The ghost town of Shaniko is in Oregon and was once known as the Wool Capital of the World – it now lures in tourists who want to get a photograph of the faded glory of this unique place. With derelict buildings and rusted vehicles, the ghost town has it all and offers travelers a rare chance to step back in time.
Shaniko, the Ghost Town of Oregon
The antique-looking Shaniko was formerly called Cross Hollows and is located in eastern Oregon’s remote Wasco County. It had an important railroad town until 1966, but it was cut off eventually. By 1982, the town was virtually empty. Today, there are just a few people living in Shaniko. It is ideally located close to the Columbia River Gorge and presents tourists with wooden buildings, sidewalks, and empty, rusting vehicles. This makes it a great place to explore with a camera.
There Are Many Things to See in Shaniko
While there are many buildings on Shaniko Row, two roads converge at the Shaniko Hotel – a huge Italianate building. It’s the centerpiece of the Shaniko Historic District and has been a bank and a dance hall at various points in the town’s history. Up the street are an ice cream shop and a post office that both occasionally open, and Dead Format Music sits next to the hotel and sells records and guitar strings. It also broadcasts music on 99.9 FM.
Opposite Shaniko Hotel is Shaniko Sage Museum. It is a small wooden building left open for tourists to explore. It contains old photos, maps, and profiles of Shaniko’s historic families. The items there include old VHS tapes, faded magazines, and a sign that sets the population of the town at 26 people. The highlight of the place is located outdoors and is a rotted-out piano.
No Fees for Visiting the Ghost Town
There are no parking restrictions or fees of any kind for people who want to take a stroll through the Oregon ghost town. Visitors can go there at any time but most prefer to come between April and September because exploration is easier and a small festival called Shaniko Days takes place every August. The festival features a parade, performances, and other entertainment. The Main Street of the town also has a jail, an old station wagon, and all kinds of rusting machinery. The local general store also has a backroom full of old posters, vases, coffee pots, signage, and books. The town even has a schoolhouse.
Some buildings in Shaniko have been lovingly restored by locals who care about the Oregon ghost town but others are in ruins. The place is located three hours southeast of Portland and sits next to U.S. Route 97.