Has anyone ever been to a ghost town? I never even knew they still existed until recently. Here's some info on them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_town

No, but I'd love to. I did some reading up on ghost towns here in Iowa and found them very interesting.

No, but I'd love to. I did some reading up on ghost towns here in Iowa and found them very interesting.
I saw a movie a few months ago where people got trapped by some crazies in a ghost town. It was one of those real creepy movies. I can't remember the name of it. I see so many movies that they all become a blur.

I've never been to one, but I find them interesting.

I saw a movie a few months ago where people got trapped by some crazies in a ghost town. It was one of those real creepy movies. I can't remember the name of it. I see so many movies that they all become a blur.

Hmm...was that The Devil's Rejects?

I don't imagine the Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park counts officially as a ghost town, does it? :lol: Then, no, I've never actually been to a ghost town, but it would be an interesting trip. :)

We have quite a few ghost towns in AZ. I find then interesting, especially if there is someone there who can give you a tour.

We have quite a few ghost towns in AZ. I find then interesting, especially if there is someone there who can give you a tour.ive been to oatman az its an interesting place so is jerome

sorry for messing up your quote tag ponytail

Hmm...was that The Devil's Rejects?
No, my husband jogged my memory. It's the House of Wax, the remake. I did see the Devil's Rejects too. Crazy movie, like the one before it, House of 1,000 Corpses. Rob Zombie is one wild dude. :eek:

I've been through Blue Ball, Ohio, which has some old establishments on Dixie Highway south of OH 122/Roosevelt Blvd. but is dominated by retail with malls like Towne Mall nearby. I had never thought of it as a ghost town until I clicked on the Wikipedia hyperlink; to me it's all Middletown today, although there was a blue spherical ball that hung up until not long ago. I don't know if it's still there.

One ghost town I have been itching to visit is Knockemstiff, in Ross County. I'd also like to see Ai, Fulton County.

I've visited what is arguably the best kept Ghost Town in America: Bodie in NE California.

Припять (Prypyat) in Ukraine has been in the same state since the late 80s. That's the town where the nuclear plant exploded (thanks to the Soviets).

Until recently, the site was practically a museum, documenting the late Soviet era. Apartment buildings (four of which were recent constructions not yet occupied), swimming pools, hospitals and other buildings were all abandoned, and everything inside the buildings was left behind, including records and papers, children's toys, and clothing. Residents were only allowed to take away documents, books and clothes that were not contaminated.

However, the apartment buildings were completely looted some time around the beginning of the 21st century. Nothing of value was left behind; even toilet seats were taken away. Because the buildings are not maintained, the roofs leak, and in spring the rooms are swamped with water. It is not unusual to find trees growing on roofs and even inside buildings. This hastens deterioration, and in a few decades the city will most probably lie in ruins.

Prypiat and the surrounding area will not be safe for human habitation for several centuries to come. The most troublesome radioactive isotope (caesium-137) released by the accident (external gamma exposure short biological halflife in humans) will take 300 years to decay to one thousandth of its present level. The strontium-90 will decay to a similar time scale.

The city is easily accessible, although it is unsafe to travel about the city without a radiation detector. The doors of all the buildings are open to reduce the risk to visitors, although many have accumulated too much radioactive material to be safe to visit.

They do offer tours, though by approved personalle and they only visit for a short time so the contamination doesn't affect visitors. I'll probably go through one day tho not for a looong time.

No Ghost Towns in VA, suprised to see there were a few on the east coast though

Припять (Prypyat) in Ukraine has been in the same state since the late 80s. That's the town where the nuclear plant exploded (thanks to the Soviets).



They do offer tours, though by approved personalle and they only visit for a short time so the contamination doesn't affect visitors. I'll probably go through one day tho not for a looong time.
I think that classifies as spookiest ghost town.

Припять (Prypyat) in Ukraine has been in the same state since the late 80s. That's the town where the nuclear plant exploded (thanks to the Soviets).



They do offer tours, though by approved personalle and they only visit for a short time so the contamination doesn't affect visitors. I'll probably go through one day tho not for a looong time.I was just reading about that one, it's creepy to see all those empty buildings in the pictures.

As long as we're talking about ghost towns, why not consider the granddaddy of them all?

http://randomdave.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/detroit.jpg

Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. (Motto: Be afraid. Be very afraid!)

There is a lot of old town sites where I live, but no actual buildings to explore. You can go into the woods and find a lot of old crumbling foundations and stuff.

There is one town nearby called Sprucevale, Ohio. All what is left is a few walls of buildings, and there is supposed to be a ghost named Esther Hale who lives there.

Sometimes they still find old graveyards way back in the woods in my area and nobody, not even the county, have any idea what settlement would've been there.

No Ghost Towns in VA, suprised to see there were a few on the east coast though

Here are some ghost towns from Virginia

James City
Also known as Six-Mile Ordinary, this old 1700s era tavern was located on US 60, 4.3 miles southeast of present Toano, and just northwest of Williamsburg. Just to the east was a Quaker community.

APPOMATTOX COURTHOUSE Appomattox Co.
This class C/F ($) ghost town is located on SH 24, three miles northeast of the town of Appomattox. It began in 1819 as Clover Hill Tavern, and in 1845 when Appomattox County was established it became the county seat. Then in 1865, this town’s place in history was secured when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the American Civil War. After the war ended, so did the town’s prosperity. Appomattox Court House was our Ghost Town of the Month for March 2002.

BLACK HORSE TAVERN Botetourt Co.
Near US 11, eight miles north of Roanoke, on the old road between

Pennsylvania & the Yadkin Valley.

BRENT TOWN Fauquier Co.
This forgotten community dates back to 1688 with a block house erected by George Brent. It was located on SSH 806, five miles south of Catlett.

CASTLE’S WOODS Russell Co.
This late 1700s era frontier community was located along the Clinch River in southwestern Virginia, but its actual location is not determined. It is possibly near the present town of Castlewood. It was an early frontier community founded in 1869, and used as a “stepping stone” to the unexplored territories to the west. Several pioneer forts such as Elk Garden Fort, Glade Hollow Fort and Russell’s Fort were all located in the area.

DUNKARD BOTTOM Pulaski Co.
A 1750s hamlet located about five miles southwest of its historical marker, which is located on old US 11, 1.9 miles west of Radford. The town was established in 1750 and was the first settlement west of the New River.

GERMANNA Orange Co.
This German colony dates to 1714, when it was established by Governor Alexander Spotswood. It was located near SH 3, about 4.8 miles west of Wilderness, in the northeastern corner of the county. In 1716 it relocated to Fauquier County.

GOLD HILL Buckingham Co.
This class D-gold mining community is a tiny village today with a 1990 population of 85. It sits along US 15, eight miles northeast of Dillwyn, a skeleton of the booming gold mining center it once was. In 1992, all that remained were an abandoned store, active gas station/store, laundry, and a few houses.

GOLDVEIN Fauquier Co.
This class D-gold mining town of 35 people (1990) is the nearest town to the FRANKLIN MINE, which was in operation from 1837-1936. Only foundations and ruins remain of the old mine. Another nearby mine was the LIBERTY MINE, which was in operation in early 1834. Some 19 gold mines once operated in the region around Goldvein, which is on US 17, 18 miles northwest of Fredericksburg.

GRASTY TRACT MINE Orange Co.
Near the semi-ghost of Mine Run. This five-acre gold field that began operations in 1831 and has been worked sporadically since then. In early years the gold assayed at from $6 to $32 a ton.

JAMESTOWN James River Co,
The ruins of this magnificent class B (NHS-$) English colony is located along the north bank of the James River, 10.8 miles southwest of Williamsburg. Here on May 13, 1607, three small ships from England landed on the shore of the James River. Jamestown was England's second oldest colony in the New World (Roanoke, NC. was the first). By September 1609, nearly 500 settlers lived here. Captain John Smith returned to England supposedly to bring more provisions and settlers, but he never returned. The ships that did next May, found only 60 people remaining. The colony was England's Colonial capital until 1699 when Williamsburg grabbed that title, leaving the filthy swampy site of Jamestown to those that wanted to remain. Few did, and the site quickly fell into ruin. In 1934, the site became part of Colonial National Historic Park. Foundations and tumbled down walls of a number of buildings have been excavated. A private tourist attraction replica of the original Jamestown (Jamestown Settlement) is next door.

MITCHIE TAVERN
Albemarle Co.
This class C, restored ($)-tavern/wayside stop is located on SH 53, a mile and a half south of I-64 at EXIT 24, just southeast of Charlottesville and west of Monticello (President Thomas Jefferson’s Home). This historic old tavern was originally opened around 1784, and operated until 1927, when it was moved to its present location.

MORROW MINE
Buckingham Co.
This historic old gold mine is located near Dilwyn, several miles northeast of the junction of US 60/US 15, about 50 miles west of Richmond. It dates to 1835 (or earlier), and was one of the earliest gold mines in which underground mining methods were used.

MOUNT AIRY Wythe Co.
A 1770s German settlement located along US 11, 12.9 miles west of Wytheville. That would place it in the vicinity of the community of Rural Retreat.

WILDERNESS TAVERN Spotsylvania Co.
This class B-tavern/way station is located on SH 3 at the junction with SH 20, 12 miles northwest of Fredericksburg. The Wilderness Tavern was a busy cross roads complex with a tavern, blacksmith shop, tailor, and general store that catered to travelers on the old Fredericksburg-Orange Turnpike. On May 2, 1863 the community became a huge field hospital to care for Confederate forces that were wounded during the Battle of Chancellorsville. Over 3000 men were treated in the existing buildings and a huge assortment of tents. One of the patients was Lt. General Stonewall Jackson, who had his left arm amputated here in the makeshift field hospital. He died a week later. All but one of the buildings were eventually destroyed by the war, and that one burned in 1978, leaving only fallen walls and a stone chimney.

Harvey

There is one town nearby called Sprucevale, Ohio. All what is left is a few walls of buildings, and there is supposed to be a ghost named Esther Hale who lives there.

Not long ago I drove through a place called Pfeiffer (as in Paul from The Wonder Years!), Ohio, in Hardin County east of Kenton. (Note: My Hardin County map refers to it as Pfeiffer Station.) Unfortunately there were no signs for it on the county road on which I was driving, and right when those OH 309 signs showed up I knew I passed through without really knowing. :crying:

Here are some ghost towns from Virginia

James City
Also known as Six-Mile Ordinary, this old 1700s era tavern was located on US 60, 4.3 miles southeast of present Toano, and just northwest of Williamsburg. Just to the east was a Quaker community.

APPOMATTOX COURTHOUSE Appomattox Co.
This class C/F ($) ghost town is located on SH 24, three miles northeast of the town of Appomattox. It began in 1819 as Clover Hill Tavern, and in 1845 when Appomattox County was established it became the county seat. Then in 1865, this town’s place in history was secured when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the American Civil War. After the war ended, so did the town’s prosperity. Appomattox Court House was our Ghost Town of the Month for March 2002.

BLACK HORSE TAVERN Botetourt Co.
Near US 11, eight miles north of Roanoke, on the old road between

Pennsylvania & the Yadkin Valley.

BRENT TOWN Fauquier Co.
This forgotten community dates back to 1688 with a block house erected by George Brent. It was located on SSH 806, five miles south of Catlett.

CASTLE’S WOODS Russell Co.
This late 1700s era frontier community was located along the Clinch River in southwestern Virginia, but its actual location is not determined. It is possibly near the present town of Castlewood. It was an early frontier community founded in 1869, and used as a “stepping stone” to the unexplored territories to the west. Several pioneer forts such as Elk Garden Fort, Glade Hollow Fort and Russell’s Fort were all located in the area.

DUNKARD BOTTOM Pulaski Co.
A 1750s hamlet located about five miles southwest of its historical marker, which is located on old US 11, 1.9 miles west of Radford. The town was established in 1750 and was the first settlement west of the New River.

GERMANNA Orange Co.
This German colony dates to 1714, when it was established by Governor Alexander Spotswood. It was located near SH 3, about 4.8 miles west of Wilderness, in the northeastern corner of the county. In 1716 it relocated to Fauquier County.

GOLD HILL Buckingham Co.
This class D-gold mining community is a tiny village today with a 1990 population of 85. It sits along US 15, eight miles northeast of Dillwyn, a skeleton of the booming gold mining center it once was. In 1992, all that remained were an abandoned store, active gas station/store, laundry, and a few houses.

GOLDVEIN Fauquier Co.
This class D-gold mining town of 35 people (1990) is the nearest town to the FRANKLIN MINE, which was in operation from 1837-1936. Only foundations and ruins remain of the old mine. Another nearby mine was the LIBERTY MINE, which was in operation in early 1834. Some 19 gold mines once operated in the region around Goldvein, which is on US 17, 18 miles northwest of Fredericksburg.

GRASTY TRACT MINE Orange Co.
Near the semi-ghost of Mine Run. This five-acre gold field that began operations in 1831 and has been worked sporadically since then. In early years the gold assayed at from $6 to $32 a ton.

JAMESTOWN James River Co,
The ruins of this magnificent class B (NHS-$) English colony is located along the north bank of the James River, 10.8 miles southwest of Williamsburg. Here on May 13, 1607, three small ships from England landed on the shore of the James River. Jamestown was England's second oldest colony in the New World (Roanoke, NC. was the first). By September 1609, nearly 500 settlers lived here. Captain John Smith returned to England supposedly to bring more provisions and settlers, but he never returned. The ships that did next May, found only 60 people remaining. The colony was England's Colonial capital until 1699 when Williamsburg grabbed that title, leaving the filthy swampy site of Jamestown to those that wanted to remain. Few did, and the site quickly fell into ruin. In 1934, the site became part of Colonial National Historic Park. Foundations and tumbled down walls of a number of buildings have been excavated. A private tourist attraction replica of the original Jamestown (Jamestown Settlement) is next door.

MITCHIE TAVERN
Albemarle Co.
This class C, restored ($)-tavern/wayside stop is located on SH 53, a mile and a half south of I-64 at EXIT 24, just southeast of Charlottesville and west of Monticello (President Thomas Jefferson’s Home). This historic old tavern was originally opened around 1784, and operated until 1927, when it was moved to its present location.

MORROW MINE
Buckingham Co.
This historic old gold mine is located near Dilwyn, several miles northeast of the junction of US 60/US 15, about 50 miles west of Richmond. It dates to 1835 (or earlier), and was one of the earliest gold mines in which underground mining methods were used.

MOUNT AIRY Wythe Co.
A 1770s German settlement located along US 11, 12.9 miles west of Wytheville. That would place it in the vicinity of the community of Rural Retreat.

WILDERNESS TAVERN Spotsylvania Co.
This class B-tavern/way station is located on SH 3 at the junction with SH 20, 12 miles northwest of Fredericksburg. The Wilderness Tavern was a busy cross roads complex with a tavern, blacksmith shop, tailor, and general store that catered to travelers on the old Fredericksburg-Orange Turnpike. On May 2, 1863 the community became a huge field hospital to care for Confederate forces that were wounded during the Battle of Chancellorsville. Over 3000 men were treated in the existing buildings and a huge assortment of tents. One of the patients was Lt. General Stonewall Jackson, who had his left arm amputated here in the makeshift field hospital. He died a week later. All but one of the buildings were eventually destroyed by the war, and that one burned in 1978, leaving only fallen walls and a stone chimney.

Harvey

Oh wow, that is a lot-lol

I am in Fredericksburg, so the last one you mentioned is just 12 miles away. I am going to have to check it out now.

Goldvein is still around, one of our PBS stations is out of there.

Faquier County is huge, twice the size of my county (Stafford) so it wouldn't suprise me there is one there.

As long as we're talking about ghost towns, why not consider the granddaddy of them all?

http://randomdave.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/detroit.jpg

Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. (Motto: Be afraid. Be very afraid!)


That could also pass for downtown Steubenville, Ohio. :happyface

JAMESTOWN James River Co,
The ruins of this magnificent class B (NHS-$) English colony is located along the north bank of the James River, 10.8 miles southwest of Williamsburg. Here on May 13, 1607, three small ships from England landed on the shore of the James River. Jamestown was England's second oldest colony in the New World (Roanoke, NC. was the first). By September 1609, nearly 500 settlers lived here. Captain John Smith returned to England supposedly to bring more provisions and settlers, but he never returned. The ships that did next May, found only 60 people remaining. The colony was England's Colonial capital until 1699 when Williamsburg grabbed that title, leaving the filthy swampy site of Jamestown to those that wanted to remain. Few did, and the site quickly fell into ruin. In 1934, the site became part of Colonial National Historic Park. Foundations and tumbled down walls of a number of buildings have been excavated. A private tourist attraction replica of the original Jamestown (Jamestown Settlement) is next door.

So it's not really the first "permanent" English settlement in America, is it? ;)

There are quite a few in Utah, as a child my parents loved to go visit them on weekends etc. Their lil "weekend getaways" as they used to call it.

A very informative page on ghost towns:

http://www.ghosttowns.com/

I saw a movie a few months ago where people got trapped by some crazies in a ghost town. It was one of those real creepy movies. I can't remember the name of it. I see so many movies that they all become a blur.

Kind of similar to "The Hills Have Eyes" I've seen it, it's pretty gross but its thrilling.