Ghost towns

[Sturubu]

It looks like the ridiculously busy stretch at work may be winding down, and we may have a chance to get away toward end of November and do some traveling...one of the things we'd like to do as a family is check out some ghost towns in the southwest (thinking NM, AZ, NV, maybe CA and OR). I have always been fascinated with the boom/bust of mining zones, and imagining big populations in some of the middle of nowhere spots I've visited just blows my mind.

Having spent so much time in the Pacific NW, it's always neat to visit places that do not rot away - I recall visiting a cemetery in central NV as a kid, and the place looked almost exactly the same ~30 years later. If not overgrown with blackberry brambles, stuff up here just sort of fades into the super moist soil over time.

We are going to be in an off-road capable vehicle with a driver (me) who has less, let's say, bravado as far as off-road adventures these days (exploring with family in my daily driver, plus I am just getting older and wiser, ha!), but are ready to do at least a little bit of off the beaten path driving.

Anyone else into exploring this type of stuff, and any suggestions for potential destinations? Note it does not have to be in the western regions; who knows - with a few weeks off, we can go (almost) anywhere!

 

[bikerector]

I honestly don't know where, but my father in law is big into really long hikes and did a trip across the UP in Michigan and I feel like he talked about a lot of vacant lumber camps and random buildings through the forests there. I think he actually came up on one that wasn't vacant as was surprised by the lady running the place. I can't remember if it was some type of museum keepsake kind of thing as it was a family heirloom type of property, including the really old out buildings.

Old barns are always fun to see, IMO. Maybe I'm just amazed they're still standing sometimes because many don't look like they were built by an architect but they're still going strong 100 years later (no idea what repairs had been done to keep it up though).

 

[JK Knives]

Not really a ghost town, but on the back side of my inlaws farm there was an abandoned railroad track. One time I walked it for a couple miles and came across four or five abandoned small houses and what looked like what might have been a small store. Looked like it might have been a tiny town at one time.
More and more of the small towns in southern Illinois are slowly being abandoned, closed stores and empty houses everywhere.

 

[JK Knives]

My goal is to find an old hardware or general store with old inventory, locate the owner and buy old stock.
Came close a couple of years ago in LaSalle, when I came across an old style family owned hardware store. Bought a couple of older Case knives at old prices. Always meant to go back, by the time I did it was closed. I read a few weeks ago that American Pickers did an episode there that will be shown this season.
To me the hunt for these places is the best part.

 

[jds1]

Check out Bodie, CA.

Jeff

 

[jds1]

Jeff

 

[jds1]

Jeff

 

[jds1]

Jeff