Right on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, you’ll find the town of Portlock, Alaska. This entire place disappeared within the state. It was once a vibrant village, but now all that’s left is a few rotting houses. Although Aleut people have lived on the Southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula for thousands of years, no one had a settlement in the area until the 1780s.

This thriving town remained until everyone abandoned the village in 1950, with most residents moving to nearby villages down the coast. A mine tunnel, house pilings, and rusted cannery equipment are all that remain of Portlock, Alaska today.

So what happened? According to local history, an unexplained hairy creature continuously assaulted and stalked the villagers, murdering them and leaving their bodies, until they finally all abandoned the area. Here’s more about the terrifying history of the town of Portlock:

 

Where is Portlock, Alaska?

Google Maps
This eerie little town lies on the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula in Southcentral Alaska. The village of Portlock was established when Captain Nathanial Portlock of the Royal British Navy landed there in 1787. It was an unexplored, beautiful area, filled with fish and plenty of space.
The town became known as one of the creepiest places in Alaska. Many are afraid to visit this area due to the unexplained circumstances that continue to happen in this small town.
Flickr/Mike
If you believe the residents of the nearby villages of Seldovia, Nanwalek, and Port Graham, the area is haunted.

When did the Portlock, Alaska mystery begin?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikemurry/200596083/in/photolist-iJ7ea-5dRfT5-o7Vwwx-opqgdD-o7VrkS-2p1Fro2-2p1Fd9d-2p1zYES-2p1Fdaf-2p1CXSn-2p1DYKq-2p1DYCM-2p1DYZJ-2p1DYKF-2p1zXbK-2p1zWnA-2p1CXog-2p1FaSQ-2p1FbdK-2p1CWYD-2p1FrLX-2p1Ftpr-2p1CXtg-2p1CWQ2-2p1CXP6-2p1CWFz-2p1DZ4S-2p1DYLc-2p1DYf2-2p1zZpn-2p1CWDq-2p1CXaf-2p1E2D1-2p1Ftg5-2p1CZNg-2p1zZK7-2p1FaYg-2p1E2sV-2p1FuHo-2p1zZAE-2p1Fuu2-2p1zZGr-2p1FdB7-2p1zZtA-2p1E1q4-2p1DYXu-2p1Fric-2p1DYdJ-2p1zWxL-2p1zWkG
In 1905, it was reported that all the workers left their cannery jobs due to something mysterious that was "bothering" the camp. The cannery workers returned the next season, but unexplained events were continually reported. There was an air of fear and mystery that began to pervade the small town.

When did the Portlock, Alaska murders start?

Flickr/Mike

Bigfoot in Alaska?

Flickr/naql

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One resident claimed to see a huge, hairy man destroying fish wheels along the beach. He ran home to get his gun, and when he returned, the beast stared at him for several moments, then walked off. Sightings like these caused unease to ramp up within the town.
Flickr/toffehoff
Bodies recovered from the nearby lagoon often had strange wounds that were not made by a bear. The loss of these lives took a toll on the small community.
Flickr/naql
It's understandable how fear began to set in. People started to leave the town. All the unexplained disappearances and murders in Portlock, Alaska caused everyone to feel like they had to flee.

Why was Portlock, Alaska abandoned?

Flickr/Mike's Alaska Travels
Only the postmaster remained. After a year alone, the post office closed in 1950 and the last resident of Portlock left town. Even the postmaster couldn’t continue on here.
Flickr/naql
This town experienced over 50 years of hauntings, murders, and disappearances before the townspeople gave in and left.

Does anybody live in Portlock, Alaska today?

Flickr/Joseph
Portlock is still mostly uninhabited to this day; the town was dissolved as a census-designated place in the 1980s and has not been reported again since then. However, the town does still get occasional visitors. In the 1970s, a fisherman was forced to take refuge from a storm and reported something strange walked through their camp on two feet. It terrified them, and they left as soon as possible. Seventy years after the hauntings started, they were still continuing when people visited the area.

Can you visit Portlock today?

Flickr/Don Henise
The ghost town of Portlock, Alaska has a mysterious story. Whether or not this is a stronghold of Bigfoot in Alaska, you can decide for yourself. The disappearances and the bodies found were too horrible for anyone to continue living in this small town.

Do you love being terrified? Head To This Eerie Island For A Real Life Adventure In Alaska or read about Bigfoot sightings in Alaska. Have you been to Portlock, the whole town that disappeared? Were you “bothered” by “something”? Is this someplace you would ever visit to explore, now that you know this bone-chilling piece of Alaska history?

If you love creepy places in Alaska, we’ve actually put together a road trip to some of the most haunted places in Alaska that is sure to scare the pants off of you. Just be sure to check out our ultimate road trip packing guide first so you don’t forget anything important!

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Portlock Alaska

Megan McDonald | January 01, 2021

Are there many abandoned towns in Alaska?

Yes! There are many abandoned towns in Alaska that have been left to be reclaimed by the earth. After the gold rush, many booming small towns were abandoned as miners left to follow gold claims in other areas. This left plenty of villages that became what’s known as “ghost towns,” and they’re located all around the state.

Are there a lot of haunted areas in Alaska?

There are a lot of haunted areas in Alaska. This state is huge, and the animals and terrain haven’t been fully explored. There are plenty of areas that have unexplained happenings in them, including tales of ghost stories or people that disappear.

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Kenai Peninsula, Alaska 99610, USA