10 U.S. Ghost Towns You Must See

Deep in the heart of Wrangell St. Elias National Park, the abandoned mining town of Kennecott offers a glimpse into Alaska’s copper boom. At its zenith, this remote outpost processed nearly $200 million worth of copper. Now, what’s left is the skeletal remains of a 14-story mill and a power plant—monuments to industrial might and isolation. A visit here might echo with the faint sounds of past labor and desolation.

In the harsh landscape of Nevada’s Death Valley, Rhyolite bloomed briefly following a gold discovery in the early 1900s. Funded by none other than Charles M. Schwab, the town quickly developed, complete with a hospital, opera house, and stock exchange. Yet, the financial panic of 1907 spelled its doom, and by 1912 it was abandoned. Now, its ruins serve as a dramatic reminder of transient wealth and as a popular setting for movies looking to capture the spirit of the Old West.

Initially known as Forrest City, St Elmo was a thriving mining town until the decline of rail service in the 1920s led to its gradual desertion. By the 1950s, it was nearly empty, but today it has found new life as a ghost town attraction. Visitors can stay at the old hotel, shop at the general store, and soak up the eerie yet enchanting atmosphere of a town caught between eras.

Once a Gold Rush hotspot in Montana, Bannack was notorious for its lawlessness, with even its sheriff reputed to be an outlaw. Abandoned by the 1950s, today it stands as a well-preserved ghost town, its buildings frozen in time. Paranormal enthusiasts might know Bannack from various ghost-hunting TV shows, which have highlighted its spectral sightings and the occasional flash of mysterious orbs.

Glenrio, which is situated on the border between Texas and New Mexico, used to be a bustling destination on the famous Route 66. From the 1940s to the 1960s, the town thrived with bustling gas stations, motels, and diners catering to road trippers exploring the Mother Road. However, the construction of Interstate 40 in the 1970s bypassed Glenrio, leading to its rapid decline and eventual abandonment. Today, visitors to Glenrio can wander through a ghostly scene of deserted buildings and silent streets, a nostalgic echo of America's golden age of automobile travel.

Just northwest of Philadelphia, Centralia caught fire in 1962 due to a mishap in the coal mines below. The fire has raged ever since, creating sinkholes that belch smoke and toxic gases. Forced out by the danger, residents left their homes to decay. The state has since condemned the deserted town, claiming it under eminent domain. Today, all that remains is the fire itself, expected to burn for another 250 years, casting an eerie pall over this haunting landscape.

Located down in the Mojave Desert of Arizona, Santa Claus is an odd abandoned village that observes Christmas throughout the year. Established in 1937, it was meant to be a merry magnet for permanent settlers in the arid desert. Decked out in festive decor, the town drew tourists but never residents. These days, if you’re craving a slice of holiday spirit, even in the heat of summer, a visit to this abandoned town, with its weathered red and white buildings, might just do the trick.

Located in the hills close to Yosemite, Bodie exists as a preserved object from the Gold Rush period. By the early 1900s, its boom had busted, leading to gradual abandonment exacerbated by devastating fires. Today, it’s as if time stood still: meals set out on tables, goods still on store shelves. A visit here offers a vivid window into the once-thriving daily life of a frontier town.

Cahaba, a trading centre prior to the Civil War, is located where the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers converge. From 1820 until 1825, the city functioned as the first capital of the state. The village housed emancipated slaves after the war, although it was finally completely abandoned due to severe flooding episodes. The area has a reputation for being haunted due to a few apparitions of ghostly orbs that have been seen over the years. This spooky southern location is definitely worth a ghost tour.