Top 50 Ghost Towns In Nevada (2026)

Nevada is famous for glittering cities like Las Vegas, but beyond the neon lights lies another side of the Silver State—its hauntingly beautiful ghost towns. In fact, Nevada is widely known for having more ghost towns than almost any other U.S. state, with estimates often placing the number above 600. These abandoned settlements were once booming mining communities built during the gold and silver rush eras, only to be left behind when the ore ran out or fortunes collapsed.

Today, these ghost towns attract historians, photographers, road-trippers, and adventure seekers who want to experience a preserved piece of the Old West. From crumbling banks and saloons to abandoned schools and bottle houses, Nevada’s ghost towns tell stories of ambition, wealth, and sudden decline.

In this guide, we explore the Top 50 Ghost Towns in Nevada, their fascinating history, what remains today, and why they continue to capture the imagination of travelers worldwide.

1. Rhyolite

Rhyolite is arguably the most famous ghost town in Nevada and often the first name mentioned when discussing abandoned Western towns. Located near Death Valley in Nye County, Rhyolite exploded into existence after gold was discovered in 1904.

At its peak, the town had electricity, water mains, telephones, a stock exchange, schools, hotels, and even an opera house. Its population reportedly reached around 10,000 residents. The town symbolized prosperity and ambition.

However, the Panic of 1907 hit hard, creating a banking crisis that crippled mining investment. As the mines declined, businesses shut down, and residents abandoned the town. By 1916, Rhyolite was largely deserted.

Today, visitors can still see the famous three-story bank ruins, the train depot, jail, and the iconic Tom Kelly Bottle House made from thousands of glass bottles. It remains one of the most photographed ghost towns in America.

2. St. Thomas

Unlike most ghost towns, St. Thomas did not disappear because of mining failure—it vanished underwater.

Founded in 1865, St. Thomas was one of Nevada’s earliest settlements. It had homes, stores, a school, church, and a thriving small-town economy. But when Hoover Dam was completed and Lake Mead began to fill, rising waters slowly swallowed the town.

Residents were forced to leave by 1938, and St. Thomas remained underwater for decades. During drought periods and lower lake levels, the ruins reappear, allowing visitors to walk among foundations, streets, and remnants of the old town.

Its dramatic disappearance makes St. Thomas one of the most unique ghost towns in Nevada.

3. Goldfield

Goldfield was once one of the richest gold boomtowns in America. In the early 1900s, it was Nevada’s largest city and produced enormous mining wealth.

At its height, Goldfield had luxury hotels, banks, newspapers, and a thriving downtown. Some reports estimate the population exceeded 20,000 residents. Wealth flowed quickly, and the town became famous for its prosperity.

But declining ore production, floods, and fires weakened the city’s economy. Over time, most residents left, leaving behind massive historic structures and legends of hauntings.

Although Goldfield still has a small population today, much of it feels like a preserved ghost town. The famous Goldfield Hotel is often associated with ghost stories and paranormal tourism.

It is one of Nevada’s most atmospheric historic destinations.

4. Belmont

Belmont is one of central Nevada’s best-preserved ghost towns and a favorite for history lovers.

Founded in 1865 after a major silver discovery, Belmont quickly became a prosperous mining center. It featured saloons, stores, homes, and a courthouse that still stands today.

Unlike some ghost towns reduced to foundations, Belmont retains enough architecture to help visitors imagine everyday life during Nevada’s mining boom era. The Belmont Courthouse remains one of the most notable surviving structures.

As mining profits declined, the town slowly emptied rather than collapsing suddenly. This slower decline helped preserve more of its original layout and buildings.

Today, Belmont offers a powerful glimpse into frontier life and remains one of Nevada’s most authentic ghost town experiences.

5. Berlin

Berlin is a remarkable ghost town because it combines mining history with prehistoric discovery.

Located within Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, Berlin was established during a mining boom in the late 1800s. While mining eventually failed and residents left, many original buildings were preserved.

What makes Berlin especially unique is its connection to giant ichthyosaur fossils—prehistoric marine reptiles discovered nearby. This creates a rare combination of ghost town exploration and paleontology in one destination.

Visitors can tour preserved homes, mining buildings, and fossil exhibits in the same trip. Many travelers consider Berlin one of the best ghost town stops in Nevada.

It is both educational and visually unforgettable.

6. Wonder

Wonder, Nevada, was established in 1906 during Nevada’s “second silver rush.” Rich quartz discoveries attracted miners and investors rapidly.

The town quickly developed hotels, saloons, restaurants, freight depots, and even its own newspaper. Like many boomtowns, it rose almost overnight.

However, prosperity did not last. As mining activity declined, the town faded into obscurity and eventually became a ghost town.

Today, little remains except ruins and scattered remnants, but Wonder still represents the classic Nevada mining cycle of fast wealth followed by rapid abandonment.

Its very name reflects the optimism of the era.

7. Candelaria

Candelaria once thrived as a silver mining settlement in western Nevada and became one of the state’s major mining centers during the late 1800s.

The town included mills, homes, stores, and transport systems that supported a large working population. It was considered highly valuable during its peak years.

Eventually, ore production declined, transportation became difficult, and economic survival became impossible. Residents gradually moved away.

Today, Candelaria is known for its haunting desert ruins and preserved mining remnants. Many ghost town enthusiasts consider it one of Nevada’s most visually striking abandoned settlements because of its remote and eerie atmosphere.

Its isolation adds to its powerful ghost-town appeal.

8. Rawhide

Rawhide was one of Nevada’s fastest-rising boomtowns after gold discoveries in 1907.

Within a short period, thousands of people rushed into the area hoping to strike it rich. Businesses expanded rapidly, and the town seemed destined for long-term prosperity.

Then disaster struck. A devastating fire in 1908 caused major property damage and left thousands homeless. Combined with mining decline, the fire accelerated the town’s collapse.

Today, little remains because later mining operations destroyed much of the original site, leaving mostly an open pit mine. Still, Rawhide remains an important part of Nevada’s ghost-town history.

It is remembered more through its story than its surviving structures.

9. Pioche

Pioche is famous for being one of the roughest mining towns in the Old West.

Silver discoveries in the late 1800s brought rapid growth, but also violence. The town gained a reputation for lawlessness, shootings, and mining disputes. Some local legends claim that more people died violently before natural deaths could occur.

Although Pioche still has residents today, much of its historic mining district carries strong ghost-town energy. Old mining shacks, cemeteries, and preserved buildings make it feel frozen in time.

It remains a favorite destination for travelers interested in Wild West history and Nevada folklore.

Pioche proves that not all ghost towns are completely abandoned.

10. Goodsprings

Goodsprings is often called a “living ghost town” because it still has a tiny population while preserving strong historic character.

Founded during Nevada’s mining era, Goodsprings once thrived on lead and zinc production. Over time, mining declined and the population shrank dramatically.

Today, only a small number of residents remain, but old buildings, dusty roads, and preserved saloons give it unmistakable ghost-town charm. It gained even more fame through popular culture, especially from fans of classic Western stories and video games.

Many visitors consider Goodsprings a perfect example of a town caught between history and survival.

It offers a fascinating blend of abandonment and resilience.

Comprehensive List

No.	Ghost Town	Main Reason for Decline	Famous Feature	Best For
1	Rhyolite	Mining collapse + Panic of 1907	Bottle House	Photography
2	St. Thomas	Flooded by Lake Mead	Underwater ruins	Unique history
3	Goldfield	Mining decline + disasters	Haunted hotel	Paranormal tourism
4	Belmont	Silver decline	Historic courthouse	Historic preservation
5	Berlin	Mining decline	Fossils + preserved town	Family travel
6	Wonder	Mining collapse	Mining camp ruins	Desert exploration
7	Candelaria	Silver depletion	Desert ruins	Adventure travel
8	Rawhide	Fire + mining decline	Lost mining site	Mining history
9	Pioche	Mining decline	Wild West legacy	Frontier history
10	Goodsprings	Population decline	Living ghost town	Pop culture tourism
11	Virginia City	Silver decline	Historic saloons	Old West tourism
12	Aurora	Mining exhaustion	Desert ruins	Remote exploration
13	Cherry Creek	Silver decline	Historic cemetery	History lovers
14	Hamilton	Fire + mining decline	Stone ruins	Photography
15	Manhattan	Gold decline	Old mining buildings	Road trips
16	Tonopah	Mining slowdown	Historic mining park	Family history tours
17	Tuscarora	Gold depletion	Artist community remains	Quiet retreats
18	Unionville	Mining collapse	Mark Twain connection	Literary tourism
19	Genoa	Economic decline	Historic Mormon Station	Pioneer history
20	Silver City	Silver decline	Historic wooden buildings	Heritage tourism
21	Midas	Gold decline	Old mining camp	Desert travel
22	National City	Mining collapse	Mining remnants	Adventure trips
23	Seven Troughs	Gold rush ended	Isolated ruins	Exploration
24	Fairview	Mining decline	Mill ruins	Photography
25	Delamar	Mining exhaustion	Cemetery and ruins	Haunted history
26	Preston	Ranching decline	Desert foundations	Rural history
27	Panaca	Economic decline	Historic Mormon roots	Pioneer studies
28	Crystal	Silver depletion	Scattered cabins	Off-road adventures
29	Metropolis	Failed farming project	Schoolhouse ruins	Unique history
30	Masonic	Mining decline	Stone structures	Scenic road trips
31	Rochester	Silver decline	Mine shafts	Mining enthusiasts
32	Ione	Economic collapse	Old courthouse ruins	Historic preservation
33	Carson River Camp	Gold decline	Trail remains	Trail history
34	Ely (Old Mining Areas)	Mining decline	Historic rail lines	Railroad tourism
35	Searchlight	Mining decline	Desert charm	Historic road trips
36	Nelson	Gold depletion	Techatticup Mine	Adventure tourism
37	Millers	Mining collapse	Empty settlement remains	Desert explorers
38	Blair	Mining decline	Mill ruins	Historic photography
39	Palmetto	Silver decline	Sparse ruins	Remote tourism
40	Garfield	Mining decline	Smelter remains	Industrial history
41	Como	Railroad decline	Historic station remains	Rail history
42	Potosi	Mining exhaustion	Old mining traces	Hiking history
43	Rosebud	Gold decline	Small mining ruins	Adventure travel
44	Olinghouse	Mining slowdown	Living ghost town feel	Rustic travel
45	Johnnie	Gold depletion	Desert remains	Exploration
46	Crescent Valley	Economic decline	Old ranch structures	Rural tourism
47	Sulphur	Mining collapse	Isolated ruins	Off-grid adventures
48	Rebel Creek	Mining decline	Abandoned cabins	Ghost town hunters
49	Pine Grove	Gold exhaustion	Stone ruins	Historic exploration
50	Treasure City	Silver collapse	High-altitude ruins	Scenic history tours

Why Nevada Has So Many Ghost Towns

Nevada earned its nickname, “The Silver State,” because of the massive mining booms of the 19th and early 20th centuries. When miners discovered gold or silver, towns appeared almost overnight. Businesses, hotels, schools, banks, and railroads quickly followed.

However, many of these towns depended entirely on mining. Once the ore veins dried up, investors left, jobs disappeared, and residents moved away just as quickly as they had arrived. The result was hundreds of abandoned settlements scattered across deserts, mountains, and valleys.

These places are now historical treasures, offering visitors a chance to step into Nevada’s rugged past.

Comparison Table of the Top Ghost Towns in Nevada

Ghost Town	Main Reason for Decline	Famous Feature	Best For
Rhyolite	Mining collapse + Panic of 1907	Bottle House	Photography
St. Thomas	Flooded by Lake Mead	Underwater ruins	Unique history
Goldfield	Mining decline + disasters	Haunted hotel	Paranormal tourism
Belmont	Silver decline	Historic courthouse	Historic preservation
Berlin	Mining decline	Fossils + preserved town	Family travel
Wonder	Mining collapse	Mining camp ruins	Desert exploration
Candelaria	Silver depletion	Desert ruins	Adventure travel
Rawhide	Fire + mining decline	Lost mining site	Mining history
Pioche	Mining decline	Wild West legacy	Frontier history
Goodsprings	Population decline	Living ghost town	Pop culture tourism

Related

• Top 50 Ghost Towns In Montana 
• Top 50 Ghost Towns In Mississippi 

Conclusion

The top ghost towns in Nevada are more than abandoned places—they are preserved stories of ambition, risk, and survival. From the ruins of Rhyolite to the underwater mystery of St. Thomas, each town offers a different window into Nevada’s past.

These destinations are perfect for travelers who want something beyond casinos and city lights. They reveal the raw history of the American West and remind us how quickly fortune can rise—and disappear.

If you are planning a road trip across Nevada, adding a few of these ghost towns to your itinerary can turn an ordinary vacation into an unforgettable historical adventure.