There’s a good chance you’ve hard about Kennecott, but if you haven’t, it’s a destination in Alaska that everyone must check out. Once a booming town in the center of several copper mines, it now stands almost completely empty… yet eerily preserved. This ghost town in Alaska is a must see if you’re in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve! One of the most amazing abandoned places in Alaska, this is one place you won’t forget after you visit.

Kennecott is located beside the Kennicott Glacier, northeast of Valdez, inside Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

Christoph Strassler / Flickr

The copper mines it sits between were very active and very profitable in the early 1900s.

arbyreed / flickr

But in the 20s and 30s, the mines were quickly depleting, meaning the end was near for towns like Kennecott.

Urban Archaeology / Flickr

By 1940, Kennecott was little more than a ghost town except for a family of 3 that served as watchmen until 1952. As the buildings began to age, this town became one of the creepy places in Alaska to visit.

Martin Prochnik / Flickr

Here’s a small residential area and hospital that’s leftover from when Kennecott was a lively place.

NPS Cultural Landscapes / Flickr

There were attempts over the years to demolish it, but ultimately it became a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Jeffrey L. Cohen / Flickr

With that came tourism and it’s likely why those of you who have been there heard about it at all. The town has never been repopulated.

Jeffrey L. Cohen / Flickr

Touring the abandoned buildings and mines is definitely an awesome experience. Many people also go glacier hiking and ice climbing.

James Brooks / Flickr

There’s still lots of leftover debris from the mill, making it a truly preserved ghost town.

Jeffrey L. Cohen / Flickr

If you’re ever in the area, check it out. It’s accessible either by air or by driving on the Edgerton Highway to the McCarthy Road.

Jeffrey L. Cohen / Flickr

Want to see more? Check out the video:

Christoph Strassler / Flickr

arbyreed / flickr

Urban Archaeology / Flickr

Martin Prochnik / Flickr

NPS Cultural Landscapes / Flickr

Jeffrey L. Cohen / Flickr

James Brooks / Flickr

Have you ever been to Kennecott, this ghost town in Alaska? If so, tell us about your experience in the comments. Was it creepy? Were the views incredible? We want to hear all about it!

If you love this town and want to stay longer, book a stay where The Views At This Glacier Lodge In Alaska Will Leave You Speechless.

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Address: Kennicott, McCarthy, AK 99566, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Ghost Town In Alaska August 28, 2020 Megan McDonald What is so special about Wrangell - St. Elias National Park? Wrangell- St Elias is actually America’s largest National Park! It covers 13.2 million beautiful acres. It is so huge it could fit Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined! It has the largest concentration of glaciers in all of North America. The highest peak in the park, Mount St Elias, sits at 18,008 feet. That’s the 2nd tallest peak in the entire United States.  Wrangell - St. Elias also has nine of the sixteen highest peaks in America. It has a fantastic representation of Alaskan wildlife, and is home to a glacier larger than the state of Rhode Island. This park is home to an unimaginable amount of beauty and majesty. You truly have to see it to believe it! How many people visit Wrangell- St. Elias National Park every year? Even though this park is the largest in all of America, it has some of the lowest number of visitors. In 2019, only 74,518 people visited this awe inspiring National Park. This is mostly due to the fact that the park, although immense, is almost entirely remote. Nabesna Road and McCarthy Road both head into the park, but those are the only roads. McCarthy and its neighboring historic mining town of Kennicott both reside inside the boundaries of the park, and they receive visitors every summer.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Ghost Town In Alaska

August 28, 2020

Megan McDonald

What is so special about Wrangell - St. Elias National Park? Wrangell- St Elias is actually America’s largest National Park! It covers 13.2 million beautiful acres. It is so huge it could fit Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined! It has the largest concentration of glaciers in all of North America. The highest peak in the park, Mount St Elias, sits at 18,008 feet. That’s the 2nd tallest peak in the entire United States.  Wrangell - St. Elias also has nine of the sixteen highest peaks in America. It has a fantastic representation of Alaskan wildlife, and is home to a glacier larger than the state of Rhode Island. This park is home to an unimaginable amount of beauty and majesty. You truly have to see it to believe it! How many people visit Wrangell- St. Elias National Park every year? Even though this park is the largest in all of America, it has some of the lowest number of visitors. In 2019, only 74,518 people visited this awe inspiring National Park. This is mostly due to the fact that the park, although immense, is almost entirely remote. Nabesna Road and McCarthy Road both head into the park, but those are the only roads. McCarthy and its neighboring historic mining town of Kennicott both reside inside the boundaries of the park, and they receive visitors every summer.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Wrangell- St Elias is actually America’s largest National Park! It covers 13.2 million beautiful acres. It is so huge it could fit Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined! It has the largest concentration of glaciers in all of North America. The highest peak in the park, Mount St Elias, sits at 18,008 feet. That’s the 2nd tallest peak in the entire United States.  Wrangell - St. Elias also has nine of the sixteen highest peaks in America. It has a fantastic representation of Alaskan wildlife, and is home to a glacier larger than the state of Rhode Island. This park is home to an unimaginable amount of beauty and majesty. You truly have to see it to believe it!

How many people visit Wrangell- St. Elias National Park every year?

Even though this park is the largest in all of America, it has some of the lowest number of visitors. In 2019, only 74,518 people visited this awe inspiring National Park. This is mostly due to the fact that the park, although immense, is almost entirely remote. Nabesna Road and McCarthy Road both head into the park, but those are the only roads. McCarthy and its neighboring historic mining town of Kennicott both reside inside the boundaries of the park, and they receive visitors every summer.