SOME LIKE IT QUIET...

...as I do...

…which is why I love traveling to ghost towns so much. They give me a sense of tranquility, although I recognize the irony, because not so long ago these towns were anything but tranquil. 

Having recently visited South Pass, Wyoming, I was thankful to take in the peace and quiet this ghost town has to offer. Something that I must point out is that South Pass is a very well preserved ghost town with many historic structures, as well as period room exhibits. Lucky for me, it was the off season, and I was able to experience the town with little to no people around. Exactly how I like it! 

If you’re into American West history, this town deserves your attention, and here’s why: because of its geological location, it made it possible to travel through via waggon, whereas the other option of the Rocky Mountains made it impossible to get through with a wagon. Once the word spread, the floodgates were opened, and this route allowed for hundreds of thousands of eager pioneers to travel onward to Oregon during the mid-1800s. Without this route, we may have been looking at a very different America to what we know today. 

Not only did South Pass attract people to and through it because of its location, but it gets even cooler! In 1868 they started mining for gold there, and it became known as the “City of Gold.” By 1869 this town was inhabited by approximately 3,000 people. All good things must come to an end, and by the 1870s much of the gold was no longer found and people started packing up and moving on. 

Today, upon entering South Pass, you are greeted with a city sign that states that their population is “about four people, roughly three cats and approximately 3 dogs.” 

Being the daydreamer that I am, I looked out into the open sage brush and pictured wagons, full of physical belongings the pioneers were desperately trying to hold on to, and quite frankly, wondered how they made it this far. It was a sweet reminder to be thankful for all of those who came before you and undoubtedly gave you the endless opportunities you have today.