Exploring Jeffrey City, Wyoming – a semi-ghost town

On a long, lonely stretch of low-trafficked highway in Central Wyoming between Rawlins and Lander, lies the “town” of Jeffrey City. Jeffrey City is considered to be a semi-ghost town – it’s home to about 50 residents but at one point in the early ’80s, 4,000+ folks called this town home. We were passing through the area on our road trip and we decided to stop in at the local bar, Split Rocks, for burgers. After dinner (which was delicious!) we explored the near-ghost town of Jeffrey City, Wyoming.

Jeffrey City, Wyoming History:

This Wyoming History storyboard below explains it best – basically, Jeffrey City was once a small town called “Home on the Range” in the high plains of central Wyoming with a handful of residents. In the ’50s, a prospector discovered uranium in this area and created a mining company. The town was renamed “Jeffrey City”, after one of the company’s financial backers. Uranium boomed in the 1970s, and so did Jeffrey City! High paying mining jobs were created, and the town grew to over 4,000 residents at its peak in 1980. However, the uranium market busted, and almost overnight, the mine closed, families immediately fled town, and in 1982, only 1,000 residents remained. Today, according to the 2010 census, only 58 people call Jeffrey City home.

I’ve visited a lot of ghost towns and I found Jeffrey City, Wyoming to be absolutely fascinating. Jeffrey City is a modern ghost town, and it feels a bit different than your typical ghost town in the Western United States, in that not only are a handful of people still living here, the buildings here are modern – many of which looked pre-fabricated. So, rather than the old log cabin or crumbling brick structure found in a town like Bodie, California or Bannack, Montana, you’ll find townhomes and community centers that were built in the 1970s, rather than the 1870s. The town was eerie and quiet, and it was very difficult to imagine 4,000 people living here at one time.

Visiting Jeffrey City, Wyoming

Jeffrey City Wyoming is located on US Highway 287, a desolate stretch of road in Central Wyoming, located between Rawlins, Wyoming and Lander, Wyoming. As if Wyoming isn’t isolated enough, this stretch of road is desolate even by Wyoming standards! This area isn’t well-traveled and gives you a true feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere. If you make the trip out to Jeffrey City, or happen to be on this stretch of road (you may find yourself on it en route to Yellowstone National Park or Grand Teton National Park), make sure to fill up your tank in Rawlins or Lander.

As I explored the crumbling streets with overgrown weeds and broken concrete, I didn’t see a single person outside or a car drive by. The only people I saw where the two employees working in Split Rocks and a few motorists who stopped to fill up gas.

You cannot go into any of the buildings; they are all posted with no trespassing signs, so just view them from the street. As I went through the town on foot, I saw all kinds of abandoned places: the old dorms for the miners, a community center, an auto shop, the old football field for the school, tennis courts, a liquor store, townhomes (where a few people were still living), and a bowling alley.

I did see some businesses still operating – Split Rocks, a fire station, a church, an elementary school, the Green Mountain Motel, a cyclist hostel, and a pottery shop across the highway.

Most of the roads were in really rough shape where nature was reclaiming them, so if you’re going to explore with your vehicle, just be mindful that there might be broken glass, uneven pavement, and sharp concrete pieces. It also can be extremely windy here, so even exploring on foot can be unpleasant. This is the high plains of Wyoming and there is nothing to block that wind!

So how was Split Rocks?

I’ll be frank. Had I been traveling alone or with my sister, I wouldn’t have dared walk into Split Rocks! I would’ve kept driving until I hit Riverton, and then hit up a Subway. From the outside, this looks like a true locals-only small town dive bar where a fight breaks out every night and someone ends up losing a tooth. I would’ve stuck out like a sore thumb. (I was also scared to enter the Ski Inn bar at the Salton Sea!). Now that I’ve been there, there is nothing to be apprehensive about and I’d definitely go back, even if I was alone or with my sister. The employees were friendly and the food was excellent. We both ordered cheeseburgers and french fries and it hit the spot!

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed my visit to Jeffrey City and if you like ghost towns and abandoned buildings, definitely check out this modern day ghost town if you happen to be in the area. This entire area is very isolated (it’s over an hour drive to any decent-sized city (and by decent sized, I mean Rawlins, pop. 8,820)) The howling wind adds to its eerie ambiance. And make sure you come with an appetite! Stop in at Split Rocks and get a burger basket and chat with the bartender!

Have you been to Jeffrey City Wyoming? Let me know in the comments!