Nevada Ghost Towns That Became Tourist Selfie Attractions

Nevada’s desert landscape hides dozens of abandoned mining towns that once thrived during gold and silver rushes. Many of these forgotten places have found new life as popular photo destinations where visitors capture the eerie beauty of the Old West.

From crumbling buildings to haunted hotels, these ghost towns offer the perfect backdrop for memorable vacation snapshots and social media posts.

1. Rhyolite

Near Death Valley’s scorching edge sits one of the most photographed abandoned towns in the American West. The three-story bank building stands as a haunting reminder of boom-time prosperity, its walls crumbling but still impressive against the barren landscape.

Visitors can’t resist posing beside the famous Bottle House, constructed entirely from thousands of old beer and liquor bottles by a resourceful miner. The old train depot adds another layer of nostalgia to your desert adventure photos. Morning light creates the most dramatic shadows across these historic structures, making every angle Instagram-worthy for travelers seeking that perfect Wild West aesthetic.

2. Goldfield

Once Nevada’s largest city during its mining heyday, this town now serves paranormal enthusiasts and urban explorers equally well. Graffiti artists have transformed many abandoned structures into colorful outdoor galleries that contrast beautifully with the desert’s muted tones.

Rusted vintage cars and trucks scattered throughout town provide quirky props for creative photography sessions. The legendary Goldfield Hotel towers over Main Street, reportedly one of America’s most haunted buildings, drawing ghost hunters with cameras ready. Road trippers often spend hours here, capturing the strange blend of decay and unexpected art that makes every corner feel like a movie set waiting for its closeup.

3. Virginia City

Walking these wooden boardwalks feels like stepping onto a Western film set that never shut down. Unlike completely abandoned ghost towns, this National Historic Landmark maintains its 1800s character while welcoming thousands of visitors annually. Saloons with swinging doors and vintage storefronts line the main drag, offering endless photo opportunities.

The Bucket of Blood Saloon remains a must-photograph landmark with its provocative name and authentic frontier atmosphere. Many tourists rent period costumes from local shops to fully immerse themselves in the experience, creating playful throwback photos. Silver mine tours and old-time photography studios add extra entertainment beyond simple sightseeing and selfie-taking adventures.

4. Belmont

Getting here requires commitment, but photographers seeking solitude find the journey worthwhile. The remarkably preserved courthouse stands proud among scattered stone ruins, its brick walls defying over a century of harsh desert weather. This isolation creates an authentic ghost town atmosphere without crowds photobombing your shots.

Moody clouds often gather over the surrounding mountains, adding drama to landscape compositions that feel genuinely remote and untouched. Exploring the remaining structures gives visitors a tangible connection to Nevada’s mining past without modern distractions. Pack water and supplies since services are nonexistent, but the reward is having this atmospheric location virtually to yourself for unforgettable photography.

5. Berlin

Few ghost towns can claim both mining history and ancient marine fossils as attractions. Protected within Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, this settlement offers surprisingly well-maintained structures that showcase everyday life during Nevada’s mining era. The park’s unique combination draws history buffs and paleontology enthusiasts alike.

Fossilized ichthyosaur remains, giant prehistoric marine reptiles, rest nearby in their original discovery site, adding scientific wonder to your visit. Wooden buildings retain their original character without feeling dangerously unstable, allowing safe exploration and close-up photography. The surrounding desert landscape provides stunning natural beauty that complements the man-made structures, creating varied compositions that stand out from typical ghost town snapshots.

6. Tonopah

America’s self-proclaimed scariest motel has become a viral sensation, drawing brave souls seeking both lodging and nightmare fuel. The Clown Motel features hundreds of clown figures staring through windows, positioned directly beside an old cemetery for maximum creepiness. Social media exploded with photos of this bizarre roadside attraction.

Beyond the motel’s unsettling charm, Tonopah’s historic mining park preserves equipment and structures from its prosperous past. Ghost tour operators lead nighttime explorations through abandoned areas, flashlights cutting through darkness while cameras capture potentially paranormal evidence. The town’s blend of kitsch horror and genuine history creates content that generates engagement, making it irresistible for content creators chasing viral moments.

7. Pioche

This town’s violent reputation once exceeded its population, with more murders than calendar days in its first year. Such dark history adds gravitas to photographs taken among its weathered structures and abandoned mining operations. The old jail still stands as testament to lawless times when silver ruled and justice came swift and harsh.

Mine shafts dot the hillsides around town, their gaping entrances providing dramatic foreground elements for landscape photographers. A scenic overlook offers sweeping views across valleys where fortunes were made and lost within single seasons. Modern visitors appreciate the gritty authenticity that makes every shot feel genuinely Wild West rather than sanitized for tourists seeking manufactured experiences.

8. Gold Point

Unlike completely abandoned sites, this location offers a curated ghost town experience with partially restored buildings that balance authenticity and accessibility. The working saloon serves cold drinks to dusty travelers while maintaining its vintage character through careful preservation efforts. Several cabins remain available for overnight stays, letting visitors truly immerse themselves in frontier living.

Group photos work particularly well here since the maintained structures provide safe gathering spots without safety concerns about collapsing walls. Themed photo shoots have become popular, with families and friends dressing in Western attire for memorable group portraits. The town’s caretakers welcome photographers while protecting the site’s historical integrity, creating win-win situations for preservation and tourism.

9. Metropolis

Grand ambitions gave this settlement its optimistic name, but reality delivered only scattered ruins across empty desert. The skeletal schoolhouse frame stands as the most recognizable landmark, its bare bones creating striking silhouettes against vast skies. Foundation stones mark where homes and businesses once stood before dreams crumbled into dust.

Minimalist photographers particularly appreciate the stark beauty here, where less truly becomes more in compositional terms. Wide-angle shots capture the overwhelming sense of isolation and failed human ambition against nature’s indifference. Sunset transforms the landscape into golden tones that soften the harshness, while midday light emphasizes the brutal reality of desert abandonment in unforgiving clarity.

10. Candelaria

Silver brought thousands to this remote canyon during the 1870s and 1880s, but little remains beyond stone walls and rusted mining equipment. Getting here demands serious off-road navigation skills, ensuring that only dedicated explorers make the pilgrimage. This remoteness guarantees solitude for contemplative photography sessions without modern intrusions.

Scattered relics tell stories without words, old tools, collapsed structures, and mysterious metal objects slowly returning to earth. The harsh desert environment has preserved certain artifacts while destroying others, creating interesting contrasts between durability and decay. Photographers seeking truly isolated locations for stark desert selfies find Candelaria rewards the challenging journey with authentic abandonment that feels untouched by time or tourism.