Frisco Ghost Town, Utah
History, the beehive charcoal kilns, directions from St. George, and what to know before you go
Frisco is a silver-mining ghost town in Beaver County, Utah, about 15 miles west of Milford on paved State Route 21. It boomed after the Horn Silver Mine was found in 1875 and faded after the mine caved in in 1885. Today you can see five 1877 beehive charcoal kilns, a cemetery, and scattered ruins, about 2 hours 25 minutes from St. George.
Where is Frisco ghost town?
Frisco is in Beaver County, Utah, about 15 miles west of Milford on paved State Route 21, in the West Desert. From St. George it is roughly 121 miles and 2 hours 25 minutes north; from Cedar City, about 69 miles and 1 hour 35 minutes. The charcoal kilns are visible from the highway.
| Location | Beaver County, Utah, about 15 miles west of Milford on State Route 21, at the southern end of the San Francisco Mountains |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 6,570 feet at the charcoal kilns (USGS elevation data) |
| Founded / abandoned | Ore found September 1875; town established 1879; Horn Silver Mine cave-in February 12, 1885; last residents gone by 1929 |
| What remains | Five beehive charcoal kilns (1877, National Register of Historic Places), a hillside cemetery, stone foundations, and mine workings seen from a distance |
| Road and access | Paved SR-21 to the site, short unpaved spurs to the kilns and cemetery, no fee and no services; the mine ground is posted No Trespassing |
| Drive from St. George | About 121 miles, 2 hours 25 minutes (I-15, SR-130, SR-21) |
| Drive from Cedar City | About 69 miles, 1 hour 35 minutes (SR-130 to Minersville, SR-21 west) |
| Listed | Frisco Charcoal Kilns, National Register of Historic Places #82004793 (1982) |
Frisco sits at the southern foot of the San Francisco Mountains, inside the Great Basin National Heritage Area. Despite how it is sometimes marketed, it is not near Zion. It is closer to Milford and Cedar City, and is best treated as a long day trip from St. George. For sites within an hour of town, see our guide to ghost towns near St. George; for the rest of the state, with drive times, see Utah ghost towns.
| From | Distance | Drive Time | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milford, UT | 15 mi | 25 min | SR-21 west |
| Beaver, UT | 46 mi | 1 hr 5 min | SR-21 west via Minersville and Milford |
| Cedar City, UT | 69 mi | 1 hr 35 min | SR-130 north to Minersville, SR-21 west |
| St. George, UT | 121 mi | 2 hr 25 min | I-15 north, SR-130, SR-21 |
| Springdale / Zion | 125 mi | 2 hr 40 min | SR-9, I-15 north, SR-130, SR-21 |
History of Frisco and the Horn Silver Mine
For about ten years, Frisco was one of the richest and rowdiest silver camps in the West. The Horn Silver Mine was one of the most productive silver mines of its time, and the town that grew around it supported as many as 23 saloons. The Utah Division of State History calls it “a center of vice and crime.” Local legend says a new marshal shot several men on his first night, but that story is hard to verify.
1875
In September, prospectors James Ryan and Samuel Hawkes test a large outcrop they had been walking past in the San Francisco Mining District and find rich silver ore. They sell the claim rather than work it, and the Horn Silver Mine becomes the district’s big producer (some accounts date the find to 1876).
1877
The Frisco smelting company builds five beehive charcoal kilns to turn local pinyon pine and juniper into charcoal for its smelters.
1879
The town of Frisco is established, named for the San Francisco Mountains.
1880
On June 23, the Utah Southern Railroad Extension reaches Frisco from Milford, about 15 miles east.
Early 1880s
Frisco peaks at “several thousand” residents (estimates run from 4,000 to 6,000), with 21 to 23 saloons depending on the account, and a reputation as one of the roughest camps in the West. The town had no natural water source; water had to be hauled in.
1885
On February 12, the Horn Silver Mine caves in, closing the main shaft and collapsing workings down to the seventh level. The shock was felt in Milford. No one was killed, but the boom was over. By then the Horn Silver had produced more than $13 million in ore and paid $4 million in dividends, per the Utah Division of State History.
1900–1920s
Population falls to roughly 500 by 1900 and about 150 by 1912. The last residents leave in the late 1920s.
1982
The Frisco Charcoal Kilns are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (March 9, 1982).
2002
A mining company begins reworking the old mines; the mine area is posted against entry.
What You’ll See at Frisco Today
Beehive Charcoal Kilns
The headline attraction and visible from SR-21. Five kilns built in 1877 from local granite and lime mortar, ranging from about 16 to 32 feet across; three remain nearly intact. The beehive shape controlled airflow so wood burned slowly into charcoal instead of ash. They are among the best-preserved and best-documented charcoal kilns in Utah.
Frisco Cemetery
A small hillside cemetery with headstones dating to the late 1800s. Many of the graves belong to children — a sobering reminder of how hard life was in a waterless mining camp.
Townsite Ruins
Scattered stone foundations, building fragments, and rusting mining equipment mark where the town stood. Few structures survive intact, so come for the setting and the story more than for standing buildings.
Horn Silver Mine (view only)
The mine workings, tailings, and collapse area can be seen from a distance, but the roads to the mine are blocked and posted No Trespassing. Do not enter the mine area.
How to Get to Frisco From St. George
- Take I-15 north about 53 miles to Cedar City.
- Take Exit 62 and follow SR-130 (Minersville Highway) north about 35 miles to Minersville.
- Turn west on SR-21 and drive about 13 miles to Milford. This is your last stop for fuel and supplies.
- Continue west on SR-21 about 14 miles. The charcoal kilns come into view on the hillside near the highway.
Coming from the north on I-15? Exit at Beaver and follow SR-21 west about 45 miles through Minersville and Milford.
GPS (charcoal kilns): 38.46083, -113.26278 Open directions in Google Maps
Visitor Tips
The Horn Silver Mine area is mining-company ground, blocked off and posted No Trespassing. Stick to the kilns, the cemetery, and the roadside townsite.
- Fuel up and buy water and snacks in Milford — there are no services at Frisco.
- Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons. At about 6,500 feet, summer afternoons are hot and exposed, and winter can bring snow and cold wind.
- SR-21 is a paved state highway. The tracks from the highway to the kilns and cemetery are unpaved; avoid them when wet and check conditions after storms.
- Stay out of fenced or posted areas. Old mining ground can hide open shafts and unstable soil.
- Do not climb on the kilns or build fires inside them — they are on the National Register of Historic Places, and fire damage has already been reported.
- Leave artifacts where you find them, including nails, glass, and bits of machinery.
- Do not count on cell coverage in the West Desert. Download an offline map before you leave Milford.
- Budget about an hour on site. From St. George, Frisco is a full-day round trip; pairing it with Old Irontown or Cedar City makes the drive worthwhile.
Make a Day of It: Nearby Stops
From St. George, the drive runs right past Cedar City. Old Irontown, an 1868 iron-smelting site with its own charcoal kiln, is about 20 miles west of Cedar City off SR-56 and pairs well with Frisco for a kiln-and-mining-history loop. On the way home, Silver Reef near Leeds is the only place where silver has been found in sandstone.
Frisco Ghost Town FAQ
Where is Frisco ghost town?
Frisco is in Beaver County, Utah, at the base of the San Francisco Mountains about 15 miles west of Milford on State Route 21. It is roughly 121 miles (about 2 hours 25 minutes) north of St. George and about 69 miles (1 hour 35 minutes) from Cedar City.
Can you drive to Frisco ghost town?
Yes. SR-21 is a paved state highway, and the charcoal kilns are visible from it. The short tracks from the highway to the kilns and cemetery are unpaved, so take care after rain. There are no services at the site; fuel up in Milford.
Is Frisco ghost town free to visit?
There is no admission fee, visitor center, or staff at Frisco. The charcoal kilns and cemetery are the accessible parts of the site. The Horn Silver Mine area is posted No Trespassing and should not be entered.
What is left at Frisco, Utah?
Five beehive charcoal kilns built in 1877 (three nearly intact, listed on the National Register of Historic Places), a cemetery with 1800s headstones, scattered stone foundations and mining equipment, and distant views of the Horn Silver Mine workings.
Why did Frisco become a ghost town?
Frisco depended on the Horn Silver Mine. When the mine caved in in February 1885, the boom ended. The town lingered with a shrinking population for decades, and the last residents left in the late 1920s.
Is Frisco ghost town near Zion National Park?
Not really. Frisco is about 125 miles and 2 hours 40 minutes from Springdale at Zion’s main entrance. It is much closer to Milford and Cedar City. If you want a ghost town near Zion, Grafton is about 5 miles from the park.
Sources: Utah Division of State History, History To Go, “When the Horn Silver Mine Crashed In” (Miriam B. Murphy, 1996); Utah History Encyclopedia, “Frisco Mining Camp” (Philip F. Notarianni, 1994); National Register of Historic Places record for the Frisco Charcoal Kilns (#82004793, Frisco Smelting Company, 1877); USGS 3DEP elevation data; Visit Utah; Intermountain Histories; Legends of America. Historical accounts differ on some details, such as the exact discovery year, the saloon count, and the peak population; we note the range where they disagree. Drive times were computed with the OSRM routing engine on OpenStreetMap data on October 11, 2026 and rounded to 5 minutes. Access conditions can change, so confirm before you go. Last updated October 11, 2026.