Encampment - Wyoming Ghost Town

ENCAMPMENT

NAME: Encampment
COUNTY: Carbon
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 8
CLIMATE: Cool winter, warm summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime.

COMMENTS: Current residents, Semi-Ghost.
REMAINS: Many original buildings.

The town received its name as it was the site where Indians and trappers would meet each summer to barter. Because the weather during the summer was mild, only tents were required for shelter. All this happened prior to the 1870s. The are had a little gold but more important, it had a bonanza in copper. The beginning of Encampment as a town began in 1897 with the founding of copper mine. While prosperity lasted, the town had the reputation of being the wildest in the state of Wyoming and boasted a population of 5,000 until troubles began in 1906. Again, as was so often the case, it began with a fire. The concentrating mill at the smelter burned. Then came a drop in the price of copper and the mine closed. Although the railroad came in 1908, it had only lumber to haul. When the lumber firm ceased operations, so did the railroad in 1962. Encampment has much to see and is well worth the trip to see. SUBMITTED BY: Henry Chenowith	Restored store fronts at Encampment. Courtesy Ryan Hill

The town received its name as it was the site where Indians and trappers would meet each summer to barter. Because the weather during the summer was mild, only tents were required for shelter. All this happened prior to the 1870s. The are had a little gold but more important, it had a bonanza in copper. The beginning of Encampment as a town began in 1897 with the founding of copper mine. While prosperity lasted, the town had the reputation of being the wildest in the state of Wyoming and boasted a population of 5,000 until troubles began in 1906. Again, as was so often the case, it began with a fire. The concentrating mill at the smelter burned. Then came a drop in the price of copper and the mine closed. Although the railroad came in 1908, it had only lumber to haul. When the lumber firm ceased operations, so did the railroad in 1962. Encampment has much to see and is well worth the trip to see. SUBMITTED BY: Henry Chenowith

Restored store fronts at Encampment.
Courtesy Ryan Hill

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