Most Idahoans are familiar with the phrase “Idahome”.It’s a pretty popular phrase around here. You’ll often see it printed on t-shirts and mugs. Some people have even gotten it tattooed onto their skin. But where did the word come from? Besides the obvious answer that the word is a combination of “Idaho” and “Home”, the word may have originated from an abandoned town. It’s true. There’s actually a town named Idahome and you really have to see it.
Can you believe Idahome is actually the name of a town? You'll find it in the southern portion of Idaho, approximately 60 miles east of Twin Falls.
There's not much of the "town" of Idahome that remains to be seen. However, it still makes for a pretty interesting visit...especially if you're into exploring abandoned places.
The small town of Idahome came into existence in 1916. There's not much information about the town, or why it became abandoned, which just adds to the mysterious aura of this place. However, it's pretty widely believed that the town formed when Twin Falls placed their new flour mill in the area, therefore enticing people to move there.
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The Idahome flour mill still stands, and you can explore it to this day. A few other remnants of the town can be seen, such as the foundations of former homes and buildings.
There's something eerily beautiful about this place. It's so quiet. It's hard to believe Idahome was home to approximately 300 people. But where did the name come from? Well, Idahome was actually the name of the flour mill. The Twin Falls Mill and Company held a contest for naming the new brand of flour. In the end, they choose "Idahome" and "Shoshone Mist".
The town was specifically developed to produce the Idahome brand of flour. By 1918, hundreds of people were living in the town, which was complete with a short-line railroad, a bank, sugar beet factory, and telephone service.
At this time, Idahome was looking a lot like the beginnings of a prosperous little town. The town even had a hand in the lead and silver mining industry, along with several agricultural pursuits. The prosperity didn't last long. By 1919, the flour company moved to Burley, Idaho. With the abandonment of the flour company along with growing highway traffic, Idahome became a ghost town.
It seems unfair that a town with such a unique and great name had to perish like this. The town may have lasted only a few years, but the town's name will live on forever.
Today, you can wander around the abandoned ruins of the great town of Idahome. The area is certainly beautiful. It's hard to decide whether the area is creepy or gorgeous...or a strange mixture of both. With a jaw-dropping mountain backdrop, Idahome would've been a pretty great place to live if it had survived.
Idahome will never truly be forgotten. A road was even named in its honor. Idahome Road takes you from the abandoned townsite to Interstate 84.
It would've been cool if Idahome had flourished into a bustling town that you could live in today. Alas, it was not meant to be. That's okay. As long as you're living in Idaho, the spirit of Idahome will never truly die!
60 Seconds on YouTube came up with some truly incredible drone footage of Idahome’s abandoned site. Check it out below.
