Bodie, California-- Bodie is arguably the gold standard of American ghost towns. In the late 1870s, it was a wild gold-mining town boasting roughly 10,000 residents, a bustling red-light district, and a reputation for daily gunfights. Today, it is a State Historic Park preserved in arrested decay. Only about 10% of the original town remains, but because it was so massive, that still leaves over 100 structures standing. You can peer through the dusty windows of homes, saloons, and a schoolhouse to see interior rooms still stocked with original goods, furniture, and sheet music left behind when the town was abandoned in the mid-20th century. Have you ever been to Bodie and visited this ghost town?

Bannack, Montana-- Bannack was the site of Montana's first major gold strike in 1862 and briefly served as the first territorial capital. It is famous for its rough history, including the story of its corrupt sheriff, Henry Plummer, who was secretly leading a ruthless gang of road agents before being hanged by local vigilantes. As a state park, Bannack features over 60 well-preserved structures built along a main street. Unlike Bodie, visitors are actually allowed to walk inside many of the historic buildings here, including the massive brick courthouse, the old schoolhouse, and the local hotel. Have you ever visited this ghost town?

St. Elmo, Colorado-- Tucked high in the Sawatch Range at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet, St. Elmo was founded in 1880 as a bustling hub for silver and gold mining. At its peak, the town had roughly 2,000 residents, a telegraph office, five hotels, and numerous saloons. The town's population dwindled sharply when the railroad line shut down in the 1920s. St. Elmo is incredibly unique because it is one of Colorado's best-preserved ghost towns, featuring a stark line of original wooden storefronts, a church, and a schoolhouse. While technically a ghost town, it does have a tiny handful of seasonal inhabitants who help keep a local general store open during the summer months. I would love to visit this one and visit the general store. How about you?

Garnet, Montana-- Hidden deep in a mountain forest east of Missoula, Garnet was a late-blooming gold mining town that flourished in the late 1890s. Named after the ruby-colored stones found nearby, the town was built quickly and compactly to accommodate around 1,000 residents. Because it is sheltered by thick pine forests, Garnet has a completely different feel than the desert ghost towns of California or the high plains of Bannack. Around 30 buildings remain completely intact, including the impressive, multi-story J.K. Wells Hotel, a saloon, and numerous log cabins. The Bureau of Land Management protects the site, allowing visitors to explore the structures and imagine life in a isolated mountain mining camp. Have you visited this ghost town?