Barry PhilipsIowa may be known for rolling cornfields, peaceful small towns, and Midwestern charm, but hidden across the state are eerie ghost towns that tell forgotten stories of boom-and-bust economies, vanished railroads, coal mining collapse, floods, and entire communities swallowed by time.
From underwater towns beneath reservoirs to abandoned coal camps once full of life, Iowa’s ghost towns offer a fascinating look into the state’s lost history. Some still have crumbling buildings, old mills, and abandoned cemeteries, while others exist only in local memory and historical records.
This guide explores the Top 50 Ghost Towns in Iowa, their history, what caused their decline, and why they continue to attract history lovers, photographers, and curious travelers.
Top 50 Ghost Towns In Iowa
1. Buxton
Buxton is perhaps the most famous ghost town in Iowa and one of the most historically significant. Located in Monroe County, it was once a thriving coal mining town with a population of more than 5,000 people.
What made Buxton remarkable was its diversity. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, it became known as one of the most racially integrated towns in America. Black miners and white miners worked side by side, and African Americans held leadership positions that were rare for the era.
The town had schools, stores, churches, and a busy Main Street. It was considered progressive and prosperous. However, when coal demand dropped and mines began closing in the early 1900s, residents gradually left.
Today, very little remains physically, but Buxton’s story continues to fascinate historians. Many locals still consider it one of Iowa’s most important lost communities.
2. Rockville
Rockville in Delaware County feels like something out of a Gothic novel. Its most famous surviving feature is the abandoned stone grist mill, which looks more like a medieval castle than a Midwestern structure.
Founded in 1845, Rockville once had the energy of a developing frontier town. Mills were vital to local agriculture, and the settlement thrived for a time. As nearby towns grew stronger and transportation routes shifted, Rockville slowly lost importance.
Eventually, residents moved away, businesses closed, and the town faded into obscurity. The mill remains as a haunting symbol of what once was.
Today, photographers and history enthusiasts visit for its dramatic ruins and eerie beauty. It remains one of Iowa’s most visually striking ghost towns.
3. Buckhorn
Buckhorn in Jackson County is a quieter but equally fascinating ghost town. It was once a farming and creamery settlement that served local agricultural communities.
The most recognizable remaining structure is the old Buckhorn Creamery. Along with a cemetery and a small abandoned church, it forms the skeleton of what used to be a functioning rural town.
As farming operations consolidated and larger agricultural businesses took over, small settlements like Buckhorn struggled to survive. Residents moved to larger towns for work, schools, and services.
Today, Buckhorn stands mostly silent, with only traces left behind. It is a classic example of how small farming communities can disappear slowly rather than suddenly.
4. Red Rock
Red Rock is one of Iowa’s most mysterious ghost towns because it lies underwater.
Located in Marion County, Red Rock was intentionally flooded during the construction of Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest reservoir. The government relocated residents and submerged the old town beneath the new lake.
Before flooding, Red Rock had homes, roads, and a functioning local economy. Once the dam project moved forward, the town’s fate was sealed.
Today, people boating on Lake Red Rock are often unaware they are floating above a former community. This underwater history gives Red Rock an especially haunting reputation and makes it one of Iowa’s most unusual ghost towns.
5. Rousseau
Like Red Rock, Rousseau disappeared beneath the waters of Lake Red Rock.
Also located in Marion County, Rousseau was sacrificed for reservoir construction when flood control and water management projects reshaped the region.
Entire communities were relocated, buildings were removed, and the town was effectively erased from the map. Some locals still remember the stories passed down by older generations who witnessed the relocation.
Even today, Rousseau is remembered as one of Iowa’s most unusual ghost towns because it no longer exists above ground.
6. Elkport
Elkport in Clayton County was once a small but active river town. Like many communities built near waterways, it benefited from trade, transportation, and fertile land.
Unfortunately, the river that once supported the town also contributed to its downfall. Severe flooding devastated Elkport, leading residents to rebuild on higher ground rather than restore the original town.
What remains of old Elkport gives it a ghost-town atmosphere, with empty streets and scattered remnants of the original settlement.
It is one of the best examples of how natural disasters can turn living communities into near-abandoned places.
7. Stanzel
Stanzel in Adair County is a roadside ghost town with only a handful of remnants left.
Located along Highway 92, it once served as a store, post office, and stagecoach stop. Like many small settlements, it depended on travelers and local trade.
As highways modernized and nearby towns offered better services, Stanzel lost its relevance. Businesses closed, families moved away, and the settlement gradually became nearly empty.
Today, only a few houses, one church, and a decaying structure remain. It is small, but its lonely atmosphere makes it unforgettable.
8. Unique
Few ghost towns have a name as memorable as Unique.
Located in Humboldt County, Unique was founded because settlers believed a railroad would pass through the area. They built homes, established a post office, and expected growth.
But the railroad never came.
Without rail access, economic opportunity disappeared. Businesses could not thrive, and residents slowly abandoned the area. The post office closed permanently in the early 1900s, sealing the town’s fate.
Its unusual name and railroad-related downfall make Unique one of Iowa’s most interesting ghost towns.
9. Zero
Zero, Iowa sounds like the perfect name for a ghost town, and fittingly, it is exactly that.
Located in Lucas County, Zero began as a mining community in 1883. It was laid out with streets, lots, and a growing population that reached around 200 people during its early years.
Its downfall came quickly when the Zero Mine flooded and closed in 1886. Without the mine, the town had little reason to exist. Population declined rapidly, and the once-promising settlement became nearly empty.
Today, Zero is officially recognized as a former unincorporated community and ghost town.
10. Secor
Secor in Hardin County, previously known as Xenia and Delanti, is another fascinating forgotten place.
It was once important because it sat near one of the few bridges across the Iowa River in the county. That gave it strategic value for trade and transportation.
Over time, however, better routes developed elsewhere. The town lost its school, mill, post office, and businesses. By the mid-20th century, it was already widely considered a ghost town.
Its unusual history and multiple name changes make it one of Iowa’s most interesting lost communities.
Comprehensive List
| No. | Ghost Town | County | Known For | Reason for Decline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buxton | Monroe County | Historic coal mining town | Mine closures |
| 2 | Rockville | Delaware County | Stone mill ruins | Economic decline |
| 3 | Buckhorn | Jackson County | Creamery and farming settlement | Agricultural decline |
| 4 | Red Rock | Marion County | Underwater ghost town | Flooded by reservoir |
| 5 | Rousseau | Marion County | Submerged settlement | Reservoir construction |
| 6 | Elkport | Clayton County | River town | Major flooding |
| 7 | Stanzel | Adair County | Highway ghost settlement | Loss of commerce |
| 8 | Unique | Humboldt County | Railroad speculation town | Railroad bypass |
| 9 | Zero | Lucas County | Mining town | Mine flooding |
| 10 | Secor | Hardin County | Historic river crossing town | Loss of transport and businesses |
| 11 | Coalport | Monroe County | Coal mining settlement | Mine shutdown |
| 12 | Cordova | Marion County | Submerged community | Lake construction |
| 13 | Dunreath | Jasper County | Railroad farming town | Railroad decline |
| 14 | Good Hope | Wayne County | Farming village | Population migration |
| 15 | Bethlehem | Van Buren County | Rural farming town | Agricultural decline |
| 16 | Dudley | Wapello County | Coal mining town | Mine closures |
| 17 | Angus | Boone County | Mining settlement | Coal industry collapse |
| 18 | Laddsdale | Appanoose County | Railroad village | Railroad abandonment |
| 19 | Dalby | Webster County | Small farming town | Loss of commerce |
| 20 | Albany | Monroe County | Mining and rail town | Economic downturn |
| 21 | Flagg | Harrison County | Rural settlement | Population loss |
| 22 | East Peru | Madison County | Historic crossroads town | Highway bypass |
| 23 | Tycoon | Mahaska County | Mining community | Coal depletion |
| 24 | White Breast | Lucas County | Coal camp | Mine flooding |
| 25 | Hiteman | Monroe County | Company mining town | Mine closure |
| 26 | Coalfield | Polk County | Mining village | Decline of coal industry |
| 27 | Zenith | Pottawattamie County | Railroad stop | Rail bypass |
| 28 | Fabius | Davis County | Small agricultural town | Rural depopulation |
| 29 | Ivanhoe | Linn County | Mill settlement | Economic decline |
| 30 | Yorktown | Page County | Farming community | Outmigration |
| 31 | Clarkson | Monroe County | Mining settlement | Coal decline |
| 32 | Amos | Boone County | Railroad town | Loss of rail activity |
| 33 | Muchakinock | Mahaska County | Coal mining camp | Mine closures |
| 34 | Olmitz | Audubon County | Prairie settlement | Population decline |
| 35 | Fishville | Allamakee County | River settlement | Flooding |
| 36 | Ridgeport | Boone County | Mill and trade town | Economic shift |
| 37 | Linby | Warren County | Railroad village | Transportation changes |
| 38 | Flagler | Marion County | Coal mining town | Mine exhaustion |
| 39 | Bison | Decatur County | Rural farm town | Population migration |
| 40 | White City | Guthrie County | Railroad stop | Decline of trade |
| 41 | Coal Hollow | Monroe County | Mining camp | Mine abandonment |
| 42 | Marysville | Marion County | Farming settlement | Reservoir project |
| 43 | Orson | Woodbury County | Small prairie town | Rural decline |
| 44 | Belle Fountain | Mahaska County | Historic settlement | Economic stagnation |
| 45 | Ashland | Wapello County | Coal mining area | Mine shutdown |
| 46 | Midway | Jasper County | Transportation stop | Highway rerouting |
| 47 | Cincinnati Junction | Appanoose County | Rail crossing town | Rail decline |
| 48 | Corduroy | Warren County | Farming village | Depopulation |
| 49 | Wheeling | Dubuque County | Rural trade town | Economic decline |
| 50 | Avery | Monroe County | Mining settlement | Coal industry collapse |
Why Iowa Has So Many Ghost Towns
Several factors created ghost towns across Iowa:
- Coal mining collapses
- Railroad routes changing
- Major floods and reservoir construction
- Agricultural consolidation
- Highway bypasses
- Population migration to larger cities
Unlike Western ghost towns often linked to gold rushes, Iowa’s ghost towns are deeply tied to farming, transportation, and coal mining.
This makes them historically unique and often less dramatic—but no less fascinating.
Visiting Iowa Ghost Towns Safely
If you plan to explore ghost towns in Iowa:
- Respect private property
- Avoid trespassing
- Do not enter unstable abandoned buildings
- Visit during daylight
- Bring maps and water
- Learn the local history before visiting
Some ghost towns are protected historical sites, while others are simply scattered ruins on private land.
Comparison Table of the Top 10 Ghost Towns in Iowa
| Ghost Town | County | Known For | Reason for Decline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buxton | Monroe County | Historic coal mining town | Mine closures |
| Rockville | Delaware County | Stone mill ruins | Economic decline |
| Buckhorn | Jackson County | Creamery and farming settlement | Agricultural decline |
| Red Rock | Marion County | Underwater ghost town | Flooded by reservoir |
| Rousseau | Marion County | Submerged settlement | Reservoir construction |
| Elkport | Clayton County | River town | Major flooding |
| Stanzel | Adair County | Highway ghost settlement | Loss of commerce |
| Unique | Humboldt County | Railroad speculation town | Railroad bypass |
| Zero | Lucas County | Mining town | Mine flooding |
| Secor | Hardin County | Historic river crossing town | Loss of transport and businesses |
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Conclusion
The top ghost towns in Iowa are more than abandoned places—they are reminders of how quickly prosperity can disappear. From the integrated mining success of Buxton to the underwater mystery of Red Rock and Rousseau, each town tells a powerful story.
These forgotten communities reveal Iowa’s hidden past and show how railroads, coal, floods, and economic change shaped the state we know today.
Whether you are a history lover, photographer, road trip enthusiast, or simply fascinated by forgotten places, exploring Iowa’s ghost towns offers a rare chance to walk through history that time almost erased.