Many once bustling cities have remained deserted and deteriorated for decades. creating thousands of ghost towns across the United States Some were mining or rail towns that ceased to serve a purpose when mines were no longer profitable and other forms of transportation became available. Others were devastated by illness or the elements, prompting the remaining residents to pack their bags and move elsewhere. But whatever the cause, you can actually find some of these ghost towns for sale.
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning an entire village, renovating a thriving old West West neighborhood to its former glory, or maybe turning an abandoned community into the coolest Airbnb ever, you might want to check out some current ghost towns for sale. You might be surprised at the many options available.
7 ghost towns for sale now
Nipton, California
You might not call it a real ghost town because it has people. Yet the town of Nipton in San Bernardino County, California, an hour from Las Vegas, has only about 25 residents and is currently on sale. Priced at $ 2,750,000, the 80 acres include the Nipton Trading Post, restaurant and bar, five-bedroom hotel, general store, trailer park, school and more.
Originally called Nippeno Camp, the railway town was founded in 1905 and was renamed five years later. In 2017, cannabis technology company American Green, Inc. bought Nipton for $ 5 million to develop a destination for cannabis consumption, and then sold it to its new subsidiary, CannAwake. After the purchase, he said he intended to invest heavily in Nipton.
In 2019, however, the company stopped making payments to the city. LAist reports that foreclosure proceedings have started and now this ghost town is up for sale again.
Cleator, Arizona
Founded in 1864 as Turkey Creek, this mining town was purchased by a man named James Cleator in 1925. As mining declined and the railroad left, the town dropped to around 60 inhabitants. Cleator’s son kept the small bar, ironically named The Cleator Bar & Yacht Club, until his death in 1996. Since then, it has mainly been a tourist attraction with less than 10 permanent residents.
The 39.9 acre land that makes up the town is currently for sale for $ 999,999, which includes the bar, general store and a few other original structures, as well as naming and mining rights.
La Villa de la Mina, Terlingua, Texas
Near Big Bend in West Texas, this ghost town was built in the early 1900s during a silver mining boom. It was built entirely with local rock and hand-made bricks from rock crushed on site, creating fortress walls built to withstand a battalion.
The $ 1.75 million property includes 20 standing buildings, a swimming pool, a water tank and the area’s largest mine with a railroad track leading to it. Buildings in the village include stables, a prison, an eight-room hotel and more on 62 acres.
Bridgeville, California
Originally called Robinsons Ferry, the 83-acre town located 30 miles inland from Highway 101 on the California coast of Redwood was renamed Bridgeville in 1875 when a bridge was built over the Van Duzen River. Over the years, it has had several owners.
Bridgeville made the news in 2002 for being the first town to sell on eBay. In 2006, the town was relisted after its owner was unable to make the necessary improvements and purchased by Daniel La Paille, who did a good job before committing suicide later in the year. His family couldn’t keep up the momentum and put the town up for sale in 2007; as of 2016, they still owned the city and were still trying to unload it.
It is currently available for $ 1.5 million. The asking price includes the frontage on the river, the swimming pools, the houses, the chalets, a post office and a cemetery.
Henry River Mill Village, North Carolina
Just west of Catawba County, North Carolina, Henry River Mill Village was founded in 1905 as a thriving textile factory town. Over time, the population has shrunk. The factory closed a few years before its main building burned down in 1977, and the last residents were said to have left in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
But if the village looks familiar, that’s for good reason as it was home to the main characters – including Gale, Prim, Peeta, and Katniss – from the original “The Hunger Games” movie, as mentioned in this Twitter post.
I took a short day trip yesterday to Henry River Mill Village, an abandoned mill / business town in Hickory, NC that served as District 12 in the first #HungerGames movie. pic.twitter.com/drgFAkd1tC
– Jeff Taylor (@jefftaylorhuman) August 20, 2020
For $ 1.4 million (the same price it sold in 2012), the buyer will win 21 unrestored mills and a store building on nearly 72 acres.
Gabriella, New Mexico
Okay, so maybe this one is cheating, but it really looks like a ghost town. Just outside Datil, New Mexico, Gabriella (about 2.5 hours southwest of Albuquerque) is a charming replica of an 1880s Old West settlement set on 58 acres.
The current owner built the city from scratch in hopes of creating a film studio, and it has served as the backdrop for many productions, events and shoots. But the 24 buildings included in the price are more than just accessories. the The barber shop has a barber’s chair and antique furniture, the hotel is fully functional, and even the stagecoach is included for the asking price of $ 1.6 million.
Millican, Oregon
In the 1880s, a man named George Millican established a ranch 25 miles east of Bend, Oregon. In 1913, Millican was officially a town, although the population never exceeded 100. When the post office closed in 1942, the postmaster was the only remaining citizen.
After World War II, a businessman named Bill Mellin bought the remaining businesses and ran them for 40 years. In 1988, Mellin, whose wife and children were no longer living, was murdered by his only employee. Since then, the city has passed through several owners.
In 2017, the city and the more than 74 surrounding acres were listed at $ 1,499,000. Although it is currently listed as ‘off market’, it seems that no buyers have ever been found. So if you are interested you may be able to make a deal on this ghost town for sale.
Buy a ghost town
It’s important to note that buying a ghost town isn’t as easy as getting a mortgage and making payments. Utah real estate broker Mike Metzger told Debt.com it is extremely difficult to find financing for this type of real estate.
“Most of the time, this will be a sort of private bank, with loans based on the individual and the relationship they have with the bank, versus your traditional ‘square funding’,†said Metzger. “Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac and FHA do not touch these properties.”
But if you have the money (or maybe a wealthy uncle you could contact, or a group of investors to rely on), you can buy your own ghost town. Otherwise, it’s always fun to dream.
This story originally appeared on Don’t Waste Your Money. Don’t waste your money on product reviews and other great money-saving and money-making ideas.
