remote part of California is part of an old mining area close to the Cerro Gordo ghost town. Pap established Dunlap as a promise land and moved over 200 black families from the south to Dunlap. Hospitals, Schools, Hotels and more! The City of Horace maintains a separate city council to manage its affairs. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. During its operation, the town acted as an Indian trading post and attracted other like-minded people to the area. Bodie 2. Founded in 1869 by Joseph Dunlap (an Indian agent for the Kanza tribe), Named for legendary St. Louis Browns catcher Albert J. Zenith, Stafford County Post Office 1902-1974 A small population of about 20 remains. A small population remains. Abandoned Homestead-KS-Eklund. Today, there is very little left of Bala except for a few hardscrabble houses and the old deteriorating Presbyterian Church. Lincoln, Kansas is a picturesque small town. A trading post was established on the site in 1852. If so, youre in the right place. Photo by Kathy Alexander. Calista (Kingman County) Post Office 1886-1896 & 1902-1955 - An old grain elevator and a couple of houses remain. It probably also comes with a ghost or two. After the Depression hit in 1929, however, the town went into decline. 10) remains. Mike Edwards Photography. Erik Gunther loves to talk about celebrity homes, luxury properties, and strange real estate stories. How can I see many of the creepy and spooky attractions in Kansas? Waterloo, Kingman County Post Office 1878-1912. Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, updated February 2023. The building, once a post office and general store, has original flooring and tin ceilings. Several homes and a small population remains. Horace, Greeley County A semi-ghost town in central Greeley County. What once took several people to operate a farm has been reduced by new equipment, and over the years, most farms in the state have become larger but are run by fewer people. Photo by Kathy Alexander. During the 1930s Dunlap was hit particularly hard during the dustbowl, forcing many families to move elsewhere for food and opportunity. Rollin, Neosho County Post Office 1890-1921 Nothing remains of the townsite except Delos Johnsons (the town founder) house and a neglected cemetery. A few were farming communities that flourished for a time and mysteriously fell silent. The town of Pfeifer is like many of the other ghost towns in Kansas, but what makes this town stand out is its church. Also known as New Elgin. Bazaar, Chase County Post Office 1860-1874. Most were mining towns, where men lusted after the earth's riches - gold, silver, turquoise, copper, lead and coal. Dunlap is one of the most unique ghost towns in Kansas given its deeply rooted history. Empire City, Cherokee County Post Office 1877-1907 Several buildings and a small population. Explorers can photograph many of the old homes left abandoned as well as the historic Dunlap cemetery. Homes without, Read More Cheshire Ohio The Cursed Ohio Ghost Town That Was Stolen TwiceContinue, Searching for abandoned places in Oklahoma? 38.708226, -99.165621Status: Semi-Abandoned. Claquato The Anarchist's Guide To Exploration The Christian Church and Baptist Church remain open. Lincoln, Kansas. Following Tuttle's death, his son Nathan inherited the property. Peterton, Osage County Post Office 1876-1904 There is still a small population in the area. Ghost Towns of Kansas Ghost Towns of Kansas A Traveler's Guide This illustrated guide to Kansas ghost towns will delight travelers and armchair tourists alike. The Western ghost town, called the Town of Gabriella, is a 58 acre property currently being utilized primarily as a film set. Morton City, Hodgeman County Post Office 1877-1880s Some ruins of old stone houses remain. One of the only remaining buildings in the ghost town of Clements, Kansas, is for sale for $95,000. 39.568093, -96.201957Status: Semi-Abandoned. The state capital was briefly located here, but it was moved to the border town of Shawnee Mission, Missouri, shortly after the town fell into ruins. 1 language. Tell us all about them in the comments! For more information about the history of the abandoned town of Pawnee, Kansas, visit the Fort Riley Museum, which is located on the towns grounds. The first settlers in the area didnt arrive until 1876. The sprawling once-upon-a- time city boasts over 300 acres of land and has twenty-two buildings on site. Though located on the mainline of the Union Pacific Railroad, Bavaria did not grow. Whatever it is, there is something unique about places where people no longer live. Old Church in Skiddy, Kansas, by Kathy Alexander. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In its heydays Antioch was known as the "Potash capital of Nebraska." Midian, Butler County Post Office 1916-1950 The townsite is now on private property. Developments in agricultural technology have led many old Kansas towns and farms to be deserted. There are some 3,800 ghost towns in the United States, most abandoned in the 19th and early 20th centuries in favor of bigger cities, or casualties of changing industry. It almost felt cursed. Nicodemus, Graham County Post Office 1877-1918 & 1920-1953 See full article about this black pioneer town here. Haunted Hill House Dares Buyers to Enter. However, the citys location was not ideal. Trading Post, Kansas, is the only remaining town from the first permanent settlement in Linn County. Of these many forgotten places, we found a handful currently for sale. Theres a three-bedroom main house on the 5-acre spread, but out back is where thespectral action goes down. Here are a few of them I traveled to as a Hutchinson News journalist. Some sites are entirely abandoned, while others still have people living in them. Known initially as Maherville. Quincy, Kansas, once had it all. Price: $89,500 Phantasmagorical particulars: Youmight need oxygen to bring this ghost town back to life. In a few cases, some of these towns have grown recently but are still considered ghosts because their reason for existing in the first place no longer exists. It still supports a church, a grain elevator, and a post office. Shawnee Indian Village. In Pittston, Maine, a picturesque town called Tuthill sits on 55 acres of rolling hills and antique buildings. Saxman, Rice County -Post Office 1891-1952 A small population (approx. What are some of the best ghost towns to visit in Kansas? Theres something spooky about the sheer number of ghost towns in America. Diamond Springs was once a thriving town on the Santa Fe Trail, but today youll find its mostly dilapidated buildings and haunting memories. This ghost town near Death Valley National Park was once a bustling ore mining community. Throughout Kansas, there are a handful of historically significantand eerieghost towns to visit, including LeHunt, Peterton, Elmdale, and Diamond Springs. Another Kansas town offering free real estate is Marquette. It's already setup for mine tours (with a common bu. ft. 11724 N Ghost Town, Elfrida, AZ 85610 Listed for: $425,000 MLS#: 22303426 Unique property with income potential and eligible for the historic register! After its downfall from alcohol sales, Earlsboro boomed once again, this time from oil. Talmo, Republican County An unincorporated ghost town in Republic County. City/Town: Kanwaka. It is still called home to about 112 people. Acres, Clark County Post Office 1887-1954 The town has been completely vacant for several years. Hitschmann, Barton County No post office. Changed to Granada in 1864. Bloom, Ford County Post Office1885-1891 &1908-1992 Several buildings and a few residents, but no open businesses. Canada, Marion County Post Office 1884-1954 A small population of approximately 40 remains. Stanton, Miami County Post Office 1857-1903 Several houses and businesses remain. Farlington, Crawford County Post Office 1870-present A small population remains in the area. As early as 1821, it was a popular stop on the Santa Fe Trail, a line of commerce between the United States and Santa Fe, New Mexico, which was then controlled by Mexico. Heizer, Barton County Post office 1891-1954. Today the Tomahawk Creek area is near the current intersection of 119th and Black Bob Road east of Olathe, Kansas. Thank you! Today, urban explorers can still find hints of the past in the cemetery and a few scattered ruins throughout the area. Today, only a handful of people call. We cant promise any valuable gems, but a buyerwill surely finda historic hideout. For information requests and discussions, go to the bulletin board. Explorers can stop by and see a few abandoned homes that have survived over the years. Theres a main house with a kitchen and bath, a greenhouse with raised beds and drip irrigation, a workshop with office/studio space, and guest rentals called the Casita and the Pioneer House. A 62-acre town with all the amenities of an early 1900s village could be yours for $1.75 million a lower asking price than many of the. Of course! Jacob Zehntner and Henry Steiner built a brewery at 45 N Street on the west side of Quindaro Creek in 1857 by Kathy Alexander.