Idaho’s vibrant past has no shortage of historic places – schools, prisons, hospitals, churches, and even entire towns. While many reminders of Idaho’s recent and distant past offer tours to curious visitors, others have been left to the elements, falling victim to time, financial instability, and Mother Nature. Fortunately, others have been brought back to life as living museums. Nevertheless, these aging spots are still spectacular in their decay! Take a walk on the wild side and check out some of the most abandoned places in Idaho – if you dare.

1. Pioneer/Boot Hill Cemetery

Duane Hughes/GoogleReviews
With over 3,000 graves housed here, and very few resting here who died of natural causes, it's safe to say that Pioneer/Boot Hill is rife with legends and ghost stories. Many of the individuals buried in Idaho City are unidentified - a result of the constant turnover of the mining town in its prime. Today, only 300 or so inscriptions are still readable.

2. Old Idaho Penitentiary, Boise

J S/GoogleReviews
The first stop on our road trip to Idaho's abandoned places is the Old Idaho State Penitentiary, sometimes referred to as the Old Pen. Built by the inmates who were housed within its sandstone cells, the Idaho Penitentiary has seen thousands of prisoners and thousands more curious visitors pass through its grounds. At night, the grounds are rumored to come alive with paranormal activity. Whether by a day spent exploring the peeling paint, crumbling walls, and rusted prison chambers or a spooky evening at one of the prison's regular events, this is a historic tour that you won't soon forget.

3. Silver City

Miles Pickett/GoogleReviews
A mere century ago, the lure of gold, precious ore, and the hope of a new life brought thousands of people to the Gem State, but after the dust had settled, Idaho’s mining towns went from thriving communities to hollow remnants. Silver City is an often overlooked but treasured part of Idaho’s "Wild West" that lies in beautiful, aging disrepair in Southwest Idaho. Formerly a busy mining hub, the silver crash at the turn of the 20th century sent this bustling city into a rapid downward spiral, but that doesn't keep the town from trying to rebuild.

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4. Old American Falls

David Ross/YouTube
Now underwater, the original townsite of American Falls was a thriving, active hub located on the west bank of the Snake River. During what was easily the largest government relocation of its time, the town was moved in its entirety to avoid flooding by the nearby dam. American Falls is still alive and well today, but you'll still find a few remnants of the old location dotting the area.

5. Albion State Normal School, Albion

Ntsimp/Wikimedia
Editor's Note: This once-abandoned school has found new life! Keep an eye out for special spooky events around Halloween season, if that's your thing.

The Albion State Normal School was once a vibrant educational institution for teachers that now stands abandoned, falling victim to time. Empty hallways filled with debris, shattered windows, and eerie auditoriums still lined with the decrepit remains of wooden seats all pulse with an inexplicable presence - whether paranormal or simply teeming with the memories of the past, there are multiple buildings on campus that all echo with unearthly sensations.

6. Wild Waters

adamthewoo/YouTube
Editor's note: This abandoned water park has been demolished.

What was once a vibrant, thrilling family destination in Northern Idaho came to an abrupt end over a decade ago as competition took over. Wild Waters in Coeur d’Alene was originally the Northwest’s largest water park – a behemoth attraction that dominated the summer market for years. In 2010, the park didn’t reopen at all, and very little remains of its former glory. Brackish water, rusting gates, and fading signs all sit corroding in Idaho's turbulent weather, waiting for someone to restore or demolish them.

7. Roseberry

Historic Roseberry, Valley County Museum, home of the LVPS/Facebook
This unique small town just outside of Donnelly is a ghost town at its core, but lives on as a historic reminder of Idaho's western days. Barn weddings, reenactments, and filmings are welcome here with permission, but the real draw is that one can simply walk through the recreated town (it's only a few blocks!) and see the remarkable historic textures and features of centuries long ago.

Idaho has some incredible abandoned places that still stand today as reminders of our history, many of which are hiding in quiet corners of our massive state  – these are just a few! Rest assured this road trip is nowhere near complete. There’s always more to discover!

Please keep in mind that not all of these locations are open to the public at all hours. Respect local rules and ordinances and adventure at your own risk.

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More to Explore

Abandoned Places In Idaho

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | September 20, 2023

Where can we find ghost towns in Idaho?

  • Silver City is a former mining town and today home to the Idaho Hotel, one of the most haunted hotels in the state!
  • Dewey is also a former mining town and named after Colonel Dewey who bought the town's mine.
  • Wickahoney used to be an important stagecoach shop as mail traveled through the state back in the day.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other interesting ghost towns in Idaho.

Where can we find historic homes in Idaho?

  • Standrod Mansion in Pocatello is one of a few homes in Idaho built in a castle-like style that fashions a 16th-century French chateau.
  • The Bown House in Boise is an Italianate-style two-level home built in 1879 out of sandstone.
  • The Clark House in Hayden Lake was once one of the grandest homes in the state with a tennis court, a private zoo, riding stables, greenhouses, a putting green, and more.

Read on to learn more about some of the many beautiful historic homes in Idaho.

Where can we find historic attractions in Idaho?

  • The EBR-1 Museum in Arco is the site of the former Experimental Breeder Reactor from which its nuclear power was used to light the town and was the first to do so in the U.S.
  • The Idaho Veterans Cemetery in Boise is a beautiful yet somber 76.5-acre cemetery where many of the state’s service women and men were laid to rest.
  • The Nampa Train Depot in Nampa was built in 1903 and was formerly a stop on the historic Oregon Short Line railroad.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other fascinating historic attractions in Idaho.

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Explore Idaho

Featured Addresses
Old Idaho Penitentiary Site, 2445 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise, ID 83712, USA
Silver City, ID 83650, USA
American Falls, ID 83211, USA
Burke, ID 83873, USA
2119 N Government Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814, USA
Cemetery Road, Cemetery Rd, Idaho City, ID 83631, USA
Roseberry, ID 83615, USA