Most People Have Long Forgotten About This Vacant Ghost Town In Rural Minnesota
Betsy Rathburn
Author
In our fast-paced world, it is easier than ever to look past seemingly minor details in favor of the big picture. That doesn’t just happen on the internet, either. Whether we’re out grocery shopping or checking the mail, most of us are so focused on the task at hand – or on the phone in our hands – that we neglect all that is around us. It even happens while driving, especially through the off-the-beaten-track places that dot the Minnesota landscape. But there is one long-forgotten ghost town in Minnesota that is worth paying attention to. Take a look:
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Have you driven through Dorothy? Do you know of any other interesting Minnesota ghost towns?
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Ghost Town in Minnesota
Are there other ghost towns in MN near Dorothy to visit?
In fact, there are. There are several known ghost towns in northwestern Minnesota that are worth a visit. You might stop by Craigville which used to be a logging town with a population of 3,500; once most of the trees near there were cut, the population declined. Dell, an abandoned farm town, isn't far away either. Winner is another abandoned town nearby as well.
Sparta was a mining town that reached a population of 1,000 in the early part of the 20th century, but when the mining company wanted to clear the land, they moved the residents to nearby Gilbert. Some stayed, however, and the town did not become an official "ghost town" until 2015.
What time of year is best to visit these areas?
If you're interested in visiting ghost towns in northwest MN, you'd be wise to visit in the summertime. The weather in this part of the country can be very brutal during the winter months. Furthermore, even in the best weather, some of the ghost towns described above require 4WD to reach.
What else is there to do in northern Minnesota?
There's not a whole lot to do right by Dorothy, but if you're willing to drive a bit, there are several options to consider. You can see a replica of a Viking ship at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead. In the summer, you can kayak on the Red River; in the winter you can ice fish on Lake of the Woods. Also, don't forget to stop and get your photo taken with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji! Northern Minnesota is a year-round outdoor playground, so you can always hike some trails, watch wildlife, and visit some of the lakes, too.