Tono

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

Tono is a ghost town in southwest Washington in the United States. It was a company-owned mining town founded in 1907 by the Washington Union Coal Company, a subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad to supply coal for their steam locomotives. Tono was located in southern Thurston County about 20 miles (32 km) south of Olympia, Washington, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Tenino, 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the town of Bucoda, at the end of a railroad spur.

The on-the-ground condition of Tono 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 Tono 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.