You’ll find Millican along U.S. Route 20 in central Oregon, a ghost town with a haunting past. Founded in the 1880s by George Millican as a ranch settlement, it peaked at 60 residents before declining when the highway bypassed it in 1930. The town’s last resident, Bill Mellin, ran the lone gas station for 40 years until his tragic murder in 1988. Today, abandoned buildings and the old store stand as silent witnesses to a fascinating frontier tale.
Key Takeaways
- Millican, Oregon was established in the 1880s as a ranching settlement and reached its peak population of 60 residents in 1916.
- The town’s decline began when U.S. Route 20 bypassed it in 1930, leading to its eventual abandonment and ghost town status.
- The last resident, Bill Mellin, operated the town’s only gas station and store for 40 years until his tragic murder in 1988.
- Historical remnants include abandoned buildings, an old gas station, and store, showcasing the town’s Western settlement heritage.
- Located in central Oregon, Millican is now completely uninhabited but attracts heritage tourists interested in ghost town exploration.
The Rise and Fall of a One-Man Town
While many ghost towns emerged from mining booms, Millican’s story began differently when George Millican established a ranch in Oregon’s high desert during the late 1880s.
You’ll find the town’s initial growth centered around ranching, with Millican serving as the first postmaster in 1913. The population reached a peak of 60 after George sold his ranch in 1916.
The town’s struggle for economic viability took a dramatic turn in 1930 when U.S. Route 20 bypassed the original settlement.
Despite relocating closer to the highway, town sustainability plummeted. By the early 1930s, only Billy Rahn remained.
Even after moving nearer to U.S. Route 20, Millican couldn’t sustain itself, leaving Billy Rahn as its sole inhabitant.
After WWII, Bill Mellin purchased Millican, running its lone gas station and store for 40 years until his death in 1988. Today, the property sits on an 80-acre knoll amid sagebrush and high desert terrain.
Despite subsequent owners’ attempts to breathe new life into the settlement, including plans for an animal rescue, Millican’s destiny as a ghost town was sealed.
A Tragic End to Millican’s Last Resident
After decades of running Millican’s lone business as its sole resident, Bill Mellin met a tragic end on March 8, 1988, when he was fatally shot in the back of the head at his store.
His employee, Don Whitney, managed to wrestle away the gun, but Mellin’s wound proved fatal. His death marked the final chapter in a series of personal tragedies that had left him increasingly isolated – his wife had died of a heart attack in 1976, and he’d lost both children to separate accidents.
Ex-con David Wareham, who Mellin had hired for odd jobs, was convicted of the murder and received a life sentence.
Like some local care facilities that undergo state inspections every two years, the Millican property faced regular oversight in its operational days.
Mellin’s granddaughter Valerie Cornford inherited the property but sold it within months for $90,000.
When the buyer defaulted, she regained and resold it in 1989.
Since Mellin’s murder, Millican has remained truly empty, with no permanent residents.
His death effectively transformed the one-man town into the complete ghost town it remains today.
Life Along Historic Highway 20
Since its official designation in 1926, U.S. Route 20 transformed northern Oregon’s landscape, especially east of the Cascades.
You’ll find traces of highway history in the early road conditions – winding paths with no shoulders that challenged early motorists. The route runs through Santiam Pass over the Cascade Mountains, offering travelers a scenic mountain crossing. Between 1917 and the early 1920s, major improvements brought graded surfaces, macadam paving, and new bridges.
The community evolution along Highway 20 shaped the region’s character. The route’s initial plans included following the Columbia River from Astoria until the Oregon Highway Commission requested changes.
Highway 20 became more than a road – it became the heartbeat of northern Oregon’s communities, defining their growth and identity.
You’ll discover how towns flourished as the route became their Main Street, with gas stations, diners, and motels springing up to serve travelers. The improved infrastructure connected agricultural communities to essential markets, influencing settlement patterns throughout rural Oregon.
From Ranch Settlement to Ghost Town Legacy
Before George Millican established the local post office in the late 19th century, this stretch of Oregon’s high desert drew ambitious cattle ranchers seeking opportunity in the open range.
You’ll find traces of this ranching heritage in the abandoned buildings that once formed a thriving hub, where the Brothers store displayed pioneer artifacts and served as a crucial community gathering spot.
The town’s community dynamics shifted dramatically as transportation improved in the 1920s.
During its peak, the population reached around sixty residents, with a school operating to serve the growing community.
Located just outside Bend, Oregon, Millican offers minimal attractions but remains an important historical site.
You won’t see the bustle of livestock traders or wheat farmers anymore – they’ve long since moved on.
By 1952, when the post office closed its doors, Millican’s transformation into a ghost town was complete.
Today, the collapsing general store and weathered structures stand as silent witnesses to a bygone era of Western settlement and frontier life.
Modern Attempts to Revive an Abandoned Dream
Despite decades of abandonment, Millican has drawn a small but determined group of pioneers attempting to breathe new life into this high desert ghost town.
You’ll find the old gas station and store still standing as evidence of past amenities, with sporadic efforts to restore basic services hampered by the area’s tiny population and limited funding.
Since 1988’s complete abandonment, a handful of resilient settlers have returned, rehabilitating homes for both permanent and seasonal use. Visitors and travel enthusiasts express strong excitement online about exploring this unique destination. Like the historic bar in Shaniko, these remnants of the past help preserve the authentic ghost town atmosphere.
Heritage tourism now offers a lifeline, as preservation enthusiasts work to protect historic structures and promote community engagement through proposed interpretive tours.
While geographic isolation and infrastructure challenges persist, locals envision sustainable revival through small-scale cultural events and niche tourism opportunities, carefully balancing development with Millican’s authentic ghost town character.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Remaining Original Buildings Still Standing in Millican Today?
You’ll find a few remaining structures still standing on private property, including the historic store and outbuildings, though they lack architectural significance and show signs of vandalism and neglect.
What Wildlife Can Visitors Commonly Encounter Around the Millican Area?
Like nature’s welcoming committee, you’ll spot Roosevelt Elk, Black-tailed Deer, and Red-tailed Hawks soaring overhead. Local fauna includes Black Bears, Burrowing Owls, Pacific Chorus Frogs, and various ground squirrels.
How Does Winter Weather Affect Access to the Ghost Town?
You’ll face challenging winter road conditions with icy, snow-covered routes and limited snow removal. Seasonal accessibility drops considerably, requiring four-wheel-drive vehicles. Unpaved roads become muddy and impassable during freeze-thaw cycles.
Was Millican Ever Considered for Inclusion in the National Historic Register?
Time tells all tales – you won’t find any records showing Millican’s consideration for the National Historic Register. Despite local historic preservation efforts, the ghost town hasn’t demonstrated sufficient national significance for nomination.
Did Any Famous Historical Figures Ever Pass Through Millican?
You won’t find records of any famous visitors passing through this Central Oregon ranching outpost. Its historical significance stems from local figures like George Millican rather than notable national personalities.
References
- https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/exhibits/ghost/Pages/transportation-millican.aspx
- http://www.photographoregon.com/Millican-Oregon.html
- https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/culture-history/ghost-towns/secrets-oregons-ghost-towns/
- https://extranormaltrails.com/millican/
- https://bendbulletin.com/2019/04/04/childhood-memories-of-millican-inspire-website/
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Millican
- https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/07/03/The-new-owner-of-the-tiny-town-of-Millican/3396646977600/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millican
- https://curtdeatherage.wordpress.com/2017/07/03/murder-on-the-high-desert/
- https://bendbulletin.com/2025/06/12/bend-memory-care-facility-passes-inspection-after-heat-death-of-resident/
