Loring

Alaska's ghost towns are the most extreme on the continent — total commitment, total abandonment, everything preserved by the cold.

Loring (Lingít: Kax̱.àan) was established in 1885 with the first post office in the District of Alaska and is a census-designated place (CDP) in Ketchikan Gateway Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population is 0, down from 4 at the 2010 census, although the number increases in summer months. Located due north of downtown Ketchikan on Revillagigedo Island, Loring was once Ketchikan's rival as the service center for the area's fishing and timber industries.

The on-the-ground condition of Loring 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 Loring 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.