Kenton

Oklahoma's ghost towns got it from both sides — oil booms that built them overnight and the Dust Bowl that emptied them.

Kenton is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the community had 31 residents. Kenton, which lies in the Cimarron River valley, is just south of Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma, and serves as an unofficial staging point for visitors to the site. The east end of the mesa features dinosaur tracks which have been preserved in a sandstone strata next to Carrizo Creek. Black Mesa State Park, which contains Lake Carl Etling, is to the southeast.

The on-the-ground condition of Kenton 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 Kenton 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.