Strevell, Idaho Ghost Town

You’ll find Strevell, Idaho as a ghost town in the Raft River Valley, established in 1914 as an essential stop between Boise and Salt Lake City. The town thrived with its hotel, general store, and Mary’s Cafe until the late 1960s, when Interstate highways I-15 and I-80 redirected traffic elsewhere. By 1972, most businesses had closed, including the historic Strevell Hotel, which was relocated to Bridge, Idaho. The town’s abandoned structures hold stories of both prosperity and decline.

Table of Contents hide

1 Key Takeaways

2 The Birth of a Roadside Haven

3 From Bustling Stop to Silent Streets

4 Notable Structures and Landmarks

5 The 1983 Schoolhouse Discovery

6 Life After Abandonment

7 Frequently Asked Questions

7.1 What Was the Highest Recorded Population of Strevell During Its Peak Years?

7.2 Are There Any Surviving Photographs of Mary’s Cafe in Its Operating Years?

7.3 What Happened to the Original Town Residents After Leaving Strevell?

7.4 Is It Legal to Visit and Explore the Remaining Structures Today?

7.5 Were There Any Known Native American Settlements in the Area Before Strevell?

8 References

Key Takeaways

Strevell was established in 1914 as a rest stop between Boise and Salt Lake City, featuring hotels, cafes, and essential roadside services.
The town’s decline began in the late 1960s when Interstate Highways I-15 and I-80 redirected traffic away from the area.

Most businesses closed by 1972, including Mary’s Cafe and the Chevron station, while the historic Strevell Hotel was relocated.
The abandoned schoolhouse gained national attention in 1983 when a four-year-old girl was discovered there by a passing biker.
Today, Strevell stands mostly abandoned with deteriorating structures, attracting historians and tourists interested in Idaho’s ghost towns.

The Birth of a Roadside Haven

When Charles N. Strevell invested in the Pacific Land and Water Company, he couldn’t have known his name would grace one of Idaho’s most promising early roadside havens.

The town’s 1914 incorporation marked the beginning of an ambitious venture along key travel routes between Boise and Salt Lake City.

The 1914 birth of Strevell showcased bold dreams along vital highways connecting Idaho’s capital to Utah’s bustling metropolis.

You’ll find Strevell’s strategic location in the Raft River Valley made it a natural rest stop, positioned perfectly along Highway 30S and Idaho State Highway 81.

The 1913 opening of the Strevell Hotel set the stage for a bustling community equipped with essential roadside amenities.

The town quickly developed a General Mercantile, post office, auto repair garage, and Mary’s Cafe to serve weary travelers.

These establishments transformed this spot into more than just a stop – it became a thriving hub for both visitors and residents alike.

The Chevron station’s operation by the Gunnell family became a cornerstone of the community’s services.

The area surrounding Strevell contains some of the best-preserved Oregon Trail wagon ruts still visible on private ranchland today.

From Bustling Stop to Silent Streets

The bustling promise of Strevell’s early years began to unravel in the late 1960s as newly constructed Interstate Highways I-15 and I-80 redirected traffic away from the once-vital stop.

Like many remote abandoned towns across Idaho, Strevell stands as a testament to how quickly fortunes can change.

You’d have witnessed a rapid community decline as businesses shuttered their doors, unable to survive without the steady stream of travelers who once relied on Strevell’s services.

The economic shifts hit hard and fast. By 1972, even Mary’s Cafe and the Chevron station – longtime anchors of the community – closed their doors.

That same year, you would’ve seen the historic Strevell Hotel loaded onto trucks and moved to Bridge, Idaho.

Notable Structures and Landmarks

Standing along former U.S. Route 30S, you’ll find several structures that tell Strevell’s story.

Mary’s Cafe, with its distinctive split kitchen design, once served hungry travelers, while the Chevron station kept vehicles fueled until 1972.

The town’s architectural styles reflect its frontier roots, from the utilitarian schoolhouse – which gained historical significance during a 1983 child recovery – to the wooden-frame homes that dot the landscape. Like many Idaho ghost towns with well-preserved buildings, these structures remain remarkably intact.

You can still spot the old Strevell Motel, a reminder of the town’s anticipated railroad boom that never came.

The original Hotel Strevell survived by relocating near Malta, where it now serves as a private residence.

These remaining structures, along with scattered foundations and walls, stand as silent witnesses to this once-bustling Idaho transit point turned ghost town.

The 1983 Schoolhouse Discovery

Inside an abandoned schoolhouse along former U.S. Route 30S, a dramatic discovery unfolded in July 1983. A four-year-old girl, who’d been abducted from a Salt Lake City movie theater, was found by a passing biker who’d stopped to rest at the derelict structure.

The schoolhouse, which hadn’t seen students for roughly 60 years, stood as one of Strevell’s most recognizable abandoned structures. Like the Friends of Kuster Museum, this historic building remained locked and inaccessible to visitors.

The incident thrust this remote ghost town back into the national spotlight. Located just a mile from the Utah-Idaho border in Cassia County’s Raft River Valley, Strevell had been deserted since the 1970s.

The child’s recovery highlighted how these forgotten places can still play significant roles in modern events, drawing unexpected attention to this quiet corner of Idaho’s landscape.

Life After Abandonment

Following the 1983 schoolhouse incident, Strevell’s decline became even more pronounced as major highways I-15 and I-80 bypassed this once-bustling frontier town.

The economic impact hit hard and fast – you’d have seen the cafe, creamery, and hardware store shuttering their doors as traffic dwindled to nothing.

The town’s rich cultural heritage slowly faded away. The orchestra fell silent, The Strevell Times printed its final edition, and the local baseball teams played their last games.

While most buildings were abandoned, some historical structures, like the Strevell Hotel, were preserved through relocation. Like many other towns across Idaho, natural disasters and fires contributed to its eventual abandonment.

Today, you’ll find the surrounding Raft River Valley has reclaimed much of the area, though passionate historians and curious tourists still seek out what remains of this Idaho ghost town.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Was the Highest Recorded Population of Strevell During Its Peak Years?

In this fascinating slice of Strevell history, you won’t find exact population numbers during the town’s peak years before its population decline. Records don’t reveal the highest count before abandonment.

Are There Any Surviving Photographs of Mary’s Cafe in Its Operating Years?

You’ll find limited photographic evidence of Mary’s Cafe during operation – mainly exterior shots by the Walkers of His and Hers Photography and some family photos shared by descendants of historical significance.

What Happened to the Original Town Residents After Leaving Strevell?

You’ll find most residents scattered to nearby towns like Malta, while others, drawn by economic opportunities, headed to cities along interstate routes. Some stayed close, maintaining rural lifestyles despite Strevell’s infrastructure collapse.

Is It Legal to Visit and Explore the Remaining Structures Today?

You’ll need to verify property ownership before ghost town exploration, as legal regulations vary. While public roads grant access to the area, entering structures without permission remains illegal under Idaho law.

Were There Any Known Native American Settlements in the Area Before Strevell?

You’ll find that Shoshone and Bannock Native Tribes historically inhabited this region, though no major permanent settlements existed directly at Strevell’s location. They used the area for seasonal hunting and gathering.