Sully Springs

North Dakota's ghost towns are homestead-era towns the drought and the Depression emptied in a single brutal decade.

Sully Springs is an unincorporated area and ghost town in Billings County, North Dakota, United States. It was established along the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks and named for General Alfred Sully, who had camped in the area. Around 1880, the railroad established a section house for its workers, which began to grow the town. A general store and three saloons were constructed during this period. Sully Springs gained a post office in 1911 and a school in 1933. However, conditions during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl forced the residents to move, and the town was abandoned by 1939.

Sully Springs sold the one thing the country around it didn't have: water.

The on-the-ground condition of Sully Springs 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 Sully Springs 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 Sully Springs is roughly 46.8672, -103.3917 — 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.