Ghost TownUSA

Ghost Town · Colorado

Bowen

A ghost town of unknown status in Las Animas County, Colorado.

By the Ghost Town USA research team Last reviewed September 2026

Bowen ghost town, Colorado
Plate I — Bowen, ColoradoPhoto: Library of Congress (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons

Bowen doesn't need a haunted reputation — the empty streets do the talking. Thomas Mead Bowen (October 26, 1835 – December 30, 1906) was a state legislator in Iowa and Colorado, a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, briefly the governor of I

Las Animas County holds 13 documented ghost towns, including Abeyta, Berwind, Beshoar — Bowen keeps them company on the map.

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The story of Bowen

Colorado's high-country ghost towns sit at altitudes that would give a flatlander nosebleeds — silver camps killed by an 1893 vote in Washington.

Thomas Mead Bowen (October 26, 1835 – December 30, 1906) was a state legislator in Iowa and Colorado, a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, briefly the governor of Idaho Territory, an elected judge in Colorado and a United States senator from Colorado.

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What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Bowen 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.

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Getting there

Here's the honest truth: access to Bowen 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.

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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.

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Survey Map

Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting

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Bowen FAQs

01Where is Bowen located?
Bowen is in Las Animas County, Colorado. Precise coordinates aren't on record, so research maps and local directions before you go.
02What county is Bowen in?
Bowen sits in Las Animas County, Colorado. See our full guide to ghost towns in Las Animas County for its neighbors.
03What is the history of Bowen?
Thomas Mead Bowen (October 26, 1835 – December 30, 1906) was a state legislator in Iowa and Colorado, a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, briefly the governor of Idaho Territory, an elected judge in Colo
04What remains at Bowen today?
The on-the-ground condition of Bowen 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.
05Can you visit Bowen?
Here's the honest truth: access to Bowen 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.

Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Thomas M. Bowen”), CC BY-SA.

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More in Las Animas County

All 13 ghost towns in Las Animas County →