Pinkney City

Washington's ghost towns are mill towns and mining camps in country so green the forest is already taking them back.

Pinkney City (also called Pinkneyville) was a small community outside of Fort Colville (US Army) in what is now Stevens County, Washington. Originally named for Brevet Major Pinkney Lugenbeel, first commander and builder of the fort in 1859. The town grew up around the fort shortly after. The civilian town just north of the U.S. Army post soon became an important trading center and, in 1860, the county seat for the original Spokane County.

Calling it Pinkney City was either optimism or a very good joke — boomtowns were never modest about their ambitions.

The on-the-ground condition of Pinkney City 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 Pinkney City 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 Pinkney City is roughly 48.5764, -117.8781 — 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.