There are so many abandoned places in Idaho! This is a list of the top three abandoned places in Idaho. Browse through all abandoned places in Idaho
Farragut State Park is a former US Navy training station that has been used by many departments and organizations over the years that it has been abandoned. Established in 1942, the former training station was a wildlife management area and later on a scout Jamboree hosting venue to now a state park.
This massive training station was built to provide more sailors in World War II. After World War II, the United States Department of defense saw no use in its continued operation and decommissioned it in 1946. The station was left to decay for four years and in 1950 it was transferred to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.The naval station in Farragut was years later transferred back to the national government which handed it over to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. The park was turned into a full-fledged park with animals like mountain goats and small breeds of fish. A museum is yet to be constructed inside the property to teach tourists about the rich history of the new state park.
Despite its impact of producing over 53,000 soldiers yearly who helped fight in the war, it was also where prisoners of war were kept. Germans soldiers who were not lucky and were captured during the war were detained in Farragut State Park. They were subjected to the hard labor of lawning the property together with servicing and maintaining the buildings in the property.
Farragut state park still has traces of toxic chemicals from guns and explosives which were used during the training. The toxic chemicals are hazardous to people visiting the park. The state park is open for visits and tours all year round with the exception of winter. During winters, most of the roads to Farragut Park are rendered impassable and unsafe. You can visit the memorable historic park any other season. The historic complex building stands strong despite all those years of disuse. It was changed into a national historic district and is currently under the management of the state government of Colorado.
Old Idaho State Penitentiary is an abandoned correctional facility in western Idaho. The correctional facility which has been forsaken for 20 years now was home to 600 inmates (both male and female) for 101 years. The prison is now a museum after it was closed and vacated years ago.
Old Idaho State Penitentiary opened its doors in 1872 with eleven inmates from the Boise County Jail. Formally Built as a territorial prison for Idaho and Lewiston, it changed its intended purpose when Idaho became an independent state changing its name to Idaho State Penitentiary. With only 600 inmates’ capacity, the state penitentiary housed both males and females. The inmates served a major role in the construction of sandstone prisons and repair whenever there was destruction caused by riots.
Idaho State Penitentiary was officially closed and the inmates were transferred to other correctional facilities in the state. This came after numerous riots by inmates condemning poor living conditions and mistreatment from the prison management. The state government of Idaho after a proper investigation ordered its closure as they deemed it to be dehumanizing and unhealthy.
Uncountable abnormal activities are happening around the old state prison. The execution chamber and solitary confinement are the most active of these sinister activities. Several deaths that occurred in the execution chamber and the torturous life the inmates experienced in solitary confinement might be the cause of the eerie feeling in the two most active sections of the prison. Both the tour guides and visitors have attested to witnessing dark entities, strange sounds, and voices in the cell blocks. At the execution chamber, many believe Snowden's spirit (an executed intimately) never left the room.
After years of abandonment, the prison was named a historical landmark and a museum was built in the vicinity. The museum hosts more than two million visitors a year. Although most of the buildings are in a dilapidated state, visitors can still tour the solitary confinement, cell blocks, and gallows. All these places have a history that one would love to learn about.
Idaho state penitentiary is currently still under the ownership of the department of a correctional facility. The state is working on the restoration of the prison and at the same time preserve its originality and authenticity from the 1870s. There are plans of constructing a larger museum inside the prison.
Pearl is an abandoned former mining community in Idaho State, USA. Pearl, which was established in 1867 was abandoned by its residents after the mines were exhausted. Pearl was officially deserted in the 1900s leaving it to rot in despair.
Quartz bearing gold and other minor minerals like silver and zinc were discovered in the late 1870s but mining did not kick off immediately. A man by the name of Dan Levan later moved to the region with his family and upon being shown unmanned quartz which was just lying around, he began exploiting the minerals immediately. A conflict later came up when the locals wanted a share of the riches that Dan had exploited. After settling the matter in court, Dan sold the mining region to Dewey. Under Dewey’s management, the region saw advancement including the introduction of the railroad. The railroad boosted business in the region, increasing the population of the district to over 500.
After years of exploiting the vast region, most of the mines were depleted which led to the decline in the mining industry. Shortly afterward several mines recorded exhaustion leading to some of them being closed down. This rendered most of the miners in the region jobless forcing them to look for employment elsewhere. By 1910, most miners had left and the town’s population reduced to less than 150 many of which were farmers. By 1921, Pearl had a population of only 45 who were all farmers. The last known resident in the town died in 1950 rendering Pearl an official ghost town,
Currently, walking through the old town one can barely tell if there was ever a town. The old structures have collapsed over time leaving only the remains of the concrete and wood. As you go deeper into the town, the old mines are still visible. Major structures like churches and banks are still standing but in a dilapidated state. The town is rumored to be owned by a local mining company that is still prospecting the old mines.
Can one visit Pearl Ghost town Pearl ghost town is open to the general public to visit at any given time. No organization gives a guided tour in the area so much of the tour you will have plan yourself. Mines at the townsite are out of bound for the general public as they are deemed dangerous and unstable.