Eerie Abandoned Artist Colony in Utah Ghost Town Finally Snags a Buyer After Price Was Slashed by $375K

An abandoned former artist colony in a Utah ghost town has finally found a buyer—but only after its original asking price was cut down by a staggering $375,000.

Located in the former mining town of Cisco, UT, the 1.35-acre property was originally listed for $450,000 back in May; however, that price was later reduced to $275,000 in June and then dropped again on Nov. 11, this time to the bargain sum of just $75,000.

The unique property was once used as a “residency for artists” and still boasts an original post office, a 1920s cabin, RVs, and a converted bus.

Described in its listing as being “ideal for those seeking adventure, history, and creative inspiration,” the property is located near the Cisco boat ramp, which “attracts numerous tourists,” and would therefore guarantee a “steady flow of potential guests” for any buyer aiming to use it as a vacation rental.

For the past nine years, the property has served as a haven for artists seeking inspiration from the beautiful natural surroundings, with one of its listing agents explaining that it will require some infrastructural work in order to make it truly livable.

“The seller has owned it for nine years or so,” says Nikole Andersen, of Berkshire Hathaway, who is co-listing the property with Scot Andersen. “She bought it as a residence for people to do artwork and sell art. It’s an extremely unique property.

“There is one main road through town and a convenience store nearby that offers access to amenities for residents and visitors. The challenge with the lot is water and sewer. There is no well on property, and it has two outhouses and no septic; so it needs some infrastructure to be done if you wanted to make it into a rental property.

“In its current state, it’s not up to code, so the buyer needs to do their due diligence if they want to make it a rental property. The RVs and converted bus were used as other sleeping quarters for artists while they were on property.”

Located about an hour northeast of Moab, UT, Cisco was once a mining town along the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad with a population of just 200 in the 1880s until Interstate 70 was constructed.

The majority of residents left the town in the 1970s, and it remains largely uninhabited despite its close proximity to Kokopelli Trail, which offers a variety of outdoor activities.

The property received local notoriety when it was featured in the documentary “Cisco Kid” featuring Eileen Muza who purchased the plot and then moved to the Utah desert to escape city life in Chicago.

“The old post office has been kept as it was and it has a bed in there,” Andersen says. “It started off aggressively priced, and now it’s based on the land value. The seller is very motivated and didn’t want the property to sit vacant all winter.”

The dramatic price chop has already attracted a buyer, as there is currently a contingent offer on the property.

“The girl who is interested in it is very much like minded with the seller,” she notes. “It’s located near Westwater Boat Ramp, so it’s a great landing spot for people coming off the Colorado River. She sees it as a camping spot.

“We have had several people reach out about the property. It’s such a unique place in a ghost town that, for the right buyer, if they put some sweat equity in, it could become a fun landing place or base camp for hikers and bikers.”

In 2021, former owner Muza, who bought the property in 2015, opened up about her decision to buy the abandoned plot. She explained that she viewed the Cisco purchase as an opportunity to learn new skills before she turned 30.

“I was getting older, I was going to be 30 and I saw the trajectory: I’m gonna be at this job forever. I wanted to test myself in a way and learn new things,” she told RoadTrippers.