Ghosttowns.com
[31121.1]Dear readers, I have stumbled upon the most fascinating website of recent memory. That website is ghosttowns.com. Under “Our Philosophy” reads this charming and straightforward passage:
Information and Preservation! That is what we are all about. Ghosttowns.com was founded in March 1998 with the intent of making the largest and most up to date online ghost towns and old west historical reference site for all to see. At ghosttowns.com, we feel it is important to preserve our heritage and promote the learning and understanding of our culture. This website is geared toward just that. We hope that through learning and understanding of our culture will come an appreciation, and that through this appreciation will come more efforts to preserve what little there is left. Whether a true ghost that only a hard core off road enthusiast can get to,
or a semi-ghost anyone can bring that family to, they all deserve reference on this site. We fully support any preservation acts for any and all ghost towns and we hope as we get larger to spearhead a few ourselves.
The website was run by Todd Underwood, Boris Vasilev, and Rich Rayls. A photo of the three ghost townies sitting in what looks like a rural bar and wearing, long-sleeved button downs tucked into jeans, and corresponding cowboy hats, shows the staff members doing what they presumably do best--enjoying the “old west.” Active from 1998-2018, the site boasts interactive state maps of known ghost town locations, reader forums, chatrooms, scavenger hunt, classifieds, a virtual museum, “GhostTownTV,” and automatically downloaded .mip files of twangy Western music like “worried” and “cowboy,” among dozens of other features. However, the maps and reviews of ghost towns are what truly elevate the site into the upper echelon. Organized by state, then county, the interactive maps break down the experience of visiting the ghost downs sites through reader-submitted reports. The notes always include basic information regarding the name, county, road quality, grid location, climate, best time to visit, and remains of the site. From there, the writer is encouraged to write a few paragraphs about the history of the site and their experiences visiting. Here are some of my favorite selections:
Richard Weaver on Rice, CA: “I remember reading somewhere that Rice reportedly had 6000 people in this lonely & desolate place then. The scars made on the dessert floor by man & his machines take a LONG time to heal, but it does help to give today's generation an idea of how populated Rise once was.”
Terry Shauer on Aurora, NV: “I still remember the town of new looking brick buildings, so unusual compared to the weathered wood of other towns, still in perfect condition. There were dishes and flatware on the tables in some of the homes, glass windows were intact, and carriages and wagons were still parked in town. It looked as though the last person out of town had left just minutes before. This was the most pristine little town I have ever seen, and my dad, a ghost town buff and old car collector, told us it wouldn't last for long. I suppose it is naive of me to believe the town would look like it did then, but SHAME on the State of Nevada for letting this gem fall into the condition it is today. Unfortunately, the photos we took that day were lost in a house fire in the 70's. There is nothing there to bring my kids to. SAD! Sincerely, Terry Schauer.”
When I read an entry, I feel as if I’m talking to my dad and one of his peculiar friends. Self proclaimed “history buffs” tend to either be really nice folks with interesting bits of information (knowitall dudes), or awful and obnoxious people with the sole goal of proving they know more than you (anyone.) Upon wondering if the site’s “webmasters” fell into either category, I emailed news@ghosttowns.com. I have yet to receive a response. I wonder what Todd, Boris, Rich, and the other ghost townies are doing now. I bet a fair number of them have died as its usually old white men who are into this sort of history. Hmm. Regardless, I find Ghosttowns’ current status deeply poetic. I hope that the once thriving community of ghosttowns.com enjoys knowing that it has become what they prized most: a ghost town.
In your travels, online and off, I urge you all to condemn the romanticization of settler colonialism. Ghost towns are deeply interesting but also a nasty scab of American entitlement built on White supremacy and the myth of capitalist riches for the masses. On a lighter note, I hope you are inspired by the positive qualities of ghosttowns.com and cultivate space for yourself that delves into your interests and sustains your soul. Wishing you all health, hapiness, and the death of the United States.
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