Discover Shaniko Ghost Town In Oregon: Former “Wool Capital of the World”

Shaniko is a hidden gem, and one of the best ghost towns in Oregon! If you enjoy visiting quirky destinations, spooky locations or off-the-beaten-path places, this is somewhere that needs to be on your Oregon bucket list.

Shaniko is a ghost town in Oregon that was once the “Wool Capital of the World”. It is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the country and totally worth visiting on a day trip from Bend or if you’re traveling through Central Oregon along Interstate-97 on your way to or from Portland.

Unlike other ghost towns, Shaniko never struck gold. Instead, wool was what made this place a boomtown in the early twentieth century. In fact, this town produced so much wool that it became known as the “Wool Capital of the World”.

How much wool? Well, in 1903, when Shaniko gained the nickname “Wool Capital of the World”, the town had shipped 2,229 tons of wool which made a profit of $3,000,000 in wool sales. In today’s dollars, that’s almost a whopping $200,000,000!!!

The second sale of that year deposited another million into the bank. There was a third sale that year too. In 1904, total annual sales were $5,000,000.

In addition to the several thousand tons of wool, over 1,160,000 bushels of wheat and numerous carloads of stock were shipped out of Shaniko on the Columbia Southern Railroad making it one of the most productive short rail lines in the nation.

Of course all good things come to an end and by 1911, Shaniko was subject to a dwindling population, no thanks to a rival rail line along the Deschutes River Canyon linking Portland to Bend. It was more direct and scenic than the current Columbia Southern line which ran between The Dalles and Shaniko.

Two fires in 1910 and 1911 that destroyed almost all of the buildings in the downtown area did not help the problem regarding the town’s diminishing residents.

Now, Shaniko is an almost ghost town, a slice of Americana that curious road trippers can visit to reflect on the rise and fall of an American frontier outpost situated on the still sparsely-populated, high desert plains of Central Oregon.

Although aged and weathered, there are many buildings that remain from Shaniko’s glory days. Many of these buildings remain unchanged despite the years that have gone by. Step back in time and roam streets lined with antique buildings that will give you a peek into what life was like in the early 1900s.

Walk down authentic wooden sidewalks, peer into abandoned buildings, and step foot inside an old county jail that looks like a film set from a John Wayne or Clint Eastwood movie.

Most of the interesting buildings can be found in the historic downtown area along E Street and 4th Street. An impressive Italianate-style building known as Shaniko Hotel marks the intersection between these two streets.

Directly across from Shaniko Hotel is the Shaniko Sage Museum, a small museum that contains fascinating photos, maps, and books about historic families that lived here once upon a time. This building is kept open for visitors throughout the day and night. Do note there are no attendants onsite.

You’ll want to be careful as you walk along the wooden sidewalks and explore some of the buildings in Shaniko as many of the floorboards are loose and walls unstable.

You can wander away from the main downtown area and tour several streets lined with abandoned houses and buildings. If you happen to feel like you are being watched, you may very well be, because there are a handful of people that still call Shaniko home. Be careful that you don’t accidently trespass on their private property.

Here is a quick guide to visiting Shaniko, including which buildings you must see, where to stay, and when the best time to visit is.

Where Is Shaniko?

Shaniko is located in Wasco County in north-central Oregon. The town is situated right on the I-97 therefore makes a great stop for road trippers traveling between Oregon and California. This ghost town also makes a great day trip destination from Bend since it is only 80 miles north.

You could visit Shaniko from Portland, but it’s an almost three hour drive. If you are coming from Portland, you may as well see other nearby attractions such as the Painted Hills, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, The Cove Palisades State Park, or Smith Rock State Park.

• From Bend, it is only 80 miles north via US-97. It will take you 1 hour and 40 minutes to drive.
• From Portland, it is about 130 miles west via US-26. The drive will take around 3 hours.
• From the Mount Hood area, the route to Shaniko takes just 1 hour and 40 minutes. It’s about 85 miles east via US-26, OR-216, and Bakeoven Rd.
• From Tri-Cities, it is 170 miles and will take about 3 hours to drive traveling along I-84 and I-97.

Things To See In Shaniko Ghost Town

There are several buildings worth seeing in the historic downtown area of Shaniko that make this ghost town worthy of a road trip. Shaniko Hotel is the most impressive building here. In 1979, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Also not to miss in the historic district is the old post office, city hall, schoolhouse, and a water tower made entirely out of wood. Adjacent to the city hall is a jail that is open to visitors. Be sure to go inside and see how small and cramped it was for prisoners.

A few streets away from the main road is a big wool shed which is a must see. The shed is extremely photogenic so be sure to walk over with your camera in tow.

The Shaniko Historic District was designated in 1982. Historic buildings include the Shaniko Hotel, Sage Museum, Shaniko School, City Hall, Shaniko Jail, the Wedding Chapel, and the Wool Warehouse.

During certain times of the year, a cafe and ice cream shop will be open but don’t count on it. Here is a guide to some of the must see buildings in Shaniko.

Shaniko Hotel

There is no doubt the Shaniko Hotel is the star attraction in Shaniko. Originally known as the Columbia Southern Hotel, this beautiful Italianate-style building has been standing here since 1902.

The handsome building which was built by the Columbia Southern Railway has served as a bank, dance hall, saloon, and stage stop in its heyday. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Be sure to walk around the building and admire its beautiful handmade red-brick structure. Unfortunately you can’t explore inside the building but feel free to peer through the windows. There are old pictures of families on the walls and other antique items from Shaniko’s heyday.

Oregon billionaire Robert Pamplin Jr. purchased Shaniko Hotel in 2000 and restored it with the hopes of operating it one day for tourists but to his dismay, the Shaniko City Council denied him a permit for a private well which was necessary to supply water to the hotel and restaurant.

Pamplin owns over 70 acres of land in Shaniko as well as the old city hall, jail, wool barn, and several shops in the historic downtown area, along with the RV park just outside of town.

Shaniko County Jail

Attached to Shaniko City Hall is the county jail which is kept open for visitors. Inside is a small office and two very small jail cells.

Poke your head in for a quick look or step inside and imagine what it must have been like back when Shaniko was a lively town. This room seems just like a set out of a western film complete with props (I’m unsure whether they are original) like cowboy hats and feather pens.

Shaniko Sage Museum

Shaniko Sage Museum, located across the road from the hotel, is a small wooden building that houses a collection of old maps, photos, and other artifacts from families that once lived in the area.

This museum is very cramped, dusty, and has cobwebs all over the room. It is kept open throughout the day for visitors however there are no attendants onsite. Feel free to go in and look around as you please.

Shaniko Wool Shed

A few streets away from the center of town is a large shed with bright-red, tin roof. Presumably it once housed the many tons of wool that was produced in the area.

According to historic figures, Shaniko shipped 2,229 tons of wool in 1903 which netted three million dollars in wool sales. The second sale of that year saw one million dollars deposited into the bank. There was a third sale that year as well. In 1904, total annual sales were a whopping five million dollars.

You can see why Shaniko gained the nickname “Wool Capital of the World”.

You can drive over to the shed or walk to it from the center of downtown. Around the shed are some old relics like rusty cars, wagons, and farming machinery that are interesting to inspect.

The shed has the town’s name painted on the roof and makes for a great photo opportunity so don’t forget to bring your camera with you as you wander the premises. On a clear day, you might get lucky and be able to see the Cascades distinct peaks in the distance.

Shaniko Ice Cream Shop

Unlike most other ghost towns, Shaniko still does have a business or two in operation such as this ice cream parlor called Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe. Yep, a ghost town with open businesses! A little strange right?

This cafe doesn’t really offer a lot of food choice, but they do serve hot dogs, sandwiches, and of course ice cream. The ice cream comes in a surprising number of flavors including huckleberry, blackberry, peanut butter, pecan, and black licorice.

You can’t miss the cafe as it is inside the cutest little building with bright, fire-engine red doors. There are a few dining booths so you can dine inside.

Shaniko Water Tower

Shaniko’s old wooden water tower situated on the corner of C and 6th streets was built in the year 1900. It can hold up to 10,000 gallons of water. Back in the day, water was pumped from nearby Cross Hollow Canyon through a wooden pipe system then stored in two large wooden tanks in town.

Where To Stay Near Shaniko

Unfortunately there is no lodging in the immediate area. The nearest place to stay is in Madras which is a forty minute drive south. Look for motels in Madras here.

If you’re traveling south, a better place to stay is in Redmond which is an hour away. In Redmond, the top-rated hotels are SCP Hotel (in downtown Redmond), Juniper Preserve Resort, and Brasada Ranch.

Otherwise, keep heading to Bend where there are plenty of accommodations to choose from including budget motels and boutique hotels.

Are you heading north towards Portland? Break up your drive in The Dalles! I love staying in The Dalles because it’s such a cute tiny town with several good restaurants and bars. We usually stay at Cousins Country Inn which is a basic motel but it has a great attached diner. Look for more hotels in The Dalles.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Shaniko?

You can visit Shaniko at any time of the year. There are no entrance or parking fees. It is just a small town off the highway. Keep in mind that there are still a few remaining residents that live here year-round so be respectful and do not trespass on private property.

From April through September, a few small businesses are open to visitors including a museum, coffee shop, ice cream shop, and gas station. Go for a wander through town to see what is open.

As for the best time of day to visit, around sunset is the best time to take photos. The skies in Central Oregon at this time of day are magical and produce silky pink skies.

Shaniko is less than three hours of Portland and conveniently located on Highway 97 — on the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway. Consider driving this route to visit other iconic Oregon destinations like the Painted Hills and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Other places of interest nearby include Smith Rock State Park and the Columbia River Gorge.

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