Alva

Wyoming's ghost towns were mostly built by one company: the Union Pacific. The railroad's coal mines at Rock Springs, Hanna, and a string of camps across the southern tier fueled the locomotives that crossed the continent, and the company built the towns to house the miners — then unbuilt them when diesel replaced steam. Alva, in Crook County County, comes out of that industrial logic: a place that existed at the intersection of a coal seam and a timetable. South Pass gold added a brief, genuine rush in the 1860s-70s, but coal and the railroad were the real economy, and when the railroad's needs changed, the towns had no appeal to make.

The on-the-ground condition of Alva is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Alva is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.