These 16 Creepy Ghost Towns In The U.S. Are Haunting Yet So Alluring

When gold was discovered in Grasshopper Creek in 1862, the small town of Bannack sprung into existence almost overnight. By the next year, the mining town was home to over 3,000 people and business was booming. When gold rush fever eventually passed, the town of Bannack began to suffer. In 1940, the last residents packed their bags and the town was abandoned. However, the real horror of Bannack stems from events that occurred while the sleepy town was at the height of its health. The town’s sheriff, Henry Plummer, was actually the leader of a secret band of thieves and murderers known as The Innocents. This group was responsible for over 100 injuries and deaths in the area. Though Plummer was eventually discovered and hanged by a group of vigilantes, some say that the terror he brought to Bannack has made the town a hotbed of haunted happenings. The town’s Hotel Meade is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a teenage girl named Dorothy, who drowned in a nearby pond. She seems to enjoy showing herself to visiting children. Spectral faces have also been seen peering from the windows of the abandoned buildings, and visitors have reported encounters with ghostly people wandering about town, seen in the distance and dressed in fine clothing. Today, Bannack State Park is a wonderful place to visit. The brave can even set up camp a quarter-mile from the ghost town. Check out more creepy Montana ghost towns here

Founded in 1862, this little seminary in the woods was once a popular choice for young men looking to join the priesthood. Enrollment eventually dwindled to nothing, and in 1988 a developer purchased the property with the intent of rebuilding. However, the main buildings were burned down by arsonists in 1997 on Halloween night, and plans to develop the area evaporated. The charred ruins of the college’s altar remain to this day, and the rumors that surround the college’s remains (now called "Hell House" by locals) are dark and deeply unpleasant. Many allege that the altar is the location of satanic rituals, including animal sacrifices. Some locals believe it was these rituals that conjured demons to the property, as many visitors report seeing the figure of a girl with glowing red eyes wandering around the dilapidated altar. Learn more about this creepy ghost town here.

The people of the former town of Boston Mills were mysteriously ordered by the US government to leave the town in the early 70s. Theories abound regarding the reasons behind the sudden and rapid order to evacuate. Reports of satanic activity, government conspiracy and horribly mutated citizens all have their local believers. The abandoned homes, buildings and streets are said to be haunted today by the spirits of those who didn't want to leave. Check out more creepy Ohio ghost towns here.

The town of Rodney seemed destined for great things, but met with tragedy at every turn. Originally known as Petit Gulf, Rodney can be spotted on maps of the area dating back to 1763. The town’s population was devastated by yellow fever in 1843, and another wave of the sickness passed through the area a mere four years later. The town recovered and boasted a population of 4,000 residents by 1860. The city was even slated to become Maryland’s state capitol. However, a series of disasters crushed the prospects of the hopeful town. Rodney was devastated by fire in 1869, and the Mississippi changed course the following year, ruining the trade and transportation value of the town. In 1930, Rodney was officially taken off the state register. Today, there is a single road leading into the decrepit town. Learn more about this creepy ghost town here.

Govan was founded as a ranching community sometime in the late 19th century, but other information about the forlorn community is difficult to unearth. The one event in Govan’s history that is well-documented is a dark one: in 1902, the murders of local Judge J.A. Lewis and his wife Penelope were reported in nearby towns as "the most brutal crimes ever committed in the county." The couple had been slaughtered with an axe. Today, a beautifully constructed schoolhouse and a few ramshackle old homes are all that remain of this mysterious community. Check out more creepy Washington ghost towns here.

Set against the beautiful mountains of Chaffee County, the town of St. Elmo was once a thriving mining town. The local gold mine produced a staggering $60 million worth of gold during its operation from 1870 to 1925. Like many early mining towns, St. Elmo fell into decline during the first half of the 20th century. The town stood nearly vacant during the 1950’s, even losing its small post office after the postmaster’s death. Today, tourists are welcome in St. Elmo. Visitors may wander through the town’s excellently preserved buildings and streets and pick up a few knickknacks at the general store, which operates during the summer months. Learn more about this ghost town here.

Garnet is Montana’s best preserved ghost town and has been called a town "full of people you can’t see." This town went from a bustling community over 1,000 people in 1895, to an abandoned collection of clapboard buildings in the quiet woods of Montana. Visitors to Garnet have reported hearing men’s voices echoing in the buildings and the surrounding forest, catching the faint tinkling of piano music, and seeing fleeting apparitions in the streets of this ghost town. Check out more creepy Montana ghost towns here

This ghost town has gone from boom, to bust, to boom again. Once a thriving mercury mining town, Terlingua was abandoned when the market for mercury crashed in the early 20th century. After spending some years completely vacant, the dusty wreckage of this town was revitalize into a bizarre Texas roadside attraction. Visitors can explore eerie abandoned mine shafts (that doesn’t sound safe, but whatever), check out the original Chisos Mine company store, ogle the bizarre artwork that has sprung up around the ruined community, and even book at night’s stay at the Big Bend Holiday Hotel, which includes such luxurious accommodations as the Perry Mansion, pictured above. Yes, for real. Learn more about this ghost town here.

Another well-preserved Montana ghost town, Elkhorn is perched high up in the region’s wooded mountains. During the town’s heyday in the late 19th century, the Elkhorn Fraternity Hall (pictured) was the site of a violent incident during a town dance. Though the details of the altercation remain murky, it is known that at some point during the festivities, a square dancer pulled a gun on a waltzer (I’m not sure how they managed to have a waltz and a square dance going at the same time) and shot the man dead. The square dancer was later hanged for his crime. If you’re up for the climb, this ghost town combines incredibly eerie atmosphere with an incredible view of the surrounding mountainside. Check out more creepy Montana ghost towns here

This rural village in Jasper county still has about 100 residents, but the community’s terrifying past and dilapidated condition qualify it to be one of the official "living ghost towns of Historic Route 66". Founded in 1856, Avila began to decline shortly after WWII and faced almost complete bankruptcy after traffic from Route 66 was diverted in the 1960s. Local legends contend that during the Civil War, the head of confederate soldier Johnny Reb was hung from a tree in town. As a result, "Rotten Johnny Reb" is said to have cursed the town. His ghost was seen to be searching through the town and surrounding woodlands for his missing head and for Yankees to kill. Many local deaths were blamed on this spirit over the years, and there were reports of families actually moving away due to the fear inspired by this legend. Perhaps even more spooky than Rotten Johnny Reb are the multiple sightings of Avilla’s "Shadow Folk." These ghostly figures have been spotted peering through windows, wandering through the halls of abandoned homes, and even strolling down the empty roads in town. Learn more about this creepy ghost town here.

Once a booming town in the center of several copper mines, Kennecott now stands almost completely empty. After the mines dried up in the 1930s, Kennecott was rapidly abandoned except for a family of three who served as watchmen until 1952. The dry climate and high altitude of the area has preserved much of the original paint on the buildings of Kennecott. Today, visitors are welcome to tour the abandoned buildings and mines. The area is also a great spot of glacier hiking and ice climbing. Learn more about this creepy ghost town here.

Once a thriving town and center of operations for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, Thurmond now stands derelict and crumbling. The 2010 census recorded Thurmond as having five residents; they act as the three council members, town recorder and mayor, respectively. Visitors to the town allege that they feel a strange presence following them through the streets and buildings and that the oppressive feeling only lifts when they cross the town’s border to leave. An old hotel in the tiny town, the Dun Glen, was once the site of the world’s longest-lasting poker game. It continued for 14 years. Learn more about this creepy ghost town here.

A simple trash dump appears to have opened a chasm to the underworld in this otherwise unremarkable town. In 1962, small fire at the Centralia dump ignited an underground coal vein. The resulting flames slowly spread throughout the town and consumed much of the town over the next 50 years. Coal fire such as these cannot be extinguished, as they are fueled by coal deposits beneath the ground. At first, the Centralia coal fire was largely contained to the outskirts of town and was not treated as an emergency. However, in 1981 a 12 year-old resident was playing in his backyard when the earth ruptured beneath his feet and smoke billowed from the 150-foot hole that had appeared on the property. By 1984, it was clear that the town had become unsafe for habitation, due to the deteriorating air quality, spreading flames, and unstable earth. The postal service revoked Centralia’s zip code and many of the residents were given federal funds in order to relocate. Some, however, decided to stay in Centralia town and live out the rest of their days in the town. When the last ten residents of Centralia die, the town will officially cease to exist. Learn more about this creepy ghost town here.

Grafton is a well-preserved ghost town in Utah’s Washington County. It’s a popular destination for photographers and curious travelers alike. During the Black Hawk War of 1866, residents of Grafton fled to the safety of Rockville and by 1890, only four families remained in town. In 1927, disaster struck. Several avalanches rolled down the mountain, obliterating several houses and several killing residents. The town was completely deserted by 1940. Grafton is reportedly haunted by a ghost called The White Lady of Latuda. The circumstances surrounding her death is mysterious. One theory holds that she left her toddler at home on the day of the 1927 avalanches and the boy was killed. Consumed with guilt, she later committed suicide. Another theory is that she died during the avalanche. Check out more creepy Utah ghost towns here.

Animas Forks was a once thriving mining town that quickly fell into disrepair after the closing of the Gold Prince Mill. Today, the National Register of Historic Places listing is a tourist favorite. The eerie vacant properties sit perched on a hillside and face what once must have been a busy road. Though the site is maintained through the Colorado State Historical Fund, many of the buildings are considered unstable. Explore at your own risk. Check out more creepy Colorado ghost towns here.