Lost City

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

Lost City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 767 as of the 2020 Census, virtually the same as the population of 770 recorded at the 2010 census. It was the site of the first meteorite fall in the US to be recorded by a camera network. According to one source, the name came about after a group, possibly Native American, settled in the area, but ended up disappearing from their village.

Calling it Lost City was either optimism or a very good joke — boomtowns were never modest about their ambitions.

The on-the-ground condition of Lost City 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 Lost City 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.