Sure, we may not have stereotypical ghost towns in New York like you might find out in the Old West. Out there, you may find beautifully-preserved abandoned structures, the scene completed by rolling balls of tumbleweed like you’d see in a movie. With that being said, you can still find plenty of truly incredible pieces of history that have been left behind in the Empire State. This adventure will take you all the way up to Essex County: it’s time to explore the lost town of Tahawus, a ghost town in New York.

The lost town of Tahawus is unique in that it was abandoned not once, but actually twice. It's now located within the village of Newcomb.
las - initially/Flickr
The history of the town of Tahawus is one that can be a little bit confusing to those who are not familiar with this area. While always remaining in Essex County, the town was actually moved out to the village of Newcomb in the early 1960s after being abandoned for the second time.
Tahawus was first abandoned in 1857. The second abandonment occurred in 1963. This area is now part of the Tahawus Tract.
Maggie Munoff/Flickr
Back in 2003, the Open Space Institute purchased 10,000 acres of land that is now known as the Tahawus Tract. The cost was a whopping $8.5 million. The tract is now controlled by the institute and DEC. Together, these groups help to educate visitors on the history of the area. Even locals may not be familiar with the land's extensive (and forgotten) history.
Today, if you drive along Upper Works Road in Newcomb, you will discover abandoned pieces of the past all along your route.
AH7/Wikimedia Commons
This is a stunning area of New York. You're up surrounded by all of our High Peaks and just steps away from our tallest mountain, Mount March. Here, pieces of Tahawus are still visible even today.

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Sadly, few remnants exist from the early years of Tahawus. The majority of the structures that have managed to survive the test of time are from a different era. Most of the surviving artifacts are from when a local fish and game club operated in the area of Tahawus in the 1940s.
Jay Parker/Flickr
At one time, Tahawus was made up of nearly 20 residential homes, a school, bank, and many mining structures. Unfortunately, over time, and especially over the last decade, most of the remaining pieces of the town of Tahawus have been demolished.
One of the most well-known structures from Tahawus that still remains standing today is the MacIntyre Blast Furnace.
Wikimedia Commons
This mighty furnace stands at roughly 50 feet tall. It's one of the only surviving structures from Tahawus's mining past. It's visible from the road, so urban explorers and adventurers in the area often stop by. If you dare, step inside the furnace for a unique and interesting view!
How cool is this view? It's such an amazing visual of Tahawus's mining history. There are plenty of other pieces of the town's history still lingering in the area today. Allegedly, there's an actual ghost living here!
Jay Parker/Flickr
Whether the stories are true or not, local legends and explorers of the area say that an actual ghost inhabits Tahawus! One of the managers of the mining company in town was named David Henderson. According to the stories, Henderson can still be found making his way through Tahawus even today.

Henderson set his gun down while looking for new mining spots and water sources. The gun accidentally went off, causing him grave injuries which he would die from shortly after. This was a sad accident that shook the area. Those who tell David Henderson's story today say that he can still be found on horseback, continuing his ride through Tahawus today.
Those who were lucky enough to call Tahawus home still speak highly of the town that was. Residents of the area reminisce on the town's history and all that has now been demolished or taken over by Mother Nature.
Maggie Munoff/Flickr
While the town's history may have started back in the mid-1800s, it was only in the early 1960s when the town was officially abandoned for the last time. Today, many of the town's former residents are still living in the area or throughout New York. These people are able to paint a charming picture of this lost gem of the Adirondacks.

Did you live in the area in 1963 when Tahawus was moved to its final resting place in Newcomb? If you don’t remember this time in history, check out this amazing footage shared by Robin DeLoria on Youtube:

Have you ever been to this abandoned place in New York or do you know any former residents of Tawahus? Share your experiences in the comments!

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Ghost Town In New York

Lisa Sammons | May 20, 2022

What are some more abandoned places in New York?

Looking to check out some abandoned places in New York? Why not take an entire road trip? Bannerman's Island is home to an abandoned castle that can be seen from the mainland. The creepily-named Dead Horse Island also lies off the coast of Brooklyn — it has been used as a landfill for a horse rendering plant that was once nearby.

What are some more ghost towns in New York?

There are actually quite a few ghost towns in New York that are waiting to be explored! One of the most famous New York ghost towns is Doodletown, which began to fall apart in the 1950s. It's now part of Bear Mountain State Park in Stony Point. Another is Love Canal, near Niagara Falls. This spot was abandoned when it was discovered that a chemical company had been burying toxic waste in the area. People who lived nearby were developing horrible health issues including leukemia.

Are there any creepy hikes in New York?

Looking for a super-creepy hike in New York? Letchworth Village is an abandoned psychiatric hospital that now has a trail right on the property. The horror stories attached to this psychiatric hospital are absolutely terrible and it's said that you can feel the spirits that still linger on the property.

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