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 20 minutes from St. George.
Beaver County, UT — 15 mi west of Milford on SR-21
~120 miles, about 2 hr 20 min
About 6,500 ft
1875 discovery → 1885 mine cave-in
Where Is Frisco Ghost Town?
Frisco sits at the foot of the San Francisco Mountains in Utah’s West Desert, in Beaver County, about 15 miles west of Milford along State Route 21. The area is part of the Great Basin National Heritage Area. Despite how it is sometimes marketed, Frisco is not near Zion — it is closer to Milford and Cedar City, and is best treated as a long day trip from St. George.
| From | Distance | Drive Time | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milford, UT | ~14 mi | ~20 min | SR-21 west |
| Cedar City, UT | ~68 mi | ~1 hr 30 min | SR-130 north to Minersville, SR-21 west |
| Beaver, UT | ~45 mi | ~1 hr | SR-21 west via Minersville and Milford |
| St. George, UT | ~120 mi | ~2 hr 20 min | I-15 north, SR-130, SR-21 |
| Springdale / Zion | ~125 mi | ~2 hr 35 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 23 saloons. A local newspaper editor compared it to Dodge City and Tombstone rolled into one. Local legend says a new marshal shot several men on his first night, but that story is hard to verify.
1875
Prospectors — traditionally credited as James Ryan and Samuel Hawks — locate rich silver ore at the base of the San Francisco Mountains. 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 an estimated 4,000–6,000 residents, with 23 saloons 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
In February (accounts give the 12th or 13th), the Horn Silver Mine caves in, collapsing workings down to the seventh level. No one was killed, but the boom was over. By then the Horn Silver had produced more than $20 million in ore.
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 120 miles (about 2 hours 20 minutes) north of St. George and about 68 miles 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 2.5 hours 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: National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Frisco Charcoal Kilns (#82004793); Visit Utah; Intermountain Histories; Legends of America. Historical accounts differ on some details, such as the exact discovery year and the peak population; we note the range where they disagree. Drive times are approximate and calculated to the kilns. Access conditions can change — confirm before you go. Last updated September 2026.