In our fast-paced world, it is easier than ever to look past seemingly minor details in favor of the big picture. That doesn’t just happen on the internet, either. Whether we’re out grocery shopping or checking the mail, most of us are so focused on the task at hand – or on the phone in our hands – that we neglect all that is around us. It even happens while driving, especially through the off-the-beaten-track places that dot the Minnesota landscape. But there is one long-forgotten ghost town in Minnesota that is worth paying attention to. Take a look:
If you’re interested in Minnesota ghost towns, then you should check out Dorothy. Dorothy was once a small but growing town in northern Minnesota, about halfway between Crookston and Thief River Falls.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Established as a station on the Pacific North Railway around 1917, it grew into a bustling spot that attracted new residents from nearby towns. One, Huot, became a ghost town itself.
Elcajonfarms/Wikimedia Commons
Several buildings popped up to support the town’s growth. A grain elevator and school quickly attracted residents.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
But the town could not sustain its growth. Its post office closed in 1945. The railroad stopped running in 1973. After that, the town of Dorothy all but dried up. It’s now become just one more of the abandoned places in Minnesota.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Today, only a few signs of the once-bustling community remain. A lone row of buildings greets those who make the voyage to this vacant town.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Even the old church, which lasted long after the town was abandoned, no longer stands. It was destroyed by fire in 2014. Now, much of Dorothy is abandoned to time.
Elcajonsfarms/Wikimedia Commons
Have you driven through Dorothy? Do you know of any other interesting Minnesota ghost towns?
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Elcajonfarms/Wikimedia Commons
Elcajonsfarms/Wikimedia Commons
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Address: Dorothy, MN 56750, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Ghost Town in Minnesota January 23, 2022 Christy Are there other ghost towns in MN near Dorothy to visit? In fact, there are. There are several known ghost towns in northwestern Minnesota that are worth a visit. You might stop by Craigville which used to be a logging town with a population of 3,500; once most of the trees near there were cut, the population declined. Dell, an abandoned farm town, isn’t far away either. Winner is another abandoned town nearby as well. Sparta was a mining town that reached a population of 1,000 in the early part of the 20th century, but when the mining company wanted to clear the land, they moved the residents to nearby Gilbert. Some stayed, however, and the town did not become an official “ghost town” until 2015. What time of year is best to visit these areas? If you’re interested in visiting ghost towns in northwest MN, you’d be wise to visit in the summertime. The weather in this part of the country can be very brutal during the winter months. Furthermore, even in the best weather, some of the ghost towns described above require 4WD to reach. What else is there to do in northern Minnesota? There’s not a whole lot to do right by Dorothy, but if you’re willing to drive a bit, there are several options to consider. You can see a replica of a Viking ship at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead. In the summer, you can kayak on the Red River; in the winter you can ice fish on Lake of the Woods. Also, don’t forget to stop and get your photo taken with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji! Northern Minnesota is a year-round outdoor playground, so you can always hike some trails, watch wildlife, and visit some of the lakes, too.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Ghost Town in Minnesota
January 23, 2022
Christy
Are there other ghost towns in MN near Dorothy to visit? In fact, there are. There are several known ghost towns in northwestern Minnesota that are worth a visit. You might stop by Craigville which used to be a logging town with a population of 3,500; once most of the trees near there were cut, the population declined. Dell, an abandoned farm town, isn’t far away either. Winner is another abandoned town nearby as well. Sparta was a mining town that reached a population of 1,000 in the early part of the 20th century, but when the mining company wanted to clear the land, they moved the residents to nearby Gilbert. Some stayed, however, and the town did not become an official “ghost town” until 2015. What time of year is best to visit these areas? If you’re interested in visiting ghost towns in northwest MN, you’d be wise to visit in the summertime. The weather in this part of the country can be very brutal during the winter months. Furthermore, even in the best weather, some of the ghost towns described above require 4WD to reach. What else is there to do in northern Minnesota? There’s not a whole lot to do right by Dorothy, but if you’re willing to drive a bit, there are several options to consider. You can see a replica of a Viking ship at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead. In the summer, you can kayak on the Red River; in the winter you can ice fish on Lake of the Woods. Also, don’t forget to stop and get your photo taken with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji! Northern Minnesota is a year-round outdoor playground, so you can always hike some trails, watch wildlife, and visit some of the lakes, too.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
In fact, there are. There are several known ghost towns in northwestern Minnesota that are worth a visit. You might stop by Craigville which used to be a logging town with a population of 3,500; once most of the trees near there were cut, the population declined. Dell, an abandoned farm town, isn’t far away either. Winner is another abandoned town nearby as well.
Sparta was a mining town that reached a population of 1,000 in the early part of the 20th century, but when the mining company wanted to clear the land, they moved the residents to nearby Gilbert. Some stayed, however, and the town did not become an official “ghost town” until 2015.
What time of year is best to visit these areas?
If you’re interested in visiting ghost towns in northwest MN, you’d be wise to visit in the summertime. The weather in this part of the country can be very brutal during the winter months. Furthermore, even in the best weather, some of the ghost towns described above require 4WD to reach.
What else is there to do in northern Minnesota?
There’s not a whole lot to do right by Dorothy, but if you’re willing to drive a bit, there are several options to consider. You can see a replica of a Viking ship at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead. In the summer, you can kayak on the Red River; in the winter you can ice fish on Lake of the Woods. Also, don’t forget to stop and get your photo taken with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji! Northern Minnesota is a year-round outdoor playground, so you can always hike some trails, watch wildlife, and visit some of the lakes, too.
