Virginia (Montana)
An abandoned store in Virginia.
In 1863, during the gold rush in the area, Virginia City was founded. Ten years later, when the gold mines dried up, all the residents abandoned the area. Today, Virginia City has been largely restored and became a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Tourists flock to the site to see hundreds of historic buildings such as summer theaters, breweries and hotels. The tourist destination is only about 90 miles from Yellowstone.
Centralia (Pennsylvania)
The streets are full of graffiti in Centralia.
From the late 1800s to the 1960s, Centralia was a quaint but bustling town thanks to its rich coal mines. However, when a mine mysteriously caught fire in 1962, the flames began spreading underground through interconnecting tunnels. The underground fires caused sinkholes and crumbling infrastructure, causing the town’s population to plummet. As of 2014, only eight residents remained. The landscape looks straight out of an apocalyptic movie. You’ll see many destroyed buildings and cracked, graffiti-covered Route 61. You can also occasionally see smoke from underground fires, which scientists estimate will continue to burn for more than 250 years.
Ballarat (California)
Entrance to the abandoned mining town.
The city was founded in 1896 and completely abandoned in 1917. In Ballarat, some visitors choose to camp overnight rather than make the three and a half hour drive back to Los Angeles. Campers can visit the nearby cemetery, historic buildings and the Ballarat General Store.
Bannack (Montana)
Bannack is known for his notoriously corrupt sheriff.
Montana’s first territorial capital, Bannack, was known for Henry Plummer, the sheriff who secretly coordinated stagecoach robberies. His exploits were short-lived, however, as Henry was discovered and subsequently hanged on January 10, 1864.
Kennecott (Alaska)
This mining town was once very prosperous.
Nearly $200 million came from the copper mines that were mined there. Between 1911 and 1938, the mining town was established, with its own hospital, skating rink, tennis courts, and dairy. But most of the buildings have now been abandoned for about 60 years, some of them in disrepair beyond repair. The National Park Service purchased many of Kennecott's buildings and land in 1998.
Rhyolite (Nevada)
Abandoned ruins in Nevada.
The town was named after the volcano of the same name. Rhyolite attracted residents looking for gold, which was discovered nearby in 1904. The town closed in 1916, and all that remains today are the ruins of the town's old buildings, including the jail, bank, and train station.
Bodie (California)
The abandoned table and chairs were still brand new.
Once home to 10,000 people, gold was discovered in Bodie in the 1870s in the hills surrounding Mono Lake. The town is now a State Historic Park, with some parts of the town preserved in a restored state. Much of the interior of the town is intact.
Cahawba (Alabama)
Old building in Cahawba city.
The state's first capital takes its name from the state's longest river, located at the confluence of the Cahaba and Alabama. The city was abandoned after the Civil War, and its cemeteries and many empty buildings are now popular sites for ghost tours and paranormal stories.
St. Elmo (Colorado)
Colorful abandoned houses in St. Elmo.
This is just one of many abandoned villages in Chaffee County, Colorado. Founded in 1880, the town thrived for about four decades, but when the railroad closed in 1922, it was abandoned. Today, St. Elmo is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a popular tourist destination thanks to its ATV trails and general store that is open in the summer.
Calico (California)
Abandoned silver mining town in the middle of the desert.
Once a silver mining town, this San Bernardino County ghost town has been restored as a tourist attraction. It garnered attention from Arnold Schwarzenegger, who dubbed it a Silver Rush Ghost Town when he was governor.
Elkhorn (Montana)
Model abandoned western town.
Elkhorn is a state park. This abandoned mining town south of Helena still has a few crumbling buildings. Elkhorn once had a population of 2,500 and was home to bustling hotels and brothels.
