Fort Laramie

Wyoming's ghost towns were mostly Union Pacific coal camps, built by the railroad and unbuilt when diesel arrived.

Fort Laramie is a town in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 206 at the 2020 census. The town is named after historic Fort Laramie, an important stop on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails, as well as a staging point for various military excursions and treaty signings. The old fort was located south of town across the North Platte River, at the mouth of the Laramie River.

Fort Laramie started with soldiers before it had settlers — the frontier's usual order of operations.

The on-the-ground condition of Fort Laramie 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 Fort Laramie 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 Fort Laramie is roughly 42.2133, -104.5172 — 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.