Kansas is well-known for its huge grasslands and ancient sites, but it also has a secret: a strange network of deserted villages that were once vibrant but are now mute monuments to time’s passing.
With their dilapidated structures and lost tales, these ghost towns arouse feelings of mystery and yearning. Explore these eerie relics from the past as we take you on a tour through the center of Kansas.
Dunlap
When the first post office was built in Dunlap in 1974, the town was initially created. Joseph Dunlap, a representative of the local Native American tribes, settled the area.
When African American activist Benjamin “Pap” Singleton arrived in the town in the late 1800s, it gained notoriety as a safe haven for escaped and freed slaves.
Pap relocated more than 200 black families from the south to Dunlap, establishing it as a promise land. Dunlap was particularly severely affected by the dust bowl in the 1930s, which led many people to relocate in search of work and food. The population was so low by 1988 that the post office had to close.
Currently, roughly thirty people live full-time in Dunlap.
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Le Hunt
Several well-known people called Le Hunt home, including Tom Mix, star of the cowboy films. Keeping the peace in the community was his responsibility as town marshal.
There were two hotels, a store, a church, and a livery in LeHunt, Kansas, but the town never had more than 150 residents. The town’s destiny was linked to the cement business, which operated in Kansas, which was close by.
Urban explorers can visit several of the ruins that have been left standing today. The most notable of these is the old cement factory relics, which are located along Elk City Lake’s coast.
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Pfeifer
Pfeifer is a ghost town in Kansas, much like many others, but what sets it apart is its church. The Pfeifer family constructed a stunning church in 1879 and dedicated it to the town and its residents. Nearby, a stone church was constructed in 1891.
A larger church was to be constructed; designs were drawn up in 1911, and construction was completed in May 1918. Its nave measures 50 feet in width and 165 feet in length, giving it a cross-like shape. Two of the steeples in the church are as tall as 100 feet, while the main one is 165 feet high.
Pfeifer is one of Kansas’ most intriguing ghost towns, even if it hasn’t been abandoned entirely.
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Castleton
Castleton, Kansas, was a prosperous town in the 1950s due to its slate mining industry. It flourished for roughly 50 years, starting around 1850, and was populated by immigrants from Russia, Italy, and Ireland.
But the town began to deteriorate when the Great Depression struck in 1929. Slate lost his appeal, and the neighborhood was all but abandoned.
Nowadays, little much remains of Castleton. There are a few abandoned houses that have stood the test of time for explorers to view. Castleton is a worthwhile stop if you’re traveling through Kansas, even though it’s not the most fascinating ghost town.
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Franklin
Founded in 1853, Franklin was one of the last strongholds supporting slavery in the area. The village served as an Indian trading center during its existence and drew additional like-minded individuals to the region.
Up to the Civil War, Franklin’s population increased gradually.
With not much remaining, Franklin is one of Kansas’s lesser-known ghost towns. Urban explorers can still make out the location of the former original walkway in a few restored original homesteads.
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To Conclude
Kansas has ghost towns that whisper stories of a bygone past. Dunlap was a haven for liberated slaves, and Pfeifer, with its tall church standing as a lonely sentinel, is another.
Every abandoned building contains a fragment of the past and serves as a reminder of the aspirations and hardships of our forebears. Consequently, look for these relics of the past the next time you’re traveling over Kansas’ wide plains.
Discover the history of these abandoned villages, let your mind roam through the sounds of the past, and explore them. Recall that these ghost towns are outdoor museums that provide a window into the essence of Kansas history rather than merely deserted locations.
