1. Randsburg, California
Randsburg was founded during the 1890s gold rush and slowly emptied as mines closed. Today, it’s a tiny town with a handful of residents and an authentic old-timey vibe. Locals often remark that the town has a soul of its own, one you feel the moment you arrive. Walking its dusty streets, you can almost hear the chatter of prospectors long gone.
People return for the nostalgia, the sunsets over the desert, and the quirky charm of a town that refuses to fully die. The old saloon, general store, and mines offer a peek into a wild past. Visitors often linger at the cemetery, reflecting on the stories held there. For those in the know, Randsburg is not just a ghost town—it’s a feeling you chase back again and again.
2. Goldfield, Nevada
Goldfield was Nevada’s largest city in the early 1900s but quickly emptied out after the gold rush ended. Visitors are drawn to its decaying buildings, which seem frozen in a golden era of boom and bust. Locals often describe a strange quiet that feels heavy with memories. Sometimes the wind carries faint echoes of the past, or so they say.
Goldfield attracts more than history buffs; artists, photographers, and curious wanderers return regularly. The old bank, post office, and abandoned homes provide a cinematic backdrop for exploration. There’s a thrill in imagining life during its peak, and locals can’t resist revisiting it. The town’s blend of mystery and desolation keeps pulling people back.
3. Rhyolite, Nevada
Rhyolite was a booming gold rush town in the early 1900s but was abandoned by 1916. The ruins are scattered across the desert, with the old bank building’s skeleton still standing proudly. Locals say visiting feels like stepping into a ghost story that’s strangely alive. The quiet desert air amplifies even the faintest whisper of wind or bird call.
People return to Rhyolite not just for the ruins, but for the art installations nearby, like the Goldwell Open Air Museum. The mix of history and modern art creates an uncanny atmosphere. Some visitors claim to sense movement in the buildings at night, though nothing is ever there. That unexplained tension is exactly what draws locals back year after year.
4. Jerome, Arizona
Jerome was once a copper mining hub that collapsed after the mines closed in the 1950s. Its precarious location on Cleopatra Hill makes the town look like it’s clinging to the mountainside, adding to its eerie allure. Locals often mention that the town’s energy feels alive, even in its quietest corners. Ghost tours and taverns keep the stories circulating, but there’s an unspoken pull beyond the tourist spots.
People come back for more than history; they come for the vibe, a mix of haunting and beauty that’s hard to describe. Sunset over the mountains gives the town an almost magical glow. The winding streets, old brick buildings, and abandoned structures make it feel like a town caught between eras. Even those who’ve lived nearby for decades admit they can’t resist visiting again.
5. Terlingua, Texas
Terlingua started as a mercury mining town in the early 1900s but was abandoned when the mines dried up. What remains are crumbling adobe structures and a small population that thrives on its spooky mystique. Locals often gather for ghost stories around fire pits or explore the ruins late into the evening. There’s a palpable sense that the desert itself remembers the people who once lived there.
Terlingua draws visitors for its wild, untamed vibe and surreal desert landscape. The nearby ghost town cemetery is strangely beautiful, with hand-carved stones leaning at odd angles. Some visitors say they feel whispers of the past, as if the desert is speaking through the ruins. For those who know it, Terlingua is both a playground and a place of reflection.
6. Bannack, Montana
Bannack was Montana’s first territorial capital but went bust when gold mining slowed. Today, the town is almost entirely preserved, offering an unfiltered glimpse into frontier life. Locals enjoy wandering the streets and peeking into the old saloons and schoolhouses. The atmosphere is thick with history, sometimes almost tangible, making people return again and again.
Visitors are often drawn by the sheer authenticity of Bannack. It’s one thing to see photos of ghost towns, but to walk these creaking wooden sidewalks is something else entirely. Some locals swear they hear the echo of horse hooves on the dirt streets. It’s quiet, it’s haunting, and it’s a place people keep going back to despite—or because of—that.
7. Calico, California
Calico was a bustling silver mining town in the 1880s and eventually fell into disuse. Today, the town has been partially restored, but the ghost town energy remains strong. Locals mention that walking through Calico feels like stepping onto a movie set where the characters just left. There’s an inexplicable charm in the quiet, deserted streets.
People keep returning for the quirky shops, the ghost tours, and the desert sunsets. The nearby mountains add a dramatic backdrop that heightens the feeling of stepping back in time. Even though the town has become a tourist destination, there’s a hidden stillness that regular visitors cherish. That delicate balance of restored history and haunting emptiness is hard to leave behind.
8. St. Elmo, Colorado
St. Elmo was a thriving mining town in the late 19th century before being abandoned in the 1920s. Its preserved cabins and old schoolhouse make it feel frozen in time. Locals often come to hike the surrounding trails, but the town itself feels like a magnet. Even on bright, sunny days, there’s an inexplicable hush over the town.
Visitors return for the combination of history and natural beauty. The nearby ghost towns of Hancock and Hancock Cemetery add to the eerie allure. Some claim they’ve glimpsed shadowy figures in windows or felt cold spots inside the cabins. That sense of the past brushing against the present is addictive.
9. Ruby, Arizona
Ruby was a small mining town that became a ghost town in the mid-20th century. Its ruins are scattered, with crumbling buildings and overgrown streets that speak volumes about its past. Locals mention the strange energy that lingers in the air, a heaviness that’s hard to explain. Even casual visitors find themselves lingering longer than planned.
Ruby draws photographers and urban explorers for its wild, overgrown charm. The old jail and schoolhouse are particularly haunting spots. Some locals swear the town whispers stories to those who listen closely. The mix of isolation and history makes it irresistible to repeat visitors.
10. Terrace, Utah
Terrace was established on April 1, 1869, as a maintenance and repair headquarters for the Central Pacific Railroad’s Salt Lake division. The town boasted a 16-stall roundhouse and an eight-track switchyard, supporting a population that may have reached 1,000 at its peak. Despite its initial prominence, Terrace was abandoned by 1904 when the railroad rerouted its operations. Today, only a few remnants remain, including the outline of the roundhouse and a small cemetery.
Recent archaeological excavations have uncovered a rare find: a fully excavated Chinese worker’s home from the 19th century. Artifacts such as Chinese coins and stoneware have been discovered, shedding light on the lives of Chinese immigrants who were integral to the railroad’s construction. This discovery is significant, as it provides a glimpse into a community that was often overlooked in historical records. The presence of these artifacts offers a poignant reminder of the diverse individuals who contributed to the development of the American West.
11. Bodie, California
Bodie sits frozen in time, a Gold Rush town that officially became a ghost town in the 1940s. Visitors wander its decaying wooden streets, imagining the miners and shopkeepers who once bustled here. Locals often speak of the eerie quiet that falls even in broad daylight, a kind of heavy silence you can almost touch. Some swear they’ve felt cold drafts where no wind should reach.
Despite the haunting atmosphere, people keep coming back to Bodie for its unfiltered glimpse into the past. The preserved buildings tell stories that photos just can’t capture. Photographers and history buffs alike find themselves drawn in, sometimes for hours, soaking up the ghostly vibes. It’s hard to explain, but once you’ve walked Bodie’s streets, you understand why locals keep returning.
12. Centralia, Pennsylvania
Centralia is infamous for its underground coal mine fire, which has been burning since 1962. The smoke that sometimes curls from cracks in the ground gives the town an almost post-apocalyptic feel. Locals are oddly drawn to it, visiting to walk along empty streets or peek into abandoned homes. There’s a surreal thrill in seeing a place slowly consumed by fire while people still wander through.
Despite the obvious dangers, the town holds a peculiar charm for those who grew up nearby. Some say it’s the quiet, others the history—it’s like touching a piece of a story still unfolding. Photographers love the foggy, cracked streets, often returning to capture that perfect shot at sunrise. The fire’s subtle heat underfoot keeps Centralia both dangerous and strangely magnetic.
This post 12 American Ghost Towns That Locals Keep Visiting for Reasons They Won’t Explain was first published on American Charm.
