A worker, Zacharias Lewala discovered a diamond while working, and informed his boss, the German railway inspector.

Upon the discovery of diamonds, German miners trooped in and settled there, building the town with German architectural style. They also included social amenities such as a hospital, a school, a ballroom and even a casino.

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The flourishing town declined after World War 1 when the diamond was slowly exhausted. The town was abandoned in 1954.

Since then, the town has been abandoned to the wind, desert sands ands other elements. The already run-down buildings are falling apart, filled with sand from the desert trying desperately to reclaim its territory from the town.

The remains of the town attract tourists and photographers, hence a museum has been set up there to preserve the last of Kolmanskop's history.

The village is also said to be haunted and is a favourite spot for ghost hunters. Because of it's location within the restricted area of the Namib desert, visitors are required to get a permit before they enter the town.