Top Ten Ghost Towns in the West

While some people consider a ghost town to be one that is completely void of people, the fact is, a ghost town is considered to be one that is no longer thriving. There are western ghost towns that are completely remote, only accessible by a four-wheel drive and others that are alive with it’s former past, filled with museums and the portrayal of the old west. Either way you look at it, a ghost town is one that has lost its original self. But what does one consider when deciding which ones to see? There are several things to consider, such as whether they are easily accessible, whether buildings are still in existence, and whether there are people currently residing in the town. The following are top ten western ghost towns to experience.

Langtry, Texas
Dating back to 1881, when the railroad was completed and a silver spike was hammered into the ground as a symbol the railroad line was completed, Langtry became part of the Texan history. Today the town of Langtry offers some great opportunity for the tourist, including the Langtry Baptist Church, which is still being used and the Visitor’s Center offers many displays of one of the town’s most prominent citizens, Judge Roy Bean. Still visible are the limestone bridge supports that were part of the old railroad route.

Dodge City, Kansas
With over 100,000 tourists visiting Dodge City and it being the setting for many Hollywood films, Dodge City is one of the most historic places to visit in the West. Once known as a lawless-city, it soon became the home to some of the most infamous officers of the past, including Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Bill Tilghman, and Charlie Bassett.
While visiting Dodge City, places to see are Boot Hill Cemetery, Boot Hill Museum, and of course, the notorious Front Street, where men once dueled it out in the street.