Beaverhead County sits in the southwestern corner of Montana, and it’s full of natural wonders. But among all that beauty, you’ll also find plenty of abandoned (or barely populated) towns from the Treasure State’s earliest days. And Halloween is a perfect time to get in the car and head that way.

Of course, the most famous and well-preserved ghost town in Beaverhead County is Bannack, which is now a state park.

Tjflex2 / Flickr The visitor center is only open on weekends from 11-5 this time of year, but you can visit any day of the week.

Bannack plays a big role in our local history. In fact, it was the first Territorial Capital of Montana (Virginia City was next).

AlanBixby / Flickr And if you happen to be there on the last weekend of October, you can participate in Bannack Ghost Walk, a fascinating living history tour.

While it’s easy to spend an entire day at Bannack State Park, there are a few other notable ghost towns in the area, like Hecla, which sits about 16 miles west of the town of Melrose.

TJFlex2 / Flickr Only a few ruined buildings remain in Hecla, so there’s not much to see. However, it has a pretty rich history.

Hecla is best known for being the home of Blanche Lamont, who taught at the town’s one-room schoolhouse.

Wikipedia Unfortunately, Lamont would become the first of two murder victims of Theodore Durrant. Margaret Brown, also known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown, also lived in Hecla for awhile.

Glendale is another area ghost town worth visiting.

YouTube Once a thriving mining community, Glendale is located about 5 miles west of the Big Hole River near

The Dillon Tribune described Glendale as a shoestring like town of one street, a mile long on the right bank of a small creek, pure as crystal in winter but muddy and yellow in summer.

YouTube Trapper City and Lion City, other ghost towns, were once nearby.

Beaverhead County was once home to a lot of towns that no longer exist. Unfortunately, very few have any remains.

Tjflex2 / Flickr Still, Beaverhead County is beautiful, and the ghost towns you will see are pretty fantastic.

Here’s a great YouTube video of Glendale:

Tjflex2 / Flickr

The visitor center is only open on weekends from 11-5 this time of year, but you can visit any day of the week.

AlanBixby / Flickr

And if you happen to be there on the last weekend of October, you can participate in Bannack Ghost Walk, a fascinating living history tour.

TJFlex2 / Flickr

Only a few ruined buildings remain in Hecla, so there’s not much to see. However, it has a pretty rich history.

Wikipedia

Unfortunately, Lamont would become the first of two murder victims of Theodore Durrant. Margaret Brown, also known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown, also lived in Hecla for awhile.

YouTube

Once a thriving mining community, Glendale is located about 5 miles west of the Big Hole River near

Trapper City and Lion City, other ghost towns, were once nearby.

Still, Beaverhead County is beautiful, and the ghost towns you will see are pretty fantastic.



 

If you enjoy exploring Montana’s ghost towns, this road trip is perfect for you.

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