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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ghost Towns: Gone But Not Forgotten

Larry W. Earl Correspondent

After the shiny gold was gone, many of the pioneer towns of the Inland Northwest lost their luster and became ghost towns.

But visitors to these historic townsites can easily visualize the lives of the miners and their families who lived in the early-day settlements. Their laughter, cries and sounds of hard labor may be gone, but their memories are still there. A rich heritage awaits the modern-day explorer.

A handy travel guide for discovering Inland Northwest ghost towns is the “Atlas and Gazetteer” series produced by DeLorme Mapping Company. It is a valuable aid for travelers on secondary roads because of its complete set of topographical maps and information guides for each state. The series is available for Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington and can be found at most outdoor specialty and book stores.

History buffs can visit a wide variety of ghost towns, located within a day’s drive of Spokane. Here are a few suggestions:

Custer and Bonanza, Idaho

Visitors to these two ghost towns, located in the Land of the Yankee Fork Historic Area near Challis, also can visit the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center, tour a gold dredge and drive the Custer Motorway Adventure Road.

The center is open daily and serves as the state park’s headquarters. The interactive exhibits and audio-visual programs tell the mining history of Idaho.

Custer visitors can tour a museum located in the schoolhouse and take self-guided walking tours. A number of buildings, ore wagons, and a mill stamp can be inspected. Bonanza, unfortunately, has little left to show because of fires.

A prominent feature in the historic area is the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge, which clawed its way up the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River leaving behind over five miles of rocks piled high above the river bed. The four-storyhigh, 988-ton machine was built on-site in 1940, and it was the heart of the mining communities in the valley. The dredge squeaked, groaned and thumped 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Only when its rhythmic pounding stopped did the townspeople notice the absence of its characteristic sounds. Dredge tours are available from July 1 to September 1. A nominal admission is charged.

The Custer Motorway Adventure Road features 17 major points of interest along the route. A portion of the motorway follows the original toll road constructed to link the mining towns of Custer and Bonanza with Challis.

For information on the Land of the Yankee Fork Historic Area: Yankee Fork Interpretive Center, (208) 879-5244.

For information on accommodations and other attractions and points of interest in the Challis area: Challis Chamber of Commerce, (208) 879-2771.

Garnet Ghost Town, Mont.

The Garnet Ghost Town is located about 33 miles east of Missoula, off U.S. Highway 200 on the Garnet Range Road. It was one of Montana’s last gold camps and is one of the most intact ghost towns in western Montana. It has over 20 buildings, many of which are open to the public. Two cabins are available for rent. A ranger is on duty to answer visitor’s questions and may be available for guided tours. The town’s “Century-of-Life” will be celebrated July 1-4.

For more information on the town’s history, tours, preservation efforts and cabin rentals: Bureau of Land Management, (406) 329-3914.

For more information on points of interest, attractions and accommodations in the area: Missoula Chamber of Commerce, (406) 543-6623.

Bannack State Park, Mont.

Bannack was Montana’s first territorial capital and was the site of the state’s first big gold strike in 1862. There are over 60 buildings in the ghost town. The hand-hewn log jail still stands as testimony to the pioneer town’s lawlessness. The jail, pioneer school, Masonic Temple and Victorian gingerbread homes are photographic delights. Hearing the story of Sheriff Plummer being hanged is, by itself, well worth a visit to the historic ghost town.

There are fees for admission and camping in the state park. The third weekend in July each year is celebrated as Bannack Days. The twoday event is a hands-on trip into the past.

For information on scheduled activities and tours at Bannack State Park: (406) 834-3413.

For more information on points of interest, attractions and accommodations in the area: Dillon Chamber of Commerce, (406) 683-5511.

Baker County, Ore.

Baker County in Eastern Oregon has more than two dozen historic town sites. Many of them are reached by traveling on rough forest roads. A few of the sites are located along the Oregon Trail.

Here’s a sampling of the county’s historic features. Bourne and Granite are good examples of a mining ghost town. Copperfield reflects the colorful past, when it was known as Oregon’s most notorious town. It was closed by martial law when the governor sent his female secretary to enforce his orders. McEwen offers the ambience of a historic railroad town. The town of Sumpter has known the gold boom of success, suffered ghost town status and is now known as a historic tourist attraction.

For more information on the historic towns, other points of interest and attractions, recreational opportunities and local accommodations: Baker County Visitors & Convention Bureau, (503) 523-5855 or (800) 523-1235.