Most People Don’t Know About These Strange Ruins Hiding In Utah

The town was officially founded in 1879, and by 1885, it was a bustling community with 6,000 residents. The Horn Silver Mine was the most productive silver mine in the world at the time, and it produced over $20 million of precious metals. Eight other mines sprung up around Frisco, and combined with the Horn Silver Mine, they pulled over $60 million in gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc from the earth.

Each oven cost between $500-$1,000 each to build.

Each oven had an opening large enough for a man to fit through, and vent holes were placed at the top and around the sides. Cords of firewood were stacked inside, then burned for several days to create charcoal. The charcoal, which burns much hotter than wood, was then used for the smelting process.

After the Horn Silver Mine collapsed in 1885, Frisco began to decline, and other nearby mines began closing, one by one. By 1910, the town had fewer than 500 residents, and it was declared abandoned in 1929.

The ovens were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and you can see them today if you visit Frisco.

If you visit, please remember to leave this town as you find it. Take only photos, and please don't disturb the ruins here so that those who visit after you can also enjoy this bit of Utah history.