Oregon's favorite "Ghost Town" has turned a corner in recent years
The Pioneer Saloon from Shaniko's early days – approximately 1904.
A photo by Rosie Day captures a young cowboy in Shaniko. A group of artists have come to Shaniko in recent years, including photographer Rosie Day. This weekend, Day will show several of her photographs at Shaniko Days in a studio that she helped to retrofit.
A few Shaniko locals have started a gunfighting performing troupe that has entertained visitors. Tourism has continued to grow in Shaniko in recent years.
The old Shaniko Wagon Yard has been preserved and serves as a place to get out of the weather.
The Shaniko Hotel was built in 1902 by the Columbia Southern Railway. In 2023, the South Wasco Fire District took ownership of the hotel.
Wool buyers flocked to Shaniko from across the country in 1903. The town was known as the Wool Capital of the World.
While the town of Shaniko is now a ghost town, The Shaniko Wool Company has maintained its popularity. The company partners with fashion designer Ralph Lauren for the US Olympic Team's apparel. This is the design for the 2024 US Olympic Team in Paris.
Bar man in Shaniko.
Locals play music and hold a dance in Shaniko.
Organizers of the 50th Annual Shaniko Days are excited to welcome people to Oregon's favorite ghost town this Friday through Sunday – August 2nd – 4th.
But maybe it's time to drop the "ghost town" title – as the town has seen a significant amount of investment and cultural developments in recent years.
There's no doubt that Shaniko used to be a big deal. The little town that sits just off of Highway 97 north of Madras was once a boom town and was positioned to be one of the largest cities in Central Oregon.
Shaniko was named for pioneer rancher August Scherneckau, whose name is said to have been pronounced "Shaniko" by local Native Amrericans. The community was originally called "Cross Hollows."
Starting in the late 1860s, Central Oregon began to grow and by 1879 the town of Shaniko had been established and a post office had been erected, along with several buildings. German immigrants poured into the region and by the turn-of-the-century, Shaniko was on its way to being a large city.
The Shaniko Leader, a local newspaper, defined the city as "in the midst of fine stock country, that will soon be known everywhere as a city of first importance."
For a time, that was true.
By 1901, Shaniko was a significant shipping and distribution site. The Columbia Southern Railway constructed large warehouses – big enough to hold 4 million pounds of wool, according to the Shaniko Leader.
Known as the Wool Capital of the World, Shaniko saw explosive growth between 1901 and 1911. It was the largest town in Wasco County and helped many men make their fortunes.
In addition to wool, the town also became a haven for wheat and livestock. The railroad brought workers, and took commodities to markets throughout the United States and beyond.
As men moved West looking for work and opportunity, Shaniko was on the map.
Huge wool sales were held two to three times a year, with thousands of freight wagon trains from Burns, Bend, Condon, Fossil, and Maupin converging in Shaniko.
In one sale during 1903, the Moody Warehouse Company reported that it had sold over 2,230 tones of wool – some $1 million worth, which would be about $35 million today. Wool buyers flocked to the town from California and the Midwest. In addition to wool, some 1,168,866 bushels of wheat were also sold by the Moody Warehouse Company, along with carload after carload of cattle and sheep.In 1904, total sales of wool topped $4 million.
Small railroad companies like the tiny Columbia Southern Railroad amassed fortunes.
It seemed like the good times would last forever, but they did not.
A rival railroad line was established and fires destroyed much of the town's buildings in 1910 and again in 1911.
The town bounced back a couple of times but slowly, the town town's population continued to decline. By 1959, it had been given the Oregon's Favorite Ghost Town Award.
But contrary to popular belief, Shaniko still has a lot of life.
In 2023, the Shaniko Hotel reopened and is being managed by the South Wasco Fire and Rescue Association. Tourists have flocked to the historic hotel. Much of the town's wooden boardwalk is still intact and there is an undeniable time capsule quality for visitors.
A group of locals also started a gun-fighting performance that harkens back to the OK Corral and the old West of Dime Store novels.
Artists have also congregated and have joined in community building efforts.
Photographer Rosie Day, who once brewed beer at Tiger Town in Mitchell, and taught welding and photography at the Spray School, found inspiration in Shaniko. Rosie helped to convert a small space that had been abandoned into an arts space, where many of her photos now hang on display.
Tourism numbers have ticked up in recent years. Events such as the Shaniko Ragtime and Vintage Music Festival have grown in popularity.
And wool is still a big deal – at least for the the town's identity. The Shaniko Wool Company is now headquartered in Maupin, but every four years it partners with megabrand Ralph Lauren to create apparel for the US Olympics Team. Last week at the opening ceremony for the Olympics in France, US athletes were wearing Shaniko Wool as they took in the festivities in Paris.
Along the way, Shaniko has picked up a lot of press and tourism has never been higher.
All of this growth should culminate this weekend.
The Shaniko Hotel is fully booked for the 50th Annual Shaniko Days Festival. There is also a lot of fun entertainment planned for the occasion, along with food vendors.
Idaho Fiddler & Country Band, along with Craig & Friends will perform. Then the Shaniko Days Parade will officially open the celebration on Saturday morning. Organizers expect dancing late into the night when Countryfied takes the stage on Saturday night.
So, if you're looking to party like it's 1904, head to Shaniko this weekend. Just don't call it a ghost town.
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