Roadforks, New Mexico: Ghost Town of Steins (Closed)

Larry Link, owner of the now-closed Steins Ghost Town, was shot and killed apparently not far from the attraction, which he'd shuttered in 2008 due to reported theft and vandalism. Steins is a tempting stop -- right off an I-10 exit -- but it is closed, and potential visitors should probably steer clear until someone figures out what's going on out there.

We called ahead to check their open hours and were told that the ghost town had been closed for about a year and a half. The lady on the phone did say that we would be welcome to come by and look at the building fronts from the parking lot, over the fence. We were able to get a pretty good look, but I would recommend calling ahead to drive by, just in case you startle the owners (who I think live on the property).

Steins Ghost Town, while not as impressive as Shakespeare Ghost Town nearby, is just as authentic. It lies right next to Interstate 10, and contains a half-dozen original buildings from the late 1800s when it was a railroad stop and a stop on the Butterfield Stage. Steins is privately owned, and more commercialized than Shakespeare. Definitely a great stop for history or Wild West buffs.