The echoes of past settlements that once flourished but are now silent can be heard whispering through Iowa’s enormous cornfields and undulating hills.
With their dilapidated foundations and aged buildings, these ghost towns serve as eerie reminders of both the passing of time and the transience of human creations.
Stories of hope, adversity, and the unwavering spirit of those who once called these villages home emerge as we lift back the layers of dust and folklore. Come explore the shadows of Iowa’s forgotten, where every abandoned homestead and empty street has a tale to tell and is veiled in the mystery of a past that defies total forgetting.
Rockville
Oliver A. Olmstead founded the community in 1845, making it one of Delaware County’s earliest settlements. The village once included a hotel, a sawmill, a blacksmith shop, and a number of shops.
There was only one person living in Rockville in 1915, compared to the town’s thriving days. After all, the town had experienced a number of significant occurrences, such as the Great Flood of 1851, which swamped the town and claimed many lives.
A major portion of the community, the town was bypassed by the Dubuque and Pacific Railroad in 1857. Fewer people went to Rockville as transit routes moved to other locations.
Where the village once stood, there are still ruins beside the surrounding river and a few of deserted homes for explorers to find.
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Elkport
The city is all that remains of the prosperous gold rush era that engulfed the region. With the exception of a blacksmith shop and a few surviving homes, this town has been largely deserted since 2006.
Because of its abundance of old and abandoned buildings, Elkport is one of my favorite ghost towns in Iowa. Don’t miss Elkport if you’re in the neighborhood!
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Carrollton
Despite having a modest population, the community formerly served as the county seat. Its growth was gradual until 1867, when the Northwestern Railroad established a station in Carrollton.
The railroad connected the town with neighboring communities, including Sunbury, known for its former dance hall. Although the dance hall closed in 1964, Carrollton retained a bank.
While not ranking among the most thrilling ghost towns in Iowa, Carrollton offers the opportunity to observe and explore dilapidated buildings.
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Buckhorn
Buckhorn was once a charming farming co-op town, complete with a stagecoach, tavern, blacksmith, and hotel. It flourished until 1960 when a commercial dairy farm purchased the entire town. This acquisition led to a mass exodus, leaving behind numerous vacant homes and businesses.
Among Iowa’s ghost towns, Buckhorn stands out for having a significant number of abandoned structures that are still standing. Adventurers can explore the cemetery, old church, and deserted homes scattered throughout the area.
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Mount Etna
This small town in Adams County, Iowa, features deserted facilities like a school, church, and post office. In its heyday, it had a grocery store and several churches, but little information is available online. It is believed that the town experienced a significant decline around 1960.
Presently, the town is largely deserted, with one of the thirteen rural schools in Corning’s school district shutting down in 1960. Despite the closure, the schoolhouse still stands, making the town a unique relic of the past.
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To Conclude
Ghost towns in Iowa are home to more than just spooky deserted buildings. They mutter stories of hardship, tenacity, and the ever-shifting wheels of fortune.
Every community, from Rockville’s railroad bypass to Elkport’s vestiges of the gold rush, has a distinct piece of history just waiting to be unearthed. Iowa’s vanished towns offer a window into a bygone age, reminding us of the transience of human settlements and the persistent power of memory.
This is true whether you’re an adventurer looking to explore decaying buildings or a history lover yearning to comprehend the past.
