The Best Ghost Towns to Visit in Wyoming

Explore the old Wyoming mining towns of South Pass City, Hartville, Kirwin, and Atlantic City.
Written by David Ghanizadeh-Khoob
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Take a drive through Wyoming and get a taste of the old west in the ghost towns of South Pass City, Hartville, Kirwin, and Atlantic City. These remarkably intact old boomtowns allow curious explorers to experience history firsthand.
Wyoming
is full of beautiful landscapes. Deep in some of these mountains and ranchlands, you will find some abandoned (and not-so-abandoned!) towns where you can eat at old saloons, walk through empty mines, and see how miners lived in the 1800s.
To help you find more ghost town adventures,
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broker app
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has compiled information about visiting the best ghost towns in Wyoming. 

South Pass City

What is the story of South Pass City?

In the 1850s, South Pass City was just a small stage and telegraph station along the Oregon Trail with just a handful of residents. This all changed in 1866 when gold was struck in the Carissa Mine. People flocked to the area in search of riches and the population ballooned to over 2,000
Around 30 gold mines were operational and the town had all the amenities of the time. 
As tends to be the case, the boomtown would bust not long after. By the 1870s, the boom was unsustainable and the population dwindled to around 100. Over the years the town would continue to decline steadily, but the town remained in remarkably good shape compared to other abandoned towns of the era
In the 1970s South Pass City was added to the National Register of Historic Places and has been well-preserved since.
Esther Hobart Morris, a resident of South Pass City, was responsible for urging the Wyoming Territorial Constitutional Convention to add a women’s suffrage clause to the territorial constitution—thus resulting in the first US jurisdiction to grant women the right to vote in 1869!

What makes South Pass City special?

South Pass City is a truly unique ghost town. The town has been preserved so well that you can experience the town largely as it existed in its heyday. Here are some of the highlights of South Pass City:
  • Many of the structures still stand, including saloons, schoolhouses, miners’ homes, the old jail, and more. You can even enjoy a glass of sarsaparilla and play a game of pool on a restored 1860s billiards table!
  • In the summer, you can go on guided tours through the Carissa Mine and English Tunnel, pan for gold, and experience fun events held in town, like a historical cocktail party.
  • For nature lovers, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail passes through town and the Volksmarch Trail is nearby.

How to visit South Pass City

South Pass City is easy to access. The National Historic Site is located at 125 South Pass Main St., South Pass City, WY in Fremont County, about 45 miles east of Farson.
The established historical site is open seasonally from May 7th until September 30th, daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Entry tickets are $8, or $4 for Wyoming residents, and free for anyone under 18. Tours are included with admission, but it is recommended that you reserve ahead of time. 
Pro Tip Several other historical sites are located near South Pass City including the ghost towns of Atlantic City and Miners Delight, Willie’s Handcart Historic Site, and the Oregon Trail.

Hartville

What is the story of Hartville?

You’ll find another genuine historical experience in Hartville—except it’s not exactly a ghost town. It’s still an operating community! 
Gold was on everyone’s mind in Hartville, except here the miners found more copper and iron. The mines were prosperous enough that in 1884 the town was incorporated, and by the turn of the century, Hartville was a bustling, rowdy town, fitted with 13 saloons, an opera house, and several gaming houses
The reputation and rowdiness of Hartville became what you might expect from a town with 13 saloons. Hartville became notorious as a hideout for bank robbers and the site of many shootouts
Over the years the mining boom ceased and the population dwindled, but the town was never abandoned. Today almost 100 people live in Hartville, mostly retired miners and a few young families. 
There are increasing efforts to rejuvenate the town, including efforts to use the old buildings for new businesses.

What makes Hartville special?

Hartville is the oldest incorporated town in Wyoming that is still in existence. Here are some of the things to look forward to when you visit this old boomtown:
  • Wyoming’s oldest steakhouse,
    Miners and Stockmans
    , is still in operation and serves customers much the same way it did when it opened in 1862
  • Many of the old buildings are still standing, in good condition with their false fronts and original construction, including Wyoming’s oldest jailhouse located just behind the restaurant.
  • Harville is located in Eureka Canyon, just northeast of
    Guernsey State Park
    , so you can enjoy some beautiful landscapes while you visit.

How to visit Hartville

Hartville is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. You can find it deep in Platte County about 6 miles north of the town of Guernsey along Highway 270. The town is fully accessible by car and parking is free.
If you want to make it a multiday trip, there are plenty of camping options in Guernsey State Park and tons of trails to explore!
MORE: Helpful tips for long drives with kids

Kirwin

What is the story of Kirwin?

Kirwin is another old mine town located high in the Absaroka Mountains, near the headwaters of the north fork of the Wood River. 
Kirwin is named after William Kirwin, who sparked the gold rush when he found gold and silver on Spar Mountain in the 1880s. Kirwin and his friends spread the word of opportunity in the mountains, and it didn’t take long for a full-fledged community to spring up.
At its peak, Kirwin was home to about 200 people and 38 buildings. Though the winters were rough in Kirwin, mining persisted for a couple of decades, even seeing multimillion-dollar investments from the Shoshone Mining and Development Co., Galena Ridge Mining Co., and Wyoming Mining Company in the early 1900s.
In 1907, a large avalanche ripped through town, destroying several buildings and taking three lives. Many of the residents left Kirwin carrying what they could—and the community never recovered.
In 1999, the Shoshone National Forest, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Abandoned Mine Lands Division of the Wyoming DEQ, and numerous volunteers began restoring the site to try to preserve Kirwin’s history.

What makes Kirwin special?

Kirwin offers a glimpse at history in a beautiful, secluded, mountainous environment. Some highlights to look forward to in Kirwin include:
  • Many original buildings still stand and are open for exploration
  • The
    Meeteetse Museum
    offers free tours of the town. No reservations are required, but high clearance 4x4 vehicles are. If you don’t have a suitable vehicle, you can contact the museum ahead of time and they can help you find a ride.
  • Amelia Earhart loved Kirwin and requested a cabin be built for her. Unfortunately, she never made it to the cabin, and construction halted when news of the death spread. Her cabin is about a mile hike from the Kirwin townsite.

How to visit Kirwin

Kirwin is fairly deep in the Absaroka Mountains. You will need a high clearance, 4x4 vehicle (that is highway legal) or a willingness to hike to get there. 
The road is also only accessible from July to September. Note that the last few miles require some creek crossing and caution is required when water levels are high.
From Cody, drive 28 miles south on Highway 120 to Meeteetse, then drive west on Highway 290 for 7 miles. Turn left on Wood River Rd (CR 4DT). Follow Wood River Rd for 27 miles to get to Kirwin. 
The first 20 or so miles of this leg are pretty tame and can be accessed by almost any vehicle. The last 7 or 8 miles, though, require a high clearance 4x4 vehicle or can be done on foot. Continuing along the Wood River past Kirwin will take you to Amelia Earhart’s cabin.
There are a few campgrounds located along Wood River Rd. if you’re planning a multi-day stay.

Atlantic City

What is the story of Atlantic City?

Atlantic city is yet another story of a gold-rush-turned-bust in the Wild West.
Fueled by the search for gold, Atlantic City saw a push of development in the late 1860s, peaking at about 2,000 miners
Many of the miners here were vacationers or part-time prospectors who came when the weather was welcoming. As a result, a lot of leisure options sprouted up, like a brewery, dancehall, and opera house. 
By the late 1870s, the first boom had come to an end and most of the original settlers abandoned town, but the mining didn’t die. Over the years, technological advances kept mines running—the last mine, an iron mine, remained open until 1982.
The town is still not completely abandoned. The welcome sign boasts a population of 57, though that seems generous.

What makes Atlantic City special?

Like South Pass City, Atlantic City offers a chance to experience life in the old west.
  • Many buildings still stand in original condition. Free walking tour brochures are available at an interpretive sign off Atlantic City Rd.
  • There are still businesses in operation here, like the Atlantic City Mercantile, a saloon, and steakhouse that was originally opened in 1893 as the Geissler Store.
  • You can stay the night at the
    Miner’s Delight Inn
    , a bed and breakfast that began as a home in 1890 and later boarded miners as the Carpenter Hotel in the early 1900s.

How to visit Atlantic City

Atlantic City is located in Fremont County Wyoming, about 30 miles south of Lander. From Lander, take Highway 28 south for 27 miles, then turn southwest onto Atlantic City Rd. and follow it for about 3 more miles. 
Just east of Atlantic City is another old mining settlement, Miners Delight, and about 4 miles west, you’ll find South Pass City.

How to save money on your car insurance

A lot of these ghost towns are pretty remote, meaning it’ll be quite a drive-in to reach them. Make sure your car is well-protected on that drive with the right car insurance.
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