Rural Wyoming is littered with ghost towns, relics left from the days of trail travel and prospecting. While most of these towns are home to eerie relics and remnants of buildings, one has been preserved and makes for a great day trip destination. Plan a visit to South Pass City!
This photo of South Pass City in 1870 shows just how busy it became when prospectors first found gold in the area.
Like all gold rushes, though, South Pass City's heyday quickly passed, and its residents moved on to bigger and better things.
Today, South Pass is essentially a ghost town, with just a few residents who have moved back in to help restore and preserve the area history.
South Pass was a popular trail town and telegraph stop before gold was discovered, and it had plenty of amenities which allowed it to expand rapidly when prosecutors moved in.
One section of town is preserved as a State Historic Site, and it makes for a great day trip for anyone interested in history.
Be sure to visit in-season, as the road is not maintained from October to April. You'll want a high clearance vehicle to get out here, in case conditions on the steep and rocky dirt road aren't great.
The South Pass Historic Site preserves more than 30 buildings, and is well worth a couple of dollars in admission fees to get out and explore.
The buildings preserved include an old school house, and when you walk in, you'll truly feel like you've found a time machine!
There's more to this area than just preserved buildings, too! You can still see the wagon trails from the settlers who were moving west.
Mark your calendar for their Gold Rush Days festival and come out to feel like a prospector, participate in a scavenger hunt, and learn all about the history of this once-lively Wyoming town.
Visit the South Pass City website, here, for more information about visiting this fascinating Wyoming ghost town, and to see their event schedule.
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