Escape the crowds and discover a piece of forgotten history at the most creepy and captivating abandoned places across the United States.
Many abandoned destinations throughout the country are worth exploring, from ghost towns to once-loved theme parks.
Step onto a horror movie set at these bone-chilling abandoned places in the U.S.
McKenzie Beach, South Carolina
Near Pawleys Island is McKenzie Beach, a former resort from the 1930s. Businesswoman Lilian Golden Pyatt opened a club on the South Carolina beach as a safe and relaxing vacation destination for black families.
It was a revolutionary establishment with everything from a hotel to cabins and a music venue where legendary artists like Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald performed. Sadly, the resort closed in 1954 after a Category 4 hurricane severely damaged the property.
Elkmont Historic District, Tennessee
Seeing Elkmont Historic District in person will transport you back to the early 1900s. Hidden inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont was once the county’s second-largest town.
A lumber mill and railroad drew thousands to the site, which residents left empty in 1925. Some Elkmont structures still stand, reminding visitors of the town’s storied past.
Kennecott, Alaska
Add Kennecott, a former mining town tucked among the rugged wilderness, to your Alaska tour itinerary. This National Historic Landmark is an excellent example of copper mining operations in the 20th century. Old homes, public buildings, trails, and mine tunnels occupy the site, where visitors can learn about the local history.
Rhyolite, Nevada
Rhyolite is the eerie destination of your dreams if you crave an off-the-beaten-path adventure. Located about 120 miles from Las Vegas near Death Valley National Park, Rhyolite is a ghost town abandoned over a century ago.
Prospectors established the settlement after discovering quartz in the area, and thousands lived there at one time. Several buildings remain, including the iconic Bottle House, consisting of over 50,000 glass bottles.
Centralia, Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania town of Centralia is one of the country’s most famous abandoned destinations. Centralia was a bustling mining city in the 1800s until an underground fire began in 1962.
Efforts to extinguish the fire failed, and it began releasing lethal amounts of carbon monoxide. Many residents started moving away in the 1980s—today, less than ten people live there full-time.
Cape Romano Dome House, Florida
Off the coast of Marco Island lies the Cape Romano Dome House. This unique structure consists of several domed structures built on stilts in the water.
A former oil producer started the project in the 1980s by a former oil producer, although numerous storms severely damaged it over the decades. What remained of the home was sunk by Hurricane Ian in 2022, and you can only see the ruins on a boat tour.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Kentucky
Many consider Kentucky’s Waverly Hills Sanatorium among the most haunted places in America. Louisville built the sanatorium in the early 1900s to contain an outbreak of tuberculosis.
Additional buildings opened as the number of patients increased, with the sanatorium eventually closing in 1961. Since then, the property has been left in disrepair, attracting urban adventurers seeking a paranormal encounter.
Six Flags New Orleans, Louisiana
Six Flags New Orleans is a creepy abandoned theme park that closed in 2005. The family-friendly attraction opened in 2000 as Jazzland before Six Flags purchased the park two years later.
The property was flooded during 2005’s devastating Hurricane Katrina, forcing its permanent closure. The rollercoasters still stand at Six Flags New Orleans, though nature is slowly reclaiming the rotting amusement park.
Bodie, California
Visit the ghost town of Bodie to step back in time to the Old West. In the 1800s, thousands lived there after finding gold in the area.
Its population began to decline in the late 1800s, and several significant fires destroyed many of the town’s structures. Bodie became a State Historic Park welcoming visitors to imagine life during the California gold rush.
Ohio State Reformatory, Ohio
You might recognize the Ohio State Reformatory from the classic film “The Shawshank Redemption.” Originally built in the late 1800s, the prison operated for decades before closing in 1990.
The federal government ordered its closure due to overcrowding and poor prisoner conditions. While many of the property’s buildings have been demolished, the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society is working to protect what remains.
Hudson River State Hospital, New York
Poughkeepsie is home to Hudson River State Hospital, a chilling former medical complex for psychiatric patients. From 1873 to the early 2000s, the hospital offered inpatient care to hundreds of men and women.
By 2003, it was closed and completely abandoned. Arsons and vandals have severely damaged the grand Victorian-style hospital building.
Holy Land USA, Connecticut
Holy Land USA comprises 18 acres of religious-themed attractions in Connecticut. A local attorney opened the park in 1955, hoping to spread the Bible’s message by recreating famous sites such as Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Highlights included replicas of the Garden of Eden, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, and a massive illuminated cross. Holy Land USA closed in 1984, though religious groups have made recent efforts to revitalize the project.
Atlanta Prison Farm, Georgia
The Atlanta Prison Farm is a controversial property where food was grown for regional prisons. For decades, incarcerated individuals worked on the farm to produce tons of food for prisons throughout the Atlanta area.
It closed sometime in the 1990s, and the City of Atlanta converted it into a police training facility in 2021. Many locals protested the development in light of the Black Lives Matter movement, arguing it would increase police brutality occurrences.
Forest Haven Asylum, Maryland
Forest Haven Asylum in Maryland has a dark and troubled history. This state school and hospital housed those with intellectual disabilities from 1925 to 1991.
Resident allegations of abuse and mistreatment and hundreds of suspicious deaths caused a federal judge to order its closure. Today, the abandoned site attracts many urban explorers eager to see the medical equipment and personal belongings left behind.
City Methodist Church, Indiana
Once the Midwest’s most prominent Methodist church, City Methodist Church closed entirely in 1975. The church opened in 1925 and was a staple of the Gary community for decades.
Its congregation dwindled until Indiana University took control of the property. Since then, City Methodist Church has fallen into disrepair and become a hotspot for tourists interested in abandoned locations.
See more of the world’s creepiest abandoned places
Abandoned destinations are perfect for those eager to venture off the beaten path. Become an urban adventurer and visit these eerie locations left to the elements.
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Popular locations in the US might be abandoned soon
Thanks to factors like overtourism and climate change, some of the United States’ most interesting attractions might not exist in the near future.
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
