Bossburg, Washington

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Bossburg is a ghost town in Stevens County, Washington and is located on the east bank of the Columbia River just south of the Canadian border. Bossburg had a maximum population of 800 in 1892. The town was once named "Young America", although in 1896 it was renamed in honor of the town’s first citizen, C. S. Boss.

The town produced lead and silver from established mines, however, when mining operations eventually slowed financial issues arose. In a futile effort to keep the town alive, a ferry system across the Columbia River was established, and a sawmill was built for lumber operations. Several Bossburg newspapers were published, notably the Bossburg Journal from 1893 to 1910, and the Bossburg Herald which was founded and published for only one year; 1910.

The Bossburg cemetery is still in use and is cared for by local families, nevertheless records are not routinely kept and as a result there are several unmarked graves.

In December 1969, thousands of giant human-like tracks were left in the snow leading to and from Lake Roosevelt near Bossburg. The track maker was believed to be a Bigfoot by some and was dubbed by locals as the "Bossburg Cripple". Rene Dahinden, Ivan Marx, and another investigator found the tracks shortly after encountering another vehicle parked by the side of the road. Marx pulled over, got out, and walked off, returning shortly and explaining that they had to leave immediately to retrieve his camera equipment since he'd just found tracks. Many have suggested that the track makers (whose car was parked by the road) simply were not done leaving the fake trackway for the Bigfooters to "find."