Herbert Ghost Town

Herbert Ghost Town

posted in: Other | 12

“Herbert” is a small ghost town that was operated until the 40’s, but with the invention of the automobile, it was much more convenient to live in Rexburg or Rigby than in Herbert. At one point, it’s been said that as many as 150 people lived here, mostly farmers or those who worked in the mines.

Upon pulling up to the site, the first (and only) building you’ll see is off to the left side of the gravel road. It was a two-room store that sits up on the bluff. Be careful walking around inside, as most of the floor boards are either weak or broken through. There is a second story, with a narrow stairwell leading up to it. Again, be especially careful while climbing the stairs and walking around above. I’d recommend only walking on the main beams and 2×4’s. A few of the stairs had been broken through.

More houses can be found about 1/6th-1/4th of a mile to the right of the store, along the creek. If you look to your right, you’ll see a new shed with a tin roof. The old houses are located right around this shed. You’ll have to walk through a farmer’s field and hop over a barbed wire fence in order to get there. Exercise caution, as this is private land. Be respectful, especially with crops.

Directions:

1. Head South on S 2nd E (the street with the temple on it)

2. Turn left on Poleline Rd.

3. Stay right at the fork in the road

4. Continue until this road deadends.

5. Take a left on 7800 S.

6. About a 1.5 – 1.75 miles down, turn right onto a gravel road.

7. The old town is off to your left.

12 Responses

  1. Camille

    Do we need to ask someone for permission to go here?

  2. matheson

    When we went, we just decided to go without asking for permission. For some of the houses and other things found behind the main house (visible from the road), we had to cut through one of the farmers’ fields. We walked along the edge as not to disturb any crops. Just use your discretion.

  3. clements

    my family lived in Herbert back in the day. just for information the bigger building that is on the main page was not a store it was an old school, I know this because my grandmother when she was a child went to that school. another thing there were never mines in that area it was only a farming community. I have property there and have know the area for many years. and you are right all of the houses and the school are all on private property. Herbert is a great peace of history property owners in the area have had problems with vandalism and if people are not respectful these historic buildings will be posted no trespassing, so be respectful.

    • Do you by chance know how to get a hold of the owners? My daughter would love to get her senior pictures done there, but I know we need permission. Thanks for any help you can give me.

      • Hi Rjen,

        Unfortunately I don’t have any contact information for Herbert Ghost Town. Best of luck.

  4. Herbert Ghost Town is kind of hard to find and there are many old places on the way to it. So it might be confusing, however, make sure that you do NOT go to them or even near them. It is trespassing and you will get fined! I would even be careful going to Herbert Ghost Town as it is private property and you could get really hurt.

  5. chelsea

    I drove to see this place and this old building was all there is. I wouldn’t exactly count that as “fun” on my list. I don’t mean to be a downer, just being realistic. That’s the only building that consists of the town and you can’t even get to it without trespassing onto private farmland.

  6. These places are all closed to the public

  7. I tried to follow your directions on mapquest and got lost! Can you email me with more explicit directions? I’ll be coming from out of the area so I don’t know my way around Rexburg.

  8. Farmer John

    The entire town site of Herbert is gone. Any buildings you see in the area are old homesteads and on private property.
    Please respect others property and cease spreading false embellishments.
    BTW…..Keep the commandments.

  9. It is criminal trespassing to go out to this it is privately owned and in the middle of a field do not go out here

  10. These directions are WRONG. There is not a “dead end” on Poleline Rd; its is instead a “T” intersection at 8000 South (Lyons Creed Rd). There is no East road on Poleline Rd southbound from 7000 South to 8000 South.

    Be sure to read all comments above. If anything was there in the past, it is probably not there now, or at least no where near these wrong instructions.

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