Top 50 Ghost Towns In Montana (2026)

Montana is famous for its rugged landscapes, gold rush history, and abandoned mining settlements that still whisper stories of the Old West. Across the state, ghost towns stand as reminders of boom-and-bust mining eras, where once-thriving communities disappeared almost overnight.

From preserved streets lined with wooden saloons to eerie ruins hidden deep in the mountains, Montana offers some of the most fascinating ghost towns in the United States. Many of these towns were built during the gold and silver rushes of the 1800s, only to be abandoned when the minerals ran out, fires struck, or harsh winters made survival impossible.

Today, these ghost towns attract history lovers, photographers, paranormal enthusiasts, and adventure travelers seeking a glimpse into Montana’s forgotten past. Places like Bannack and Garnet remain among the best-preserved in the American West, while others like Comet and Granite offer haunting remnants of once-bustling mining communities. Bannack alone preserves more than 60 original structures and became Montana’s first major gold strike site in 1862.

In this guide, we’ll explore the Top 50 Ghost Towns in Montana, highlighting their history, what remains today, and why they continue to captivate visitors.

Top 50 Ghost Towns In Montana

1. Bannack

Bannack is often considered the crown jewel of Montana ghost towns. Located in Beaverhead County, this historic site marks the location of Montana’s first major gold discovery. In 1862, John White discovered gold along Grasshopper Creek, triggering a gold rush that transformed Bannack into a booming frontier settlement. It even briefly served as Montana’s first territorial capital.

At its peak, Bannack was a bustling mining town filled with saloons, hotels, general stores, and lawlessness. The town became notorious for Sheriff Henry Plummer, who was accused of leading the infamous “Innocents” outlaw gang. His eventual hanging by the Montana Vigilantes became one of the most famous stories in Montana history.

Today, Bannack is preserved as Bannack State Park, spanning around 1,500 acres with over 60 original buildings still standing. Visitors can walk through old hotels, a schoolhouse, Masonic Hall, and abandoned homes. Seasonal events like Ghost Walks and Bannack Days bring the town back to life for history lovers.

Few ghost towns in America offer such a complete and authentic look into the Wild West.

2. Garnet

Located in the Garnet Mountain Range about 30 miles east of Missoula, Garnet is widely recognized as Montana’s most intact ghost town. Built during the gold boom of the late 1800s, Garnet quickly grew into a thriving mining settlement with around 1,000 residents, complete with saloons, stores, a school, and hotels.

Unlike many ghost towns that disappeared almost entirely, Garnet survived thanks to its remote location and later preservation efforts. A fire in 1912 damaged much of the commercial district, and by the 1940s the town was nearly abandoned. In the 1970s, volunteers began restoring and protecting the site, helping preserve it for future generations.

Today, visitors can explore remarkably preserved cabins, Kelly’s Saloon, old hotel buildings, and mining structures. Some buildings even retain original furnishings, making the experience feel like stepping directly into the 1890s.

Garnet is especially beautiful in winter when snow transforms the town into an eerie but peaceful historical landscape.

3. Virginia City

Virginia City is not your typical ghost town because it still has life—but its historic soul remains untouched. Founded in 1863 after the discovery of gold in Alder Gulch, Virginia City quickly became one of the richest mining towns in the American West.

Thousands of prospectors flooded the region hoping to strike it rich. The town exploded with hotels, saloons, theaters, and businesses. It became one of Montana’s most important early communities and played a major role in shaping the territory’s economy and politics.

Unlike many ghost towns that faded into ruins, Virginia City preserved much of its original architecture. Today, it operates as a living history destination where visitors can ride historic trains, tour old buildings, and experience reenactments of frontier life.

Walking through Virginia City feels like entering a living museum where the gold rush never truly ended.

4. Nevada City

Just a short drive from Virginia City, Nevada City offers another incredible look into Montana’s gold rush era. Established during the same Alder Gulch boom, Nevada City once thrived as a bustling mining camp supporting nearby gold operations.

As mining declined, the town slowly emptied, and by the 20th century, it became nearly abandoned. Fortunately, preservationists transformed it into an outdoor historical museum featuring original structures and relocated historic buildings from across Montana.

Visitors can explore old cabins, blacksmith shops, churches, and saloons while learning about life during the mining era. Seasonal train rides between Nevada City and Virginia City make the experience even more memorable.

Nevada City combines history and tourism beautifully, making it one of the most accessible ghost town experiences in Montana.

5. Granite

Granite is one of Montana’s eeriest ghost towns, perched high in the mountains near Philipsburg. It rose to fame during the silver boom of the late 1800s and quickly became one of the richest silver mining camps in the region.

At its height, Granite was a prosperous town filled with elegant homes, hotels, and mining offices. But when silver prices collapsed in the 1890s, the town’s economy crumbled almost overnight.

Today, the most famous surviving structure is the Granite Mine Superintendent’s House, which still stands overlooking the valley. The old mine ruins, crumbling foundations, and isolated mountain setting create a haunting atmosphere that attracts photographers and ghost town explorers alike.

Granite feels less like a tourist destination and more like a genuine forgotten place frozen in time.

6. Elkhorn

Elkhorn is one of Montana’s best-preserved silver mining ghost towns and is now protected as Elkhorn State Park. Founded in the 1870s, it became a major silver mining settlement with a thriving population, businesses, and social life.

The town eventually declined when silver mining became unprofitable, but two of its most iconic structures survived—the Fraternity Hall and Gillian Hall. These impressive buildings still stand today and serve as symbols of Elkhorn’s former prosperity.

Unlike larger ghost towns, Elkhorn offers a quieter and more intimate historical experience. Surrounded by forests and mountain scenery, it gives visitors a strong sense of isolation and authenticity.

Its peaceful silence makes it easy to imagine life during Montana’s silver rush days.

7. Marysville

Marysville sits near Helena and grew around the famous Drumlummon Mine, one of Montana’s richest gold-producing mines. Founded in the 1870s, the town quickly became a prosperous mining hub with thousands of residents.

Unlike some ghost towns that were completely abandoned, Marysville still has a small population today, but much of its mining-era character remains. Historic buildings, old mining structures, and abandoned sections give it a ghost town atmosphere.

The town is also known for its fascinating mix of history and modern small-town life. It remains one of the region’s best-known former mining communities and continues to attract visitors interested in Montana’s gold rush past.

Marysville offers a unique blend of living history and haunting remnants of Montana’s mining past.

8. Comet

Located south of Helena, Comet was one of Montana’s richest mining camps during the late 1800s. Established around 1883, the town’s mines produced gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc worth millions of dollars.

The town reached a population of around 300 residents, all centered around mining operations. When the resources were depleted and mining slowed after World War I, Comet gradually became abandoned.

Today, Comet’s most recognizable landmark is its distinctive tin-sided mill. Much of the town sits on private land, so access is limited, but it remains one of Montana’s most talked-about ghost towns.

Its industrial remains make it feel raw, rugged, and hauntingly real.

9. Castle Town

Castle Town emerged during Montana’s silver boom in the late 1880s. Located in central Montana, it quickly grew after rich silver deposits were discovered nearby.

The town had all the features of a classic boomtown—hotels, saloons, stores, and a growing population eager for mining fortunes. But like many silver towns, prosperity was short-lived. Economic decline and falling silver prices led residents to leave.

Today, little remains except ruins, foundations, and traces of the once-thriving settlement. Still, Castle Town remains a favorite for ghost town enthusiasts because of its isolated beauty and rich mining history.

Its ruins tell the familiar but powerful story of ambition, wealth, and sudden collapse.

10. Kendall

Kendall is one of Montana’s lesser-known but historically significant ghost towns. Located in central Montana, it rose to prominence in the early 1900s during a productive gold mining boom.

Unlike earlier gold camps, Kendall represented a more modern mining operation with improved infrastructure and organized development. It quickly became prosperous, but as mining profits declined, residents moved away and businesses closed.

Today, only scattered remnants remain—old foundations, abandoned buildings, and cemetery markers that hint at the town’s former life.

Kendall may not be as famous as Bannack or Garnet, but its quiet ruins provide a powerful reminder of how quickly prosperity can disappear in mining country.

Comprehensive List

No.	Ghost Town	Founded	Known For	Current Status
1	Bannack	1862	First major gold strike in Montana	Preserved State Park
2	Garnet	1890s	Best-preserved ghost town	Historic tourist site
3	Virginia City	1863	Gold rush capital	Living history town
4	Nevada City	1863	Historic preservation	Open-air museum
5	Granite	1870s	Silver mining boom	Ruins and preserved buildings
6	Elkhorn	1870s	Silver mining camp	State Park ruins
7	Marysville	1870s	Drumlummon Mine	Semi-active historic town
8	Comet	1883	Rich silver and gold mine	Private property ruins
9	Castle Town	1888	Silver mining district	Historic ruins
10	Kendall	1903	Gold mining camp	Largely abandoned
11	Coloma	1860s	Early gold mining settlement	Scattered ruins
12	Pioneer	1870s	Mining and ranching community	Mostly abandoned
13	Glendale	1870s	Smelting town	Historic ruins
14	Farlin	1880s	Silver mining town	Few remains
15	Hasmark	1880s	Railroad and mining support town	Abandoned remnants
16	Rochester	1890s	Gold mining camp	Ruins and foundations
17	Pony	1860s	Gold rush prosperity	Small preserved settlement
18	Southern Cross	1890s	Silver mining operations	Mostly abandoned
19	Independence	1880s	Gold and silver extraction	Historic ruins
20	Revenue Flats	1890s	Mining district settlement	Scattered remains
21	Coolidge	1900s	Mining and railroad town	Preserved ruins
22	Hecla	1880s	Silver mining operations	Abandoned
23	Revenue	1890s	Gold mining site	Old foundations
24	Zortman	1890s	Gold mining history	Small surviving town
25	Landusky	1890s	Mining boom town	Near-abandoned
26	Aldridge	1910s	Coal mining town	Historic ruins
27	Storrs	1900s	Coal mining camp	Abandoned remains
28	Gebo	1900s	Coal mining and railroad	Ghost town ruins
29	Castle Garden	1880s	Silver boom extension	Sparse remains
30	Diamond City	1860s	Gold mining prosperity	Historic remnants
31	Confederate Gulch	1864	Rich placer gold discoveries	Scattered ruins
32	Diamond City (Confederate Gulch)	1864	Boomtown of Confederate Gulch	Mostly vanished
33	French Gulch	1860s	Gold rush settlement	Foundations remain
34	Bearmouth	1860s	Mining and stage stop	Historic remains
35	Blackfoot City	1860s	Gold mining district	Mostly gone
36	Junction City	1860s	Gold mining support town	Few traces left
37	New Chicago	1870s	Mining settlement	Ruins only
38	Carlton	1880s	Mining and logging town	Abandoned
39	Wickes	1870s	Silver mining and rail stop	Semi-ghost town
40	Corbin	1870s	Mining boomtown	Partially preserved
41	Glendale Basin	1880s	Smelting and mining district	Ruins
42	Lion City	1860s	Gold rush camp	Lost settlement
43	Silver Star	1860s	Gold and silver mining	Small historic town
44	Red Mountain	1890s	Mining settlement	Ruins
45	Hegben	1900s	Railroad support town	Abandoned traces
46	Iron Rod	1880s	Silver mining	Historic ruins
47	Taft	1900s	Railroad and mining support	Minimal remains
48	Cedar Creek	1869	Gold rush boomtown	Scattered ruins
49	Newcomer	1880s	Mining district settlement	Abandoned
50	Gilt Edge	1890s	Gold mining prosperity	Historic remains

Comparison Table of the Top Ghost Towns in Montana

Ghost Town	Founded	Known For	Current Status
Bannack	1862	First major gold strike in Montana	Preserved State Park
Garnet	1890s	Best-preserved ghost town	Historic tourist site
Virginia City	1863	Gold rush capital	Living history town
Nevada City	1863	Historic preservation	Open-air museum
Granite	1870s	Silver mining boom	Ruins and preserved buildings
Elkhorn	1870s	Silver mining camp	State Park ruins
Marysville	1870s	Drumlummon Mine	Semi-active historic town
Comet	1883	Rich silver and gold mine	Private property ruins
Castle Town	1888	Silver mining district	Historic ruins
Kendall	1903	Gold mining camp	Largely abandoned

Related

• Top 50 Ghost Towns In Mississippi 
• Top 50 Ghost Towns In Maggie Valley 

Conclusion

The ghost towns of Montana are more than abandoned buildings—they are preserved chapters of American frontier history. Each town tells a different story of ambition, discovery, hardship, and eventual decline.

From the preserved streets of Bannack and Garnet to the haunting mountain silence of Granite and Castle Town, these forgotten places reveal how quickly fortune could rise and fall during the mining era.

For travelers, historians, and adventure seekers, visiting Montana’s ghost towns offers a rare chance to step directly into the past. These towns may be quiet now, but their stories still echo through old saloons, weathered cabins, and abandoned mine shafts.

If you’re planning a road trip through Big Sky Country, adding these ghost towns to your itinerary is one of the best ways to experience the true spirit of old Montana.