The only thing that made Gene Autry a "ghost town" was a significant drop in population. It dropped from over 600 to 120 in 1970 and an estimated 90 in 1975. This made it a "ghost town" but by all means not gone. Information taken from "Ghost Towns of Oklahoma". If anyone needs a lookup in this book, I'll be glad to. It gives history on about 130 towns that are dead or dying and some of the individuals who built them. This is an excellent book. I've read it cover to cover. Joan