28 Ghost Towns That Have Transformed Into Tourist Hotspots

18. Rhyolite, Nevada: Desert Ruins with a Modern Edge

Rhyolite rose and fell with the gold rush of the early 1900s, leaving behind dramatic ruins in Nevada’s unforgiving desert. But in recent decades, Rhyolite has reemerged—not as a functioning town, but as a surreal blend of ghost town and outdoor art exhibit. Adjacent to the crumbling bank and train depot, visitors will find the Goldwell Open Air Museum, home to large-scale sculptures that add a modern, imaginative layer to the historic site. It's a striking mix of past and present that makes Rhyolite a must-see stop on the road to Death Valley.