All rights reserved. Once a year, travelers can hop aboard the Big South Fork Blue Heron Ghost Train to visit the abandoned camp at night while listening to spooky tales. Some vanished entirely or were absorbed into newer settlements, but many of these towns still stand, at least in part, allowing us glimpses of what these now-abandoned places oncewere. However, this one-time gold mining community was restored by the Bovey family, who worked on the project between 1945 and 1978. Great Plains states such as Kansas, Oklahoma and the Dakotas have the ruins of farming communities destroyed by the Dust Bowl and economic downturns of the 1930s. Lee O'Dell/Shutterstock Considered one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Montana, the gold rush. the Kelly Bottle House. However, with the creation of I-40 and the soil erosion in the area now known as the Dust Bowl, population began to decline. Often, though, no sooner would a town get settled than whatever bounty had appeared would be gone, or disaster (both natural and manmade) would strike and the towns inhabitants would move out, often en masse. There are 5 ghost towns within 25 miles of Holyoke. Jamestown, James City CountySarah Stierch / CC BY-SA 2.0. Now one of Colorado's best preserved ghost towns, St. Elmo was once a booming mining town for gold and silver in the Sawatch Range. However, in 1950 the town was abandoned in order for a hydroelectric dam to be made. But you can still come to see the old bank and towns former jail and dream about what life was like for this thriving community at the turn of the 20th century. There were once 500 mines here and now you can tour the Maggie Mine and 30 structuresshops, saloons, schoolhouseand stay in a tent, bunkhouse or cabin overnight. The 12 Eeriest Ghost Towns in America - Wide Open Country A new mine temporarily revived prospects in the 1910s, but the industry abandoned the town for good in 1936. Discover the differences and find your ideal travel companion. You can visit their eerie remainsif you know where to look. Where are America's ghost towns, and how do they look today? Shutterstock As one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the American Southwest, Ruby, Arizona, remains a reminder of the Wild West. It's happening in 2024. Unfortunately, when the river changed course, the town began to weaken and fade. Here, miners came for the plentiful quartz. A desert settlement founded and later abandoned by Hawaiian members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah's Skull Valley. This deserted Gold Rush town is home to a Masonic lodge that, strangely enough, still holds meetings. They are a haunting and sometimes haunted reminder of a past nearly forgotten. At that point, a major flood engulfed the town and the residents fled once again, taking their businesses with them. We've researched over 3,800 ghost towns to show their spread across the country and within each state. To make matters worse, a 2008 EF4 tornado tore through the town killing six people, leveling buildings on the main streets, and . Another cool perk of a visit: you can spend the night in the haunted Jerome Grand Hotel which was originally a hospital; rumor has it that past hospital residents haunt the hotel. This railroad and mining town was named after United States Army Major, Enoch Steen. 116 ghost townsKing County contains the most, with 16. The infamous Dun Glen Hotel reportedly hosted the world's longest-lasting poker game, which lasted 14 years, according to Ripley's Believe It or Not. You'll usually find her in an airport. Over the years, these neglected towns have disappeared into dense forests while others have been well preserved by neighboring communities. St. Elmo, located less than 83 miles southeast of Aspen, Colorado, is one of the state's best-preserved ghost towns. 12 ghost townsThere are 10 ghost towns within 50 miles of Knoxville. From the Alaskan coast to the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, here are a couple dozen of Americas best preserved ghost towns. A general store and, Photograph: Shutterstock/Karin Hildebrand Lau. Just as it was important that the mines of Colorado and California could ship their riches out by rail, the vast cattle ranches of western plains needed to reach the rail head to turn their steers into cash. Located about 10 miles southeast of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota's Black Hills, Spokane features one of the area's largest collections of original ghost town buildings. The ghost town permits self-guided tours during the fall, winter and spring. Population: 1How to get there: Its a three-hour drive from LA, then a bumpy 7 miles on unpaved roads. Upon the night winds and the weeds, Paranormal enthusiasts may already know about this desolate former mining town in Montana its featured in the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures. America is home to a plethora of mining and frontier boomtowns, whose heydays only exist in memory. Jerome - The "Wickedest Town in America" While Jerome is today a ghost town, it was once a copper mining camp. However, for Ferguson, youll need some waterproofingand a kayak. Read More: The 10 Eeriest Ghost Towns in America. Below are 19 of the best ghost towns in the USA. Spectre is perhaps the newest ghost town in America, and one of the weirder entries on this list. Exploring America's Oldest Ghost Towns: Forgotten History Revealed Plan an idyllic escape to revel in fall's colorful splendor. Expert tip: Underwood is hoping to revive the American Hotel, said to be the oldest hotel in California east of the Sierra Nevada and the towns best-preserved building and turn the town into a resort. The soaring sounds touched God Interstate 15 runs through the site of the town, structures of which are still visible. This former mining hub holds a surprising abundance of undisturbed relics from the Old West. Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when youre feeling flush). It's almost time to see the synchronous fireflies at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Kid-friendly destinations are a California specialty, California has every outdoor experience you can imagine, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. You see them in areas where there was an industry that (a) built a "company town", i.e. The Story Behind America's Most Toxic Ghost Town - Wide Open Country Produced by Kathy Alexander. Its worth a visit to poke around this living ghost town; we especially recommend the said-to-be-haunted Mozart Tavern where locals treat visitors with especial kindness. Established in the 1880s, the town was largely abandoned by the 1910s after the mine closed in response to strike action. Population: 1374How to get there: Head northwest from Rapid City for about 40 miles. Only 10 buildings still stand. The Jersey Devil, as legend has it, was a resident of the area born to the mother Jane Leeds who already had twelve children. The mine closed in 1940, but the mine buildings and equipment, a school and a playground still remain. Ghost Towns In The USA: 19 Abandoned Towns You Can Explore 17 ghost townsPointe Coupee Parish contains the most, with 9. Centralia, PA An underground mine fire gone seriously wrong led to this modern ghost town northwest of Philadelphia. Scroll down to find out. Harrisburg, Washington CountyThe Bureau of Land Management / CC BY 2.0, Somerset, Windham CountyAndy Arthur / CC BY 2.0. When mining was on a downswing in the 1890s, many moved away. Travel Stories America's 10 coolest ghost towns Melissa Klurman Mar 7, 2022 9 min read The deserted ghost town of Bodie, California; population: 0 Zack Frank / 500px America's history is rich in stories of pioneers heading off to find their fortunes. Search, compare and buy the best travel insurance for the lowest price, America's 15 Coolest Ghost Towns to Visit. Rather than abandon the town on first pass, however, many who came for the gold stayed for the fertile land, setting up farms and homesteads. Within the Wharton State Forest is the site of Batsto Village. Whitewash Village, Barnstable CountyZachary Cava / CC BY 2.0. However, little local employment opportunity was available for the number of residents it hosted and the community was officially abandoned once sea levels rose along with the increased pollution and salinity levels of the Salton Sea in the 1980s and 1990s. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. 35 Creepy Abandoned Cities and Ghost Towns Around the World There are 11 ghost towns within 25 miles of Norman. Within these small structured walls, I learned Partially separated the shadows and sounds. 16 ghost townsCarteret County contains the most, with 3. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Nearby, check out Beury, where you can see the remnants of the Beury General Store and explore the site where coal mining baron Joseph Beury built his 23-room mansion, complete with a swimming pool, stables and greenhouse. Located on the northern brim of Indian Cave State Park, St. Derion was completely abandoned in 1920. Known as the "world's largest living ghost town," Elk Falls is still home to 107 people, according to the 2010 census. As the story goes for most ghost towns, Batsto Village faced population decline and bankruptcy when demand for iron lessened. And slowly died. While many ghost towns came to be after the Gold Rush ended and mining camps were abandoned, others were forced to dissipate as larger cities sprang up nearby. When the gold ran out, people abandoned the town, and in 1962, Bodie became . When the mines were tapped out or local companies went bankrupt during the First or Second World War, the residents of these towns left to find opportunity elsewhere. There were upwards of 250 operating mines between 1863 and 1865. Newly developed electric dredging methods led to a brief revival after 1895, but by the 1940s the town was deserted. Elias National Park (the largest national park in the USA). They're located in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, New Mexico, New York, West Virginia, and more. Today, many of the towns original wooden structures remain. The ghostly remains of what was once the world's richest copper mine. 32 ghost townsNome contains the most, with 7. Ghosttowns.com is the best source of information on ghost towns in the United States. I was born here. In 1910 there were 361 residents, but peaked in 1930 with a population of 581. What Is the Oldest Town in Michigan? There's also a small cemetery with piles of rocks as modest grave markers. 136 ghost townsCarbon County contains the most, with 18. Firefighters set the dump on fire, as they had always done in years previous, but this time the fire was not fully put out. There are 4 ghost towns within 50 miles of Anchorage. This old ghost town was used to film "Hunger Games" as District 12. Dodge City, Kansas This famous wild western town located in Kansas got its start in 1847 when Fort Mann was built to protect people on the Santa Fe Trail. Also here: Belmonts original church, purportedly stolen in the middle of the night and moved to Manhattan after Belmont busted. According to Sierra Nevada Geotourism, the 20-plus buildings that remain preserved to this day are thanks to the efforts of Dave and Arvilla Mills, who painstakingly worked to move the structures to a safe location as they were slated for demolition in the 1960s. 1. So the majority of ghost towns date from the 1880-1940 period of westward expansion and industrialization. 16 Creepy Ghost Towns in the USA You Can Actually Visit - Time Out It featured 20-plus saloons and was known as a violent area. It was incorporated in 1898 but soon had its fair share of classic Wild West brothels, brawls, and saloons. 346 ghost townsKern County contains the most, with 113. 68 ghost townsBaker County contains the most, with 9. The town was always small, but at one point had a school that over 200 students attended. In the early 1920s, the mining industry was in decline and when the railroad was abandoned in 1922 the mining companies that were left shut down, and residents fled elsewhere for opportunity. Today, Nelson's buildings remain the ghost town is now a popular location for photo, film, and music video shoots. There are 6 ghost towns within 50 miles of Nashua. Blake Gumprecht, "A Saloon On Every Corner: Whiskey Towns of Oklahoma Territory, 1889-1907," The Chronicles of Oklahoma 74 (Summer 1996). You might actually see a spirit at these long-forgotten, abandoned ghost towns in the USA. And then a fire wiped out most of the town in 1880. And sailed far beyond these walls. Once connected to the outside world by a single train track, this ghost town is looked after by the National Park Service. In 1946, the island became housing for soldiers returning from war, but it was reopened as a hospital after World War II. Up to 10,000 people lived in the surrounding area, hoping to make their fortune in gold, but by 1870 all the easy-to-reach ore was gone and the population rapidly declined to the hundreds. You can visit during the summer months via a self-guided tour. Severe floods led to its eventual fall, leaving only a schoolhouse, general store and two cemeteries. When you're ready to retire for the night, head approximately 5 miles northwest to one of several hotels in Keystone, South Dakota. There are 3 ghost towns within 25 miles of Newark. However, due to seasonal flooding in the town caused by the two large rivers it sat between, many residents left and the state legislature decided to move the capital in 1826. And I carried the music within me. The town peaked with about 1,500 residents, and local businesses flourished that is, until workers moved out in search of other riches, leaving the town abandoned. Now, the only things that remain of this forgotten land are a few vandalized buildings, an unkept pink children's train called "Old 1225," and a wishing well. Over the years, interest in the town declined, until it was abandoned in 1995. Named by German prospectors who came looking for gold, Berlin was a company mining town. The remote island was most known for fishing in the 1930, and its main occupation is now lobstering. The growth of the fishing industry in the neighboring town of Gloucester eventually led to the demise of Dogtown. In the 1890s Garnet was a thriving mining town with a population of over a thousand served by up to 13 saloons. "The Island of the Dolls" in Mexico is like something straight out of a horror. Today, the National Park Service has restored the depot, and the town is on the National Register of Historic Places; you can take a self-guided tour of the now quiet town. Maximize your island time with these top excursions. In the 1940s, Maine began acquiring bits of land until the state fully owned it. The community emptied as miners left for World War I. Along U.S. Route 93 Santa Claus, Arizona was known for its Christmas-themed attractions like the Santa Claus Inn. 1. Expert tip: Plan a visit for Bodie Ghost Walks & Star Stories, spooky after-hours ghost tours of the abandoned town, cemetery and stamp mill. The town is open every day to visitors. 106 ghost townsNye County contains the most, with 15. Custer is one of the older ghost towns on this list. By 1920, dwindling mine production caused the town to collapse. Today, it's visitable as Old Cahawba Archeological Park, which honors the history of the Native American presence there, as well as the years when many freedmen and women lived there. 155 ghost townsAdams County and Milwaukee County each contain 10. Terlingua is yet another mining town, only this one became one of the greats. After the discovery of gold in 1859, Bodie became a. 31 ghost townsPawnee County contains the most, with 13. Calico once thrived with its busy silver mines, beginning auspiciously in 1881. San Francisco's retail hub is turning into a ghost town. The exodus isn Located between the South Bronx and Rikers Island, the small island was uninhabited until 1885 when the Riverside Hospital was built there. There are 20 ghost towns within 25 miles of Racine. Isla De Las Muecas, Mexico Abandoned cities are creepy, but most of them have nothing on this abandoned island. A revival of gold mining in the 1930s was halted by World War II, and the town has been abandoned ever since. Founded in 1879, the community became a must-visit destination for gold speculators and eventually was the home of the Lucky Boy and Black mines, which employed many of the townspeople. As of the 2010 census only 36 people still lived in the town. Kennicott was established as a mining town in 1903 to take advantage of the areas copper deposits (the emergence of electric power having increased coppers value considerably). 26 ghost townsClermont County contains the most, with 4. Located less than 13 miles south of Aspen, present-day Ashcroft features the remnants of a silver mining town. Standing in a state of "arrested decay," this ghost town allows for a detailed peek into Gold Rush life in an unusually harsh climate. Perry Eberhart, Ghosts of the Colorado Plains, Swallow Press Books, Athens, Ohio, 1986. There are 11 ghost towns within 50 miles of Hoover. Soon, Rhyolite boasted a hospital, an opera house, and even a stock exchange. When diamonds were discovered in 1908, German miners flocked to the area, and several new settlements were established, only to be abandoned once the supply of diamonds dried up. See 24 19th-century buildings at one of Wyoming's largest historic sites. Paranormal ghost tours take place here regularly, and the Goldfield Days in August temporarily fill the town back up to its boomtown population. Founded in 1863, Virginia City was originally infamous for a lacking law enforcement or a justice system, much like their neighboring town of Bannack. This hospital became a way to quarantine those with contagious diseases, even treating "Typhoid Mary" Mallon, who was the first asymptomatic carrier of the typhoid fever bacteria. As a major stop on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, Thurmond had it all hotels, banks, a post office, and more. For a moment. By 1987 the last resident left and it officially became a ghost town. Ghost Towns of Wyoming - Legends of America While my fancies found wings St. Elmo, located less than 83 miles southeast of, While enjoying Montana's blue skies and breathtaking scenery, make a pit stop in Nevada City, a ghost town situated roughly 90 miles northwest of. Off the coast of Maine, Swan Island can only be accessed by ferry, kayak, or canoe. Since the 1970s, the town has become an increasingly popular tourist destination. The nearby Buena Vista Heritage is working to rebuild the structure to its original state. The island was originally inhabited by Native Americans, but in the early 1700s European settlers came in and developed a town. Realtor Nina Talbot founded the town in 1937 in an attempt to attract buyers to the desert, and while Santa Claus was popular with tourists for a bit, all the Christmas spirit wasn't enough to convince enough folks to move in.