Scattered across Wyoming’s wide, wind-swept plains are the fading bones of homesteads that once stood proud against the elements. These were homes built by pioneers with grit, carving lives from soil and sky, staking their dreams in a land both beautiful and brutal. But on the High Plains, the wind is relentless—whittling wood, tearing roofs, and carrying away the last echoes of laughter and struggle. Some of these places were abandoned slowly, others in a single storm. Today, their remains—weathered timbers, sunken cellars, rusted hinges—tell quiet stories of surrender. Here are ten forgotten Wyoming homesteads that lost their battle with the wind.

1. Frank Nevin Homestead (1890s) – Carbon County

Perched on the wide-open plains of Carbon County, the Frank Nevin Homestead is a quiet relic of Wyoming’s ranching past—and a casualty of its relentless wind. Built in the 1890s, the homestead once housed a family determined to carve out a life amid the sagebrush and sky. But as decades passed, the prairie wind proved the stronger settler. It peeled away the shingles, tugged at the walls, and whispered through every crack until the structure gave way. Today, the Nevin Homestead leans and buckles under an endless blue sky, its weathered boards etched with the story of a family’s hope—and the wind’s patient triumph.

2. Joseph Bischoff Homestead (1928-29) – Big Horn County

​Nestled near the mouth of Cottonwood Canyon east of Lovell, Wyoming, the Joseph Bischoff Homestead No. 2 stands as a testament to early 20th-century homesteading in Big Horn County. The cabin, constructed around 1928–1929, showcases meticulous craftsmanship with logs milled on three sides and lumber strips placed between joints for a tight fit. Its most remarkable feature is the stone fireplace and exterior chimney, built from quarried stones and firebricks salvaged from the Big Horn Glass Company Factory in Lovell, which was destroyed by fire in 1930. Many of these stones retain a veneer of melted glass, known locally as “Lovellite,” prized by rockhounds for its unique appearance. Over the years, the cabin has deteriorated, with the roof collapsing and interior features suffering from vandalism.

3. 1900s Folk Victorian Home in Evanston

​Tucked away near Evanston, Wyoming, stands a weathered homestead, its wooden frame leaning under the weight of time and the relentless prairie winds. Captured in a poignant photograph titled “Better Days” by David Brossard in May 2019, this abandoned structure lies not far from the historic Union Station, serving as a silent testament to the lives once lived within its walls. The image reveals peeling paint, sagging beams, and a roof partially claimed by the elements, embodying the harsh realities faced by settlers in the High Plains. As the wind continues its unyielding assault, this solitary homestead stands as a haunting reminder of the transient nature of human endeavors against the enduring forces of nature.

4. Late 1800s Folk Victorian Home in Eastern Wyoming

Perched on the endless prairie of eastern Wyoming, the abandoned homestead is more than a ruin—it’s a relic of the hard-fought dreams that once tried to take root on the High Plains. Every board and beam tell the story of a place that stood tall against the elements for as long as it could, until the Wyoming wind—ceaseless, bone-dry, and unforgiving—finally pried it loose from the land. There are no fences left to mark its boundary, no path to its front door. Just wind, sky, and the memory of a life that tried to hold on. This is a home that didn’t fall in a flash—it bowed, bent, and surrendered, piece by piece, under decades of storm and solitude. And now, with only its silhouette breaking the horizon, it reminds us of how easily the plains reclaim what was once so stubbornly claimed by human hands.

5. 1889 Folk Victorian Home in Cambria

The abandoned house in Cambria, Wyoming, stands as a poignant relic of the town’s once-thriving coal mining community. Established in 1889, Cambria was a bustling hub, with a population peaking at over 900 residents by 1900. However, by 1928, the town had been abandoned, leaving behind structures like this house to succumb to the harsh elements of the High Plains. Today, Cambria remains a ghost town, its history preserved through images like this, reminding us of the impermanence of human settlements in the face of nature’s enduring forces.

6. Trout Creek Blockhouse (1871) – Fort Washakie

The Trout Creek Blockhouse, also known as the Wind River Agency Blockhouse, stands as one of Wyoming’s oldest surviving structures. Constructed in 1871 on the Wind River Indian Reservation near Fort Washakie, it was built at the suggestion of Chief Washakie to protect the Shoshone and non-Indians from raids by Cheyenne, Northern Arapaho, and Sioux tribes. After the region became more stable, the blockhouse served various purposes, including as a jail and a storehouse. Recognizing its historical significance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 23, 2000.

7. Miner’s Delight (Late 1860s) – Hamilton City

Nestled in the rugged terrain near the Continental Divide in central Wyoming, Miner’s Delight—originally known as Hamilton City—emerged in 1867 following the discovery of gold in the Sweetwater Mining District. By 1870, the town had a population of 75, with 40 miners actively extracting gold from the area. The Miner’s Delight Mine, located about a quarter mile west of the town, was the richest in the district, contributing significantly to the town’s brief prosperity. However, like many mining towns of the era, Miner’s Delight experienced several boom-and-bust cycles, leading to its eventual decline.

8. South Pass City Homestead (1867) – Fremont County

The South Pass City Homestead in Fremont County, Wyoming, is a poignant reminder of the state’s rich mining heritage. Established in 1867, South Pass City quickly became a bustling gold mining town, reaching its peak population of approximately 2,000 by 1870. The discovery of gold in the nearby Carissa Mine fueled this rapid growth, attracting prospectors and entrepreneurs from across the nation. However, the town’s prosperity was short-lived; by the mid-1870s, the gold veins began to deplete, leading to a steady decline in population. Despite this, South Pass City remained the county seat of Sweetwater County until 1874, after which the seat was moved to Green River.

9. Bath Ranch (1869-70) – Laramie

The Bath Ranch, also known as the Bath Brothers Ranch or Stone Ranch, stands as one of Wyoming’s oldest and most resilient homesteads. Established around 1869–70 by Henry Bath near Laramie, it was among the first ranches in Albany County. In 1875, Henry and his sons constructed the current stone house and barn using locally quarried stone, each with walls 18 inches thick. Designed as fortified refuges, these structures reflect the unsettled period marked by Native American uprisings. The Bath family continued to influence Wyoming’s ranching culture, raising horses and cattle for over 150 years.

10. John Moulton Barn (1912) – Teton County

The John Moulton Barn, situated within the Mormon Row Historic District in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, is a striking example of early 20th-century homesteading architecture. Constructed in 1912 by John Moulton, a Mormon settler from Idaho, the barn features a distinctive four-sided gambrel roof, setting it apart from the nearby T.A. Moulton Barn, which boasts a gable-and-shed roof design. John Moulton and his brother Thomas Alma Moulton were among the first to homestead in the area, arriving in 1908 and contributing significantly to the development of the Mormon Row community.