In addition to its natural beauty and rich historical legacy, South Dakota is home to numerous ghost towns that preserve historical narratives.
These deserted locations are frequently concealed by the expansive terrain, waiting to be discovered by inquisitive travelers. These five South Dakota ghost towns may interest you to visit; learn more about them and their mysteries.
Owanka
Two hundred people called Owanka home during its peak, when it was first inhabited in the late 1880s. In addition, a five-story grain elevator, two churches, a newspaper, and two cafes were located there.
But by the 1920s, the town was on the brink of collapse due to a bank heist and water shortages. Along with the town’s bank going bankrupt (perhaps due to an inside job), a local school controversy also drove out a large number of the town’s population.
This sleepy small village is currently one of the few ghost towns in South Dakota that still has a large number of intact buildings. Driving south from Route 95 will get you to the town, which is easily accessible for all types of cars.
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Spokane
In the Black Hills, this little village was formerly a mining camp. These days, it’s a ghost town that offers history buffs a real trip.
There are still some remnants of a schoolhouse and watchman’s residence, even though the remainder of the buildings have long since disappeared. Along with rotting autos, there’s a root cellar with wooden shelves that are empty.
Additionally, there is a geocache close by. The town’s ruins are located not far from Forest Service Road 330, which is accessible from North Playhouse Road.
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Capa
The settlement has an artesian well that supplied hot springs during its prime. There isn’t a lot of information on Capa available online, and the town’s population is thought to have declined significantly in the 1930s.
The only structure still surviving in the town is a dilapidated church. Capa is one of the greatest authentic ghost towns in Illinois, even with its lack of buildings. If you visit, make sure to take pictures of the church and the neighboring train tracks.
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Ardmore
European-American settlers formed this unincorporated settlement in 1889. This distant town was not entirely abandoned until the 1980s, despite the fact that it is now mostly uninhabited. This is a result of the town having not yet been severely damaged by severe weather or natural disasters.
The region is now sparsely populated and offers a wealth of abandoned houses and buildings for both urban explorers and history buffs.
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Igloo
The Dust Bowl era was when the Igloo was constructed. Its construction contributed to the revitalization of a downtrodden neighborhood, and at one point it was the longest-running hiring program operated by the federal government for Native Americans.
The town of Edgemont, which had recently constructed a new hospital, was the location of the Igloo. The project’s staff grew to incorporate more Native Americans as it developed. The BHOD eventually employed more over 160 Native Americans, making it the biggest ghost town in South Dakota.
Previously, the Igloo housed over 800 bunkers for weapons and ammunition. While some of these have crumbled, others are still strong and shaped like igloos. Black Hills Ordnance, a business that sells the bunkers to end-of-the-world enthusiasts, is the current owner of the property.
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To Conclude
Ghost towns in South Dakota provide insight into the state’s rich and varied past. Every place has its own narrative to tell, from the colorful, New Deal-era Igloo to the busy mining town of Spokane.
South Dakota’s ghost towns are just waiting to be explored, whether you’re an urban explorer, history enthusiast, or just interested in the state’s abandoned locations. So fasten your boots, seize your camera, and go out on a historical expedition.
