Belly Up to the Bar in this Tiny Wyoming Ghost Town

Dozens of ghost towns exist throughout Colorado and Wyoming, now sitting in solitude, simply serving as historic pieces of the past. Many of these once-thriving former communities were established by miners and railroad workers who had settled in the region for career opportunities.

One of these ghost towns can be found about two and a half hours away from Fort Collins, just off Route 20.

Lost Springs, Wyoming was first inhabited by railroad workers in the 1880s. An early map had indicated that there was a spring there, attracting people to the area. However, the railroad workers never found the water source, hence the town's name, Lost Springs.

The town was officially incorporated in 1911. Around this time, Lost Springs had approximately 200 residents, most of whom worked at the nearby Rosin coal mine. After the mine closed around 1930, the population of Lost Springs began to rapidly decline.

By 1960, the population of the town had dropped to five.

In 1976, Lost Springs gained national recognition by being designated as the smallest incorporated town in America. At that point in time, the town's population was 11.

According to the last census in 2020, Lost Springs' population had dropped back down to just 6 residents.

Despite the absence of people, Lost Springs still has a bar that many say is worth stopping into.

Lost Bar is located at 1 Main Street/1936 CO Road 46. Although the local watering hole's hours are spotty, it's a lively place to grab a drink or bite to eat when they are open. Past patrons say they serve delicious food, like pizza and sandwiches, and have big TVs with sports on. Customers also note how friendly and welcoming the staff is at this small-town, Wyoming bar.

Taking a drive through this ghost town is like stepping back in time.