This Hidden Washington Ghost Town Has a Horrifying Past

Like many states, Washington is no stranger to a ghost town or two. As resources and industrial innovations shift, many towns sadly became “dried up,” and their residents were forced to move elsewhere. Two of the most popular reasons we end up with ghost towns are railroads and resources. We have countless ghost towns in America that were abandoned during the gold rush, and plenty of others from railroad shifts or folks just embracing other modes of transportation. Of course, natural disasters also play a role in why a community abandons a town. The ghost town of Govan, Washington, is no exception.

There are over three dozen known ghost towns in the state of Washington, although quite a few of them have little more remaining than empty land and distant memories. Govan is no exception, really: an old schoolhouse, a post office, and a couple of houses are all that's left of this once-thriving ranching community. However, this hidden Washington ghost town has a truly horrifying past -- one that includes a brutal axe murder.

Govan is located in Lincoln County, about 25 miles east of Coulee City. To reach it, just head east on Highway US-2 from Wilbur for 6.6 miles. Take a left on Bodeau Road, then veer left at the intersection. That's where the town of Govan once stood.

These days, there's not much left of Govan. It is not a tourist attraction by any means. To be honest, there's not much to look at, and Mother Nature has been slowly reclaiming her territory. The few buildings that still stand have certainly seen better days, and I wouldn't trust their structural integrity enough to go inside.

Govan was initially established as a railway station on the Central Washington Railway in 1889. The following year, a large sandbank in the area was discovered, causing the town to boom. The sand was used for the construction of the railroad as it was extended through Govan and west to Almira. Between the sand and the grain, it seemed like Govan was set up for success and would grow into a thriving town.

By 1898, Govan was thriving, with a population of about 76 and several local businesses and amenities. They were even granted a post office charter. By 1905, a schoolhouse was built. Things were looking up for this budding town!

But it wasn't long before tragedy struck.

In 1902, Judge J.A. Lewis and his wife Penelope were brutally murdered with an axe. At the time, it was reported as the "most brutal crime ever committed in the county." As one of the wealthier residents of the town, robbery was believed to be the motive, though the crime was never solved.

Less than a year later, C.S. Thennes was killed by a masked gunman at the Govan Saloon. Then, jumping ahead to 1941, a woman was found dead in her farmhouse. Her son also went missing, and his body wouldn't be recovered for eight years when it was discovered in a nearby field. All of these murders went unsolved.

Though Govan wasn't considered a dangerous town at the time, it was still struggling to keep up and grow into a thriving city. In 1927, a massive fire swept through Govan, destroying nearly everything in its path, including the commercial district, the grain elevators, a hotel, and the post office. This disaster split the town; some residents rebuilt while others moved away to rebuild elsewhere.

Govan continued to struggle after this fire, and with the declining population, they closed down the schoolhouse in 1942. By 1967, the Post Office shut down.

Like many of Central Washington's ghost towns, the population died off as agriculture became more mechanized and the car replaced the railroads as the primary mode of transportation. When the highway bypassed the town in 1933, it felt like the final nail in the coffin for an already struggling town. The construction of U.S. Route 2 rerouted travelers and commerce, which nearly sealed its fate. Govan fell victim to every worst-case scenario in the book: resources dried up, railroad reliability shifted, the new highway bypassed the town, and then a devastating fire dealt the final blow.

You can still visit Govan; it’s only about one hour west of Spokane. That said, it’s important to remember ghost-town etiquette. Many of these wooden structures are incredibly fragile and unsafe to enter. It does make for a neat photography location and a really beautiful spot for night photography and stargazing. 

Did you know the story of this hidden Washington ghost town? Have you visited any of the Evergreen State's ghost towns before? There are some very creepy places here!