You’ll find Pavilion, Oklahoma’s remains as a stark reminder of America’s mining heritage. Founded in 1886, this once-thriving town peaked in the 1920s with over 14,000 residents during the zinc and lead mining boom. The city officially ceased to exist in 2009, abandoned due to severe environmental contamination, dangerous sinkholes, and toxic chat piles reaching 200 feet high. The town’s dramatic rise and fall tells a cautionary tale of industrial prosperity’s hidden costs.
Key Takeaways
- Founded in 1886, Pavilion was a mining town that thrived during the early 1900s due to rich lead and zinc deposits.
- The town reached its peak population of 14,252 in 1926 during the mining boom of the Tri-State Mining District.
- Severe environmental contamination from mining operations led to EPA declaring Pavilion a superfund site in 1983.
- Toxic chat piles, dangerous sinkholes, and lead contamination forced most residents to abandon the town.
- The city officially ceased to exist in 2009, with only 20 residents remaining by 2010 despite federal buyout programs.
Origins and Settlement History
While the establishment of Pavilion initially stemmed from trading opportunities with local Indians and cattle herders, the town’s formal founding in 1886 began when brothers-in-law W.H. Acers and H.P. Dale built the first general store.
The following year, land promoter Joseph S. “Buckskin Joe” Works laid out an eighty-acre town site, receiving half the lots as incentive for his promotional efforts. Similar to the town of Cloud Chief, Pavilion peaked in the mid-1890s with a thriving business district.
The town became home to the first Protestant church when the Baptist congregation was established in Oklahoma Indian Territory.
Founder motivations centered on capitalizing on trade along cattle trails heading north to Kansas. Early commerce revolved around general merchandise and postal services, with the town’s post office opening in September 1887 under the name “Navajoe” to distinguish it from Navajo, Arizona.
The settlement, originally part of Greer County, Texas, would later become part of Oklahoma Territory.
The Rise and Fall of Mining Operations
The mining boom that transformed Pavilion emerged from the rich deposits of the Tri-State Mining District. You’ll find that mining technology rapidly advanced after the 1913 strike on Harry Crawfish’s claim, leading to unprecedented growth. Child laborers worked in hazardous conditions, with boys as young as twelve employed underground.
By 1926, the population had soared to 14,252, with over 18,000 workers in mining and related services.
During World War I, you could trace more than half of America’s lead and zinc production to this area, generating over $20 billion in ore value between 1917 and 1947. The region became the top global producer of these vital metals, fueling industrial development nationwide.
The Tri-State Mining District dominated American lead and zinc production, yielding $20 billion in ore during the wartime boom years.
However, economic fluctuations and depleting resources took their toll. By the 1940s, ore content dropped to just 2%, requiring massive earth removal for minimal yield.
Operations limped along until 1967, leaving behind 178 million tons of toxic chat that would ultimately force the town’s abandonment.
Remnants of a Lost Community
Today’s remnants of Pavilion paint a haunting picture of environmental devastation and forced exodus.
You’ll find abandoned homes scattered across the landscape, many crumbling under years of neglect, while toxic chat piles tower up to 200 feet overhead. A devastating EF4 tornado in 2008 destroyed 150 homes, further accelerating the town’s decline. The once-bustling streets are now blocked by fencing and “No Trespassing” signs, protecting visitors from unstable ground and environmental hazards.
Community memories live on through artifacts rescued from the former mining museum and other historic buildings, now preserved in nearby regional collections. Like many ghost towns in Oklahoma, these abandoned structures serve as a testament to the cycles of prosperity and decline throughout the state’s history.
The empty parking lots and deteriorating structures tell stories of the 14,000 residents who once called this place home. By 2010, only 20 stubborn inhabitants remained, refusing federal buyouts even as their city officially ceased to exist in 2009.
Environmental Impact and Abandonment
Environmental devastation wreaked havoc on Pavilion long before its final abandonment, stemming from decades of aggressive zinc and lead mining operations. The town’s mines provided critical wartime ammunition for both World Wars.
You’ll find the lasting pollution effects in towering chat piles reaching 200 feet high, continuously releasing toxic dust into the air. The ground beneath your feet isn’t safe either – extensive underground mining created dangerous sinkholes that have swallowed buildings whole.
The health consequences proved catastrophic for residents. By 1994, over a third of children showed elevated blood lead levels, while toxic metals in the water turned Tar Creek an ominous red. The EPA declared it a superfund site in 1983 due to the severe contamination.
When mine pumping stopped, contaminated groundwater rose through the abandoned shafts, poisoning drinking water and agricultural land. These compounding environmental disasters ultimately forced the community to evacuate, leaving Pavilion a toxic ghost town.
Legacy in Oklahoma’s Ghost Town Heritage
The town’s economic shifts mirror broader changes that shaped Oklahoma’s development:
- From a thriving community built on informal economies to abandonment triggered by Prohibition. Many settlements emerged as liquor towns, catering to residents of neighboring dry territories before being abandoned. Similar to Beer City, which thrived in the No Man’s Land region until legal oversight was established.
- Through preservation efforts and historical markers that maintain its place in local memory.
- As a tribute to the diverse populations, including Native Americans and settlers, who shaped these frontier settlements.
These elements continue to fuel tourism and scholarly interest while connecting modern Oklahomans to their territorial roots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Paranormal Activities Reported in Pavilion’s Abandoned Buildings?
While you might expect ghost sightings in such an eerie setting, there aren’t any documented paranormal activities or haunted locations reported in Pavilion’s abandoned buildings, unlike other well-known Oklahoma supernatural hotspots.
Can Visitors Legally Explore and Photograph the Remaining Structures in Pavilion?
You’ll need landowner permission to explore or photograph structures legally. Photography regulations and historical preservation rules require prior consent to access private property and document remaining buildings.
What Happened to the Families Who Were Forced to Leave Pavilion?
Like scattered seeds in the wind, families spread to nearby towns like Miami, Quapaw, and Commerce. You’ll find they’ve rebuilt their lives while coping with the historical impact of family displacement.
Does Anyone Still Live Within the Official Boundaries of Pavilion?
You won’t find any current residents within Pavilion’s boundaries – it’s completely abandoned. Like many of Oklahoma’s ghost towns from mining’s heyday, the town’s history ends with zero population today.
Are There Any Annual Events or Reunions Held by Former Pavilion Residents?
You won’t find any reunion gatherings of former residents from this ghost town. While Oklahoma hosts various historical events and ghost tours, there’s no documented evidence of Pavilion-specific annual meetups.
References
- https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=GH002
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08y9RTS_nS4
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picher
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPB4Bal_mm8
- https://quirkytravelguy.com/visiting-picher-oklahoma-ghost-town-toxic-waste/
- https://digging-history.com/2014/09/24/ghost-town-wednesday-navajoe-oklahoma/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d-wHDTIbb0
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Oklahoma
- https://www.kosu.org/local-news/2014-05-23/ghost-towns-all-black-oklahoma-towns
- https://panethos.wordpress.com/2023/08/07/picher-oklahoma-from-lead-zone-to-dead-zone/
