3 Best Wyoming Saloon Ghost Towns to Explore

Wyoming’s three most fascinating saloon ghost towns await your exploration. In South Pass City, you’ll discover authentic gold rush buildings along a historic main street. Atlantic City offers a genuine frontier experience with its preserved mercantile and historic cabins. High in the Absaroka Mountains, Kirwin provides spectacular alpine views and abandoned structures still containing original items. Each town tells a unique story of Wyoming’s rugged mining past.

Table of Contents hide

1 Key Takeaways

2 South Pass City: Gold Rush History Preserved

3 Atlantic City: Authentic Frontier Experience

4 Kirwin: Hidden Mining Town With Mountain Views

5 Frequently Asked Questions

5.1 Are There Overnight Accommodations in Any of These Ghost Towns?

5.2 Can Visitors Purchase Alcoholic Drinks at Any Restored Saloons?

5.3 Are These Ghost Towns Suitable for Children to Visit?

5.4 What Photography Restrictions Exist at These Historical Sites?

5.5 Do Any of These Towns Offer Special Events or Reenactments?

6 References

Key Takeaways

South Pass City preserves authentic gold rush buildings including saloons along its historic half-mile main street.
Atlantic City Mercantile stands among well-preserved log buildings in this small community of only 50 year-round residents.

Kirwin uniquely lacks a saloon but offers mountain views at 9,200 feet with abandoned structures containing original items.
South Pass City hosts seasonal mine tours and annual Gold Rush Days celebrating Wyoming’s mining heritage.
These ghost towns showcase frontier life with preserved buildings where visitors can experience Wyoming’s Wild West history.

South Pass City: Gold Rush History Preserved

Nestled amid Wyoming’s windswept plains, South Pass City stands frozen in time as one of the American West’s most authentic gold rush settlements. When gold was discovered in 1867 at the Carissa Lode, this boomtown exploded to life, attracting up to 5,000 fortune seekers virtually overnight.

You’ll walk the same half-mile main street that once bustled with hotels, newspapers, and countless saloons. The historic preservation efforts here are unmatched – you’re experiencing one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the West.

Explore the restored buildings and gold mill that once processed ore worth millions. By November 1867, just months after Lewis Robison brought 40 ounces of gold dust to Salt Lake City, the town already boasted fifty houses and several stamping mills.

Walk where miners once turned raw earth into golden fortunes at South Pass City’s meticulously preserved mill.

History lovers will appreciate that South Pass City was where women’s suffrage legislation first passed in December 1869, making Wyoming a pioneer in women’s rights.

Visit during the seasonal mine tours or annual Gold Rush Days to truly connect with the optimistic spirit that drove these frontier entrepreneurs to carve civilization from the wilderness.

Atlantic City: Authentic Frontier Experience

While South Pass City may steal the spotlight, nearby Atlantic City offers perhaps the most authentic frontier experience you’ll find in Wyoming. Founded in 1868 during the gold rush, this remote outpost once bustled with 2,000 residents before cycling through boom-and-bust periods tied to its mining heritage.

Today, you’ll discover a remarkable collection of historic structures, including the Atlantic City Mercantile, the 1842 Gratrix Cabin, and the 1900 Dexter Mill.

With only about 50 year-round residents, the town’s preserved boardwalk and original log buildings transport you back to a time of prospectors, card sharks, and frontier challenges.

As you explore, you’ll appreciate how this isolated community—named for its location east of the Continental Divide—maintains its Wild West spirit while welcoming hikers and adventure seekers. Initial mining operations produced an estimated $2 million in gold during the first five years. The town experienced significant growth during the Great Depression, creating an interesting contrast between buildings from different eras.

Kirwin: Hidden Mining Town With Mountain Views

Deep in Wyoming’s rugged Absaroka Mountains sits Kirwin, a remarkably preserved ghost town that offers some of the most spectacular alpine views in the state.

Unlike typical mining camps, this 9,200-foot elevation town never had a saloon, making it unique in Wyoming’s mining heritage. The town was once known for its vibrant social life with dance halls and saloons, showing remarkable advancement for such an isolated location. The town’s inhabitants abandoned it after an avalanche tragedy killed three people and damaged multiple buildings. The remote location requires a high-clearance vehicle, but you’ll be rewarded with abandoned structures where tools and household items remain exactly as they were left.

Explore the remains of the Galena Ridge Tunnel where promising gold and silver deposits were found

Visit the site of Amelia Earhart’s unfinished cabin
Wander through buildings preserved by the U.S. Forest Service
Camp under the stars surrounded by Shoshone National Forest
Listen for ghostly encounters reported by visitors drawn to this eerie mountain retreat

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Overnight Accommodations in Any of These Ghost Towns?

You won’t find lodging availability within ghost towns themselves. Instead, you’ll discover camping options on nearby BLM lands or comfortable accommodations in surrounding towns with their own haunted histories to explore.

Can Visitors Purchase Alcoholic Drinks at Any Restored Saloons?

You won’t find alcohol at ghost town saloons, which focus on saloon history rather than serving drinks. Drink regulations limit sales to active establishments like Jackson’s Million Dollar Cowboy Bar or Buffalo’s Occidental Saloon.

Are These Ghost Towns Suitable for Children to Visit?

Like stepping into a time capsule, some ghost towns offer family friendly activities and historical education. You’ll find Superior and South Pass City more suitable for kids, while Rudefeha’s open mineshafts demand caution.

What Photography Restrictions Exist at These Historical Sites?

You’ll face few restrictions for personal photography, but can’t use flash near artifacts for historic preservation. Commercial shoots require permits. Tripods, drones, and unstable buildings have additional limitations to protect these treasures.

Do Any of These Towns Offer Special Events or Reenactments?

You’ll find historical reenactments at South Pass City’s Gold Rush Days and Cheyenne’s ghost tours, while Atlantic City hosts cowboy-themed gatherings. Special events showcase Wyoming’s Wild West heritage throughout the year.