Explore America’s Ghost Towns
Discover the forgotten history of abandoned towns across the United States
Popular States
Texas Ghost Towns
More ghost towns than any other state, from far-west adobe ruins to faded cotton towns in the east.
Colorado Ghost Towns
Silver and gold boom towns frozen in time high in the mountains, from Animas Forks to St. Elmo.
Oklahoma Ghost Towns
Land-run towns built almost overnight, then emptied by the Dust Bowl and the oil bust.
Pennsylvania Ghost Towns
Anthracite coal towns, iron towns and canal villages, some of the oldest ghost towns in America.
Oregon Ghost Towns
Gold camps, logging towns and fishing villages, from the high desert to the Coast Range.
Michigan Ghost Towns
Copper and iron towns of the Upper Peninsula and lumber towns left behind when the forests were gone.
Discover More Ghost Towns
Featured Ghost Towns
Spotlight: Fort Dade, Egmont Key, Florida Ghost Town
Fort Dade was built in 1898 on Egmont Key, at the mouth of Tampa Bay, to guard Florida’s coast during the Spanish-American War. Working alongside Fort De Soto, it grew into a self-contained island community of more than 300 residents, with about 75 buildings, brick roads, electricity, a hospital and even a movie theater. An October 1921 hurricane wrecked the wharf and boathouse, and the fort closed in May 1923. Today you can reach the island by boat or ferry and walk its brick roads past concrete gun batteries, the old guardhouse and ruins slowly being reclaimed by the jungle.
About United States Ghost Towns
Discover America’s forgotten history through our comprehensive catalog of nearly 4,000 ghost towns.
From abandoned mining operations to forgotten farming communities, we document these
fascinating sites across all 50 states, preserving their stories for future generations.
Ready to Explore America’s Ghost Towns?
Choose a state to begin your journey into America’s fascinating abandoned places.