Heaton ghost town is a former township in the country of Wells, North Dakota. It was established in the late 1800s and was later abandoned and is currently laying uninhibited with dilapidated buildings that are an eyesore.

Birth of Heaton

Heaton town was the first known town to exist in 1899 and was named in the honor of George Heaton, the manager of the land sales. George who foresaw the construction of the northern Pacific Railroad can be said to be one of the founders of the town that made it reach its great heights. Largely dependent on the railroad for survival, the town of Heaton developed at a slow pace compared to other towns in the heydays. The town in its prime had a post office, a farmer's union bank, a lumber yard, gas station, hardware store, two hotels, and three churches. Some claim that it was a fully flagged town with a schoolhouse but no records show that there was ever a school in the small township. 

Final years of Heaton

The story behind why the community at Heaton town abandoned their beloved town is not clear as some people claim that it was because of the closure of the railroad that was the pillar for its survival. At the same time, some say that the town was never the same after the tornado struck the region in 1907. Whether the railroad or the tornado led to the abandoning of the town by its residents, the fact is that the town was left for nature to reclaim. The dilapidated buildings at the old townsite are very unstable due to the long years since the town was deserted.

Heaton town today

The town is completely deserted with no residents currently living in the town. Most of the buildings in the town are still standing strong although showing several signs of distress. The main street of the town where the farmer's bank was located and other stores lie vacant with most of its adjacent buildings paintings pilling off. At the far end where the homesteads were tall grasses are almost out shunning the structures in height.  some structures that were made of wood have collapsed leaving remnants of logs. Due to its rural location, the buildings have not received vandalism or rebranding by rowdy teenagers. Mother nature has done its share of damage on the buildings and structures in the townsite. Heaton town is owned by the state of North Dakota who permits visits in and out of the vast properties. Most of the visits at the townsite are advised to be taken during the summer times when the weather is stable and predictable. No organization currently offers tours in the town. One can visit the once boisterous railroad in the town and enjoy the cool steady breeze offered by the empty streets as you take a trip back in memory lane.