We were recommended to stop at the Sandon Ghost Town by a friend when we were looking for suggestions on what to do during our trip to the Arrow and Trout Lake areas. We were not disappointed. Steeped in history from times long past this town has plenty to explore. Set in a stunning backdrop of a mountain valley with a few different key areas to look around. The staff are knowledgeable and excited to explain all about the history of the Sandon Ghost Town. It was a perfect stop on our way to Kaslo after camping at McDonald Creek campground near Nakusp.
Where Is The Sandon Ghost Town
Sandon is a perfect spot to check out if you are completing a loop around Nakusp to Kaslo and then back to the Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry. From Kaslo, it is just under a 45 kilometre drive to Sandon via Highway 31A. If you are coming from Nakusp, via New Denver, it is around a 60 kilometre drive via Highway 6 and 31A.
Either way, Sandon is clearly signposted off of Highway 31A, once you turn off the main highway the road gets a little rough but nothing unmanageable, even tour buses can drive the road. For those looking for further adventure by carrying on to Cody from Sandon, the road gets considerably rougher.
Why Was The Town Of Sandon Abandoned
In 1895 Sandon was a booming mining town with around 5000 people living in the town. Thriving on mining silver and other metals, it was boom time for Sandon with two railways running to the town from Nakusp and also Kaslo. The town of Sandon had everything from bars, homes, brothels and shops during this time.
The 1900s saw a huge fire burn down much of the town and by the 1920s silver prices were down and the town had shrunk to an unrecognisable level. It became the location of an internment camp during World War 2 and there was a small growth in the town during the Korean War when metal prices went up.
Ultimately a huge flood in the creek in 1955 destroyed most of the remaining buildings around town. The scars from the river flooding are still very much visible on a trip to Sandon in the modern day.
What You Can See At The Sandon Ghost Town Now
There are a number of old buildings left around Sandon, many in a state of severe disrepair. However some are marked for restoration and include plaques with information about what the building had been in its heyday Era.
The original Town Hall has undergone restoration and features many artefacts from when Sandon was a thriving town along with pictures of the town over the years so you can see how it changed from boom to bust and through natural disasters. The staff who work in the town hall are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, it’s a real treat of a spot to stop in at. There is a small food stand next door for anyone who is a little peckish.
Another glory stop in the town of Sandon is the powerhouse, still a working power station now, it is the oldest still working power station in Canada. Again, staff are on-site and happy to talk you through the workings of the station along with how it has been updated and maintained over the years.
There is also the Brill Trolley Collection, never meant to be permanently housed at Sandon, they were a hit while in the town for storage and therefore ended up becoming a permanent feature. During the summer months one of the trolleys is open to look around and learn about the history of the old buses which now call Sandon home.
The Sandon Historical Society Museum is also worth a visit, located in the last large building on the main road before turning up towards the power station. The museum contains many artefacts relating to the history of the town and there is a small entrance fee, bring cash as they don’t accept any other form of payment.
Outside of the museum everything else is privately run by one family. There are donation boxes around the town. If you enjoy your visit, please donate so they can continue to upkeep the town and restore further buildings, along with paying the staff who, when we visited at least, were super helpful, friendly and knowledgeable and really made the visit worthwhile.
For those looking for further adventure, there are plenty of hiking trails in the area which are clearly signposted from the town and follow the old roads which used to exist when the town was booming.
