Ghost Town of Winlock, Oregon

Ghost Town of Winlock, Oregon

The Ghost Town of Winlock Oregon is named after Winlock W. Steiwer, who’s decedents still live in the area. His nephew was a United States Senator, while he served in the Oregon Senate. Winlock got a post office in 1888 due to his influence and was named after him. Unfortunately he became part the Oregon land fraud scandal and was indicted in 1905.

The “modern” town of Winlock sits a ways off the beaten track. The nearest large towns are Spray and Fossil, neither of which are exactly booming metropolises either. The town does boast a fairly new volunteer fire station, and another nearby building that had a sign saying “Come on in,” but still seemed to be either empty or closed when I looked in the door. The road to Winlock has several nice old farms though, with interesting barns and sheds in various states of disrepair. Several signs warn that Deer, Elk, and Cattle all have the right of way.

Ghost Town of Winlock, Oregon

The town does have a well marked if quite over-grown cemetery, but the gate was locked shut.

Ghost Town of Winlock, Oregon

7 Responses to “Ghost Town of Winlock, Oregon

  • my father Myron J. was born in Winlock and attended school in Fossilabout 1928. His grandparents are buried in the area on private land. anyone knowing the whereabouts of these graves, please contact me.

  • okay! the Hunt Family Cemetery is on the list or Oregon Historical Cemeteries, and i will be visiting it next week. it is on private land out between Winlock and Spray- what is called the old Younce Ranch. My dad’s mother was Elva Mary Wilkes (buried in Redmond, Ore.) but many, many of the Wilkes family are buried in the Fossil Cemetery. still, anyone with any knowledge of the David Hunt/Martha Robb Hunt or James S. Hunt families please contact me at [email protected] thanks!

  • there is a list of names from the cemetery I just read fyi

  • my dad was born in Winlock does anyone know anything about him or his family? his name was john hawk born 11-22-1934. I am also cousins of the hunt family.

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