New Hampshire has a long history, so it’s no surprise that a few ghost stories have popped up along the way. However, some places in New Hampshire have such an odd, spooky history that they’re widely acknowledged as ghost towns – whole areas where the veil between realms is thin, and it’s said that there is an otherworldly presence. Visit these six ghost towns in New Hampshire at your own risk. You’ll probably want to go before dark.

1. Isles of Shoals

Isles of Shoals, Rye, NH, USA
Raging Wire / Flickr
A double murder, an escaped victim, a jailbreak, and a hanging: if that doesn’t make for a ghost story we don’t know what will. The Smuttynose Murders on the Isles of Shoals happened in 1873 when two women were found murdered. A third victim escaped and identified the murderer, who then fled through the Isles and to Boston. When he was caught and brought back to Portsmouth he still proclaimed his innocence. He escaped again, before being caught and executed in Maine. It is said that the spirits of the victims still walk the rocky islands, especially around Maren’s Rock, where the surviving victim hid during the attack.

Learn more about the Isles of Shoals murders in this video from The Haunting Truth:

2. Old Hill Village

Old Hill Village, Hill, NH, USA
Army Corps New England / Flickr
Imagine relocating a whole village, buildings and all. That’s exactly what happened in Hill, where in 1937 the government announced that the town would be relocated so that the original location could be used as part of the Franklin Falls Reservoir. By 1941 the town had been relocated and is now home to about 1,000 New Hampshire residents. However, it’s said that the original Old Hill Village, now part of the Franklin Falls Reservoir, still has residents as well – ghosts from the original town who weren’t happy to see their homes destroyed.

3. Livermore

Livermore, NH, USA
J-MASS / Youtube livermore
In the late 1800s, Livermore was a lively logging town located in the heart of what is now the White Mountains National Forest. Although the town was made up mostly of men and boys working in the logging industry, there was a schoolhouse, a mill, and many more buildings, which are now being reclaimed by nature. Life in Livermore was dreary however: the long winters, hard work, and even a smallpox epidemic resulted in many lives lost too young. The town has officially been empty since 1946, but some say the loggers never really left.

Explore the ruins of the abandoned town of Livermore, NH in this video featuring abandoned places in NH from J-MASS:

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4. Madame Sherri’s, Chesterfield

Madame Sherri House, West Chesterfield, NH 03466, USA
James Walsh / Flickr
Madame Sherri was known in Chesterfield and beyond for her over-the-top parties. The Paris native was either a socialite or a businesswoman – operating a brothel – depending on who you ask. Madame Sherri built her fabulous home in the 1930s, but it burned down just 30 years later. Today, it’s said that ghostly revelers still party among the ruins of her once glamorous home.

5. Zealand

Zealand Falls, Bethlehem, NH 03583, USA
Wesley Carr / Flickr
Another abandoned logging town in the White Mountains, Zealand was plagued by bad luck, driving in into oblivion before its time. In the 1880s, J.E. Henry began the town to support his logging company, and it quickly flourished. However, in 1886, a forest fire destroyed much of the timber around the village, forcing Henry to move his operation to the virgin forest of New Lincoln. There, forest fires again destroyed the Zealand logging operation in 1897. After that, the railroads stopped serving the cursed town, and soon after the population vanished. Today, you can see remnants of the village from the Zealand Falls Trail in Bethlehem.

6. Monson Center

Monson Center, Federal Hill Rd, Hollis, NH 03049, USA
Susannah / Flickr
This colonial town near Milford was one of the first in-land settlements in New Hampshire, with buildings dating back to the 1700s. When you walk past the large sign greeting your entrance to the village, you may think that you’re in another ordinary hiking spot in New Hampshire, but as the woods open up to fields and you walk among the ruins you’ll find that this old, abandoned town has an energy to it that is simply other-worldly. There are 2.5 miles of trails nearby, so happy exploring!

Let's explore another one of the most famous abandoned towns in NH, Monson Center, in this video from Not Thursday:

Still wanting to explore New Hampshire’s haunted past? This epic road trip will take you to all of the most haunted spots in the state, including a few NH ghost towns. Try renting an RV from RVShare to make the drive more comfortable.

Have you ever visited any of these ghost towns in New Hampshire? Share a story or two with a comment!

 

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Ghost Towns In New Hampshire

Jackie Ann | April 24, 2021

What is the most haunted place in New Hampshire?

The most haunted place in New Hampshire can be found behind the charming ski town veneer of Henniker. Fans of the paranormal will discover eerie tales of a sordid past. Widely considered one of the most haunted places in New Hampshire, the Ocean-Born Mary House is a hotbed of ghoulish activity. As seafaring folklore goes, an infamous pirate by the name of Don Pedro commandeered a ship in 1720 and discovered a newborn baby on board. Don Pedro swore to spare the lives of the passengers if the child was given the name of his mother, Mary Wallace. Don Pedro later married “Ocean Born” Mary and took up residence in a mansion overlooking Henniker. One day Mary found him murdered and buried his body under a kitchen hearthstone. Today, visitors to the property report the spirit of Mary haunts the grounds, protecting it from her husband’s murderers.

Can I visit any abandoned places in New Hampshire?

Why yes, you can visit quite a few abandoned places in New Hampshire. Some of the most famous abandoned places in NH include:

 

With a history dating back to early colonial days, long abandoned places can be found all across New Hampshire. The tiny town of Dublin is home to Beech Hill Estate, a massive Georgian Revival manor house that has been uninhabited since the 1980s. This impeccable example of grand Victorian architecture was built by architect Charles Platt in 1902 and served as a vacation home to a wealthy family from Baltimore who retreated to Dublin Lake during the summer months. Today, the property is privately owned but the years of neglect have deteriorated its original splendor.

What are the most popular ghost stories in New Hampshire?

Some of the most popular ghost stories in New Hampshire include:

 

One of the most bone-chilling ghost stories in New Hampshire is the terrifying tale from Mount Washington. One spring, a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club was sent out to prepare the cabins for hikers and backpackers in the area. When the man failed to radio in his safe arrival, a team was sent out on the slopes and found the cabin was still boarded up. After searching the grounds, they discovered the man cowering in a sink cabinet, frozen in fear. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital to recover but was unable to recall what had happened, only remembering sensing an eerie presence in the cabin and seeing a gruesome face that appeared in the boarded-up windows.

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