Wheelock was founded in 1902 along the
transcontinental rail line of the
Great Northern Railway. The name comes from Ralph W. Wheelock, an editorial writer with the
Minneapolis Tribune who wrote favorably about the site. Unlike some ghost towns, Wheelock's homes, churches, and commercial buildings have the look of just recently being occupied. The paint is peeling, but it is still there. The grass is green, although it is not mowed. The roof of the two-story brick schoolhouse has caved in, carrying with it the back wall and exposing the four classrooms and the gymnasium roof girder. The town garage stands empty. A handful of commercial buildings and the church appear almost as if they could be occupied—but are unoccupied and deteriorating. The railroad track, now owned by
BNSF Railway, still runs through town. Wheelock remains the location of a
passing siding.
Amtrak's
Empire Builder, which operates between
Seattle/
Portland and
Chicago, passes through the ghost town, but makes no stop. The
nearest station is located in
Williston, to the southwest. The
grain elevator was razed in 2011/2012. The general store burned down in 2005. The school was razed in 2012/2013 for an unknown reason. In January 2018, the former church was listed up for sale, with an asking price of $75,000. As of January 2019, it had not yet sold and was listed for $65,000. Due to the
North Dakota oil boom, the town has seen considerable growth since 2010, although there are still no businesses in operation. ==Climate==