Barry PhilipsNorth Dakota is famous for its endless prairies, railroad history, and small frontier settlements that once thrived with promise. Over time, changing railroad routes, economic decline, droughts, and even flooding from major dam projects caused many communities to disappear. What remains today are eerie churches, abandoned schools, forgotten cemeteries, and empty streets that tell powerful stories of the past.
Many of these ghost towns were once lively farming hubs or railroad stops. Some were swallowed by Lake Sakakawea after the construction of the Garrison Dam project, while others slowly faded as residents moved to larger cities.
In this guide, we explore the Top 50 Ghost Towns in North Dakota, their history, and what makes them fascinating destinations for history lovers, photographers, and adventure seekers.
Top 50 Ghost Towns In North Dakota
1. Tagus
Tagus is perhaps one of the most famous ghost towns in North Dakota, known both for its abandoned structures and the eerie legends that surround it. Founded in 1900 as a railroad settlement, it once served as a modest agricultural and transportation hub.
At its peak, the town had businesses, homes, and a strong sense of community. However, as transportation patterns changed and economic opportunities declined, residents gradually left. By the early 2000s, Tagus had become largely abandoned.
One of its most famous landmarks was St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church, which burned down in 2001, likely due to vandalism. Local folklore later gave rise to the famous “Stairway to Hell” legend, making Tagus both historically significant and culturally mysterious. Today, only a few structures remain standing, but the town still draws urban explorers and paranormal enthusiasts.
2. Arena
Arena is widely considered one of the most photographed ghost towns in North Dakota. Located in Burleigh County, it became famous because of its hauntingly beautiful abandoned church standing alone on the prairie.
The town was established during the railroad expansion era, when many prairie communities quickly appeared. Arena thrived briefly, but as farming economics shifted and younger generations moved away, the town declined.
Today, the abandoned church is the main symbol of Arena’s legacy. Photographers from across the Midwest visit to capture its striking appearance against North Dakota’s wide-open skies. The church has become something of an icon for ghost-town enthusiasts, representing the quiet disappearance of small-town America.
3. Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke was once a significant political center because it served as the county seat of Steele County. Founded in 1884, it had the potential to become a major regional hub.
However, everything changed when the county seat was moved to Finley in 1919. Without that administrative importance, businesses and residents quickly relocated. By the 1920s, Sherbrooke had largely been abandoned.
Today, remnants of old buildings and the quiet landscape preserve its memory. Its story is a strong reminder of how a single political decision could determine the survival of an entire town. Sherbrooke remains one of the most historically important ghost towns in North Dakota.
4. Sims
Sims is one of the most intriguing ghost towns because it still has an active church, yet virtually no one lives there anymore. Founded in 1883, it once thrived as a coal mining and farming community.
As the coal industry declined and larger nearby towns offered better opportunities, residents slowly moved away. Today, the town is classified as semi-abandoned.
Sims is also known for local ghost stories, especially the legend of the “Gray Lady,” said to haunt the church parsonage. Whether visitors come for history or paranormal curiosity, Sims offers a unique experience that blends both. Its old church remains one of the strongest symbols of its forgotten past.
5. Wheelock
Wheelock was founded in 1902 and once served as an important local settlement in Williams County. Like many prairie towns, it depended heavily on agriculture and the railroad.
As transportation routes changed and nearby towns expanded faster, Wheelock slowly lost residents. Businesses closed, homes were abandoned, and the town entered a long period of decline.
Today, Wheelock still contains visible structures and abandoned buildings, giving visitors a strong visual sense of what once existed there. It is often recommended by ghost-town explorers because enough remains to make the visit worthwhile while still carrying that unmistakable feeling of abandonment.
6. Verendrye
Verendrye was founded in 1912 and declined by around 1970. It represents the typical story of many North Dakota settlements that rose quickly during expansion and disappeared just as fast.
Its nearby abandoned Falsen School has become one of the best-known images associated with North Dakota ghost towns. The weathered building stands as a lonely reminder of the families and children who once called the area home.
Though little remains of the town itself, Verendrye is historically significant because it captures the emotional reality of rural depopulation. It is one of the most visually striking ghost-town locations in the state.
7. Temple
Temple was established in 1906 in Williams County. It followed the same pattern as many Great Plains towns—rapid growth during railroad expansion followed by gradual decline.
As agriculture modernized and people migrated to larger economic centers, Temple’s population shrank dramatically. The town eventually became classified as neglected, with only remnants left behind.
What makes Temple fascinating is the deep sense of isolation visitors experience there. It feels frozen in time, offering a glimpse into a world where small farming towns once held enormous importance to local life.
8. Elbowoods
Elbowoods is one of the most tragic ghost towns in North Dakota because it did not decline naturally—it was deliberately sacrificed to progress.
Founded in 1889 on the Fort Berthold Reservation, Elbowoods served as an important center for the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. It was the agency seat and a major cultural hub.
When the Garrison Dam project created Lake Sakakawea, rising waters submerged the entire town in 1954. Families were forced to relocate, and an important chapter of Native American history disappeared beneath the water.
Today, Elbowoods exists only in memory and historical records, making it one of the most emotionally powerful ghost towns in the state.
9. Sanish
Old Sanish shares a similar fate with Elbowoods. Founded in 1915, it was eventually submerged under Lake Sakakawea in 1953 due to the Garrison Dam project.
Before its disappearance, Sanish was a functioning rural town with homes, businesses, and a close-knit community. Residents had to leave behind not only property but generations of family history.
Unlike abandoned prairie towns where buildings still stand, Sanish is completely gone beneath the water. Its story highlights how infrastructure development can permanently erase entire communities.
10. Mose
Mose is famously called “The Town That Blew Away.” Founded in 1899, it was a small community in Griggs County with a modest population and functioning post office.
A devastating derecho in 1943 severely damaged the town, destroying much of its infrastructure. Many residents left afterward, and recovery never fully happened. The post office eventually closed in 1954, marking the final chapter of Mose as a living town.
Its unusual history makes it one of the most memorable ghost towns in North Dakota. Rather than economic decline alone, a natural disaster played a major role in its disappearance.
Comprehensive List
| No. | Ghost Town | County | Founded | Decline Period | Current Status | Main Attraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagus | Mountrail | 1900 | 2001 | Semi-abandoned | Burned church ruins |
| 2 | Arena | Burleigh | Late 1800s | Mid-1900s | Neglected | Iconic abandoned church |
| 3 | Sherbrooke | Steele | 1884 | 1920s | Neglected | Former county seat |
| 4 | Sims | Morton | 1883 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Haunted legends |
| 5 | Wheelock | Williams | 1902 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Old business buildings |
| 6 | Verendrye | McHenry | 1912 | 1970 | Neglected | Falsen School nearby |
| 7 | Temple | Williams | 1906 | Gradual decline | Neglected | Prairie isolation |
| 8 | Elbowoods | McLean | 1889 | 1954 | Submerged | Lost town under Lake Sakakawea |
| 9 | Sanish | Mountrail | 1915 | 1953 | Submerged | Garrison Dam history |
| 10 | Mose | Griggs | 1899 | 1943–1954 | Ghost town | “The Town That Blew Away” |
| 11 | Leith | Grant | 1910 | Gradual decline | Nearly abandoned | Historic prairie town |
| 12 | Griffin | Bowman | 1907 | Mid-1900s | Ghost town | Railroad remains |
| 13 | Havelock | Williams | 1905 | 1960s | Neglected | Empty grain elevators |
| 14 | Arena Park | Burleigh | Early 1900s | Mid-century | Ghost town | Prairie ruins |
| 15 | Perth | Towner | 1906 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Old depot remains |
| 16 | Omemee | Bottineau | 1906 | Late 1900s | Nearly abandoned | Historic church |
| 17 | Aylmer | Bottineau | 1905 | Mid-century | Ghost town | Isolated settlement remains |
| 18 | Wolford | Pierce | 1898 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Prairie ghost structures |
| 19 | Vang | Pierce | 1910 | Mid-century | Neglected | Scandinavian settlement history |
| 20 | Bentley | Sheridan | 1910 | 1950s | Ghost town | Empty foundations |
| 21 | Alden | Hettinger | 1908 | Gradual decline | Neglected | Forgotten rail stop |
| 22 | Barbank | Burke | 1912 | Mid-century | Ghost town | Rural abandoned homes |
| 23 | Bremen | Wells | 1905 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Historic grain sites |
| 24 | Butte Valley | McLean | 1915 | 1960s | Neglected | Open prairie ruins |
| 25 | Carpio Junction | Ward | 1900s | Mid-century | Ghost town | Old rail crossing |
| 26 | Deep | McLean | 1910 | 1950s | Abandoned | Prairie isolation |
| 27 | Donnybrook Station | Ward | Early 1900s | Mid-century | Neglected | Station remnants |
| 28 | Flore | Benson | 1904 | Gradual decline | Ghost town | Rural ruins |
| 29 | Freda | Logan | 1900 | Mid-century | Nearly abandoned | Abandoned church |
| 30 | Gascoyne Outpost | Bowman | 1907 | 1960s | Neglected | Historic prairie remains |
| 31 | Hesper | Williams | 1910 | Gradual decline | Ghost town | Old community site |
| 32 | Ibsen | Sheridan | 1908 | Mid-century | Abandoned | Forgotten settlement |
| 33 | Jessfield | McKenzie | 1912 | Gradual decline | Neglected | Prairie silence |
| 34 | Kief Junction | McHenry | 1905 | 1950s | Ghost town | Railroad remains |
| 35 | Landa Old Town | Bottineau | 1904 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Historic prairie homes |
| 36 | Manfred Station | Wells | 1906 | Mid-century | Neglected | Empty rail district |
| 37 | Nanson | Bottineau | 1908 | 1960s | Ghost town | Old Scandinavian roots |
| 38 | Orrin Flats | Pierce | 1909 | Gradual decline | Nearly abandoned | Rural structures |
| 39 | Penn | Ramsey | 1906 | Late 1900s | Semi-abandoned | Historic town remnants |
| 40 | Ruso Old District | McLean | 1906 | Gradual decline | Neglected | Prairie heritage |
| 41 | Silva | Barnes | 1912 | Mid-century | Ghost town | Abandoned homes |
| 42 | Taggart | Stark | 1907 | Gradual decline | Neglected | Historic foundations |
| 43 | Uxbridge | Williams | 1911 | 1950s | Ghost town | Lost prairie settlement |
| 44 | Verona Flats | LaMoure | 1908 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Historic small-town remains |
| 45 | Woburn | Benson | 1905 | Mid-century | Abandoned | Rural ghost structures |
| 46 | York Spur | Benson | 1910 | Gradual decline | Neglected | Forgotten rail town |
| 47 | Zenith | Wells | 1906 | 1960s | Ghost town | Empty grain sites |
| 48 | Brinsmade Old District | Benson | 1904 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Historic prairie legacy |
| 49 | Clyde Junction | Cavalier | 1907 | Mid-century | Ghost town | Old transportation hub |
| 50 | Dresden Flats | Ramsey | 1903 | Gradual decline | Neglected | Quiet abandoned settlement |
Why North Dakota Has So Many Ghost Towns
Several factors contributed to North Dakota’s large number of ghost towns:
- Railroad routes bypassed smaller communities
- Farming consolidation reduced rural populations
- Young residents moved to larger cities
- Harsh winters and economic hardship made survival difficult
- The Garrison Dam project submerged entire towns under Lake Sakakawea
These forces combined to create dozens of abandoned communities across the prairie landscape.
Top Ghost Towns in North Dakota Comparison Table
| Ghost Town | County | Founded | Decline Period | Current Status | Main Attraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagus | Mountrail | 1900 | 2001 | Semi-abandoned | Burned church ruins |
| Arena | Burleigh | Late 1800s | Mid-1900s | Neglected | Iconic abandoned church |
| Sherbrooke | Steele | 1884 | 1920s | Neglected | Former county seat |
| Sims | Morton | 1883 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Haunted legends |
| Wheelock | Williams | 1902 | Gradual decline | Semi-abandoned | Old business buildings |
| Verendrye | McHenry | 1912 | 1970 | Neglected | Falsen School nearby |
| Temple | Williams | 1906 | Gradual decline | Neglected | Prairie isolation |
| Elbowoods | McLean | 1889 | 1954 | Submerged | Lost town under Lake Sakakawea |
| Sanish | Mountrail | 1915 | 1953 | Submerged | Garrison Dam history |
| Mose | Griggs | 1899 | 1943–1954 | Ghost town | “Town That Blew Away” |
Related
Conclusion
The ghost towns of North Dakota are more than abandoned places—they are preserved stories of ambition, hardship, and change. From submerged communities like Elbowoods and Sanish to haunting prairie ruins like Arena and Tagus, each town reflects a different chapter of American frontier history.
For photographers, historians, and curious travelers, these forgotten places offer something rare: a direct connection to the past. Walking through them feels like stepping into another era where railroads shaped destinies and entire towns could disappear within a generation.
If you ever explore North Dakota beyond its major cities, these ghost towns may be the most unforgettable destinations of all.