Ghost Towns of the Pacific Northwest

Ghost Towns of the Pacific Northwest provides a guide to abandoned settlements across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Author Philip Varney documents over 60 ghost towns through photographs and historical accounts. The book covers mining camps, lumber outposts, and railroad stops that thrived during the region's frontier period but were later deserted. Each town entry includes directions for modern-day visitors, along with details about remaining structures and sites of interest. Varney integrates historical records, newspapers, and firsthand narratives to reconstruct the rise and decline of these communities. His research traces the economic forces and societal changes that transformed bustling towns into architectural remnants. The work stands as both a practical field guide and a chronicle of Western settlement patterns, capturing a pivotal era when resource extraction and transportation shaped the Pacific Northwest landscape.

Readers value this book as a practical field guide to ghost town locations in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. They highlight the detailed driving directions, GPS coordinates, and maps that aid in finding remote sites. Likes: - Clear historical context for each town - Quality photographs showing current conditions - Practical tips about road conditions and accessibility - Organization by geographic region Dislikes: - Some locations are on private property with no public access - Several readers note outdated directions as roads have changed - Limited coverage of smaller/lesser-known ghost towns - A few reviewers wanted more historical photographs Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (29 ratings) One reviewer noted: "The maps alone are worth the price - saved us hours of searching." Another commented: "Would have liked more towns in northern BC, focuses mainly on southern areas." The book functions better as a planning guide than a coffee table book, according to multiple reviews.

Lost Cities of North America by F. Roy Willis A field guide to abandoned settlements throughout North America includes maps, historical records, and visiting information for each location.

Northwest Ghost Towns by Lambert Florin This documentation contains photographs and histories of mining camps, abandoned settlements, and forgotten towns across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Ghost Towns of California by Todd Underwood The book presents detailed histories, directions, and site descriptions for over 100 ghost towns throughout California's desert and mountain regions.

Ghost Towns of the Mountain West by Philip Varney This companion guide covers abandoned mining towns and settlements across Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Nevada with maps and historical context.

Ghost Towns Alive by Linda G. Harris The text chronicles visits to former mining towns, railroad stops, and pioneer settlements in New Mexico that maintain traces of their original structures and history.

🏘️ Many ghost towns in the Pacific Northwest were established during the region's mining boom in the 1860s, only to be abandoned when the gold and silver deposits were depleted. 🗺️ Author Philip Varney has written multiple ghost town guidebooks covering different regions of the American West, including Arizona, California, and Colorado. 🌲 The book covers ghost towns across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, including some that are only accessible by hiking through dense forest terrain. ⛏️ The Okanogan Highland mining district, featured in the book, produced over $1 million worth of gold (in 1890s dollars) before its towns were abandoned. 🚂 Several ghost towns covered in the guide were former railroad hubs that became defunct when newer transportation routes bypassed them or when logging operations ceased.