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All the United States South Dakota Ardmore Ardmore Ghost Town
AO Edited

Ardmore Ghost Town

Abandoned businesses, homes, and rusted cars are all that remains of this stopover town.

Ardmore, South Dakota

Added By
Rebecca Schandel
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Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
5-9-22   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
5-9-22   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
5-9-22   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
5-9-22   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
School Bus Target 2010 Ardmore SD   doc will / Atlas Obscura User
Endless traffic jam 2010 Ardmore SD   doc will / Atlas Obscura User
View across to main intersection 2010 Ardmore SD   doc will / Atlas Obscura User
Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
The old bank.   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
5-9-22   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Ardmore Ghost Town   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Driving down Highway 71 after a barren stretch of nothingness, visitors will soon come upon a few decaying homes. There's little to no traffic here, as the town is barren and forlorn, frozen in time—a photographer's dream.

Founded in 1889, Ardmore was a classic 19th-century frontier town, mainly created as a stopping point for the New Burlington Railroad. The town was plagued by drought and the local creek was too acidic for human consumption. The steam trains would leave water for the residents while refueling using the creek water. President Calvin Coolidge even visited the town for a picnic. At the time of the visit, the town was making headlines experimenting with dry farming, a technique that involves the cultivation of crops in areas lacking irrigation. However, the plan failed.

When trains began to move away from steam power, they no longer needed to stop in Ardmore, forcing residents to leave for areas with substantial water supplies. The town was slowly abandoned over the years. Now all that remains are a few buildings and a picturesque landscape. 

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Ghost Towns History & Culture Train Stations Farming Abandoned

Know Before You Go

Located approximately one mile north of the South Dakota-Nebraska border, along South Dakota Highway 71.

Community Contributors

Added By

ski queen

Edited By

Soporifix, FaerieDana, doc will, Darrell Powers

  • Soporifix
  • FaerieDana
  • doc will
  • Darrell Powers

Published

October 12, 2020

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  • https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ardmore+south+dakota&docid=608013437752050771&mid=2A3672D5473A704365E92A3672D5473A704365E9&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
Ardmore Ghost Town
Ardmore, South Dakota, 57747
United States
43.019412, -103.656314

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of South Dakota

South Dakota

United States

Places 59
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Toadstool Geologic Park

Harrison, Nebraska

miles away

Hudson-Meng Bison Kill

Harrison, Nebraska

miles away

Fort Robinson State Park

Harrison, Nebraska

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of South Dakota

South Dakota

United States

Places 59
Stories 7

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