Best Ghost Towns 2023

It is that time of year again; my thoughts turn to my travels over 2023 and the best ghost towns of the year. Some trips seem like yesterday, and some seem like years ago.

2023 might be the final year I put ghost towns on a yearly spreadsheet. I have combined the sites I visited to a master list. It will be an extensive process. I am marking where I visited, is there a travel update, have I written a full article and is it on my interactive ghost town map? My handy notebook will remain in the Jeep and be updated as I visit sites.

When I started reviewing the years in 2021, I was shocked I visited 160 sites in 2021. I was flabbergasted when I totaled 228 in 2022! Many were smaller sites, including station stops, and had little remaining, but I still visited and documented each one.

How many historical sites did I visit in 2023? Drum roll, please …..

210!

Below are my favorite ghost towns from 2023, the year’s highlights and a few lowlights. Links with more information and photos are on each title.

Five Ducking Days

2023 started with a bang-or rather a crash. We had a flood, blizzard and power outage, all within hours. We spent 5 full days with no electricity, heat or water. That was followed by 4 days with no propane, then by the water heater going out.

New Year’s 2023 will always be remembered! We lived from my camping gear and, finally, a temporary generator that powered some of the house. This year’s big addition at the ranch was 2 propane tanks and a 26KW Generac Generator, probably guaranteeing we will never lose power again.

Tami’s Tow Truck

In the midst of the power outage, I put my recovery training to work. My first recovery was with my little one rescuing Hubby, who got stuck in the Grand Cherokee. My daughter thought it was hilarious that the girls recovered the guys… twice.

Nevada Museum Madness

My first big trip of the year was to Tonopah in February. I visited four Museums: Ordnance, Mineral County, Central Nevada, and International Car Forest of the Last Church. In addition, I explored Tonopah and Goldfield, which are like open-air museums. In my free time, I researched who was the Mizpah’s Lady in Red and the “Unknown Man died eating library paste” likely the most famous headstone in Nevada.

Radio Goldfield

I was in central Nevada for an interview with Radio Goldfield on their popular Friday night live show, Carlshopshow. I started my radio show on KGFN, a weekly spotlight on history. There are 24 completed episodes and will start work on new episodes in January. You can catch my show in the 1 pm hour. If you are out of the coverage area, you can stream KGFN.

Ghost Towns of Beatty

My first big ghost town trip of the year was with Nevada Expeditions, exploring the Beatty area and sites along Highway 95. Did you know a portion of Death Valley National Park is in Nevada?

Being based in Beatty meant we could visit Rhyolite multiple times for the best light.

One of my goals was to visit the grave of Panamint Annie. She was a woman before her time and a legend in Death Valley. 

At the Pioneer Mine, the constant dinging of my phone told me we were back in service. I decided to post on my Facebook group that I was excited to be on my first ghost town trip of the year.

I couldn’t determine why the car honked and kept flashing the lights. Then I got out and heard the hiss. Darn it, a tire had a one-inch gash right through the sidewall. The rear tire was totally flat within a minute. We made it home on the spare tire, with a used spare in the trunk. Momma Badger now has upgraded tires.

Angel’s Ladies

Angel’s Ladies plane crash isn’t a ghost town, but it has one of my favorite stories. Who would have thought an inexperienced pilot, strong Nevada winds, and scantily-clad ladies of the evening wouldn’t mix well? Only in Nevada.  

Thunder Mountain

Rising from the Nevada desert, like a mirage along I80, is Thunder Mountain. Creator Frank Van Zant, known as Chief Thunder, created the one-of-a-kind Nevada monument. He turned trash into a wonderland of art, a fusion of industrial art meets The Flintstones.

Mercury Mine Madness

Honey Badger had her first big outing of the year and the first trip since her new engine. Old Fart #1 (OF#1) invited me on a Memorial Day trip to explore the Humboldt and East Ranges known for mercury mines.

Big Island Girl Trip

We spent a week in Hawaii with my sister for my mom’s birthday.

We relaxed at the amazing resort but explored ghost towns, including Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park and the Waikoloa Petroglyphs.

Washoe County

One of the two trips I didn’t get written up was the spring trip to northern Washoe County. We based out of Cedarville as there is little north of Reno until you hit Denio.

We visited around 40 ghost towns in three days. That many might seem impossible, but many were private property and we could only get a photo from the roadside.

Hawthorne Ghost Town Trip

Summer kicked off with a multi-day trip to Mineral County. Despite rain and lightning at the beginning of the trip, the weekend turned out beautifully. We didn’t go far out of our base in Hawthorne but visited many of the locations missed on previous trips when we only passed through the area.

Jack’s Valley

I had the opportunity to visit one of the ghost towns I thought I would never see, Jack’s Valley.

Jack’s Valley, Nevada isn’t as well known as nearby Genoa, but pioneers settled the small valley to the north soon after, making it one of Nevada’s oldest non-Native American settlements. Jack’s Valley doesn’t have flashy historic buildings like its big sister to the south. Still, the valley contains historical ranches, one of Nevada’s oldest cemeteries, and stories of tragic death and murder.

Jack’s Valley had a large cemetery established by the Winters Family. Misspellings on the headstones led me on a merry chase to document their history.

The most prominent grave is of William Fulstong. Tragically, Willie died under “peculiar circumstances” in 1872 at the age of 10 months. The cemetery is on private land, which has prevented damage that sadly occurs to many headstones and fences. The Ascuaga Family has preserved and protected the graves.

Camping with Stan, trip 1

This year I had not just one, but 2 camping trips with Stan Paher, the godfather of Nevada ghost towns.

We camped at Birch Creek in Big Smoke Valley for our first trip. We spent 3 days exploring ghost towns in Big Smoky Valley and all the way to Beowawe! Jefferson had been on the top of my wish list to visit. It was even more spectacular than expected; ruins stretch over a mile. Thankfully, we went when we did; a big storm hit when I was camping in the area over Labor Day and washed out the roads.

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle is an iconic California landmark. Many know the story of William Randolph Hearst and his magnificent home, architecture and art. But, many do not realize the connection to Nevada and Comstock Lode. Without the Big Bonanza, the castle may have never existed.

Caples Lake Child’s Grave

It took me three years, but I finally located the child’s grave at Caples Lake.

Caples Lake is a beautiful alpine lake in the Sierra over Highway 88. It is known for its historic resort, beautiful lake and fishing. Caples Lake has its roots in the gold rush. Dr. Caples spent summers at the lake and owned a trading post. Sadly, his son Harry L. Caples died there, and they buried him in a grave at the lake.

Nevada Insane Asylum and the Descecrated Cemetery

The Nevada Insane Asylum opened in 1881 to care for Nevadans who were unable to care for themselves. Funding and staffing issues plagued the hospital, causing patients to be lost in the system. For almost 70 years, patients who died were buried on hospital grounds. With the abolishment of hospital cemeteries, the graveyard was forgotten. Multiple construction projects desecrated the graves; Friends of Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services Cemetery fought to have their memories preserved.

As a historian, psychotherapist, and parent of a child with special needs, this is a story that goes right to my heart.

Best Little 10-Stamp Mill in Nevada

Nevada still has treasures hidden in her desert. I surveyed the 10-stamp mill along with the Tonopah Mining Park board members, including Stan Paher. We camped outside of Mina and couldn’t resist visiting the ghost towns of Simon and the historical sites near the stamp mill.

While camping in Hamilton last year, Stan told me of a 10-stamp mill that was in beautiful shape and mostly unknown. He wanted to visit the mill along with some board members from the Tonopah Mining Park. Our goal was to document the mill and look at the possibility of moving it to the park and restoring it to working order. As long as we were in the area, he wanted to visit other ghost towns. The trip’s finale was with Nevada Expeditions driving Stan to a ghost town he always wanted to visit but never made it there.

Rescue of wild horse colt

A colt got separated from his momma and band. For some reason, he decided Honey Badger and I were momma and wouldn’t leave us. It took some time, but we left him where we last saw his band.

50th Birthday Trip

The big trip of the year was my 50th birthday which fell over Labor Day Weekend. It will be a trip to remember. We visited amazing ghost towns in Monitor and Big Smoky Valleys. You know what they say about the weather in Nevada: wait 10 minutes, and it will change. Day 1 started beautifully; Day 2 was lightening and rainy with isolated downpours. Day 3 was freezing; I expected to wake with the tent covered in snow. That is Nevada on Labor Day.

While tens of thousands of people were stuck in the desert with dysentery, I could count on my fingers the number of people I saw all weekend.

Highway 95 Reno to Lakeview, Oregon

I had my 3rd trip to Lakeview, Oregon, in a year and stopped at more ghost towns along Highway 395. I am working to compile all the stops I have made between Reno and Lakeview.

Thunder Ranch

I trained at Thunder Ranch twice in 2023. The first was Defensive Revolver in February. I still get cold thinking about that trip. Smith & Wesson filmed the class so I am in their official video.

My second class was Urban Rifle. I didn’t write about the class but about being a solo female training at Thunder Ranch. I haven’t shared the story yet, but you can have an early look at Visits to Thunder Ranch: My experience as a lone female student.

Ghost towns & flying monkeys

The Kid moved to Mesquite! He wanted me there a little but otherwise politely asked me to go away. As no hotels were available in Mesquite, I stayed in St. George. Oh, darned, too bad that I happen to love St. George! Most of my time was in meetings and running errands for supplies he forgot to pack. But I visited ghost towns in Utah and Nevada and learned about flying monkeys!

I visited St. Thomas on my last visit to Overton but missed the cemetery. St. Thomas is one of the better-known ghost towns in Nevada. With Lake Mead’s creation, rising waters submerged one of Nevada’s oldest established towns under sixty feet of water. Sixty-four years later, lower lake levels have made St. Thomas accessible to visitors. The St. Thomas cemetery was relocated before the creation of Lake Mead. Many of the graves are only marked as Pioneer. Only residents of St. Thomas, nearly Kaolin and their descendants can be interred at the cemetery.

Honey Badger

Honey Badger had a big year. She was gone over winter, awaiting a new engine. We went out with Dirty Girls Jeep Club to give her a shakedown and check out her flex.

Honey Badger had her first recovery with 775 OFR. She did great, and we got the gentleman home before it got dark and cold.

The front drive shaft went out in Delamar, literally the middle of nowhere. We made it back to Mesquite, then drove home with the drive shaft strapped to the rear bumper.

I went with an Adams driveshaft, which my friend Steve helped me to install.

Ghost towns of Las Vegas

My sister has wanted to visit Las Vegas for many years, but big cities aren’t my idea of fun. I wasn’t excited when she suggested we meet in Vegas for a weekend to celebrate my belated 50th birthday. Then I started looking at all the ghost towns we could visit and started to get excited. Throw in excellent restaurants and spas, and it began to look like a fun-filled sister trip.

A few cool things

Nevada Magazine chose Honey Badger’s photo as the Great Nevada Photo Hunt cell phone category winner. Soon after, I received a fantastic email: Travel Nevada purchased the license for the image to use for marketing Nevada through various formats! I always said Honey Badger would be more famous than me.

Utah Life reached out to purchase ghost town photos I took in Utah. I didn’t do a full write-up of the family vacation, but had some of the trip with a few photos. I am flattered that liked the shots.

WHAT IS NEXT?

2024 will start off with a ghost town trip to southern Nevada and Utah. I will take The Kid back to Mesquite and then spend a few days exploring the area. I might fly down over Presidents Day weekend and take him to places he wants to visit, like Valley of Fire State Park.

I have some decisions to make with Nevada Ghost Towns & Beyond. Too many projects are pulling me in different directions and I need to reassess my primary goal. I enjoy the travel updates and having some content available on the ghost towns I visit, but they have taken on a life of their own. What started as a few simple pictures and basic info turned into much more. While I love visiting historic sites, I miss the research and finding unknown information, especially about people.

I am sorely behind on full articles and my map. Each travel update or full article on a ghost town takes about a week. Then, I have the episodes from Radio Goldfield, which I adapt from my current project. My map is missing hundreds of sites and links.

A publisher contacted me, wanting a book that could turn into multiple books. Their format was current photos and a little information. I was excited and had the first book laid out, along with the introduction written. Then, I received the contract. I’m not an attorney, but even I could see their contract was terrible, which our attorney verified.

I plan on pursuing a book but haven’t decided on the format. One option is a compilation of my articles. Another option is more similar to the book I planned, mostly pictures with some historical information. 

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