Defining what exactly constitutes a “ghost town” can sometimes be tricky. In our years of exploring North Dakota’s abandoned places, we’ve often encountered former towns where the townsite itself is empty, but there’s a farm about half a mile down the road. Sometimes a former town like Sims, North Dakota has an active church, but nobody actually lives on the town site. And still other times, we will hear objections from people who feel as though we’ve misrepresented their town, or somehow labeled it a ghost town because it appears on this website, in which case we clarify that this site is about ghost towns and abandoned places, like the former First National Bank and Barber Auditorium in Marmarth, North Dakota, a town with a population numbering more than a hundred.
Here we’ve assembled our most strictly defined list of ghost towns in North Dakota, places where there are zero residents, and in some cases, zero remains. It’s life after people, North Dakota style.
Griffin, North Dakota
Griffin, North Dakota is a true ghost town in Bowman County, about halfway between Bowman and Rhame. It was once home to some of the largest stockyards in southwest North Dakota, and it was also a stop on one of America’s first cross-country highways–a route from Massachusetts to Seattle, marked in places by three foot stone markers painted yellow, known as the Yellowstone Trail.
Sherbrooke, North Dakota
Nobody lives in Sherbooke, North Dakota anymore, and only two homes remain standing on the town site, but there is a well-tended cemetery in the area and farms just down the road.
Bluegrass, North Dakota
Bluegrass, North Dakota, a true ghost town, population zero, in Morton County, about thirty-five miles northwest of Mandan. The railroad never came to Bluegrass, and the peak population was only twenty. Today it is a true ghost town. The former service station shown here has since burned.
Josephine, North Dakota
Where there was once a mercantile store and residents numbering a dozen or two, there are only two remaining grain elevators in the town that was once Josephine, North Dakota.
Trotters, North Dakota
Trotters, North Dakota is a ghost town just outside the official boundary of the Little Missouri National Grasslands — a boundary visible only on maps. The church is still sometimes used for weddings and special events. Nobody lives here anymore.
Temple, North Dakota
Temple is a rapidly disappearing ghost town in the oil patch and we have several user contributed galleries from Nicole Simpson and Mark Johnson, featuring the church shown above and the school which no longer stands on the town site.
Freda, North Dakota
A train depot and the crumbling remains of Freda, North Dakota lie in the tall grass, nestled among the rolling green hills of Missouri River country. It’s a short drive southwest of Mandan to this true ghost town in Grant County.
Lincoln Valley, North Dakota
Lincoln Valley is one of our all-time favorite ghost towns. It’s been vacant since Joe Leintz moved out in the 1970s, and we’ve been back for a visit on several occasions. The former bar and ice cream parlor stills stands on the site, as well as several abandoned homes.
Arena, North Dakota
St. John’s Lutheran Church is the most prominent landmark in this former town. Two homes plus a small country school building that was moved into town from somewhere else are still standing in Arena.
Sims, North Dakota
Possibly the most beautiful ghost town we’ve ever been to, Sims is home to a still-active church, an abandoned home, and a cemetery on top of the hill. There are several other abandoned structures nearby, and a few inhabited farms just down the road. This photo was featured on the dustjacket of our second book.
Straubville, North Dakota
Straubville is a crumbling ruin of a ghost town, with just a handful of structures still standing and several that have collapsed.
Hesper, North Dakota
As it frequently happens, Hesper, North Dakota became a ghost town when the last resident passed away just a few years ago.
Deisem, North Dakota
This former Seventh Day Adventist Church is all that remains of Deisem, North Dakota, a rural settlement where the ruins of a general store and post office still rest in tall grass.
Nanson, North Dakota
Nanson, North Dakota might be the most remote ghost town we’ve ever visited. There are no telephone poles or power lines in the area, no residents, and four abandoned homes plus some miscellaneous outbuildings onsite.
Eastedge, North Dakota
Only the ruins of a railroad loading dock and two abandoned homes remain on the site of Eastedge. This town comes with some spooky lore provided by visitors to the site, including a claim that the last resident committed suicide, and that a gentleman was electrocuted by power lines while moving the white house which is now going through a slow motion collapse.
Stady, North Dakota
Mariah Masilko took these photographs of Stady, North Dakota, a town which we’re told has since been razed. Stady is no more.
Omemee, North Dakota
Omemee, North Dakota once had 650 residents, but has now virtually disappeared and will soon pass into history as only a memory. Mark Johnson contributed the photo above of a place referred to as the “Superintendent’s house” and when we visited in 2017, we found it was only a pile of bricks.
Thelen, North Dakota
Thelen is in Golden Valley County, southeast of Beach. It had a post office for one year, and boomed to a population of 20. Dave Thorson sent in these photos of Thelen which is today, a ghost town.
Charbonneau, North Dakota
Charbonneau, North Dakota is a true ghost town in western North Dakota, about fifteen minutes west of Watford City. We visited in 2017, and these photos were taken by John Piepkorn in 2010.
Aylmer, North Dakota
Although there is an inhabited farm about a quarter mile down the road, there are only these few structures remaining from the town that was once Aylmer, North Dakota.
If you enjoy posts like this, please check out our hardcover coffee table books in our online store, or pick them up in a store near you.
Do you know of a true, North Dakota ghost town we haven’t photographed yet? Please leave a comment.
Original Content © 2017 Sonic Tremor Media
Ghosts of North Dakota 
I can’t really explain the feeling I get when I see these abandoned houses and ghost towns. I enjoy looking and imagining what the town used to be like when it had people and businesses. I also have an overwhelming feeling that can best be described as grief. I think because my parents and grandparents have all passed away. Seeing these buildings reminds me of how temporary life is. These houses and towns used to have life and activities and memory making times, but as with my own family, those who made the memories are near to be forgotten. I am almost sixty so once I am gone, then the memories of my parents and grandparents will die with me. I was born in the Mohall hospital sixty years ago. My parents didn’t make it to the hospital they had already paid for because the car broke down. My dad had to find help at a nearby farm in order to get my mom to a hospital in time. My parents were living in Glenburn at the time. I feel strongly about the connection I have to my North Dakota roots even though my dad moved our family to California back in 1956. We visited a lot, but not in the cold winters. Ha! Thank you for your awesome photographs.
LikeLike
Very well said………….and I think the feelings of many of us………..
LikeLike
wow, very well written, I feel the same way…….
LikeLike
Enough said, fantastic written!
I feel the same way
LikeLike
Cashel, North Dakota (http://www.walshhistory.org/walsh-county-cities-and-towns/cashel/). I only know about this previous town because my grandpa’s draft card from 1917 lists Cashel has his place of residence. My niece and I drove by there last September. It’s literally just a gravel road that intersects the railroad, surrounded by farmland and a farmhouse or two within view.
LikeLike
I remember Cashel well, there used to be a grain elevator there. And my parent now deceased talked fondly of Cashell.
LikeLike
I grew up on a farm about 5 or 6 miles NE of Cashel. I remember the Grain Elevator, and my relatives talking about the train depot. postal records show that there was a post office there in the 30s and 40s. Now I believe that there is only one house in the entire town. There are several farm houses within a mile, though.
LikeLike
Zenith, ND
LikeLike
do you need permission to get on these properties? I would love to visit these sometime and where can you get infor on all these?
LikeLike
Bluegrass, ND
LikeLike
Bluegrass was on our list last summer, but we didn’t make it. Soon!
LikeLike
I was out there around 5:00am and we got some stuff on video I can promise that house is very haunted
LikeLike
Milroy near Bantry nothing left of it. Eckman near Newburg I believe not sure if anything remains there either. Russell may qualify not sure how many people are left there.
LikeLike
I am from the Eckman area it was a great little town in it’s hay day,at that time i was a Bristol as were most of the people in town,my maternal grandmother lived between Newburg and Russell her name was Freda Decker.Oh for the good old days of easy living.
LikeLike
There r 2 houses standing in Eckman, ND. it is south of Maxbass. Newburg is east of Maxbass.
LikeLike
Maxbass is where my mom grew up. That little town is pretty small now too, but not a ghost town.
LikeLike
I grew up on a farm near Deering which is 20 miles northeast of Minon. It was on its way to becoming a ghost town until people from Minot found out what a pleasant town it is and now it has maybe 400 residents.
LikeLike
DeSart, located South of the Rainy Buttes near New England. Our house had an addition built on using lumber from the DeSart post office. No buildings remain, a cemetery and farm are not far away from the town site.
LikeLike
I grew up on a farm at the base of West Rainy Butte between New England and Amidon; I don’t remember DeSart though.
LikeLike
DeSart was listed as the birth place of my dad. We used to visit DeSart when I was a child.
LikeLike
I just recently read about Temvik, ND and noticed it’s not on your list!
LikeLike
Temvik still has a few residents.
LikeLike
wabek,n.dakota put it in was very lively in its day
LikeLike
It is high on our list, Scott. Thanks!
LikeLike
Bonetraill ND is located aboout 30 miles NW of Williston, ND. There is a East Bonetraill and a West Bonetrail, and both are gone. East used to have a school and the Post Office, both gone. West had the Hinsverk store and also a school. There are two churchs, St Petri and Scandia Valley, St Petri has sthe steeple saved along with the cemetary, Scandia Valley was recently razed and has a sign with a picture of the church. MY grandparents are buried in Scandia Valley cemetary, along with an Aunt and Uncle. There is a farm located at each place.
LikeLike
there are many of my family buried in the cemetery last name is Rabbe
LikeLike
Interesting to see a reference to Bonetrail. I had a grand-uncle, Edward Maurice Halvorson, who lived in the area for over 20 years, from ca World War I to after 1940. He married Ruth L. Jacobson in 1919 and the apparently divorced some time after 1940. I happen to have a copy of a wedding photo of them via my late mother.
LikeLike
I am sure my dad knew your great uncle Ed Halvorson when my dad was a boy. My grandparent’s, Dan and Marjorie Brothers, farmstead still stands today in Bonetrail.
LikeLike
Where was your grandparents farmstead located in Bonetraill? Our farmstead was located 1/2 mile north of East Bonetraill, where Bob Hought’s farmstead is now. I attended the school there for 2 weeks before we moved into Williston in 1947, and we still went there during the summer months for several years. All of my sisters went to school there until they entered High School. Bakkens lived just to the north of where Bob Hought’s house is now. We went to St Petri church in West Bonetraill, where the Hinsverks had a store there. We had other relatives in that same area, the Halvorsons, Strands, Grodts, and my uncle Anton Leom. Bob Hought just recently passed away at 93.
LikeLike
Harold Bakken is still alive and kickin! He’s my grandpa. He and his wife Kay (Handrum) go back and forth between Seattle and Mesa, AZ. I was lucky enough to get to bring them back to Bonetraill a few years back and see where he grew up, really cool experience! He even remembered where there was a tether ball (I think that was it) pole, and we were able to find it still standing!
LikeLike
My grandparents Arnold and Selma Stover farmed in Bonetrai, we would soend many summers there, remember going to dance at the hall.
My great grandparents Sanda’s Farmed I get bontrail area also.
Old stover farm house was falling apart years ago,unsure if its gone now. Sure miss that place.
LikeLike
I see the Bakken name. Please explain if they are of the bakken basin fame. I grew up in rocklake, northeast north dakota
LikeLike
Just checking site again.my dad,al hansen was born in bonetrail in 1923.my grandparents were herluf and gladys hansen.4boys total.willard,gordon,alan,wayne.they moved for a few years to dagmar,mt,then back to bonetrail.eventually they moved to st paul alberta,can,then finally Everett,wa.if your headed north to tremors,their farm was about a mile east.want to come see it again.heard it was ruined by the oil fields?
LikeLike
Krem, ND. north of Hazen. My husbands grandparents lived around there.
LikeLike
Zion, ND it is west of Cando, Has a cemetery.
LikeLike
Antelope ND is a ghost town now….
LikeLike
Can you tell us any more, Susan? How recently was it vacated? Did you know someone there?
LikeLike
There are two towns named Antelope – one became Taylor and the other is a town site just northwest of Exit 90 east of Richardton. There was a small town there before the Great Depression.
LikeLike
Bowesmont, ND doesn’t exist anymore as of about 10-15 years ago. Located northeast part of the state near the Canadian border, just off I-29. I know this because I reported on it for TV when the remaining homes were moved, burned, or buried. Only thing remaining there is a church which holds a service for former residents once a year. The year after all the buildings were taken away, residents placed “grave markers” where things once stood (City Hall, Post Office, etc.) Two farms are located just outside the town. It was also known as the transmitter tower site for KXJB-TV until, obviously, the town became non-existent. You can still see the stone church standing off in the distance when heading up interstate.
LikeLike
right here: http://www.ghostsofnorthdakota.com/2009/12/01/bowesmont-church/
LikeLike
I am related to Bowesmont ND. The two farms are owned by the Christensen family and my Great Grandparents the Nicholson/Christensen settled the area at each end of town. My grandfather Ed Walberg assisted in the towns move away from the steamboat landing due to the towns flooding. Ironically, I am also related to the Burke family that resided in town due to Edwin McMahon’s daughter whom married a Burke. By the way, what was the name of the pub and why wasn’t it saved? Any history would br appreciated. Thank you for your post.
LikeLike
The name of the pub was The Blue Goose. I grew up 3 mi south of Bowesmont and probably went to school with your mother, aunt and uncle
LikeLike
My Mothers family and quite afew others were raise in and around Lincoln Valley. The last time I was there there were a couple of stores 3 or 4 homes I full church and a half of another. It was hidden and if you didn’t know where it was you would never find it. I would like to see some pictures of it if you have any. I really enjoy the work you do in documenting these places. Yes someone lived there and a lot of times it was only afew families and most of them were related or came from the same areas usually Germany Russia and some of the Scandanavian countries
LikeLike
Butte, ND
Butte is near Kief, Noth Dakota.
LikeLike
How about Garfield north Dakota near park river
LikeLike
Years ago mom & I went up to the old homestead area. Garrison dam covers it, but at times possible to see foundation. Momma remished & I listened. The farm house, barn & school house were moved above waters. My cousin & wife lived in the memory farm house. Oh the joy to beable to go into mommas childhood home & school. My mind raced, placing all the childhood memories in place. Location north of Beulah. Somewhere was the old country Church. My momma was a Christmann.
LikeLike
Have you photographed Emerson yet?
LikeLike
How about Hong, ND? It’s about 4-5 miles NE of Knox. There used to be a depot, Elevator and elevator man’s house there. All that remains is the abandoned house. The last people living there was the Jergen Sorum family. The homes and farmland south of it are still farmed by the Borgen family and Marchus family
LikeLike
Sure would like to know a bit more about Hong. All I know is that the two elevators there burned in 1967.
LikeLike
I was surprised to see Bonetraill listed in this section. Yes, that is still home to me. I knew all the Leoms. Agnes was my 8th grade teacher. Effie Halvorson was my first serven years grade school teacher. I was confirmed with Sylvia Leom, I believe. My dad owned the Hinsverk Store at West Bonetrall. I knew every person in that whole area mainly by meeting them at our store. Duane Bakken and I were confirmed together also. Many of them are gone, of course. I live in Wahpeton, ND.
I played baseball with Bob Hought. I think I could write a book on that whole area.
Dale Hinsverk 701-640-0575
LikeLike
I’ve a good friend who was from that area (he went to school in Devils Lake, worked in Langdon and Mohall but has long since settled down in Rapid City, SD). His last name is Meek.
LikeLike
The town bell of Omemee hung in our back yard from 1960 to 1992, the pride of my mother’s bell collection. It’s now displayed in front of the Bottineau County Museum.
LikeLike
I grew up in a small town in SD that is quickly becoming a ghost town. It is sad to see houses and businesses that were once occupied now standing empty.
LikeLike
My mother was born in Lincoln Valley Township. I have several relatives buried there, including my great grandparents! Last time I was there I believe it was the the old pool hall that was still standing with trees growing through it.
LikeLike
Banks in mckenzie county
LikeLike
Petrol, ND, was just across the SD line. During the 1970’s it still had a grain elevator, but is now only a prairie-flat memory….
LikeLike
Nicely said! I remember Werner ND where my Dad grew up and his parents old house until it was torn down. As well as my moms parents house west of Killdeer ND. It is sad to think of the memories and people that once lived in these homes and towns.
LikeLike
Great website with beautiful photos – I grew up in rural ND on a farm near Inkster (35 miles NW of Grand Forks) and remember several of these towns, which we visited during duck and goose hunting trips out west.
Have you guys done anything with Churches Ferry? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchs_Ferry,_North_Dakota
LikeLike
I’d seen Battleview mentioned which I think would be a good one, and I would definitely second a visit to Churchs Ferry – while there is still anything to photograph.
Others I can think of would be Kuroki (between Antler and Westhope), Loraine, Norma, Tolley (all near Mohall).
LikeLike
My father, Jim hill, grew up on a farm between Antler and Kuroki, ND. He went to school In Kuroki and later Antler. In 2008, on a trip to ND, my aunt, Gladys Hill DeMars, took I and some of my kids to visit Kuroki. We went thru an abandoned house owned by the Ballantyne family. There was still stuff there: a bed frame, shoes, an old TV, and so on. There might have been a silo nearby, but not much else. I did take pictures of the inside and outside of the house. Sad to see evidence of people having once lived and everyone gone. My mom, Johanna Fox Hill, grew up in Antler. I lived in Westhope when I was young. My family eventually moved from ND to Alaska. Every few years we would go visit both sets of grandparents in Antler and Westhope. I loved my time visiting family there. I was born in Minot, so I love my memories of time spent with family there. It would be interesting to hear of the history behind Kuroki. I was told that Kuroki was named after a Japanese admiral after WWI but don’t know much more. I have spent over 40 years in Alaska, but still think of North Dakota.
LikeLike
What about Fallon ND. Its about 10-15 miles NE of Flasher. There is 4 foundations, a old house with outbuildings, a cemetery, and a town hall/storage type of building. 46.514029, -101.090624
LikeLike
How about Buffalo Springs ???
LikeLike
Check out Vang north of Olga near frost fire -church still there 4 or 5 generations of Soli’s I was baptized and married there
LikeLike
My great-grandmother was born in the town of Krem, ND and was the daughter of a Bavarian immigrant. From the research I’ve gotten so far, the last resident of the town died in 1988, it was home to many Russian-German immigrants, and the name is brevity for “Crimea”.
My mother told me that my great-grandmother told her there was a dancehall where most of the residents would gather for a dance every Saturday or Friday. I’m not sure if it’s still there, but she also spoke of a roller mill being out there–and I’ve heard that’s still standing.
This is an excellent list.
LikeLike
Troy, I’ve never seen anything about Petrol, ND, which ceases to be on the early 70’s when the last two wooden elevators burned to the ground….
LikeLike
Yes, unfortunately we don’t do much on places where there’s. Itching left to photograph, but if we ever run across old photos of Petrol, we’ll surely do a post. Thanks!
LikeLike
I didn’t notice Sanger on your list. That was one of your first towns, wasn’t it?
LikeLike
Walden, ND Northwest Cass County, West of Page, ND Still on some maps but nothing there now.
LikeLike
I am looking for any information on Verendry No. Dak. My grandparents immigrated from Germany and lived there for 5 years. My mother was born there.Thank you for any information you can give me.
LikeLike
My family also lived in Verendrye. Nothing there now except for the few remaining walls of the school. I was just there about a year ago.
LikeLike
Please check out the town of Still, N.D. I’m almost positive nobody lives there, and hasn’t in a long time. It is located in Burleigh County between Wilton and Regan. My dad said Still was a fairly “hopping” town when the strip mine just east of Wilton was producing coal.
LikeLike
Hi Rob. I never heard of Still before but a search on Google Earth shows a location about 4 miles west of Regan at the current site of a farmstead. You can still make out the old railroad track bed that passes through that site. The railroad probably is what made a town feasible there in bygone times. Kind of like Arena where I grew up, located along the same railroad line about 20 miles east of there as you well know.
LikeLike
Sherbrooke ND was the county seat for Steele County. The railroad did not enter Sherbrooke and the county seat moved to Finley.
LikeLike
You missed Emmet and Dover
LikeLike