Bates

Oregon's ghost towns are timber camps and high-desert gold strikes, preserved by dry air and long distances.

Bates is an unincorporated community in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It has a post office with a ZIP code 97817. The elevation is 4,062 feet (1,238 m). On December 30, 1960, the Oregon Lumber Company sold the Bates mill and townsite to the Edward Hines Lumber Company, which operated the mill until 1975, when it was closed and dismantled. The post office closed on January 2, 1976. Bates had a peak population of up to 400. Bates State Park opened in 2011.

The on-the-ground condition of Bates 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 Bates 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 Bates is roughly 44.5929, -118.5086 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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.