Explore One Of The Best Small-Town Museums In The West At This Hauntingly Pretty Ghost Town

Silver Reef wasn't supposed to exist. As one of the few places in the world where silver has been found in sandstone, the Utah mining community defied the rules of geology, resulting in a temporary boom. Now, more than 150 years after the discovery of silver, visitors can see the eerie relics of this once-thriving desert community. This ruined appearance is a stark contrast to more well-preserved ghost towns, like California's Cerro Gordo, yet Silver Reef holds a rugged charm. The best way to discover the history of the area is at the Silver Reef Museum, one of the best small-town museums in the West.

The museum itself is housed in the lovingly restored Wells Fargo Express Office, one of the few remaining buildings from Silver Reef's time as a mining boomtown. Completed in 1877, the building once buzzed with bank transactions, stagecoaches coming and going, and even served as a store. Now you can explore the museum to gain a fascinating insight into the first discovery of silver in the area through the ups and downs of the town. Visitors to the museum are full of praise, with many saying that the volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly and the displays informative. The museum runs events throughout the year, including an Old Wild West Shootout and Halloween events.

While in the museum, pick up a map that will guide you around the interpretive trails in the area. Relatively few of the buildings of the original Silver Reef have survived intact. In fact, the museum building is the only one that remains in its original position. Next door, you can explore the jail, which was relocated there after spending many years on a nearby farm. The Cosmopolitan Restaurant and the John H. Rice Bank have been reconstructed, but many other buildings lie in ruins or have disappeared entirely.

The ruins give Silver Reef a haunting appearance, made more beautiful by the sweeping, brush-covered desert landscapes and the craggy mountains peeking out in the distance. Be sure to visit the best-preserved remaining tunnel shaft from the silver mine. You can walk a little way down it to feel what life was like for the miners long ago.

Silver Reef is a captivating stop on a road trip through this part of Utah, as it lies an easy 20-minute drive south of the entrance to Zion National Park. If you need to stretch your legs, hike the Silver Rim Trail, which offers a short yet rewarding climb to beautiful views of St. George. Finally, spend the night at nearby Quail Creek State Park, where you can enjoy splashing around in warm water all year long. And if you want more adventures like Silver Reef, there are more spooky ghost towns to discover on this Kentucky road trip.