Wabek

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

Wabek Consolidated School, located at 3825 64th Ave. NW in Mountrail County, North Dakota near New Town, North Dakota, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. The school is a unique two-room schoolhouse, assembled in 1917 by adjoining two one-room schoolhouses, which were moved to the present site at Wabek. A bell-tower was inserted between them, which was likely the original bell tower associated with the right half of the building prior to physical consolidation in 1917.

The on-the-ground condition of Wabek 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 Wabek 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 Wabek is roughly 47.9669, -101.9584 — 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.