Barneston

Washington's ghost towns are mill towns and mining camps in country so green the forest is already taking them back.

Barneston is an extinct town in King County, in the U.S. state of Washington. The GNIS classifies it as a populated place. Barneston was established following the construction of a lumber mill in the Cedar River watershed, along with homes for its employees. On June 12, 1901, a post office was built, and the town was named after John G. Barnes who was the secretary and treasurer of the Kent Lumber Company that owned the land. Barneston was distinguished from other logging communities by its relatively large Japanese immigrant population, which comprised about 35 percent of the workforce.

The on-the-ground condition of Barneston is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Barneston is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.