Idaho certainly has its share of abandoned places. While many of these destinations are creepy and downright spooky, others are quite fascinating and have a certain beauty about them, like Eileen Dam. Located on the Moyie River in Boundary County, this northern Idaho feature has been left sitting for decades while nature slowly reclaims it. And while intriguing, the dam’s history is just as interesting.

Approximately a century ago, construction on Eileen Dam began. This dam is located in northern Idaho, along the Moyie River and near the mouth of Skin Creek.
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The purpose of the dam was to provide electricity to several mines in the area. The dam was named Eileen, after a nearby crossing on the Union Pacific railroad line.
Alva Swanson/Google

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Workers built Eileen Dam over the course of several years. The completed dam was approximately 50 feet tall and 150 feet long. It featured an arch dam design, as this type of dam was strong and sturdy. They were not supposed to fail.
Derek Pedersen/Google
Unfortunately, the eastern side of the dam was built next to unstable shale rock, and the power of the season’s run-off and the high water pressure destroyed the corner of the dam.
Jesse Moore/Google
The price to repair the dam was too much for the mining company, and it has since sat broken and ineffective. It is simply a reminder of Idaho’s mining history.
Paul H/Google
The Moyie River, near Eileen Dam, is a popular destination for whitewater rafting. Check out this video by Kevin Nimmo to get a glimpse of the dam and the surrounding area from the water.

Have you ever been to Eileen Dam or seen it in person? What are some other abandoned places in Idaho you love to visit? Let us know in the comments.

If you wish to check out even more ruins in Idaho, check out this list and the stories behind each one.

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Eileen Dam, Moyie Springs, ID 83845, USA