Nevada is full of long-abandoned ghost towns, and exploring them is always a fascinating adventure. After all, behind each abandoned town is the story of why it failed. Some merely emptied out after the Gold Rush, but others have more tragic backstories. The true story of Metropolis is the latter. This little town endured all sorts of odd circumstances and tragedy during its day, and it’s truly no wonder it failed in the end. Honestly, this town didn’t even have a chance. Check it out:
Looking at the ruins of this abandoned town, the name "Metropolis" couldn't be any more ironic. This is definitely not the sight that comes to mind when you think of a bustling city. However, these ruins weren't always ruins and, believe it or not, this town had a hopeful beginning.
Tucked away in the northeast corner of the state, Metropolis was established in 1910 by the Pacific Reclamation Company— a company based in New York City. The town was meant to become the center of a huge farming district, and it was expected to become home to around 7,500 people.
However, that never really happened. Although the company constructed an amusement hall, post office, school, train depot, and even a hotel, living in this town could be rough. The tough Nevada landscape was not easy on newcomers.
The first obstacle to this farming town's success? Water. The company had failed to obtain water rights to Bishop Creek, so residents weren't able to irrigate. They began dry-farming in order to produce wheat, which actually worked at first due to high precipitation.
As the town began to experience lower amounts of precipitation, dry farming began to fail. On top of that, pests became a substantial problem. Swarms of Mormon crickets would destroy crops and infestations were rampants.
Additionally, the jackrabbit population began to rise since so many settlers had killed the region's coyotes. The rabbits would feast on the wheat crops, and farmers retaliated with guns and poison.
All of these things caused Metropolis to fail as a farming community, and Pacific Reclamation filed bankruptcy in 1920. Between various fires and the discontinuation of railroad service, almost the entire community had evacuated by 1924. Metropolis was no more.
Metropolis may be gone, but you can still view the crumbling structures of the community that once was. The most notable structures are the remnants of the old hotel and the Mormon church. You'll find it just 11 miles away from Wells, so give it a visit the next time you're in the area.
Did you know the sad story behind this abandoned town? Metropolis may have suffered a tragic end, but its memory will live on. For more eerie but beautiful destinations like this one, check out our list of 10 Abandoned Places In Nevada That Nature Is Reclaiming.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
