There’s something spooky about the sheer number of ghost towns in America. According to Wikipedia, there are over a thousand of these otherworldly, abandoned municipalities lurking across the country.
Of these many forgotten places, we found a handful currently for sale. Buying a ghost town requires steely nerves—a buyer will not only have to fend off any residual spirits, but also plan to do something—anything—to bring the property back to some semblance of life.
If you’re up to the challenge of closing on a spectral sale, here are five properties worth viewing. These places aren’t for the faint of heart, so we recommend going into a purchase with both eyes wide open. Preferably during the day.
28155 Highway 20, Bend, OR
Price: $1,499,000
Phantasmagorical particulars: Right off Highway 20 in the center of Oregon lies the ghost town of Millican. Current population is zero, which is down from the single resident the town claimed in 1940.
The 74-acre parcel includes the remnants of the Millican Store, and most of the land is zoned for commercial use. The listing suggests an RV park would be a hit next to a resurrected general store.
Forest Service Rd #295, Saint Elmo, CO
Price: $89,500
Phantasmagorical particulars: You might need oxygen to bring this ghost town back to life. Located at 9,000 feet in the Gunnison National Forest, the elevation alone might provide a tingling sensation. There’s an old mine on this 4-acre parcel, along with remnants of a tram line. We can’t promise any valuable gems, but a buyer will surely find a historic hideout.
6000 W Spring Canyon Rd, Helper, UT
Price: $225,000
Phantasmagorical particulars: The former Maple Creek Mine is a scary bargain. A buyer can acquire the 154 acres, including remnants of dozens of buildings and plenty of artifacts on the ground.
“It’s wonderfully peaceful,” the listing agent told us last week.
Dakota Mountain, Black Hawk, CO
Price: $2,900,000
Phantasmagorical particulars: The price alone will give a fright to plenty of potential buyers. In addition to the historic ghost town of Apex, a buyer can also lay claim to a 400-acre parcel. About 45 minutes outside of Denver, this mountainous property is a developer’s dream, according to the listing. Resurrect a ghost town and develop a new ski resort? There’s nothing dreadful about that!
23391 S State Route 89, Yarnell, AZ
Price: $449,000
Phantasmagorical particulars: This place isn’t an apparition—you’re looking at a reconstructed ghost town. We know it’s a bit of cheat, but we couldn’t resist highlighting this charming property. There’s a three-bedroom main house on the 5-acre spread, but out back is where the spectral action goes down.
This replica ghost town looks so real, it’s scary. The rough-hewn wooden structures look as if they were transported from the Old West. Ghosts or not, this place shows a delightful dedication to detail.
Published on 2017-10-24 16:29:30
