South Dakota’s 246 Ghost Towns Make It America’s Second Most Haunted State, From Black Hills Gold Rush Ruins to a Saloon Ghost Who Greets Guests
RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA — South Dakota may be known for Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, but it also holds a spooky distinction. The state is home to 246 ghost towns, giving it the highest number of abandoned settlements per capita in the country.
A new study by Action Network ranked South Dakota as the second-most haunted state in America.
South Dakota’s Haunted Numbers at a Glance
| Measure | South Dakota’s Result |
|---|---|
| Ghost towns | 246 |
| Ghost towns per 100,000 residents | 27.7 (highest in the U.S.) |
| Reported ghost sightings | 428 |
| Sightings per 100,000 residents | 48.2 (4th nationally) |
| Supposedly haunted locations | 13 |
| Overall haunted ranking | 2nd in the U.S. |
How the Haunted Rankings Were Calculated
The study looked at five factors for each state:
- Reported ghost sightings
- Cemeteries
- Haunted locations
- Abandoned settlements
- Monthly Google searches for ghost-related terms
Gold Rush Boom Towns Left Behind
Much of South Dakota’s ghost town history traces back to the Black Hills gold rush of the 1870s. Mining towns appeared almost overnight, then emptied out just as fast once the gold ran dry.
Rochford: From 500 Residents to About 10
Rochford grew to more than 500 residents by the end of 1878. Today, only about 10 people remain in the former mining town, which has earned the nickname “the friendliest ghost town in the Black Hills.”
Rockerville and the Ghost at the Gaslight Saloon
Rockerville once housed more than 1,000 people. Today, it is home to the Gaslight Restaurant & Saloon, where staff and guests have reported seeing the ghost of a well-dressed man named Samuelson Harney.
The transparent figure is said to appear near the entrance to welcome customers and sometimes play pranks on employees.
A Ghost That Moved With the Bar
According to Travel South Dakota, the spirit supposedly followed the restaurant’s bar, counter and footrail from the historic Harney Hotel in Rapid City, which was demolished in 1976.
Shadows and a Lady in White at Hotel Alex Johnson
The Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City has its own collection of ghost stories:
- An employee reported seeing a black shadow figure dart across a hallway after hearing three loud bangs
- A housekeeper claimed to see a little boy in the lobby who vanished when she approached
- The hotel is also linked to the Lady in White, said to wander the eighth floor
Voices and Shadows at the Homestake Opera House
In the town of Lead, the Homestake Opera House is known for unsettling encounters. Performers and staff have reported shadowy figures in the basement, unexplained voices from dressing rooms, and movement on stage when no one else was there.
Reported Stories, Not Proof
These encounters are reported stories, not proof of supernatural activity. The study also counted ghost towns separately from haunted locations, identifying just 13 supposedly haunted sites in South Dakota.
Visiting South Dakota’s Ghost Towns
For travelers interested in exploring these places:
- Respect private property and posted signs
- Visit during daylight and travel with others
- Check road conditions, as some sites are remote
- Learn the history through local museums and guides
A State Full of Eerie History
With 246 abandoned settlements, 428 reported sightings and a No. 2 national ranking, South Dakota offers plenty of history for anyone curious about the stories left behind by its gold rush past.
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