Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25692564-20170219040756/@comment-31166511-20170309145127

NepetaLeijon27 wrote: Because it's the state with the most ghost towns?

I'm not sure of the exact number, but Wyoming and South Dakota have a lot of ghost towns. Boom towns that appeared practically over night because of rumors of a rich vein of gold or other ore, and rapidly abandoned when the rumors didn't pan out.

A lot of foolish tourists get themselves hurt or killed every year wandering in or around ruined buildings that have been on the verge of collapse after decades of no maintanence. We Americans are just so used to well-built buildings, strict zoning laws, safety inspectors all of which keep us from being crushed under tons of rubble.

But a old shack, thrown together a hundred years ago, was never inspected nor ever met a single safety check even on its best day. After a century of wind, rain, and frost pushing and breaking and shifting off balance, any really old building is just a giant booby trap waiting for the year that right booby finally comes along.

Amateurs who like exploring old mine shafts are just saving the rest of us the trouble of digging a grave.