ghost towns and old farmsteads

Is anyone interested in exploring old abandoned homesteads or ghost towns? I have found quite a few around grant county that aren't desroyed yet from vandalism. Some of them require driving through a field or canyon. And does anyone know of any others anywhere else. When I was in grade school my aunt and uncle lived in horseheaven and there was a old ghost town out there somewhere.

I love that stuff That's my favorite part or adventure trips. Check out the ride report link in my signature line below, lots of abandoned stuff in there.

I'd love to check out the stuff up your way some day, might be a cool group day ride?

Hodakaguy

Yeah hoffnasty, you've done it now. You now must plan a group ride in your area so we can all show up and ride your favorite areas. I am definitely in, I love old buildings.

there is one between moses lake and ritzville that has two concrete wells, one is full of water. my kids wouldn't even get out of the truck they said it looked like the place where the "RING" was filmed. And of course an old cellar with old jars in it. I will try to coordinate a round trip ghost tour, but bear with me I suck at organizing a ride.

I'm in...........

Sounds cool!

The back road/ghost farm ride sounds particularly good. I plan to ride the Waterville plateau this summer on the klr. I have spent a good deal of time driving around up there in search of antique stationary engines (my other hobby.) There are numerous abandoned buildings and the towns up there aren't too far removed from ghost towns. (Withrow, etc) the riding is pretty much roads and gravel however.


Also there are little towns over beynd Ritzville like Ralson Benge Lamont and etc which aren't abandoned but are generally pretty dried up and therefore interesting, at least to me. Would be good for a summer ride. Not exciting enough for cold weather however.


Hoffnasty's idea sounds like a good one. Will make it if I can. -Hemmi

Hemmi, did you see (off highway 2) just past waterville, there is an old farmstead on the left that still has furniture inside. While rooting through stuff with my cruiser buddies I found an antique lawnmower that was in excellent shape. I tucked  it in one of the barns hoping to pick it up someday, it still had enough spark that I tricked one of my non-mechanically inclined  buddies to hold the spark plug while I turned it over. I also love that little winding canyon you ride up before waterville.

"there is an old farmstead on the left "

Not sure of that one hoffnasty but there are lots of abandoned buildings around up there, both relatively recent and old. The more recent ones are due to declining farm population and larger farms.

By "winding canyon" I don't know if you mean the Waterville hill, which is grand if you have a few extra horsepower to pull it, or else douglas creek area (just west of the little town of douglas.) East of douglas , if you turn north at Farmer (an ex town) you will come to Withrow which isn't completely abandoned but which has lots of vacant buildings. no businesses are left as far as i know.
Lots of dirt roads, from douglas down to palisades , near the columbia. Pretty interesting area to me as my family were farmers, both around there and in the Palouse.

My Dad lived in two places that are now ghost towns. Ortley, Oregon is SW of The Dalles in the wheat fields. Albee, Oregon is north of Ukiah and is about gone now.

Shaniko, Oregon is right on Hwy 97 50 miles south of Biggs. East of there is Rashneeshpuram, which is a ghost town of a different sort.

dhally,
I rode thru Shaniko and Antelope (Rajneesh) during the height of the rajneesh commune episode in the 80's. Had a fruit smoothie at the Antelope cafe, (at that time renamed Zorba the Budda/ a vegetarian restaurant with lots of good beer..) The old commune site now is alive with Jesus youth.

Shaniko is sort of alive again but worth seeing for its neat old Hotel and other buildings.