Idaho is a state that was built from mining towns, all of which boast a similar story. Miners flocked to the Gem State, built towns, and then abandoned those very towns when the gold and silver inevitably ran out. Some towns were lucky enough to survive, but most did not. Most were left for nature to eventually reclaim. The town of Custer could have easily followed this route. Although it was quite populous during the height of Idaho’s mining era, it too was eventually abandoned. Thankfully, the town remains and efforts are continuously made to preserve this important piece of Idaho history. If you’ve ever wanted to see what one of Idaho’s very first towns looked like, you’ll definitely want to plan a visit.
The quaint town of Custer sprung to life in 1879 by gold miners looking to discover the next big motherlode. Located within the unending beauty of the Challis National Forest, this place is the perfect representation of one of Idaho's earliest towns. It's absolutely incredible.
Today, visitors are more than welcome to visit the town and get a taste of what 19th century life was like in Idaho. The town is included in the Land of the Yankee Fork State Park and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Few people realize that Custer was actually the second town established in the area. The nearby ghost town of Bonanza was technically first but Custer soon eclipsed Bonanza, especially after a fire devastated the former town.
As you stroll through the one-street-town today, you'll observe a surprising amount of structures that are still standing. Better yet, many of them have been restored to their 19th century state including a handful of cabins, a schoolhouse, and the Empire Saloon.
Instead of libations, the old saloon now houses historic memorabilia. The schoolhouse acts as a museum and a wonderful walking tour highlights both existing and long-destroyed buildings.
Walking through the town today, it's hard to imagine that Custer once had a peak population of 600 people. It's hard to believe that people lived here at all—deep in the remote wilderness and surrounded by nothing but forest. However, you're reminded that people came here for a reason, and that reason was gold.
In fact, the search for gold in this area never really ended. In 1940, long after the original prospectors had left Custer, the massive Yankee Fork Gold Dredge was brought in by a mining company looking to scrape up the last of the region's precious gold. It remains just outside of Custer to this day.
Other clues of Custer's early days can still be observed around the region. Large pieces of iron mining equipment have been left to rust in the grass over the last century. Various bullet holes can be found in the century-old structures, reminding you that this really was once the "Wild West".
Today, it's evident that the Land of the Yankee Fork State Park has done an excellent job preserving this incredible piece of Idaho history. From providing docent-led tours to throwing the annual "Custer Days" event, it just goes to show that this gem of a town will always be remembered.
Doesn’t this place look fascinating? It’s incredibly lucky that Custer has been so well-preserved over the years. Check out our list of 10 Forgotten Historic Ghost Towns In Idaho that are just like the one featured above.
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