1. Centralia, Pennsylvania
If you’ve ever heard of a town with a fire that just won’t go out, you’re probably thinking of Centralia. What was once a small mining town in Pennsylvania is now almost entirely abandoned, thanks to an underground coal fire that’s been burning since 1962. Streets crack from the heat below, and eerie smoke still drifts from the ground in some places. Locals say the town was cursed when careless miners disturbed sacred Native American land beneath the coal seams shares WNEP.
While the official explanation blames the fire on a landfill burn gone wrong, whispers say the mine itself was cursed from day one. Those who visit at night claim to hear footsteps echoing in empty streets or see shadowy figures moving through the fog. Only a handful of residents remain, refusing to leave despite the danger adds 94.5 PST. Most have packed up and vanished, leaving behind a ghost town that inspired the movie Silent Hill.
2. Dudleytown, Connecticut
Dudleytown has been called the “Village of the Damned,” and locals will warn you not to go poking around after dark. Tucked deep in the woods of northwest Connecticut, it was founded in the 1740s and abandoned by the early 1900s after a series of bizarre deaths, suicides, and disappearances. The families who lived there were plagued by misfortune, and legend has it the land was cursed by an English nobleman’s revenge centuries earlier shares UNILAD.
Today, the forest has completely overtaken the site, but people still report strange experiences when they try to visit. Visitors talk about sudden nausea, unexplained scratches, and camera malfunctions. Even those who don’t believe in ghosts admit something feels wrong in the air. Officially, the area is off-limits, but that’s never stopped thrill-seekers from sneaking in—and quickly running out adds i95 Rock.
3. Bodie, California
Bodie was once a booming gold rush town, packed with miners, saloons, and a little too much rowdy behavior. At its peak in the late 1800s, it had over 60 saloons and a reputation for being one of the wildest towns in the West. But when the gold ran dry, the people left, and by the 1940s, it was nearly empty. Now it’s preserved as a state historic park, frozen in time with furniture still in place and dust covering the floors.
What makes Bodie extra spooky is the “curse” that supposedly haunts anyone who steals even a pebble from the site. Park rangers receive letters and returned items every year from people who claim they were plagued by bad luck after taking a souvenir. Cameras often glitch here, and some swear they’ve seen people in old-timey clothing who vanish into thin air. Whether it’s ghosts or just the desert wind, something lingers in Bodie.
4. Cahawba, Alabama
Before Montgomery, Alabama had another capital—Cahawba. This ghost town along the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers was abandoned after repeated flooding made it unlivable. But some say it wasn’t just the water that drove people out. According to local lore, spirits from a nearby Native American burial ground made their presence known, causing illness and tragedy for the residents.
Visitors today say the silence is overwhelming, broken only by strange sounds like laughter or whispers in the wind. There’s even a legend of a ghostly orb of light that floats through the old slave quarters, which locals call the “Cahawba ghost.” The cemetery is said to be especially active, with reports of cold spots and strange shadows. It’s a peaceful place by day—but many refuse to stay once the sun sets.
5. Garnet, Montana
Garnet is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Montana, and stepping into it feels like a portal to the past. Built during a gold rush in the late 1800s, the town was bustling with families, shops, and a sense of hope. But by the early 1900s, fires, mining busts, and harsh winters drove residents away. Now only wind, wildlife, and maybe a few ghosts keep the buildings company.
People who visit say they hear piano music drifting from the old hotel, even though it’s long been abandoned. Others report the smell of cigar smoke or voices murmuring from empty rooms. Volunteers who help maintain the town have stories they don’t always like to tell—especially about the children’s laughter heard echoing from the schoolhouse. It’s all enough to make you glance over your shoulder a little more often.
6. Elkmont, Tennessee
Tucked inside the Great Smoky Mountains, Elkmont started as a logging town before becoming a vacation getaway for wealthy families in the early 1900s. When the national park was created, residents were asked to leave, and over time, the cabins fell into disrepair. The forest crept back in, swallowing up the memories—and maybe a few secrets. Some say not everyone left Elkmont willingly.
Visitors report hearing doors slam, even when there’s no wind, and lights flickering in cabins that haven’t had electricity in decades. One of the creepiest stories comes from hikers who say they’ve heard a woman singing lullabies near the old Wonderland Hotel ruins. The park service keeps the area quiet, but those who know the stories say Elkmont still has something to say. You just have to be brave enough to listen.
7. Thurmond, West Virginia
Thurmond was a booming railroad town in the early 1900s, full of hotels, banks, and bars catering to travelers and coal miners. But as train travel declined, so did Thurmond, and by the 1950s it was practically deserted. Today, it’s part of the National Park Service and draws curious visitors with its empty buildings and silent streets. Some say the town didn’t just fade away—it was swallowed by something darker.
There are stories of a conductor who still walks the tracks, searching for the train he died on. Others claim they’ve seen a woman in white looking out from the second story of the old hotel. Paranormal investigators have picked up strange EVP recordings and unexplained cold spots in the summer heat. The train still runs through Thurmond—but the passengers these days might not be living.
8. Kennecott, Alaska
Kennecott was once a bustling copper mining town in the early 1900s, but when the ore ran out, it was abandoned almost overnight. Located deep in the Alaskan wilderness, the town is still surprisingly intact, with rust-red buildings perched against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. It looks like something out of a movie—and it kind of feels like one too, especially when the wind starts howling through the mine tunnels.
Local guides say they’ve seen figures in old mining gear disappear into thin air, or heard footsteps echoing in empty buildings. There’s also talk of miners who died in cave-ins still roaming the area, never having found peace. Some visitors even report feeling watched the moment they arrive. It’s beautiful, no doubt—but also chilling in more ways than one.
9. Cairo, Illinois
Cairo sits at the meeting point of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and once had dreams of becoming the next big port city. But a history of racial violence, economic struggles, and political corruption led to its slow, painful decline. Now, much of the town sits eerily empty, with grand old buildings falling into decay. Locals talk about a heavy sadness that hangs over the place—and a few whisper about something more sinister.
Some say the spirits of those who suffered during the city’s darkest times still walk the streets. There have been sightings of figures in windows, especially in the abandoned mansions. Visitors report an overwhelming sense of dread that starts the moment they enter town. Cairo isn’t fully abandoned, but it feels like a place that’s been forgotten by time—and haunted by it too.
10. Rhyolite, Nevada
Once a booming gold mining town, Rhyolite sprang to life in the early 1900s with a population that quickly swelled into the thousands. But by 1916, it was nearly empty, thanks to financial collapse and dried-up mines. Today, all that’s left are crumbling buildings and a few ghostly art installations scattered across the desert. It’s remote, windblown, and very, very quiet.
Visitors often speak of a strange stillness that makes them feel like they’re not alone. Some claim to hear voices near the old train depot, even when no one’s around. Others say they’ve seen flashes of light in the empty schoolhouse. Whether it’s just tricks of the desert sun or something else entirely, Rhyolite has a way of getting under your skin.
11. Saint Elmo, Colorado
Saint Elmo is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Colorado, with its wooden buildings still standing strong in the Rocky Mountain air. Founded in 1880 during a mining boom, it was quickly abandoned when the industry collapsed. A few people stayed behind—most notably the Stark family, who ran the general store for decades. According to legend, one of the Stark sisters never left.
People who visit say Annabelle Stark’s spirit is still there, watching over the town. There are reports of windows slamming shut on their own and disembodied voices calling out from the hotel. The general store is now a tourist stop, but some feel a chill when they step inside. Whether it’s the altitude or the afterlife, something’s definitely lingering.
12. Jerome, Arizona
Jerome was once a copper mining town so rowdy it was called “the wickedest town in the West.” When the mine shut down in the 1950s, it became a ghost town—until artists and bohemians moved in and gave it new life. But even with its creative revival, there’s no denying the town has its share of hauntings. Locals say the spirits never left when the miners did.
The Jerome Grand Hotel, formerly a hospital, is known for ghostly sightings, flickering lights, and voices in the halls. Guests report seeing nurses vanish into thin air or hearing gurneys rolling down empty corridors. Some even claim to see a ghostly cat that jumps on their bed at night. Jerome may be colorful and artsy now, but its haunted history still clings to every creaky floorboard.
13. Bannack, Montana
Bannack was founded in 1862 during Montana’s first gold rush and even served as the state’s capital for a short time. But as the gold dwindled, so did the town’s population, and now it sits preserved as a ghost town. The buildings are still standing, and walking through feels like the people just vanished one day. The most talked-about spirit is that of Dorothy Dunn, a young girl who drowned nearby.
Visitors say they hear a child laughing or crying near the old schoolhouse or feel a tug on their clothes when no one’s there. Paranormal groups have picked up unusual activity in the old hotel and jail. Even in the daylight, Bannack has an air of loneliness and mystery. It’s beautiful, yes—but don’t be surprised if you leave with more questions than answers.