The Oregon Towns That Disappear: Abandoned Places and Ghost Towns Worth Visiting
Oregon has its fair share of mysterious, forgotten towns.
These ghost towns offer a fascinating glimpse into the past, showing what life was like during the gold rushes, timber booms, and pioneer days. Here are some abandoned places worth exploring if you’re in the Beaver State.
Shaniko
Known as the “Wool Capital of the World” in the early 1900s, Shaniko was once a bustling town with ranchers, sheep shearers, and traders passing through.
Today, many of its original buildings still stand, including an old hotel and a general store, giving visitors a true Wild West feel.
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Sumpter
Sumpter rose to prominence during Oregon’s gold mining boom. Once a prosperous town with saloons, hotels, and a narrow-gauge railway, Sumpter is now a quiet ghost town (OK, 200 people live here).
You can still visit the massive Sumpter Valley Dredge, which once churned up riverbeds in search of gold.
Whitney
Founded to support the local logging industry, Whitney was once a small but lively town with a post office and boarding house. When the timber dried up, so did Whitney.
Today, only a few structures remain, giving visitors a peek at what life was like in Oregon’s logging heyday.
Friend
Friend was once a railroad stop in the wheat-growing region of Wasco County. The railroad eventually rerouted, and Friend began to fade away.
You’ll still find the old schoolhouse and a few other remnants that stand as echoes of its past.
Greenhorn
At over 6,000 feet above sea level, Greenhorn is Oregon’s highest incorporated city—and it has only a few residents left.
Once a booming mining town, Greenhorn now consists of scattered buildings and a historic cemetery, making it one of the state’s most remote ghost towns.
Bourne
Not far from Sumpter, Bourne was another gold mining town that thrived in the late 1800s. The town had its share of saloons, miners, and even legends of buried treasure.
Today, Bourne is nearly empty, with only a few cabins and buildings left as silent witnesses to its past.
Lonerock
Named after a massive rock in its center, Lonerock was once a lively settlement for cattle ranchers.
Though not entirely abandoned, its remaining buildings and quiet streets offer a ghost town vibe and a look back at ranching life in early Oregon.
Oregon’s ghost towns are more than just abandoned buildings—they’re stories frozen in time, offering a hauntingly beautiful way to connect with the past. If you’re up for an adventure, these spots are worth the trip.
