Nevada Ghost Towns

Ghost towns are anything but dead. Their ruins tell stories of lives uprooted, fortunes made and lost, and the rise and fall of thriving communities. Today, these storied places, ranging from scattered foundations to well-preserved main streets, can be found all over the state.

Thanks to Nevada’s dry, desert air, many of these sites are astonishingly well-preserved. Weathered wood buildings, rusting mining gear, stone ruins, and the occasional fully intact structure offer a raw, real glimpse into frontier life—and the boom-and-bust spirit that shaped the Silver State.

Pick a direction and start your engine. With a little curiosity and a tank of gas, you’re bound to find a ghost town that feels like your own.

Delamar Ghost Town

Highlights

Northern Nevada Ghost Towns
Southern Nevada Ghost Towns
Frequently Asked Questions

Get Ghosted in Nevada

Talk a walk through time at ghost towns all over the Silver State. Just remember: Removing, disturbing, or damaging ghost town relics is illegal. Look, but don’t touch, and help keep Nevada’s heart as wild and wide-open as it is today for visitors tomorrow.

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virginia city silver queen haunted hotel — Silver Queen Hotel

Northern Nevada Ghost Towns

In northern Nevada, you’ll find preserved boomtowns, scenic ruins, and quiet outposts that still preserve the area’s rich past.

Virginia City

The spirit of the Comstock Lode lives on in Virginia City. Once the richest silver strike in the world, this high-desert town still buzzes with boardwalk-lined streets, saloons with names like the Bucket of Blood, historic hotels like the Silver Queen, and costumed locals spinning tales in spots long rumored to be haunted. While Virginia City is too bustling to be a ghost town, it evokes the feeling of Nevada’s boomtown glory days.

Fort Churchill

East of Carson City, the adobe walls of Fort Churchill still stand under wide-open Nevada skies. This mid-1800s military outpost once protected wagon trains headed west. These days, Fort Churchill State Historic Park is a striking place for photography, stargazing, and imagining what life looked like on the frontier.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

Berlin’s 19th-century silver miners never knew they were digging above the world’s largest concentration of ancient ichthyosaur fossils. At the remote Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, you’ll find weathered mining buildings, a preserved blacksmith shop, and a fossil house showcasing Nevada’s official state fossil.

aurora borealis at fort churchill — Fort Churchill State Historic Park

Jarbidge

Tucked near the Idaho border, Jarbidge was home to the last gold rush in the continental U.S. Today, it has a population just shy of 20. With unpaved streets, original jail cells, and two saloons holding down the only intersection, it’s a living ghost town that feels like it’s on the edge of the map.

Metropolis

This ill-fated town once dreamed of farming an empire but met disaster after disaster: drought, fire, disease—even a cricket infestation. Today, all that’s left of Metropolis are fragments of its grand ambitions, including a school archway, stone hotel ruins, and historic cemetery.

Unionville

Hidden in a canyon off I-80, Unionville was once the Humboldt county seat. One of its claims to fame today is being the temporary home to a young Mark Twain. Fewer than 20 people live here now, but the remains of cabins, stone walls, and an old general store still echo the town’s silver-fueled heyday.

Seven Troughs

After gold was discovered in 1906, Seven Troughs sprang to life almost overnight. A year later, it had saloons, hotels, and a few hundred hopeful residents. What’s left now are quiet ruins in a desert canyon—weathered wood, rusted equipment, and the memory of a boom gone bust.

unionville ghost town — Unionville Ghost Town

Belmont Ghost Town

Southern Nevada Ghost Towns

You never have to go far to get a little out there—especially in southern Nevada. From the edges of Death Valley to the outskirts of Las Vegas, old mining towns and legendary boom-and-bust communities still stand in the desert sun. Some were abandoned in a flash. Others evolved into photo-ready relics, open-air art spaces, or even desert getaways, offering up stories you won’t find in any history book.

Techatticup Mine

Just outside Las Vegas, the Techatticup Mine once pulled millions in gold, silver, and copper from Eldorado Canyon.Today, it draws photographers, filmmakers, and road-trippers chasing the same treasure: unforgettable views. Tour guides lead visitors through the original mine tunnels, while a colorful spread of leftover movie props and rusted relics add plenty of character to the landscape.

Rhyolite

Once a booming gold camp, Rhyolite grew fast and flamed out even faster. What remains is one of the most iconic ghost towns in the West: a crumbling bank, a striking train depot, and the famous Tom Kelly Bottle House. Today, it shares space with the Goldwell Open Air Museum, where life-sized sculptures rise from the desert like ghostly sentinels.

Goodsprings

Just a short drive from The Strip, Goodsprings still hums with frontier spirit. The town’s heyday peaked during World War I, when it supplied zinc and lead to the war effort. Now, its centerpiece is the Pioneer Saloon. Southern Nevada’s oldest bar comes complete with bullet holes, ghost stories, and old Hollywood legends. Grab a bite, take a walk down the dusty main road, and toast to a town that never fully gave up the ghost.

Gold Point

Once a mining camp known as Lime Point, this nearly forgotten town got a second life thanks to a lucky jackpot and some serious local love. Ghost town enthusiast Herb Robbins used his lottery winnings to buy the place, fix it up, and open Gold Point Ghost Town B&B. Guests can bunk in original miner cabins, sip whiskey in a well-preserved saloon, and trade stories under some of the clearest night skies in Nevada.

Belmont

If you’re into history, scenery, and solitude, Belmont checks all three boxes. At over 7,000 feet in the Toquima Range, the town saw one of Nevada’s longest-lived silver booms. What’s left behind is equally impressive. Explore the 1870s Belmont Courthouse, poke around timeworn mining ruins, and catch a glimpse of the old mill chimney that WWII pilots once used for target practice.

gold point ghost town at night — Gold Point Ghost Town

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous ghost town in Nevada?

Rhyolite has earned its spot as the most famous ghost town in Nevada. Founded in 1905, it quickly grew from a small mining camp to a bustling town of over 5,000 residents. Today, you can explore the haunting ruins, marvel at Tom Kelly’s Bottle House, and take in the larger-than-life art installations at the Goldwell Open Air Museum, making it a must-see for anyone interested in Silver State history.

How many ghost towns does Nevada have?

Nevada is home to more than 600 ghost towns—more than any other state. These former mining hubs, abandoned settlements, and once-bustling towns are scattered across more than 60 million acres of public land. From well-preserved ghost towns with intact buildings to crumbling relics of Nevada’s boom-and-bust history, there’s plenty to discover.

What is the closest ghost town to Reno?

Ghost towns near Reno include Fort Churchill, Seven Troughs, Unionville, and Paradise Valley. Some locales are less than an hour from the Biggest Little City, while others are well worth an overnight excursion.

What ghost towns are near Las Vegas?

Several ghost towns are within easy reach of Las Vegas, offering a chance to step back into Nevada’s Wild West past. A few to check out include Goodsprings, Techatticup Mine, St. Thomas, and Rhyolite.

What is the ghost town between Las Vegas and Reno?

Rhyolite, Gold Point, and Candelaria are some of the ghost towns located between Las Vegas and Reno. These destinations are rich with mining history, and visitors can explore the remnants of old structures and feel the spirit of the Wild West as they travel the Nevada backroads.

What is the ghost town between Las Vegas and Death Valley?

Rhyolite is the most famous ghost town between Las Vegas and Death Valley, and it’s a must-visit on any road trip. Situated on the edge of Death Valley National Park, its impressive remains are just a short detour from the main route. For an even more off-the-beaten-path experience, you can also check out Gold Point, with its well-preserved buildings, rustic charm, and B&B lodging.