Kirwin, ghost town in Park County, Wyoming, United States
Kirwin is a mining town located in the mountains of Park County, Wyoming, composed of abandoned wooden buildings and mining equipment scattered throughout the landscape. The site contains the remains of structures that once served miners and residents, including hotels, stores, homes, and mine shafts that reveal the extent of past settlement.
Kirwin was founded in the 1880s after William Kirwin discovered gold and silver, which quickly drew prospectors to the area. A major avalanche in 1907 killed three miners and accelerated the town's decline as mining operations became less profitable and many residents left.
The town takes its name from William Kirwin, who discovered gold and silver while hunting on Spar Mountain in the 1880s. The abandoned structures and mining equipment speak to the hard work and dreams of the miners who came seeking fortune in these mountains.
Reaching Kirwin requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle since the mountain road is rough and steep, crossing streams and rocky slopes. Summer offers easier access, and visitors should bring sturdy footwear and water while taking care around deteriorating buildings and open mine shafts.
Renowned aviator Amelia Earhart visited the nearby Double Dee Dude Ranch and had a cabin constructed for her before her mysterious disappearance in 1937 during a flight. Remnants of that cabin still stand about one mile from Kirwin, linking the site to one of aviation's greatest mysteries.
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