Stauffer

Oregon's ghost towns are timber camps and high-desert gold strikes, preserved by dry air and long distances.

Stauffer was an unincorporated community located in Lake County, Oregon, United States. The first homesteaders arrived in the area around 1910. By 1918, the local population was declining rapidly due to the harsh environment. Today, Stauffer is a ghost town with no population and no surviving structures. The site is located approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of U.S. Route 20 between Bend and Burns, Oregon. The nearest inhabited place is Hampton, Oregon, 21 miles (34 km) northwest of the Stauffer site.

The on-the-ground condition of Stauffer 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 Stauffer 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.