Most People Have Long Forgotten About This Vacant Ghost Town In Rural Washington

Thanks to Washington's rich mining history, you'll find a fair amount of rural ghost towns scattered throughout our state. And while some remain fairly popular spots to visit, others tend to stay quiet and vacant. Molson is one of them.

Molson is located in Okanogan County near the Canadian border.

Founded in 1900 by promoter George B. Meacham and investor John W. Molson, and for awhile, it was a booming mining town.

In its first year, the population shot up to 300 and the town had a newspaper, stores, attorney, doctor, saloon and even a hotel.

But unfortunately, it didn't last long.

By 1901, the mining wasn't going well, and the town's population dropped to just 12. However, four years later, it saw a revival.

But in 1909, a farmer who had filed for a homestead suddenly declared that everyone was trespassing and had to leave. All of Molson's citizens were forced to vacate.

This little ghost town is still standing -- in fact, it's very well-preserved.

It serves as an open air museum with plenty of historic buildings and artifacts.

The Molson Schoolhouse Museum is a separate attraction, and it's definitely worth checking out.

In fact, most people think the schoolhouse is the highlight.

This town may be vacant, but it's still pretty charming.

Halloween is a great time to visit a ghost town.... if you're feeling brave, you can even check out the Old Molson Cemetery.

Looking to get into the Halloween spirit? Take a road trip to some of Washington's most haunted places.