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Drawbridge is a ghost town in marshes near Fremont, a few miles from Silicon…

2026-08-07 · 17:23 UTC ·@pitdesi ·1 min read

Brief

Drawbridge, a marshbound settlement near Fremont a few miles from Silicon Valley, grew from a railroad outpost into a resort of about 90 buildings (hotels, bars, vacation homes, hunting cabins) accessible only by train or boat. Lacking government, it drew ≈600 weekend visitors for gambling and bootlegging; pollution, salt-ponds, and subsidence forced decline and the last resident left in 1979, leaving only a few dozen structures now sinking into mud.

Why it matters

Drawbridge is a ghost town in marshes near Fremont, a few miles from Silicon Valley; it was inhabited until 1979 (the last resident left in 1979).

Key details

  • The town began as a railroad outpost and grew into a resort of roughly 90 buildings (hotels, bars, vacation homes, hunting cabins) with no roads—access was only by train or boat.
  • With no local government or police it became known for gambling, bootlegging, and brothels and attracted about 600 people a weekend; pollution, salt-pond conversion, and land subsidence caused decline and today only a couple dozen buildings remain, sinking into mud (visible from Amtrak between San Jose and Oakland).
Source evidence

TIL there is a ghost town that was inhabited until 1979 just a few miles from Silicon Valley

It's called Drawbridge and sits in the middle of marshes near Fremont. It was originally a railroad outpost and grew into a resort town with 90 buildings - hotels, bars, vacation homes, and hunting cabins.

There were no roads. Everything/everyone arrived by train or boat.

There was no local government or police, so naturally Drawbridge became known for gambling, bootlegging, and brothels, alongside hunting and fishing. It was drawing 600 people a weekend to partake in the activites.

Then pollution, salt ponds that destroyed the marsh habitat, and the sinking of the land slowly killed the town. The last resident left in 1979.

Today only a couple dozen buildings remain, and they are slowly sinking into the mud. If you've taken Amtrak between San Jose and Oakland, you've probably passed it without realizing it.