Porter's Mills

Wisconsin's ghost towns are lead mines, lumber towns, and cutover country that went back to forest.

Porter's Mills, also called Porterville, was a logging boomtown in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States, between Brunswick and Eau Claire, at 44° 46' 15" N 91° 34' 01" W. at an elevation of 771 feet.

Porter's Mills sounds like exactly what it was — a working town, not a resort.

The on-the-ground condition of Porter's Mills 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 Porter's Mills 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 Porter's Mills is roughly 44.7708, -91.5669 — 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.