Top ghost towns
Ghost TownPicher
Ghost TownCardin
Ghost TownCayuga
Ghost TownAvard
Ghost TownPiney
Ghost TownIngalls
Ghost TownWashunga
Ghost TownDouthat
Ghost TownAutwine
Ghost TownWhizbang
Ghost TownCline
Ghost TownLugert
Ghost Towns by county
All ghost towns (16)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picher | Ottawa County | 250 m | Commerce | 3 |
| Cardin | Ottawa County | 247 m | Commerce | 3 |
| Cayuga | Delaware County | — | Grove | 3 |
| Avard | Woods County | — | Alva | 2 |
| Piney | Adair County | — | Stilwell | 3 |
| Ingalls | Payne County | — | Stillwater | 3 |
| Washunga | Kay County | — | McCord | 3 |
| Douthat | Ottawa County | 248 m | Commerce | 3 |
| Autwine | Kay County | — | Tonkawa | 4 |
| Whizbang | Osage County | — | Fairfax | 2 |
| Cline | Beaver County | — | Laverne | 1 |
| Lugert | Kiowa County | — | Granite | 2 |
| Hatsboro | Bryan County | — | Tishomingo | 3 |
| Hockerville | Ottawa County | 259 m | Baxter Springs | 4 |
| Zincville | Ottawa County | 251 m | Baxter Springs | 3 |
| Hext | Beckham County | — | Erick | 2 |
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.