{"id":13715,"date":"2021-07-01T16:43:08","date_gmt":"2021-07-01T16:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/?page_id=13715"},"modified":"2021-07-23T15:14:47","modified_gmt":"2021-07-23T15:14:47","slug":"ghost-towns-exploring-historys-ghosts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/ghost-towns-exploring-historys-ghosts\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghost Towns: Exploring History’s Ghosts"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” full_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-vz-jquery” bg_image_new=”id^13714|url^http:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/FrontSlider_1240x900_ghosttowndoorshadow.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^FrontSlider_1240x900_ghosttowndoorshadow|description^null” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_override=”browser_size” enable_overlay=”enable_overlay_value” overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.38)”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”140px”][vc_empty_space height=”90px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Ghost Towns” font_container=”tag:h4|font_size:80|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff|line_height:.85″ google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:200%20light%20regular%3A200%3Anormal”][vc_custom_heading text=”EXPLORING HISTORY’S GHOSTS” font_container=”tag:h4|font_size:20|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:200%20light%20regular%3A200%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1625404537003{margin-top: 5px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”60px”][vc_empty_space height=”140px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_color_value=”#ffffff”][vc_column width=”1\/5″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1625411273169{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]There is something alluring about setting out on a backcountry adventure to explore abandoned places. We are making a connection with history or uncovering a mystery. Our journey has a destination of discovery. We are traveling across time and cultures. And there is a strange beauty in these desolate spaces, often defined by the harsh light and shadow of the desert sun.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/5″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” full_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”13851″ bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_override=”browser_size” parallax_content=”parallax_content_value” parallax_content_sense=”1.5″][vc_column parallax=”content-moving” width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_empty_space height=”140px”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1625680480532{margin-left: 10px !important;padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.85) !important;*background-color: rgb(255,255,255) !important;}”]Though there are still a few residents, the town of Cuervo in New Mexico is considered a “ghost town”. Gradually abandoned over the years, traces of lives lived there remain, but there is little historical information available.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”140px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_color_value=”#ffffff”][vc_column width=”1\/5″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1626879134444{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Getting away from commercial “ghost town” attractions like Calico Town, or Oatman (which can be fun to visit, too), and in search of more authentic\u00a0 discovery experiences can offer some fun challenges for anyone who wants to combine an interest in history and off-road adventure. There are “ghost towns” and abandoned places all across the United States (and the rest of the world, too). Exploring them can sometimes require a bit of planning and investigative research to determine locations and legality of access, but the resulting discoveries usually make it worthwhile.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/5″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” full_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”13892″ bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_override=”browser_size”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”140px”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_hoverbox image=”14020″ primary_title=”HOW DO YOU DEFINE<\/strong> A “GHOST“?” primary_title_font_container=”font_size:40|color:rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.92)|line_height:1″ primary_title_google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:500%20bold%20regular%3A500%3Anormal” hover_title=”HOW DO YOU DEFINE A “GHOST“?” hover_title_font_container=”color:%23ffffff” hover_title_google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” hover_background_color=”black” el_width=”90″ css_animation=”flipInX” use_custom_fonts_primary_title=”true” use_custom_fonts_hover_title=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1625679796203{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-right: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;margin-left: 20px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Experts have come up with two \u201cguidelines\u201d for determining what qualifies as a \u201cghost.\u201d First, \u201cthe town\u2019s reason for being must no longer exist.\u201d This criteria allows for the inclusion of semi-abandoned sites that maintain only a skeleton population. Second, \u201cthere must be tangible remains of the town for visitors to see\u201d \u2014 ruins, boarded up buildings, or even just a town cemetery qualify.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_hoverbox][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”140px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_color_value=”#ffffff”][vc_column width=”1\/5″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1626904818550{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]When we think of ghost towns, we often think of old movie-set western towns with the swinging gates of the abandoned saloon squeaking in the breeze as a tumbleweed rolls through on cue, but technically a ghost town is simply any abandoned town or city. The reasons for its abandon vary. Boomtowns that were built up around some single activity, like mining, can go \u201cbust.” A road or rail line can be re-routed, bypassing a town which then slowly fades. Sometimes an epidemic wipes out most of a small town\u2019s population, and the place is abandoned, or a disaster, like land contamination, forces people to move away. In recent decades the allure of urban life has decimated many rural communities\u00a0 as young people moved to cities and suburban centers, leaving their small towns to fade into ghost- or semi-ghost status.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/5″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”14052″ bg_type=”bg_color” bg_override=”ex-full” enable_overlay=”enable_overlay_value” overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.39)” css=”.vc_custom_1626457666514{padding-top: 180px !important;padding-bottom: 180px !important;}” bg_color_value=”#000000″][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”THERE ARE SO MANY
\nDIFFERENT KINDS<\/b> OF GHOSTS” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:46px|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff|line_height:56px” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_override=”ex-full” enable_overlay=”enable_overlay_value” overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.58)” css=”.vc_custom_1625431647506{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}” bg_color_value=”#000000″][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Explore some of the different types of ghost towns below<\/h4>\n

(mouse over for locations and click through for a brief description and link to a full article about the site).<\/em><\/p>\n

Note, under “Details” we give a subjective rating to each site on three facets: the first, “Access” means how easily it is to physically access the location,\u00a0 in terms of terrain, navigation and\/or administrative obstacles; the second, “Condition” considers the state of the physical structures that are left; the third, “Preservation” takes into account how well (if at all) a site is being protected, conserved and\/or restored. A higher “score” means “better.”[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_color_value=”#000000″][vc_column]