Washington State Ghost Towns

Ghost Towns

Molson
In 1896, gold ore was discovered in the Okanogan Highlands near the border of Northeastern Washington and Canada. Dozens of mining boom towns were established, but two of the most interesting towns were Molson and Bodie. They owe their existence to beer and chewing gum, respectively. Prior to the Gold Rush, the population of the area was twelve. After the miners arrived, it was home to over 300. In 1898, promoter George Meacham and investor John W. Molson, of the famous Molson brewing family of Canada, arrived and founded the town of Molson. All the gold mines except one turned out to be duds, so most of the miners left and the town’s population dwindled back down to just few people by 1901. However, in 1905, the Great Northern Railroad laid tracks through Molson and on to Oroville. This brought in settlers and railroad workers, so the town grew again. It was abandoned in the 1930's when the gold ore ran out.

Unless otherwise noted, all present-day photographs of ghost towns are by the author.

Public domain photo

Public domain photo

inside an abandoned building in the Molson ghost town

Bodie
Not to be confused with the ghost town of Bodie, California, in 1896, Henry Dewitz and other gold prospectors established the town of Bodie about 20 miles east of Molson. It boasted a general store, restaurant, livery, blacksmith shop, and many log cabins. Like Molson, the town was moved from its original location to its present location. The Dewitz brothers sold their mine to the Wrigley brothers (of chewing gun fame), who invested in the construction of a ten-stamp reduction mill to crush the large ore containing rocks into smaller pieces. The Wrigley brothers operated it from 1902 to 1917, when it shut down due to falling gold prices. However, in 1934, gold prices rose high enough to make mining profitable, so the mine resumed operations for another ten years, until it shut down for good in 1944. From 1904 to 1944, the mine produced around $1.3 million worth of gold. As many as forty miners worked there, and the mill could process 70 tons of ore per day. The mill and many of the mining structures burned down in 1962. The two-story building shown below is believed to have been the town's hotel and saloon.

Photo credit: Jay Aicholtz

Photo credit: Kelly Sypher

Bluestem
The ghost town of Bluestem is located in Lincoln Country just off of highway 28, a few miles south of Davenport. A map of railroads in Washington State dated in 1911 shows Bluestem as a stop on the Great Northern Railroad. That means these buildings are over 100 years old.

The town was named after Bluestem wheat which reportedly grew in the region. It had its own post office from 1906 to 1951. About a half dozen buildings remain. Even the more modern-looking grain elevators have been abandoned. In the 1970s the Bluestem area was good for pheasant hunting, but not much else. Today, BNSF freight trains can still be heard breaking the dead silence as they roar through the sagebrush.

Public domain map, annotated

Public domain map, annotated

Alstown
Located in Douglas County, Alstown was on a branch of the line of the Great Northern Railroad that ran from Waterville south to the Columbia River. It was named for Albert "Al" Rogers, who was a well known citizen of the nearby town of Waterville.

It is located in a narrow gully with 100 foot high basalt cliffs on both sides. At one time it had a school and post office, which no longer exist.

The railroad tracks from Waterville to Moses Coulee have been torn up but the gravel roadbed is still visible in some places.

​Ghost Towns

Ghost Towns