With hundreds of tiny towns dotted all over the state, it should come as no surprise that ghost towns are a relatively common occurrence in Minnesota. Not all towns were destined for huge populations, and some of the towns that were once bustling still dwindled away over time to nothing but memories (memories that likely died with long-gone residents). It can be fun to go exploring through Minnesota’s past if you can handle the quiet solitude of these empty, overgrown areas. Here are just nine of our once-lively towns that are now merely ghosts for you to wander through; of course, this is nowhere near a complete list. There are a couple dozen ghost towns ’round here!
- Dorothy
Wikimedia/Elcajonfarms Established in 1898 with a post office, Dorothy was a railroad station when the Northern Pacific Railway expanded.
Wikimedia/Elcajonfarms The church stuck around after the railroad was abandoned in the early 1970s, but in 2014 it burned down.
Google Maps Going through the town, now without the church, is fascinating. While there are still a few buildings, the once lively small town has definitely disappeared. Ironically, it was this eventually doomed town, that turned #2 into a ghost town. Dorothy, MN 56750, USA
- Huot
Google Maps
Google Maps This beautiful town over the Red Lake River, was already in decline when nearby Dorothy sucked away the last of its remaining population and business. The Old Crossing is on the town site, and is where the Oijbwe were going to cede northwestern MN to the US, until the Dakota War of 1862 intervened.
Google Maps The treaty was eventually signed at the Old Crossing, and was followed by the immigration of French-Canadian settlers to the area. One of the settlers, Louis Huot, established a ferry and the town was named after him. But, when the railroad bypassed the town, everything was relocated to Dorothy. However,you can still visit Old Crossing Treaty Park. Huot, MN 56716, USA
- Elcor
Google Maps
Google Maps This area, that is now part of the city of Gilbert, was once its own unincorporated community with mining company housing. It was originally called Elba after the mine, and was developed as the mine grew. When the pit was shut down, the residents were forced to vacate the area, and it fell into disrepair. Now, the Minorca mine sits directly over the site.
Google Maps You can explore the surrounding area to see what’s left on the outskirts of Elcor. Elcor, Gilbert, MN 55741, USA
- Lewiston
Google Maps
Google Maps Northeast of Northfield, this abandoned town near the Cannon River was once larger than its neighbor.
Google Maps It didn’t last long, but was home to Edward J. Thye, Pierce Butler, and Loren W. Collins.
Google Maps It had a horse racing track and hotel, but is now just farmland. You can explore the dirt roads and see the few remnants of the once flourishing town. Lewiston, MN 55952, USA
- Leaf River
Google Maps
Google Maps Now reduced to around 50 nearby residents, all that remains of the town that once had a post office and station of the Great Northern Railway is a golf course, and small residential area.
Google Maps It’s actually quite a fun place to explore, and surrounded by beautiful countryside. The town was never huge, with the post office shut down in 1882, and then reopened in 1902, to be shut down again only 6 years later. Leaf River Township, MN, USA
- Pelan
Google Maps
Google Maps Named for a wealthy Englishman, Pelan was incorporated in 1903, but dwindled away by 1909.
Google Maps With only a few houses and buildings left, there is only a bit of parkland and residential area where the town once was.
Google Maps When a railroad could not be secured in the area, most of the 175 settlers moved away. Pelan, MN 56732, USA
- Radium
Google Maps
Google Maps Along the Soo Line Railroad, it has slowly dwindled away in the past thirty years, and is now mostly farmland and a small nearby church.
Google Maps Named for the element, Radium had a post office from 1905 to 1984. Radium, MN 56762, USA
- Vicksburg
Google Maps
Google Maps Near the Minnesota River, this town on a hill is long abandoned. It is mostly farmland, as the town was bypassed by railroads in 1905.
Google Maps All that remains is the cemetery.
Google Maps A drive through Vicksburg won’t take long, but exploring the overgrown area and cemetery is fascinating albeit a little creepy. Vicksburg, Minnesota, USA
- Nininger
Google Maps
Google Maps Founded by the brother-in-law of Governor Alexander Ramsey, John Nininger, this town only ever reached about 1,000 residents.
Google Maps The most famous resident was author Ignatius Donnelly, and the plaques left that commemorate the city describe his home, and Good Templars Hall.
Google Maps Nininger had high hopes for this city, but by 1889 the post office was closed and most residents were gone. Nininger Township, MN 55033, USA
What ghost towns have you discovered throughout Minnesota? Which ones are your favorites? Tell us about them in the comments; we love to hear from you!
Wikimedia/Elcajonfarms
Established in 1898 with a post office, Dorothy was a railroad station when the Northern Pacific Railway expanded.
The church stuck around after the railroad was abandoned in the early 1970s, but in 2014 it burned down.
Google Maps
Going through the town, now without the church, is fascinating. While there are still a few buildings, the once lively small town has definitely disappeared. Ironically, it was this eventually doomed town, that turned #2 into a ghost town.
Dorothy, MN 56750, USA
This beautiful town over the Red Lake River, was already in decline when nearby Dorothy sucked away the last of its remaining population and business. The Old Crossing is on the town site, and is where the Oijbwe were going to cede northwestern MN to the US, until the Dakota War of 1862 intervened.
The treaty was eventually signed at the Old Crossing, and was followed by the immigration of French-Canadian settlers to the area. One of the settlers, Louis Huot, established a ferry and the town was named after him. But, when the railroad bypassed the town, everything was relocated to Dorothy. However,you can still visit Old Crossing Treaty Park.
Huot, MN 56716, USA
This area, that is now part of the city of Gilbert, was once its own unincorporated community with mining company housing. It was originally called Elba after the mine, and was developed as the mine grew. When the pit was shut down, the residents were forced to vacate the area, and it fell into disrepair. Now, the Minorca mine sits directly over the site.
You can explore the surrounding area to see what’s left on the outskirts of Elcor.
Elcor, Gilbert, MN 55741, USA
Northeast of Northfield, this abandoned town near the Cannon River was once larger than its neighbor.
It didn’t last long, but was home to Edward J. Thye, Pierce Butler, and Loren W. Collins.
It had a horse racing track and hotel, but is now just farmland. You can explore the dirt roads and see the few remnants of the once flourishing town.
Lewiston, MN 55952, USA
Now reduced to around 50 nearby residents, all that remains of the town that once had a post office and station of the Great Northern Railway is a golf course, and small residential area.
It’s actually quite a fun place to explore, and surrounded by beautiful countryside. The town was never huge, with the post office shut down in 1882, and then reopened in 1902, to be shut down again only 6 years later.
Leaf River Township, MN, USA
Named for a wealthy Englishman, Pelan was incorporated in 1903, but dwindled away by 1909.
With only a few houses and buildings left, there is only a bit of parkland and residential area where the town once was.
When a railroad could not be secured in the area, most of the 175 settlers moved away.
Pelan, MN 56732, USA
Along the Soo Line Railroad, it has slowly dwindled away in the past thirty years, and is now mostly farmland and a small nearby church.
Named for the element, Radium had a post office from 1905 to 1984.
Radium, MN 56762, USA
Near the Minnesota River, this town on a hill is long abandoned. It is mostly farmland, as the town was bypassed by railroads in 1905.
All that remains is the cemetery.
A drive through Vicksburg won’t take long, but exploring the overgrown area and cemetery is fascinating albeit a little creepy.
Vicksburg, Minnesota, USA
Founded by the brother-in-law of Governor Alexander Ramsey, John Nininger, this town only ever reached about 1,000 residents.
The most famous resident was author Ignatius Donnelly, and the plaques left that commemorate the city describe his home, and Good Templars Hall.
Nininger had high hopes for this city, but by 1889 the post office was closed and most residents were gone.
Nininger Township, MN 55033, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Minnesota Ghost Towns October 19, 2021 Tori Jane How many ghost towns in Minnesota are there? It’s not known EXACTLY how many ghost towns in Minnesota there are (or were), but as of the time of this writing, there are 58 ghost towns in Minnesota listed on Wikipedia. That’s no small number when you think about the size of Minnesota! Some of the ghost towns listed include Ashton, Chengwatana, Dale, Dorothy, Elcor, Garen, Huot, Radium, and… San Fransisco. Yeah, you read that right. There’s no Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco, Minnesota, though. It was originally settled in 1854 and it disappeared right around 1870. All of Minnesota’s ghost towns were towns established in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Want to check out some of the best ghost towns in Minnesota for yourself? You should try this awesome, haunting road trip to some of Minnesota’s spookiest ghost towns! What are some interesting, abandoned places in Minnesota? Minnesota is home to a plethora of fascinating abandoned places that you’ve got to see to believe! You’ll find plenty of resources for urban exploration in Minnesota online; some of our favorite legendary abandoned places in Minnesota include the bank in Hadley, which seriously just looks haunted. There’s also the Mill Ruins Park, which offers tours to curious guests (which are great, because you know they’re safe!). At Banning State Park, you can find some ruins of the old quarry (formerly known as the Banning Sandstone Quarry). In Ely, there’s a crazy-looking abandoned hospital that was built a century ago and converted into apartments before it was abandoned. Seriously, if you know where to look, Minnesota is a stellar place for urban exploration and admiring abandoned old buildings.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Minnesota Ghost Towns
October 19, 2021
Tori Jane
How many ghost towns in Minnesota are there? It’s not known EXACTLY how many ghost towns in Minnesota there are (or were), but as of the time of this writing, there are 58 ghost towns in Minnesota listed on Wikipedia. That’s no small number when you think about the size of Minnesota! Some of the ghost towns listed include Ashton, Chengwatana, Dale, Dorothy, Elcor, Garen, Huot, Radium, and… San Fransisco. Yeah, you read that right. There’s no Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco, Minnesota, though. It was originally settled in 1854 and it disappeared right around 1870. All of Minnesota’s ghost towns were towns established in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Want to check out some of the best ghost towns in Minnesota for yourself? You should try this awesome, haunting road trip to some of Minnesota’s spookiest ghost towns! What are some interesting, abandoned places in Minnesota? Minnesota is home to a plethora of fascinating abandoned places that you’ve got to see to believe! You’ll find plenty of resources for urban exploration in Minnesota online; some of our favorite legendary abandoned places in Minnesota include the bank in Hadley, which seriously just looks haunted. There’s also the Mill Ruins Park, which offers tours to curious guests (which are great, because you know they’re safe!). At Banning State Park, you can find some ruins of the old quarry (formerly known as the Banning Sandstone Quarry). In Ely, there’s a crazy-looking abandoned hospital that was built a century ago and converted into apartments before it was abandoned. Seriously, if you know where to look, Minnesota is a stellar place for urban exploration and admiring abandoned old buildings.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
It’s not known EXACTLY how many ghost towns in Minnesota there are (or were), but as of the time of this writing, there are 58 ghost towns in Minnesota listed on Wikipedia. That’s no small number when you think about the size of Minnesota! Some of the ghost towns listed include Ashton, Chengwatana, Dale, Dorothy, Elcor, Garen, Huot, Radium, and… San Fransisco. Yeah, you read that right. There’s no Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco, Minnesota, though. It was originally settled in 1854 and it disappeared right around 1870. All of Minnesota’s ghost towns were towns established in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Want to check out some of the best ghost towns in Minnesota for yourself? You should try this awesome, haunting road trip to some of Minnesota’s spookiest ghost towns!
What are some interesting, abandoned places in Minnesota?
Minnesota is home to a plethora of fascinating abandoned places that you’ve got to see to believe! You’ll find plenty of resources for urban exploration in Minnesota online; some of our favorite legendary abandoned places in Minnesota include the bank in Hadley, which seriously just looks haunted. There’s also the Mill Ruins Park, which offers tours to curious guests (which are great, because you know they’re safe!). At Banning State Park, you can find some ruins of the old quarry (formerly known as the Banning Sandstone Quarry). In Ely, there’s a crazy-looking abandoned hospital that was built a century ago and converted into apartments before it was abandoned. Seriously, if you know where to look, Minnesota is a stellar place for urban exploration and admiring abandoned old buildings.
