There's a particular quiet you only find where a town used to be. Yeldell has it. Yeldell is a ghost town in Jackson County, Oklahoma. It is 10.1 miles (16.3 km) southeast of Altus. Nothing remains there, besides the former town well and the Yeldell Lodge in Elmer.
Jackson County holds 5 documented ghost towns, including Frazer, Hess, Martha — Yeldell keeps them company on the map.
The story of Yeldell
Oklahoma's ghost towns got it from both sides — oil booms that built them overnight and the Dust Bowl that emptied them.
Yeldell is a ghost town in Jackson County, Oklahoma. It is 10.1 miles (16.3 km) southeast of Altus. Nothing remains there, besides the former town well and the Yeldell Lodge in Elmer.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Yeldell 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.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Yeldell 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 Yeldell is roughly 34.4862, -99.2980 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.
Good to know
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.
Survey Map
Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting
Yeldell FAQs
01Where is Yeldell located?
02What county is Yeldell in?
03What is the history of Yeldell?
04What remains at Yeldell today?
05Can you visit Yeldell?
Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Yeldell, Oklahoma”), CC BY-SA.
More in Jackson County
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