There’s no denying that Washington has some spooky abandoned spots. From our numerous ghost towns to other abandoned places in Washington, it’s easy to let your imagination run wild when you’re driving through the Evergreen State. But did you know that there’s an abandoned nuclear power plant in Washington that was set to be the largest of its kind before construction was abruptly halted? Now the Satsop Nuclear Power Plant is one of the most creepy places in Washington.

Allow us to introduce you to WNP-3 and WNP-5, more commonly known as the Satsop Nuclear Power Plant in Washington.

The Satsop Nuclear Power Plant, or what is left of it, is located near Elma in Grays Harbor County.
tinyfugu / Flickr
This is now known as Satsop Business Park, which is a community-owned facility that operates like a private company. Here, you can rent office space and gain access to an array of features.
But even with the new development, there's no denying the eerie history of this place.
tinyfugu / Flickr
The 480-foot nuclear reactor cooling tower reminds us that this place once had a more sinister purpose.
It all started in 1973 when the Washington Public Power Supply System applied for a construction and operation permit. Construction began in 1977.
tinyfugu / Flickr

Related Stories

This Eerie And Fantastic Footage Takes You Inside Washington's Abandoned Northern State Hospital

This Eerie And Fantastic Footage Takes You Inside Washington's Abandoned Northern State Hospital

 Step Inside The Creepy, Abandoned Town Of Lester In Washington

Step Inside The Creepy, Abandoned Town Of Lester In Washington

 This Historic Washington Ghost Town Is Home To An Outdoor Museum

This Historic Washington Ghost Town Is Home To An Outdoor Museum
Satsop was soon part of one of the most ambitious nuclear power plant construction projects in the U.S.
tinyfugu / Flickr
The project was plagued with cost overruns and other problems. This led to the WPPSS defaulting on $2.25 billion in bonds. Yikes!
Construction stopped for good in 1982, leaving the plant unfinished and half-complete.
tinyfugu / Flickr
The massive cooling tower serves as a reminder of how impactful nuclear power is, and how close the world came to never being the same.
The Port of Grays Harbor now manages the community-owned facility.
Fgt56d, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
We'd like to think of it as a happy ending, as this property has been put to good use. Still, it's a bit disturbing to see the massive cooling tower in the middle of a modern business park.

Learn more about the abandoned nuclear power plant in Washington in this video from Destination Adventure:

Have you ever visited a place like the Satsop Nuclear Power Plant in Washington? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. If you liked learning about the Satsop nuclear plant, you may enjoy a road trip to these creepy places in Washington. Pack up your car or rent an RV from RVShare and hit this spooky tour.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

The Creepiest Places in Washington

William Suphan | January 29, 2023

What are the creepiest ghost towns in Washington?

The creepiest ghost towns in Washington include:

  • Melmont. This town was founded in 1900 and supported the Northern Pacific Railway but it was abandoned when trains went from being steam-powered to electric and diesel.
  • Govan. This was a ranching area during the 1800s that decayed when farming stopped in the area, and the remains of a schoolhouse can still be seen.
  • Bodie. This was once a mining town in 1888, but declining gold prices caused the town to become emptied by 1934.
  • Sherman. This was a farming town during the late 1800s that declined due to plummeting prices of wheat and a new highway.

Discover more about the creepiest ghost towns in Washington. 

What are the most haunted places in Washington?

The most haunted places in Washington include:

  • Tacoma Old City Hall. It is reported that alarms go off at random and the lights flicker but no one is to be found.
  • Hotel de Haro. This hotel was built in 1886 and residents report a female ghost roaming the halls and a deceased family sitting a the dining table.
  • Mount Baker Theatre. Located in Bellingham, this theater first opened in 1927, and rumors of gusts of cold air, balls of light, and other phenomena are often reported.
  • Lewis County Historical Museum. It is said that Native American spirits’ voices are heard here as well as ghost hauntings.

Learn more about the most haunted places in Washington. 

What are the most abandoned places in Washington?

The most abandoned places in Washington include:

  • The Cowlitz Motel and RV Park. This decaying RV resort off the I-5 once camping, golfing, whitewater paddling, fishing, and more, is now rotting and overgrown.
  • Northern State Mental Hospital. Though some of the buildings are currently used by the Job Corps, most of the buildings are now ruins.
  • The Homestead Locaters Office. This place once assisted a major influx of immigrants to find places to live at the turn of the 20th century. 
  • Ruby Mine & Mill. Located in the former town of Nighthawk, this rotting mill is still mostly intact while nature grows over it.

Find out more about the most abandoned places in Washington.

Related Articles

Explore Washington

Featured Addresses
Satsop Nuclear Power Plant, 90 96320, Elma, WA 98541, USA