The ghost towns on this trip are all "non-towns", meaning they are still listed on official state maps. This makes them very easy to find.

Begin by heading east along I-70. The road will slowly

At Limon, follow the signs to stay on US 40/US 287.

Thirteen miles past Limon is the small town of Hugo. I have often seen turkey vultures walking through the town. There is also a large brick 'roundhouse', which was where trains would be turned around.

Past Hugo, be on the lookout for a small sign that says 'Boyero.' You'll want to take the next exit. This will put you on a dirt road that leads to the first ghost town.

Please note that your cell reception will probably stop after leaving Hugo.

Boyero became a ghost town due to the train no longer stopping in town, and being too far from the highway. The most notable building is a large, two-story house that looks like it came out of a horror movie.

From Boyero, there is a dirt road that goes through cattle ranches. This is a nice, picturesque drive along Big Sandy Creek. The creek bed is lined with trees, which are the only sign that a creek exists at all.

This dirt road takes you to the ghost town of Aroya. Be sure to keep driving east on the dirt road, past the small school house on the hill, or you'll miss the town. Aroya is Spanish for 'gulch', and, much like Table Mesa, there is an Aroya Gulch nearby.

Aroya a ghost town because the highway was moved a mile north.

NOTE: I have read other web pages about Aroya that describe rattlesnake skins all over the ground. I did not see or hear any rattlesnakes when I was there last, but be careful.

In the event of a snake bite, the nearest hospital is in Hugo.

There is a historic marker explaining the history of the town. There is a mercantile store, and an auto shop with its garage doors fallen off.

At the end of the street are some ruins of houses and trailers. The truck near one of the houses has registration tags from 2004.

Drive back to the schoolhouse, and turn right to head north, where you can re-join US 287.

Head east along US 287 until you get to Wild Horse. Wild Horse has a working post office, and what appears to be a town hall/community center just past the post office.

There are a number of old buildings to explore on either side of the highway. On the north side of town is a row of abandoned businesses and residences. One of these is a house with turquoise trim, which was foreclosed in 2017.

To head home, go west along US 287 until you get to Limon, then take I-70 west.

If you were to continue east along US 40 (past Kit Carson), you could see the ghost town of Firstview. The town is so named because it was the first place travelers could see Pikes Peak, just 22 miles from the Kansas state line. Firstview is about 27 miles from Wild Horse, so it might be a separate trip.

BONUS GHOST TOWN: LAST CHANCE

If you have the time, you can head north from Limon along SH 71 to the town of Last Chance.

Last Chance is at the junction of SH 71 and US 36. As the name implies, it was the 'last chance' for drivers to stop for gas, food, and lodging before Denver.

To get to Last Chance, head north from Limon along SH 71. The highway is paved the whole way. The drive will take you straight through wind farms, where the giant wind turbines are quite meserizing.

Most of Last Chance was destroyed by a fire in 2012, caused by sparks from a flat tire.

When you arrive at Last Chance, there will be a roadside park on the left (the south-west corner of town).

The northwest corner of town has the United Methodist church.

The southeast corner of town has a pull-off for cars and trucks, and a large, blue storage building. At one point, this building was available for rent at $400 a month, I know because I called the owner.

The northeast corner is where the interesting buildings are. You'll find the burned-out remains of motels, the concrete foundations of a gas station, and an abandoned 'Dairy King' at the eastern edge of town.

Inside the Dairy King, you can still see kitchen equipment.

Please note that there is a private residence behind the Dairy King, which is still inhabited.

There are other residences further north along SH 73, but I have not explored those yet.