Bonanza City (ghost town) in Custer County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)
Bonanza City
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 25, 2017
1. Bonanza City Marker
You now stand among the remains of Bonanza City, laid out in 1877 and the Yankee Fork's first mining camp. Pack trails linking Ketchum, Stanley, Loon Creek, and Challis converged in Bonanza. At its peak, Bonanza had over 600 residents, a rectangular grid of streets, and provided city services such as community wells. An underground water system piped water for drinking and fire protection throughout the town.
Despite this foresight, fires in 1889 and 1897 devastated portions of Bonanza. The loss of business due to fires and the increased activity at Custer encouraged many to relocate. Today little is left of Bonanza with the exception of a few buildings and the Forest Service Guard Station constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934. One mile west, in cluster of pines, overlooking the Yankee Fork, is the historic Bonanza Cemetery. Nearby is Boot Hill Cemetery and the grave of Lizzie King, whose death remains a Yankee Fork mystery.
Erected by Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Bureau of Land Management.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.
Location. 44° 22.351′ N, 114° 43.621′
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Idaho Sawtooth Range. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dredge Tailings (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dredge Camp Family Life (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dredge Beginnings (approx. 0.4 miles away); Yankee Fork Gold Dredge (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Crew of the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chinese Businesses (approx. 1½ miles away); Custer City (approx. 1.6 miles away); Nevada House Hotel (site) (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bonanza City (ghost town).
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 25, 2017
2. Bonanza City
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 25, 2017
3. Bonanza City
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 25, 2017
4. Bonanza City
Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,044 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 13, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A mid-distance view of the marker and Bonanza City. • Can you help?
