If you’ve ever driven US-93 between Phoenix and Las Vegas, you’ve probably flown right past a place called Nothing. And honestly, you wouldn’t be the first. These days it’s just another ghost town in Mohave County, about 118 miles northwest of Phoenix – a relic sitting in the desert dust.
Back in 1977, a man named Richard “Buddy” Kenworthy decided to stake his claim there. At its peak, the whole “town” had… wait for it… four residents. But they still put up a giant sign at the entrance that bragged like they were building the next Vegas:
Town of Nothing, Arizona. Founded 1977. Elevation 3269 ft. The staunch citizens of Nothing are full of Hope, Faith and believe in the work ethic. Through the years, these dedicated people had faith in Nothing, hoped for Nothing, worked at Nothing – for Nothing.
That sign pretty much set the tone. The place had its quirks: a rusted-out Model A Ford shell dubbed the Nothing Taxi, and cages with big DANGER: COPPERHEADS warnings. But instead of snakes, they were filled with copper pennies showing Lincoln’s head. Dark humor, desert style.
For a hot minute, Nothing wasn’t actually nothing. There was a bar with the perfect name – “Taint Much Ado” – plus a taco stand, a gas station, and a little convenience store cheekily called All-Mart. But in 1988, fire ripped through Buddy’s business. He rebuilt the store and garage, but the magic never came back.
By 2005, Buddy had packed it in. A few years later the gas station was collapsing, its pumps just rusting away under the desert sun. Then came Mike Jensen in 2008, rolling in with a portable pizza oven and big dreams of an RV park. For a while it sounded like Nothing might turn into something. But by 2011, the dream had fizzled out.
And today? Nothing is exactly what it says on the sign: no people, no business, no chance encounters between strangers. Just silence, desert wind, and one giant gravel pile in the parking lot – as if someone started a project and then just gave up halfway.
P.S. The video story is in English – but if Russian is your language, you’re not forgotten. This video story is available in Russian on my YouTube channel too.
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