Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Utah Frisco Ghost Town
AO Edited

Frisco Ghost Town

Only ruined buildings and abandoned charcoal kilns remain of this once bustling Wild West boom town.

Frisco, Utah

Added By
Anynamewilldo
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Frisco Ghost Town   GerthMichae
Frisco Ghost Town   GerthMichae
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
The charcoal kilns at Frisco, Utah.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Ruin at Frisco, Utah with kiln in background.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Frisco Ghost Town   Michael Gäbler
  Curious Crow / Atlas Obscura User
Beehive kilns at Frisco.   Library of Congress
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Founded in 1875 as a silver mining town, Frisco earned a reputation for being one of the wildest towns in the western frontier. The town was often labeled, “Dodge City, Tombstone, Sodom, and Gomorrah all rolled into one.”

At its peak, the town had a population of roughly 6,000 people and over 23 saloons, brothels, and gambling dens. A sheriff by the name of William Pearson was eventually brought in to bring law and order to Frisco by "any means necessary." Pearson warned the town's outlaws that he had zero plans to build any jails and to either leave town or be shown out. It was reported that on the night of sheriff Pearson's arrival he killed six people.

In 1885, the Horn Silver Mine collapsed and was rebuilt, however, Frisco never returned to its original prosperity. By the 1920s, the town was officially abandoned. A cemetery, the charcoal kilns used to smelt the silver, and many abandoned structures are all that remain today. 

Related Tags

Mining History & Culture Ghost Towns

Know Before You Go

Just off of highway 21 east of Milford, UT. A short dirt road from the highway will get you to the kilns. Note that that the kilns and various abandoned buildings are accessible to anyone; however, other buildings and mine shafts are explicitly marked as no trespassing.

Community Contributors

Added By

Anynamewilldo

Edited By

jonathancarey, Darrell Powers, slgwv, Curious Crow

  • jonathancarey
  • Darrell Powers
  • slgwv
  • Curious Crow

Published

December 7, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ut-frisco/
  • https://www.visitutah.com/articles/frisco-west-desert-ghost-town
  • https://tales-of-the-old-west.com/2018/06/27/sheriff-pearson/
Frisco Ghost Town
Frisco, Utah
United States
38.45635, -113.258853

Nearby Places

Parowan Gap Petroglyphs

Parowan, Utah

miles away

Meadow Hot Springs

Meadow, Utah

miles away

Nellie Pucell Unthank Memorial

Cedar City, Utah

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Utah

Utah

United States

Places 155
Stories 29

Nearby Places

Parowan Gap Petroglyphs

Parowan, Utah

miles away

Meadow Hot Springs

Meadow, Utah

miles away

Nellie Pucell Unthank Memorial

Cedar City, Utah

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Utah

Utah

United States

Places 155
Stories 29

Related Places

  • Masonic

    Bridgeport, California

    Masonic

    Bodie's 20th-century rival was a paragon of respectability and calm—but the mines eventually ran dry.

  • Goffs Schoolhouse

    Goffs, California

    Goffs Schoolhouse Museum

    Built as a schoolhouse in 1914, this Mission-style building has also served as a dancehall, a library, an Army canteen, and now a cultural museum.

  • Mogollon, New Mexico

    Mogollon Ghost Town

    Once a mining boom town, Mogollon’s well-preserved buildings are tucked away in the mountains of the Gila National Forest.

  • Östra Torp, Sweden

    Kalkugnarna

    Preserved 19th-century lime kilns sit in southern Sweden.

  • The monument

    Leadville, Colorado

    Irish Miners' Memorial and Cemetery

    Thousands of unmarked, sunken graves in a pauper's cemetery.

  • Lion Salt Works

    Marston, England

    Lion Salt Works

    Learn about the history of mining and making salt at this Cheshire museum.

  • Lost City of Mangonia

    West Palm Beach, Florida

    Lost City of Mangonia

    This historic site situated in the Northwood shores neighborhood houses the remains of a forgotten town.

  • The brick building from below at Tunnel Camp.

    Vernon, Nevada

    Tunnel Camp and the Seven Troughs District

    A well-preserved set of ruins not far from Lovelock.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.