The mining town of Kennecott has been a National Historic Landmark since 1986.
Photo by Steven Schremp/Shutterstock
3. Kennicott, Alaska
In Southeast Alaska, Kennicott was established in 1903 after a pair of prospectors unearthed copper ore. At its peak, the Kennecott Mines (which unlike the town is spelled with an “e” instead of the “i” because of a clerical error on the original official paperwork) attracted more than 600 workers and pumped out the precious metal around the clock. By the time the site ran dry in 1938, the workers had dug up about $200 million worth of copper.
For decades, the town sat abandoned. Then, in 1998, the National Park Service purchased the mill, the power plant, and many other camp buildings, ranging from sun-bleached shops to weather-worn bunkhouses, from private owners and began restoring them. The town’s now a part of the lesser-known Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. Visitors can tour the mill, a fire-engine–red 14-story behemoth that was used to process ore (it’s worth a visit for the glaciers and mountain views from the top floors and the opportunity to check out the massive supercentenarian machinery). Other buildings, like the recreation hall, the railroad depot, and the general manager’s office, are open to visitors too.
Where to stay
While none of the original structures are open for overnight stays, the Kennicott Glacier Lodge offers comfortable rooms and a panoramic porch with stunning views of the glacier valley.
Bodie offers visitors a window into the rough-and-tumble life of the Old West.
4. Bodie, California
During its peak in the late 1800s, Bodie was a bustling gold-mining town with more than 10,000 residents. Today, it’s a preserved state historic park, with roughly 200 structures, from saloons to churches, still standing. Unlike some of the other ghost towns on national parkland, Bodie is kept in a state of “arrested decay,” meaning the buildings are preserved but not restored, and as a result, it looks like a town frozen in time. Many buildings are stocked with goods, the schoolhouse still has lessons written in chalk on the board, and rusting automobiles sit outside old homes.
Where to stay
Bodie forms a triangle with South Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, meaning there are oodles of incredible hotels within a two-hour drive.
The town is arguably the most happening during the annual Original Terlingua Chili Cookoff, which draws thousands of visitors to this tiny corner of the desert to celebrate spicy food each autumn.
Photo by jamsedel/Shutterstock
5. Terlingua, Texas
Located just outside of Big Bend National Park, Terlingua was a bustling quicksilver mining town in the early 1900s. When the demand for mercury declined, the town’s population plummeted, leaving behind the community’s ruins, including crumbling adobe homes and mine shafts, scattered across the desert. Today, Terlingua is considered a ghost town, but it’s far from desolate. The town has experienced a resurgence in recent years, attracting artists, adventurers, and lovers of the unusual. Visitors can stop by the original Chisos Mining Company store, now Terlingua Trading Company, a general store, or have a meal at Starlight Theatre, a former cinema for miners turned lively bar and restaurant.
Where to stay
If you’re looking to bed down in the ghost town, consider Basecamp Terlingua, with its modern casitas and bubble domes, or Buzzard’s Roost, with glamping tipis.
Glenrio is a ghost town on Route 66.
Photo by Svetlana Foote/Shutterstock
6. Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico
Straddling the Texas–New Mexico border, Glenrio was once a bustling stop along Route 66 with Western-themed hotels, a dance hall, and bars bedecked in neon lights. It thrived as a service town for travelers in the 1930s but was abandoned when the interstate bypassed it in the 1970s. Now it’s a quiet, forgotten stretch of Americana with gas stations, motels, and diners slowly succumbing to time. You can still identify a handful of the buildings, such as the Little Juarez Diner and the State Line Motel, whose sign reads “Motel, Last in Texas.” If you’re a Route 66 enthusiast, Glenrio offers a haunting reminder of the glory days of the “Mother Road.”
Where to stay
Amarillo is the closest major town to Glenrio. If you stay, we’d recommend staying at The Barfield.
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Publish date : 2024-09-29 13:19:00
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