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Bedford, Indiana: Ed's Ghost Town (Gone)

1950s-70s tourist attraction created by Edward and Evelyn Hirsch, combining Old West artifacts and buildings with souvenir and gift shops. Burned down in 1981.

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Ed's Ghost Town.

Ed's Ghost Town

My father was Edward Hirsch, who owned Ed's Ghost Town, along with my mother, Evelyn Hirsch. My father passed away on June 10, 2006. The legacy of the ghost town lives on however.

Not everything was cheap, typical and touristy. Dad sold Fenton glassware and other high-quality glassware. Some of his jewelry was jewelry store quality, not just cheap stuff. He had collector plates imported from Denmark that increase in value significantly. The gift shop was unique in my mind.

As for the ghost town, there were nine buildings housing over forty 1800-era buggies of all types, including the oldest stage coach in the U.S. There were hundreds of hardware artifacts in the hardware store of the ghost town. And he did make money from the admission to Ghost Town. He charged 50 cents for 6-12 year olds and $1 for over 12. Thousands of people visited the town.

[Mike Hirsch, 10/28/2006]

August 2014: Photo added.

Ed's Ghost Town - Vague Recollections

Well, most of what has been said here about Ed's is true. I must have been in that place 50 times as our family had relatives in Evansville and we drove there from Akron, Ohio. The best part of Ed's were the signs that were placed every mile along Route 50. They were short and to the point: "Cactus Jelly at Ed's Ghost Town 15 miles," "Indian moccasins at Ed's Ghost Town 14 miles." Now, when I talk with my siblings about those trips to southern Indiana, we always remember Ed's fondly. Even if it was a junk tourist trap, it was part of getting to our destination and we all laugh about it.

[Jim Miller, 02/26/2005]
Ed's Ghost Town

Ed's Ghost Town stood on the south side of Rt. 50, 1.6 miles NE of Rt. 60, southwest of Bedford, Indiana. Ed's burned in 1981; the site is now occupied by "Crafts & Goodies", a garden/crafts center built ca. 1996; the garden center's attractions include an iron jail-cell that survived the fire that destroyed Ed's Ghost Town. Folks at the garden center say Edwin and Evelyn Hirsch (the proprietors of "Ed's") now live in California.

A 1962 postcard describes Ed's as "Indiana's largest souvenir shop." Across the road and about 100 yards to the east of the "Ed's" site is a cluster of tiny brick bungalows that was once a motel.

[Keith Ryder, 05/27/2004]
Ed's Ghost Town - Jail Cell still there

As a child (like, 25-30 years ago) I remember the drive across US 50 in Indiana. Every so often we would pass these signs "Ed's Ghost Town, 5 miles... " with a description of the wares you expect to find, turquoise jewlery, candy, etc. Over the years we must have passed it hundreds of times, we never did stop. I don't remember what it even looked like, however now at that site there is a roadside shop that sells garden and yard stuff, and has a "jail cell" from the original Ed's. I guess the iron bars wouldn't burn. It's a shame it's gone, but I really miss the signs more than the actual Ghost Town.

[Cam Scott, 10/20/2003]
Ed's Ghost Town - Vague Recollections

I came across the article about Ed's Ghost Town on Roadsideamerica.com, and since I have some close friends from Lawrence County, Indiana, which is where Bedford is located, I asked them if they remembered it. They passed there often, and he would stop to use the restroom, but she refused because it was too filthy. Thisis a portion of what I got back:

"One of the inquires that you sent me mentioned a cover up. Well, they were right! Ed's burned down many years ago and they brought in dirt and covered up the debris and foundation. I can describe Ed's in 3 words : junk, junk, junk and lots of it! If you wanted to buy a coffee cup with a pasted on picture of the state flag that would come off the first time you washed it and on the bottom it stated "Made in Mexico" and cost $6.95, then Ed's was the place to go. It was typical of those roadside trading post gift shops with the typical souvenir junk. He did build a structure in the back of the shop and tried to do a "Haunted House" thing similar to what you might see as a side show in a carnival. I don't think it was very successful and only added to the flames. Must have been one helluva fire!

I don't think they ever had a bear. Too hard to take care of. They did have out-buildings painted with signs advertising various critters. We never paid the entrance fee to see any of them, so don't know if they contained anything living."

[Michael Abbett, 02/09/2002]

Ed's Ghost Town

Directions:
Gone, had been on the south side of Rt. 50, 1.6 miles NE of Rt. 60, southwest of Bedford, Indiana.
Status:
Gone

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