Top ghost towns
Ghost TownSt. Deroin
Ghost TownRock Bluff
Ghost TownAntioch
Ghost TownDobytown
Ghost TownBelmont
Ghost TownMars
Ghost TownAbdal
Ghost TownArmour
Ghost TownCarns
Ghost TownSawyer
Ghost TownWheeler
Ghost TownStoddard
All ghost towns (15)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Deroin | Nemaha County | 267 m | Rock Port | 2 |
| Rock Bluff | Cass County | 305 m | Plattsmouth | 4 |
| Antioch | Sheridan County | — | Alliance | 1 |
| Dobytown | Buffalo County | — | Kearney | 4 |
| Belmont | Dawes County | — | Chadron | 1 |
| Mars | Antelope County | — | Creighton | 1 |
| Abdal | Nuckolls County | 547 m | Superior | 2 |
| Armour | Pawnee County | 402 m | Wymore | 2 |
| Carns | Keya Paha County | 572 m | Ainsworth | 1 |
| Sawyer | Fillmore County | 495 m | Geneva | 2 |
| Wheeler | Wheeler County | 643 m | Burwell | 1 |
| Stoddard | Thayer County | 490 m | Hebron | 2 |
| Spring Ranch | Clay County | 530 m | Hastings | 2 |
| Williams | Thayer County | 433 m | Hebron | 2 |
| Vinton | Valley County | 654 m | Ord | 1 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph ghost towns
Weathered wood and rusted metal show texture best in low-angle light; overcast skies suit interiors and moody black-and-white work.
- Respect private property and closures: many ghost towns are on private land or protected historic sites — never enter unstable buildings.
- For interiors with windows, blend two exposures (one for inside, one for the view) instead of relying on HDR alone.
- Old buildings under the Milky Way make strong night images in dark rural skies.
- Look for details: door hinges, faded signs, square nails and window frames tell the story.
- Leave everything as you found it; removing artifacts from public land is illegal.
Season: High-elevation mining towns are reachable mostly from June to October; desert ghost towns are best in spring and autumn.