Nevada's legendary silver rush caused boomtowns to rise up overnight as eager prospectors risked it all for a chance to strike it big. In just a few years, fortunes would be built, but as the saying goes, the bigger they come, the harder they fall. As mining ores dried up, entire towns with prosperous communities and businesses were quickly abandoned, leaving buildings to decay.

These abandoned places offer a glimpse into the state's past and are often steeped in mystery, legend, and quite a few ghost sightings. With over 600 ghost towns, Nevada actually has more abandoned ghost towns than currently populated towns and cities. From mining towns to railroad hubs, these deserted communities are a fascinating and eerie sight to behold. Here are the 10 best ghost towns to visit in Nevada.

1 Rhyolite

The ruins of the abandoned ghost town of Rhyolite in Nevada
Photo by Kathy Marsh on Unsplash
The ruins of the abandoned ghost town of Rhyolite in Nevada

Death Valley National Park is home to several ghost towns, but Rhyolite is the most famous ghost town in the area. Situated in Bullfrog Hills, Rhyolite was born from a gold rush. As a mining boom brought in more and more hopeful prospectors, Rhyolite was soon established and named after the volcanic rock found around the area. The once-thriving town of Rhyolite has a long and fascinating history and, at its peak, had a population of up to 10,000 people.

Today, the town is a ghostly reminder of the past, with many of its buildings in ruins. Visitors can explore the remains of the dilapidated three-story bank, the schoolhouse, and the train depot. The best-preserved building left standing is the famous Tom Kelly Bottle House. The bottle house is made out of over 50,000 glass bottles and was renovated in 1925 when Paramount used the location to shoot a movie.

What Happened To Rhyolite, Nevada?

Like most ghost towns, inhabitants started to move out of Rhyolite when the town no longer offered financial opportunities. The Panic of 1907 caused a banking crisis that affected the town's banking and mining industries. Over time, more local businesses began to fail, and inhabitants began to move out.

Related: Check Out These Visitor Photos From Rhyolite, Nevada's True Western Ghost Town

2 Goldfield

A view of the International Car Forest near the ghost town of Goldfield Nevada
Photo by Quentin Burgess on Unsplash
A view of the International Car Forest near the ghost town of Goldfield, Nevada

Located in the heart of Nevada, Goldfield was one of the most influential and affluent cities in early 20th century Nevada. At its peak, Goldfield had a population of over 20,000 inhabitants. Today, Goldfield is a living ghost town, as about 250 people still reside in this once-prosperous mining town.

Visitors can explore the remaining mining equipment and abandoned buildings, including the Goldfield Hotel, which is said to be haunted. The town has several well-preserved buildings and saloons and an incredible – albeit quirky – art scene. Goldfield is home to the famous International Car Forest of the Last Church, the Enigmata Esoterica, which features unique crafts with a Western flair, and the Goldfield Historic Cemetery, which features several unconventional tombstone epitaphs.

What Happened To Goldfield, Nevada?

Goldfield, Nevada, saw its population numbers decline as the area's mines became depleted and prospectors left to find their fortunes elsewhere. A fire in 1913, followed by a great fire in 1923, seriously damaged the town's infrastructure and caused even more residents to move away.

3 Belmont

The main ore processing building at Belmont Mill, White Pine County, Nevada, USA
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The main ore processing building at Belmont Mill, White Pine County, Nevada, USA

A silver strike in 1865 led to the establishment of Belmont. Located in central Nevada, Belmont was once a thriving mining town with a population of over 2,000 people. This town's heyday would be short-lived. As soon as the mines became depleted, prospectors began to leave. In this era, timber for construction was rare and extremely valuable. People would often take their timber and sometimes even their entire houses with them as they moved to the next boom town. That means many of Belmont's original buildings were dismantled or left half-standing.

Today, the town is largely deserted, with only a few residents left. Visitors can explore the remains of the town's few remaining structures, including the old courthouse, the Belmont Mill, the post office, and the cemetery. Belmont does have a few open businesses. Visitors can go antique shopping in Susie's Attics, peruse jewelry items at Sticks and Stones, or grab a beer at Dirty Dick's Belmont Saloon.

Belmont, like many ghost towns, is completely off the grid, meaning it has no electricity or running water. Visitors should bring water and food when visiting and make sure they have enough fuel for the journey back.

4 Goodsprings

View of rocky Nevada Mountains
Photo by Roberto Nickson on Pexels
In 1942, American actress Carole Lombard's plane crashed into the rocky Nevada mountains near the ghost town of Goodsprings.

Just a 45-minute drive from Las Vegas, Goodsprings was once a booming mining town with a population of over 800 people. The Pioneer Saloon is considered the oldest saloon in southern Nevada, and it is still in business. This ghost town's legacy is intertwined with Hollywood royalty.

In 1942, actress Carole Lombard's plane tragically crashed in the nearby mountains. The Pioneer Saloon was used as the base for search efforts, and Lombard's husband, Clark Gable, waited in the saloon until it was tragically confirmed she had not survived. A memorial in the saloon is dedicated to the couple, and visitors can see cigarette burns Gable left behind. The Pioneer Saloon has been used as a shooting location for many film and television projects, and the area is supposedly haunted.

5 Cherry Creek

Cherry Creek on a map of Nevada, USA
Shutterstock
Cherry Creek on a map of Nevada, USA

Located in northeastern Nevada, Cherry Creek was once a bustling mining town with a population of over 7,800 people. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in the late 1860s saw the area truly boom. Trains could easily transport prospectors into town and then carry out the freshly acquired gold and silver.

Today, the town is largely deserted, with only about 20 residents left. One of the biggest attractions is the Cherry Creek Schoolhouse, which has been converted into a museum dedicated to the town's history as well as the original Native Americans who first lived in the area. Visitors should also see the town's cemetery and the remains of the jail, saloon, and general store.

6 Virginia City

Virginia City, Nevada
Photo 36538876 © Bdingman | Dreamstime.com
Virginia City, a beautiful small town in Nevada and one of the best Old West towns in the US

Virginia City in western Nevada is one of the most populated ghost towns featured on this list. This living ghost town holds the legacy of the fortunes that were made during the mining boom of the 19th century. At its peak, Virginia City was once a prosperous mining town with a population of over 25,000 people. The silver deposit Henry Comstock discovered would be known as the Comstock lode and would help finance the United States government during the Civil War, along with several cities and empires throughout the world.

Today, the town is a popular tourist destination, with many of its historic buildings and landmarks still standing. Visitors can enjoy a drink at saloons such as the Bucket of Blood or Silver Queen, explore the mines, and enjoy tours performed by local guides dressed in period costumes. The city features several haunted hotels as well and is a haven for ghost hunters.

Related: Bucket List Towns: These Are The 10 Best To Visit In Nevada Right Now

7 Berlin

An abandoned mine in Berlin, Nevada
Image by Loyloy Thal from Pixabay
An abandoned mine in Berlin, Nevada

Located in central Nevada, Berlin was once a thriving mining town in the 1890s with a population of about 300 people. Today, the town is largely abandoned and in a state of decay, with only a few buildings and structures remaining. Visitors can explore the town's schoolhouse, jailhouse, and general store, as well as its cemetery, which holds the remains of many of Berlin's first inhabitants.

Interestingly enough, this ghost town is located in the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, which is also home to giant marine reptile fossils, so after exploring Berlin, visitors can take the opportunity to also see these dinosaur-era remains.

8 Austin

Downtown Austin, Nevada
Photo 249687864 © Jason Johnson | Dreamstime.com
Downtown Austin during sunset, Nevada

Located in central Nevada on the Loneliest Road in America, Austin was another one of Nevada's lucratively successful mining towns. At its peak, this ghost town once had a population of over 10,000 people. Today, the town is a quiet and small community with a rich history. Visitors can explore the remains of the town's old courthouse, jail, cemetery, and Stokes Castle.

9 Eureka

Eureka, a small town in Nevada
Photo 86132102 © Sandra Foyt | Dreamstime.com
The small town of Eureka, Nevada

Located in eastern Nevada, Eureka was once a prosperous mining town that, at its peak, had a population of over 10,000 people. Today, the town has about 400 inhabitants and is a quiet and charming community that's intent on preserving its rich history.

Eureka offers guided tours that allow visitors the chance to learn about the Eureka Opera House, the old courthouse, the Eureka Sentinel Museum, and the Jackson House Hotel. Underground tours give insight into the labyrinth of tunnels that connected the town while walking ghost tours discuss the paranormal activity reportedly found throughout this ghost town.

Related: Ghastly Ghost Hunts: Visit The Planet's Most Haunted Cities

10 Silver City

A ghost town in Nevada
Image by Jim Black from Pixabay 
A ghost town in the American West

Located in western Nevada, Silver City was another prosperous mining town that was quickly abandoned once ore deposits began to dry up. At its peak, Silver City had a population of over 2,000 people.

Today, the town is one of the best ghost towns Nevada has to offer; it's largely deserted, with only a few residents left. Visitors can explore the remains of the town's buildings, including a bottling plant and brewery, saloon, doctor's office, and legal firm.