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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Angel Eyes on December 09, 2021, 05:42:16 PM

Title: Former mining town, now sort-of ghost town
Post by: Angel Eyes on December 09, 2021, 05:42:16 PM

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08svx89/the-picturesque-ghost-town-at-the-edge-of-the-world

In Alaska, of course.

Nearby town of McCarthy has a . . . colorful history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthy,_Alaska

Title: Re: Former mining town, now sort-of ghost town
Post by: dogmush on December 09, 2021, 06:20:00 PM
I've been there.  Some great hiking both in the mountains and on the nearby glacier. When I lived in AK (in the 90's) we used to do a mountain bike stage race up there.  Stage one was 60 ish mile from Chitna to McCarthy (actually to the edge of the river, there was no road into McCarthy at the time, you had to take a cable car over the river). Stage two was a hill climb from McCarthy to Kennicott, stage 3 was a downhill race back to McCarthy,  and stage four was an observed trial in the glacial moraine. Super fun.

They built a bridge over the river so you can drive to McCarthy and put guardrails on the Kuskulana bridge so it's less "Alaskan" now, but still a fun place to visit last time I was up there.
Title: Re: Former mining town, now sort-of ghost town
Post by: zxcvbob on December 09, 2021, 06:38:19 PM
There's a recent mining ghost town in Picher, Oklahoma.  I drive through there every few years to see if the gorilla statue is still standing guard.  (he is; he's been moved to an actual Picher-Carden memorial on the side of old US-69) 

I sent a message to the History Guy that he should do an episode about a town that deserves to be remembered.
Title: Re: Former mining town, now sort-of ghost town
Post by: RoadKingLarry on December 09, 2021, 08:12:52 PM
I've spent a lot of time working in Picher (AT&T). Was there to see it go from a dying town to a ghost town. Having to work at the CO there at night after the town was dead was "interesting".  It's about an hour from my place.
Title: Re: Former mining town, now sort-of ghost town
Post by: K Frame on December 10, 2021, 08:29:33 AM
I've spent a lot of time working in Picher (AT&T). Was there to see it go from a dying town to a ghost town. Having to work at the CO there at night after the town was dead was "interesting".  It's about an hour from my place.


All that toxic lead out there would explain a lot about you... :rofl:
Title: Re: Former mining town, now sort-of ghost town
Post by: RoadKingLarry on December 10, 2021, 03:41:47 PM
A friend of mine grew up in Picher. I pick on her all the time about that. :rofl: