Shell City Ghost Town
Wadena County, Minnesota46.7961, -94.9507
Can you visit?
Public land, open access
Huntersville State Forest · Open to visitors
- Nearest town
- 7.8 miMenahga, MN
- Mild months
- May–Sep5 of 12
- Next ghost town
- 22 miLeaf River
Shell City is an abandoned town in Wadena County, Minnesota.
On the map
- State
- Tribal
- Private or unlisted
Star: Shell City. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Menahga, MN, about 7.8 miles west in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Fargo, ND, 89 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- Leaf River22 mi south
- Old Wadena Historic District27 mi south
- Topelius27 mi southwest
- Philbrook37 mi south
- Mallard39 mi northwest
- Cuba45 mi northeast
- Old Crow Wing46 mi southeast
- Oak Lake47 mi west
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
State land: Huntersville State Forest
PAD-US places this spot on Huntersville State Forest, land managed by the state natural resources agency. PAD-US marks it as open to the public. Park rules, fees and seasonal closures can still apply.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run May to September, judging by NOAA normals from Park Rapids Muni Ap.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Park Rapids Muni Ap station (USW00094967), 9.1 miles away. About 23.8 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Wadena County, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 46.79610, -94.95070 |
| Sources | Wikidata Q7493650 · Wikipedia article |
Questions
Where is Shell City ghost town?
In Wadena County, Minnesota, at 46.7961, -94.9507. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Menahga, MN, about 7.8 miles west in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Fargo, ND, 89 miles away.
Can you visit Shell City?
Public land, open access. PAD-US places this spot on Huntersville State Forest, land managed by the state natural resources agency. PAD-US marks it as open to the public. Park rules, fees and seasonal closures can still apply.
When is the best time to visit Shell City?
Mild months here run May to September, judging by NOAA normals from Park Rapids Muni Ap.
Are there other ghost towns near Shell City?
Yes. Leaf River (22 mi), Old Wadena Historic District (27 mi), Topelius (27 mi), Philbrook (37 mi).
