Abandoned: Towns Without People

In 1888, two cowboys spotted something strange at the base of some rocky reddish-yellow cliffs in southwestern Colorado. There, carved into the side of a plateau, was a hidden village of buildings and towers filled with empty windows. The men climbed down to explore the strange cliff dwellings and found hidden staircases and hundreds of rooms, some filled with children's toys, bowls, axes--and even skeletons! Who were the mysterious people who had built these structures? Why did they leave their homes, and where did they go? Cliff Dwellings: A Hidden World tells the amazing story of the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, which were suddenly and mysteriously abandoned more than 700 years ago. The book includes a dramatic account of the discovery of the cliff houses, along with ideas about the people who lived in them and theories about why they suddenly abandoned their homes. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the exciting story. Written in narrative format, this book is sure to keep readers hungry for more exciting real-life tales.

In 1880, citizens of Bodie, California, crowded onto Main Street to celebrate the Fourth of July. Among them were prospectors, miners, gamblers, and even gunfighters. They had all come to this dusty, remote spot in the mountains for one reason--to find gold. Within fifty years, however, the town's Main Street would be abandoned and filled with a ghostly silence. Where did everyone go? What happened to the once thriving town? Bodie: The Town That Belongs to Ghoststells the amazing but true story of a once bustling gold-mining town that was suddenly abandoned. The captivating stories include the tale of Bodie's founder and the discovery of gold, as well as colorful accounts of real-life characters who once prowled Bodie's streets, such as Mike "Man Eater" McGowan, the baddest man in town. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the exciting stories of saloon shootouts and grave robbers. Written in narrative format, this book is sure to keep readers hungry for more exciting real-life tales.

In 1587, a group of 116 men, women, and children sailed from England to North America. They landed in Roanoke, an island off the coast of present-day North Carolina. Life was hard for the settlers, who struggled to build a new life. Within a few months, the governor of the colony, John White, sailed back to England to get more supplies. Three years passed before he could return to the colony. When White finally arrived back in Roanoke, he was shocked to see that everyone had completely vanished. What had happened to the colonists? To this day, experts still aren't sure. Roanoke Island: The Town That Vanished tells the amazing but true story of the mysterious disappearance of the Roanoke colonists. This haunting, compelling story includes an account of the contact between the colonists and local Native Americans, a description of the few clues left behind by the missing settlers, and theories about what became of them. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the exciting story of one of the most famous mysteries in history. Written in narrative format, this book is sure to keep readers hungry for more thrilling real-life tales.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Salton Sea resort area was a vacationer's paradise. People looking to go boating, swimming, and fishing flocked to California's largest lake. Homes, hotels, and shops sprang up as more and more people moved to the region. However, something was lurking in the lake's calm waters. Soon, swimmers began to pass by globs of green algae and breathe in a rotten-egg stench. Beachgoers had to step over piles of decaying fish on the shore. Today, very few people remain in the towns that surround the lake. What had happened to the once beautiful Salton Sea? Salton Sea Resort: Death in the Desert tells the amazing but true story of a once thriving resort community that has been almost completely abandoned. The fascinating story includes descriptions of how an accidental flood formed the lake, how runoff from nearby farms polluted the water and destroyed wildlife, and what people are doing today to clean up the area. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the exciting story of boomtown to bust. Written in narrative format, this book is sure to keep readers hungry for more thrilling real-life tales.