There's a particular quiet you only find where a town used to be. Austin has it. Austin Taylor O'Brien (born May 11, 1981) is an American actor and photographer.
Grant County County holds 6 documented ghost towns, including Bates, Cabell City, Galena — Austin keeps them company on the map.
The story of Austin
Oregon's ghost towns are timber camps and high-desert gold strikes, preserved by dry air and long distances.
Austin Taylor O'Brien (born May 11, 1981) is an American actor and photographer. He is known for playing the co-lead Danny Madigan in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film Last Action Hero, followed by his turn into romance as Nick Zsigmond in My Girl 2, a part in both The Lawnmower Man and its sequel, Logan Bruno in The Baby-Sitters Club and as Josh Greene in the CBS drama Promised Land. O'Brien originally gained fame from a Circuit City commercial as a kid who, after finding out he had saved some money by shopping at Circuit City, simply says, "Cool," to a store employee.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Austin 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.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Austin 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. The mapped point for Austin is roughly 44.6035, -118.4974 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.
Good to know
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.
Survey Map
Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting
Austin FAQs
01Where is Austin located?
02What county is Austin in?
03What is the history of Austin?
04What remains at Austin today?
05Can you visit Austin?
Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Austin O'Brien”), CC BY-SA.
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