White Knob, Idaho, Custer County is a ghost town with a rich history, once a bustling mining community nestled in the mountains. Today, it is a silent reflection of the past, inviting explorers and history enthusiasts to uncover its secrets. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Custer County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 44.0875° N, 113.8639° W
Elevation: Approximately 6,800 feet (2,073 meters)
Time Zone: Mountain Time Zone (MT)
Established: 1880s
Disestablished: 1920s
Comments: White Knob was primarily established due to the discovery of rich copper deposits in the area. It quickly became a thriving mining town, drawing a diverse population of miners and entrepreneurs seeking fortune.
The town’s economy was largely dependent on the success of the copper mines, which were operational for several decades.
White Knob, Idaho is a ghost town in Custer County, Idaho. It is situated on Mine Hill between the town of Mackay, Idaho and the White Knob Mountains in the Pioneer Mountains.
Remains: Today, visitors to White Knob can find remnants of the old mining operations, including dilapidated buildings, mining equipment, and tailings piles.
Some foundations and structures still stand, providing a glimpse into the once-vibrant community. The site is accessible but requires caution due to its location and potential hazards.
In 1879, copper was discovered in the White Knob Mountains near current day Mackay, Idaho. White Knob began as a mining town in this new Alder Creek Mining District.
Both an electric locomotive and an aerial cable tramway were built from White Knob to the rail station in Mackay. The town was home to a school, a general store, and post office. The mine closed in 1928, prompting the decline of the town as more residents were living in Mackay. The school was closed in 1932.
Current Status: White Knob is considered a ghost town. It is uninhabited and serves as a historical site, attracting tourists and historians interested in Idaho’s mining history.
White Knob is listed as a ghost town on the National Historic Register. The South Custer Historical Society and the White Knob Historical Preservation Committee of Mackay, Idaho Ghost Town manage it.
It is accessible by foot, ATV, horseback, and truck. The remaining features of the current site are old road beds, restored railroad trestle, restored and derelict cabins, mill and smelter site, aerial cable tramway towers and headhouse, and grave sites.
The extensive site is owned by the Bureau of Land Management, private individuals, mining interests, and the Salmon-Challis National Forest. A self-guided tour is accessible from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Remarks: White Knob’s story is symbolic of the boom-and-bust cycles typical of mining towns in the American West. It offers a poignant reminder of such communities’ impermanence and the frontier spirit’s enduring allure.
The town’s remote setting and the preservation of its ruins make it an intriguing destination for those seeking to connect with the past.
In 1999 the Mackay Historic Preservation Committee was formed and secured a $250,000 award toward preserving the White Knob and Mine Hill site. They have since reinforced the tram towers, restored the Shay Railroad Trestle, restored several buildings, and installed informative signs and markers along an established trail.
