Lincoln Valley, ND
Sheridan County
Vacant as of 9/04
Lincoln Valley, ND is in Sheridan County, about 8 miles NE of McClusky. It is a true ghost town. It was said to be thriving in the 50′s, but by 1972, only one resident was left. It is empty now.
A huge thank you to Dale Hinsverk of Wahpeton for sending us a newspaper clipping from The Minot Daily News, August 22nd, 1970. The clipping is what allowed us to do the “Then and Now” animations.
Lincoln Valley was a primarily German and Russian settlement when it was founded in 1900 by George and Conrad C. Reiswig as Lincoln. In 1912 the name was changed to Lincoln Valley.
Lincoln Valley should be considered a dangerous town to investigate. There are open basements and wells everywhere, and very tall grass which makes it easy to tumble right into one.
source material – North Dakota Place Names by Douglas A. Wick
CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Lincoln Valley Then and Now
The building pictured above is the former bar and ice cream parlor for Lincoln Valley. Note the gas pumps of the town’s gas station next door.
Above is the former home of the Opp family, who according to a site visitor, just packed up and left one day, leaving most of their possessions behind. For many years, this photo has been (and continues to be) an icon of our website and our passion. This photo is emblematic of all that GND is and aspires to be. So with sadness we say, this house is no longer standing. It was razed due to safety concerns in 2009.
A hobbit house?
I ‘m pleased that someone is interested in this old town, my father grew up here. His father owned and operated the poolhall and Barber shop.I now own a few lots, my cousin owns one of the still standing houses in your photos, the pool hall is owned by someone from New York, at least that is the way it was a few years ago, when I tried to buy it. I didn’t know they were having a reunion last summer, my family would have enjoyed being there. Thanks,
Hello, Your new web site is awesome! I grew up in the Lincoln Valley area. I remember going to Lincoln valley on Wed. evenings . It was a night of shopping, selling cream, and visting at the local pub!
Lincoln Valley may have ghosts but they are friendly.
My neice from Washington DC did a picture study of ND and took many great pictures of ND and Lincoln Valley.Thank you for all your hard work. This is a great web site!
Hi,
I grew up about 2 miles north of Lincoln Valley. Last year I was at the reunion they had there. Everything was set up on the old Luthren Church grounds of which my father owns. Saw the photos above of the house out in the field which orginally housed an Opp family. As to if it housed any other family I am uncertain. My father would know as he owns that land as well. Sorry to say though that the house is no longer standing as age and dematerialization took hold and it had to come down. From what my father said it was 2 summers ago when it was taken down. Kind of sad though, because it was sort of a land mark.
Great work on the site.
I have to say, I thoroughly enjoy this website. My girlfriend came upon it recently and when she was telling me about it, the first town that came to mind was Lincoln Valley. I was very pleased to see it on the map. I’m from Goodrich, not far to the southeast, but I’ve stopped through Lincoln Valley on several occasions. Unfortunately, I never got the opportunity to visit when residents still called it home, but I always found the town interesting. There’s still a newspaper article about the last Lincoln Valley resident on display in the Goodrich museum. I always heard the rumors about ghost sightings in the town as well, so of course, being teenagers, it always intrigued us. If I’m not mistaken, I think the town was even featured in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. Long story short, I appreciate your work in putting this site together, and I’ll definitely be spreading the word about it to my family back home!
Hey all, this is great. I think one of those pics may be of my Great Gramma Helm’s house. And there was one tagged on face-book that was south of where I grew up on Hwy. 14.
Thanks GND!
All these pics look great. Remind me of home. I grew up 1/2 mile Southwest of Lincoln Valley. The old Opp house was in my dad’s field. As kids, we always enjoyed searching for old artifacts left in the town. I do agree, that it is very dangerous to walk around in if you are not familiar with the layout of the town, lots of open basements. Be careful if you do go visit Lincoln Valley, and please be respectufl to the history that remains of the abandoned town.
Me my dad and a couple of his friends visited Lincoln valley in 1994 after growing bored of a graduation party. There was a grand old white house near the town center with a smashed out television and decades of wallpaper peeling off. The best was when a car of older folks pulled up and a gentleman in the group told us all we needed to know. His grandmother had lived there until she died in 1953 and her house still stood. I returned in 2000 on my way back from Minneapolis and the whole town was roped off with trespassers will be shot signs. U have to love how some translate a constitutional right in to a right to murder someone who steps on your grass!
Possibly the property ‘belongs’ to someone…or not, but if it did, they could shoot you. I can tell you, though, that it is more likely a good-hearted attempt to keep people out of the locale due to some dangerous old wells and/or house foundations and debris that could cause injury. As for myself, I hope the sign keeps pillagers and delinquents out so as to preserve a part of my family history. It’s a great place, even if you can only drive by it.
Is there a Lincoln Valley reunion this June?
We have been to Lincoln Valley on roughly five occasions and we have never seen any trespassing signs or encountered anyone hostile. The only thing to fear is wood ticks.
I hear rumors of a Lincoln Valley reunion on June 3,4, and 5 of 2011. Any news on this?
Not sure what the plans are for LV…but Anamoose is having thier all school reunion on July 1, 2 and 3! Should be a great place to be, usually is!
First weekend in June will be the 2nd Lincoln Valley Ralley. Should look like a RV Park once again. Anamoose All School Reunion is July 4 weekend. That should be an incredible time as well.
Has anyone visited the Lincoln Valley cemetery? What is its condition and location? My father Ed C. Wagner was buried there in 1947.
Yes, they just had visitors…I think it’s north of town. My great grandparents are buried there and I can’t wait to go find the cemetery next time I’m in that area.
I, too, have memories of Lincoln Valley. I remember going to the Implement shop to get parts for my Dad. I don’t remember the name of the man who ran the shop. He might have been the last person to live there. We lived 7 miles east of McClusky. My Grandpa, Sam Triebwasser was born in Lincoln Valley.
I happened to be exploring around there a little bit Saturday evening. Was just wondering if there are still several open wells in the area. I noticed that there are several bldgs hidden by trees and vegetation, would like to explore some more and take some photos safely. What a great little hidden town that is. I never knew it existed until recently. It would be nice if ghostowns like these could be preserved somehow. With all the litle ghostowns ND has we have something that no other state has.
I grew up in McClusky and was living in NJ when the last resident moved away, Joe Lientz or something like that. My mother in law ran the Gazette, Christine Moore, and was extensively interviewed along with Mr. Wentz, Tom’s dad. What a surprise to see anything like that in the NY Times. One of my sisters was in McClusky this fall and said how sad it was to see how that town looks today. I doubt I was ever in Lincoln Valley, but a retired physician here in Denver grew up on a farm somewhere around Lincoln Valley, his name John Faul, MD. He told me they came to McClusky once a year.
Jan Berg Moore
my father leonard jans was born in lincoln valley in 1926 he’s the son of john & katie more info on the region would be greatly appreciated. vicki massey ripley wv