Gabriel Rickles
There’s something chilling about abandoned places. Silent streets, crumbling houses, and neglected stores hold secrets they can’t shake off. Ghosts? Maybe. Unsettling memories? Definitely. Want to visit where the past still lingers? Here are 10 forgotten places in America where ghost stories echo in every creaking floorboard.
St. Elmo, Colorado
Though once buzzing with hotels, saloons, and trains, a fire and the Alpine Tunnel’s closure sealed its fate. Today, crumbling buildings whisper of glory days, restored against time’s decay. Legends even claim the ghost of Annabelle Stark still lingers, guarding one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the American West.
Garnet, Montana
Garnet sprang to life in the 1890s, then froze—literally. Snow would seal off the town for months, trapping residents indoors. Some say the isolation played tricks on minds, and their echoes still fill the air. Visitors report hearing whispers in the hotel and the lingering scent of tobacco in empty rooms.
Bodie, California
Bodie, California, is a preserved Gold Rush town where time stands still. Abandoned in the 1800s, it still holds schoolbooks and half-played poker games. Visitors often return stolen items, blaming strange misfortunes. The silence feels heavy, and many say the town watches more than it welcomes.
Centralia, Pennsylvania
Beneath Centralia, Pennsylvania, an underground coal mine fire has been burning for over 60 years. Steam rises from cracked highways while melted signs and smoky air add to the eerie atmosphere. Though nearly empty, the town once had a church that held services long after most residents had gone.
Thurmond, West Virginia
Built on coal and rail, the town once bustled with wealth and noise. When the trains stopped, however, everything slowed to silence. Empty buildings remain untouched, while the old depot now hosts a bare-bones museum. What’s left of the town is protected under the watchful eye of the National Park Service.
Goldfield, Nevada
Goldfield, Nevada, struck gold in 1902 and became the richest boomtown in the state. Mansions, banks, and the grand Goldfield Hotel rose from the desert. After the mines dried up and a 1923 fire destroyed much of Main Street, only a few historic buildings, including the hotel, survived.
Moonville, Ohio
Moonville Tunnel, hidden deep in the Appalachian woods, stands as a ghostly remnant of a once-thriving village. Abandoned and eerie, the tunnel echoes with footsteps in the quiet despite the absence of people. Visitors often feel urged to leave before the silence becomes unsettling.
Kennecott, Alaska
Perched at 2,200 feet and surrounded by glaciers, Kennecott’s abandoned copper mine buildings sit wind-blasted and red like frozen blood. Inside the towering 14-story mill, rusted chutes and conveyor belts still creak. Some claim they’ve heard boots on the catwalk—the problem is, there’s no floor left to walk on.
Elkmont, Tennessee
Elkmont once welcomed Southern elites to summer parties and forest escapes. After the crowds left, nature crept in. Cabins now sit quietly beneath vines, and only stone chimneys remain where the hotel stood. The National Park Service preserved some buildings, but others were left to decay. Even the surrounding fog brings eerie stillness.
Glenrio, Texas And New Mexico
Once a bustling stop on Route 66, Glenrio straddled the Texas-New Mexico border with gas stations, cafes, and motels serving endless travelers. When Interstate 40 bypassed it in the 1970s, the town emptied almost overnight. Today, its creepy buildings and deserted streets stand as haunting relics of the Mother Road.
