This is a bit off the path but well worth the time. You can see the old buildings from a once bustling town of the old West. There is a post office still in service. Fun place to see. Highly recommend a visit.

We have stopped at Shaniko Ghost Town numerous times on our way to Washington from California. It's hard to believe that it's real because it looks like a Hollywood movie set, but it is real. It's fun to imagine what it use to look like back in the wild west days. I love history and if you do too, you will love this little ghost town!

Spent a hot minute in Shaniko. (Really, it was 99°!) Talked with the owner of the grocery store. The only business that was open. From what he told me, he has the only operating business in the town of 25 residents. There is a Texaco gas station, but he told me it has never had gas. Worth a stop, just to talk with the store owner. Especially if you like Loretta Lynn as much as he does.

This is not a Ghost Town and more or less a tourist trap. They have some old buildings which are nice to see but no way to get inside and look around. There are businesses here in some of the older buildings that sell antiques and other stuff which is all over priced. It's worth a stop if your in the area but I wouldn't go out of your way to get here.

If you like going back in time and walk about historic sights of 19th centuiy Western towns don't miss Shaniko, Oregon. Easy to get to. It's right off Highway 97, about a half hour drive (roughly 40 miles) north of Madras, Or. The hotel is being rennovated and soon you will have the opportuniy to take in lodging. The caretakers of Shaniko (Sheep Town) are very affable and love to reveal wonderful stories. While you are there be sure to stop in the old jail/marshall's office, see the jail wagon out nearby, and visit the building housing old cars. These are just some of the fun things to enjoy, and there is no fee.

Stopped here for a bathroom stop for my son - but I was glad to have a nice place to take a stroll and wonder through the preserved town. There are public bathrooms (donation box outside to help keep them open). I bought an iced coffee a couple doors down. They have a nice expresso machine. There is a nice picnic area. Seems like they could use the business and company. Stop by!

It was awesome! They'll actually let you camp out there. The rv park is closed. But the guy that came out and talked to us, he works for the fire department, said no one would care. He let the kids sit in the fire truck.There are no hookups. But the only other place to go is back to madras or go to maupin. I wouldn't recommend maupin. It's very high priced. They state that you can stay at numerous places. But when you get there,really the only open place is the city park. That's 30 dollars to pop up a tent. No electric. You pay for showers. So basically we should have stayed in shaniko for free haha. I wish we had more time in shaniko. In the day shops are open too. They have a general store and a yard sale that you can buy stuff to support shaniko. The jail is open. There are free books in front of the book store. It's awesome! Very authentic. Went with 5 kids 4-10 years. They LOVED it. Maupin was charging a minimum of 100 for crappy motels. The really creepy crappy one was 150. Restraunts are high priced ones. No fast food. That we saw. Nice looking town, but definitely cashing in on being the only town on the Deschutes. And for miles. If winding high up roads are hard for you, this is a hard drive. Not many guard rails either. But still beautiful. None of the websites or anything were very clear for us. Wish we had some inside info. If you can stop at antelope on the way they have some awesome old buildings too!

My sister & I went on a road trip this summer and went to Bend Oregon & on our way back home my sister said hey lets stop in this little town (in the middle of no where ) what a great little town wooden sidewalks, some little gift shops allot of really neat old cars and horse carriages that were in the old livery stable all labeled with the date and make of car. It has its own tiny jail and allot to read about the history of this town that used to be a big sheep ranch . Check it out sometime we were pleasantly surprised & the shop owners were very friendly too.

We stopped at the little store on the edge of town they have a little of everything food snacks ,trinkets , used stuff. we really enjoyed the talk with the man behind the counter he was very colorful and told us someone had bought an renovated the local hotel and cafe but that the city council is so terrible to work with that the guy shuttered it and left. We walked the main street there are bathrooms and many buildings and a boardwalk and you just wander around, everything is unlocked and unmanned, it feels weird not to have people watching you like a hawk, one building has a old Jail another is a "museum" most off the business are closed when we were there the only about 3 operating business we could see 1 was having a going out of business sale. The lady who was at the art gallery said she makes about 25cents an hour most days! We stopped and got a hot dog at Goldie's.A We did make a special trip to see this but if you are rafting in Maupin or heading to John Day from I-84 this is worthwhile after we went here we drove through Antelope not much to see there but if you are already out this far ,Google Antelope Oregon to find out about what happened there , interesting but they do not seem to want to tell people about it ,too soon?

Shaniko is a nice place to stretch your legs, grab an ice cream, and gander at some old relics of the past. Visit the old jail and gander at some interesting old farm equipment and automobiles.