Montana’s mining legacy lives on in the scattered remnants of boom-and-bust towns across Big Sky Country. While many ghost towns have surrendered completely to time and weather, others are experiencing remarkable second acts. From state-funded restoration projects to grassroots preservation efforts, these once-forgotten places are finding new life as tourist destinations, historical landmarks, and even functioning communities.
The revival isn’t just about preserving old buildings—it’s about honoring the gritty determination of miners, families, and entrepreneurs who carved civilization from the wilderness. Here is a list of 20 Montana ghost towns that are proving the American frontier spirit is far from dead.
Bannack
Montana’s first territorial capital and the site of the state’s first major gold discovery in 1862 has been lovingly preserved as Bannack State Park. Over 50 buildings line Main Street, maintained by both the state and the dedicated Bannack Association.
The park offers ghost walks with live actors, winter ice skating on a frozen dredge pond, and guided tours from a fully staffed visitor center.
Garnet
Nearly 16,000 visitors per year make the trek to what’s considered Montana’s best-preserved ghost town. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Garnet Preservation Association, more than 30 buildings have been preserved.
The town offers volunteer opportunities for those wanting to help with tours and preservation efforts, as well as winter cabin rentals for adventurous visitors.
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Virginia City
More than 70,000 visitors come annually to this former territorial capital, generating millions in local revenue. The Montana Heritage Commission operates everything from gold panning to the longest continuously operating live summer theater company in the western United States.
Recent preservation projects include restored historic vacation rentals and a Methodist church receiving federal grants for roof and window replacement.
Nevada City
The state of Montana purchased all of Nevada City to ensure preservation can continue. The entire town now operates as a historical museum with over 100 original buildings. Visitors can shop, dine, and sleep without leaving the atmosphere of the 1890s.
The narrow-gauge railroad connection to Virginia City adds to the authentic frontier experience.
Elkhorn
Montana’s smallest state park preserves two iconic buildings: Fraternity Hall and Gillian Hall. The Elkhorn Landowner Protective Association is installing informational signs along Main Street and working to preserve stories of the old mining town.
A few buildings have been refurbished and house the town’s fewer than a dozen permanent residents.
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Marysville
A well-planned restoration of the general store was completed between 2004 and 2018. The Hollow family led restoration efforts at the town’s Methodist Episcopal church, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Marysville House restaurant serves visitors in a former frontier establishment, while the nearby Great Divide Ski Area brings year-round tourism.
Granite
Granite Ghost Town State Park preserves the mine superintendent’s house and ruins of the miners’ Union Hall, both included in the Historic American Buildings Survey. Some buildings, like the mine superintendent’s house, appear to be in the process of restoration.
The challenging mountain road keeps visitor numbers manageable while preserving the authentic ghost town experience.
Philipsburg
This former mining camp has been transformed into a National Historic Business District. Restoration and revitalization have left landmarks like the Opera House Theatre looking much the same as they did over a hundred years ago.
The town now serves as a tourism hub with sapphire mining, museums, and the famous Sweet Palace candy emporium.
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Pony
The 192-acre Pony Historic District includes 95 contributing buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pony Homecoming Club, a non-profit organization, voluntarily manages the town’s public spaces.
With a current population of 127, Victorian-style homes house residents while the historic Pony Bar keeps the frontier spirit alive.
Rimini
Many old buildings have been restored, while others retain their decades-old appearance. Abandoned miner cabins are currently being restored to modern living spaces.
The town maintains a balance between preservation and practical use, creating a living museum where people reside among the historical structures.
Comet
Ranked as the third-best ghost town in Montana, Comet features a unique tin-sided mill and over two dozen standing buildings. The Department of Environmental Quality earned a national award in 2006 for cleanup efforts at the site.
The two-story boarding house remains the town’s most intact structure, carefully maintained despite the harsh mountain environment.
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Castle Town
This former silver mining boomtown has gained notoriety as a popular tourist attraction, even being featured on television shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters. Landowners have been gracious stewards, preserving several buildings from the town’s heyday when the population reached well over a thousand.
The town’s scenic location in a gulch adds to its haunting appeal.
Kendall
Donated to the Boy Scouts in 1967, this central Montana ghost town is now carefully maintained with interpretive signs and kiosks at each ruin. Central Montana’s best-preserved ghost town features good interpretive signs and impressive stone building ruins.
The Montana Council of the Boy Scouts operates the nearby K-M Scout Camp and has invested significant effort in preservation.
Zortman
With a population of 69 as of the 2010 census, Zortman includes amenities like the Zortman Motel and Buckhorn Store. Currently undergoing a reclamation plan after mining operations ended in 1998, the town has switched from a bustling mining community to a quaint village.
Historic log cabins sit alongside modern buildings in an interesting architectural mix.
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Coloma
Known as the ‘Mystery Camp,’ this ghost town sits a few miles north of Garnet and serves as an archaeological site to uncover its mysteries. An emergency shelter and warming center built in the 1940s serves snowmobilers and cross-country skiers using winter trails.
The town’s secrets remain largely intact, preserving an authentic frontier mystery for future generations to discover.
Aldridge
Located near Yellowstone National Park, this former coal-mining town has been left largely as it was when it was rapidly abandoned. The town was home to over 800 people and remains well-preserved enough that visitors can still see many structures.
Its proximity to Yellowstone makes it an accessible ghost town for park visitors seeking additional historical experiences.
Coolidge
Protected as a National Historic Site and managed by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Coolidge represents Montana’s last large-scale silver mining operation. From 1988 to 2004, the Forest Service undertook extensive reclamation actions, demonstrating a commitment to both environmental cleanup and historical preservation.
The one-mile walk to the townsite offers visitors a genuine ghost town experience in a stunning mountain setting.
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Jardine
Located about six miles northeast of Gardiner on Jardine Road, this old camp provides numerous miners’ cabins and mining remains for exploration. The town’s proximity to Yellowstone National Park’s north entrance makes it a popular stop for tourists seeking authentic Western history.
Its well-preserved mining infrastructure tells the story of Montana’s diverse mineral extraction history beyond just gold and silver.
Vananda
In the 1990s, downtown Vananda was registered on the National Register of Historic Places following local preservation efforts that began in 1984. Buildings have been preserved by state historians and are protected to maintain their historical value.
The grand two-story brick schoolhouse remains the most impressive surviving structure from the town’s railroad boom days.
Sixteen
Named in memory of 16 miners tragically trapped in a cave-in, the town maintains two modest log cabins as relics of its mining past. One cabin houses an active beehive that adds a unique ecological element to the preservation story.
Honey jars hanging from a nearby tree create an unexpected connection between past and present.
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Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Future
These 20 Montana ghost towns prove that preservation isn’t just about freezing the past in time—it’s about breathing new life into forgotten stories. The Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society, founded in 1969, continues to educate the public about the benefits of preserving historic buildings, sites, and artifacts that make up Montana’s living history.
From state parks with millions in funding to volunteer-run preservation societies, these communities show that Montana’s frontier spirit lives on in the people determined to keep these stories alive. Whether through tourism, education, or simply providing homes for modern residents, these ghost towns are writing new chapters while honoring their remarkable past.
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