A good many of South Carolina’s bonafide “ghost towns” are actually underwater. Not from a hurricane or some other disaster, but on purpose as unlucky towns and communities in the way of progress were flooded when rivers were dammed up in various places in the Palmetto State. But there are some places on the map that have withered away to nothing all on their own without being flooded in the name of progress. The dried-up town of Lone Star could be right out of a horror movie, and may just be a top contender for the scariest town in South Carolina. You may need to be the judge…

Google Maps [streetview]
Lone Star, SC sprang up in the 1800s during the railroad boom. From all indications, it was a "planned" rail town. There isn't much written history that exists for the "town" area of Lone Star.
Google Maps [streetview]
In its heyday before the invention of the car came along, Lone Star was a thriving little community.
Google Maps [streetview]
It had several stores, gas stations, a post office and a building housing the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad station.
Google Maps [streetview] enhanced
Beyond the railroad crossing on the edge of an empty field we spotted what appears to be a cemetery, but no church.
Google Maps [satellite] enhanced

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Google Maps [streetview]
Lone Star's decline as a rail town may have been the "final straw," for this small town. Somehow, the little post office was able to hang on until 1995. The building shown above, by the way, wasn't the post office. It's gone forever.
Google Maps [streetview]
Soon after the post office shut down, the last store closed. And then entire buildings literally disappeared from the townscape, leaving huge vacant spots where they once stood along the main road through town.
Google Maps [streetview]
Sure, there are a few houses and farms still hanging on in this small ghost town. Trains still pass through, but without stopping now.
Google Maps [streetview]
As in a horror movie where half the town just literally up and disappears, four of Lone Star's buildings were scooped up almost overnight and swept away. You can still see the empty spots where those buildings once stood.

You may be happy to learn they weren't scooped up in an alien ship and swept off to Mars.
Flickr/anoldent
No. They've been repurposed about 12 miles up the road as one of South Carolina's favorite BBQ joints and mercantile stores. To honor the small town in which these great old buildings used to serve, the new owners have used the town's name in their business.

The next time you get a craving for Lone Star BBQ in Santee, South Carolina, you can drive a short 12 miles up the road and see the ghost town of Lone Star where these great old buildings at Lone Star BBQ got their start.

Have you been to Lone Star, or to the group of buildings in Santee that came from this small community in South Carolina? We’d love to know if you think this is the scariest town in South Carolina in our comments. Share your experiences with us and your fellow South Carolinians!

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Scariest Town In South Carolina

Marisa Roman | January 25, 2020

What is the most haunted place in South Carolina?

If you’re brave enough to trek through places like Lone Star mentioned above, then you’d likely be interested in some other haunted places in South Carolina. In the South, because there is so much history, there are quite a few haunted spots that deserve to be explored properly. But if you’re looking for one of the most haunted adventures in SC, then we recommend visiting Poinsett Bridge. Constructed decades ago, many visitors to this bridge found paranormal activity from floating orbs to frightening sounds and more. Take a look at the hauntings of Poinsett Bridge for more information.

Where can I go ghost hunting in South Carolina?

Maybe you don’t want to visit any haunted places alone and choose to have a guide take you on a tour—don’t worry, this is a great place to start. There are plenty of opportunities for ghost hunting in South Carolina that are tour-guide-led, which means you’ll have a professional taking you through what you might see during your adventure. For those feeling extremely brave, we recommend taking this ghost hunt through a former South Carolina jail.

What are the best small towns in South Carolina?

If you aren’t in the mood to explore any of the creepy places to visit in South Carolina, then we recommend just sticking to the beautiful small towns. South Carolina has some stunning small towns that are perfect for a weekend away. A few of those towns that are worth mentioning include Beaufort, Clemson, Bluffton, Fort Mill, Georgetown, Folly Beach, and Isle of Palms to name a few.

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Lone Star, SC 29030, USA