The foundations of all the houses are still visible, some with a bit more. In the case ofAlvira(originally founded as Wisetown in 1825), the federal government used the courts and eminent domain to force residents to accept buyouts of their homes, so that their entire town could be leveled and turned intoa TNT manufacturing plant and storage facilityknown as thePennsylvania Ordnance Works. From 1911-1931, this mine operated on the outskirts of Ashland, PA. Located near Grassflat, PA. Thanks for sharing. Ive mentioned several other abandoned coal mines on this list, but the Number 9 Coal Mine and Museum in Carbon County might be my favorite. was founded during the oil boom in northwestern Pennsylvania. Oil Creek State Park is known as the Valley that Changed the World and was the site of the worlds first commercial oil well. However, east of Harrisburg is where the real action occurs. So are traces of the streets. It was a trailer park with a pond across the street. Copyright Matthew Christopher Photography LLC 2004-Present. (Note: While to the best of our knowledge you can legally visit these abandoned places at the time of publication, access can always change. Visit it often. The largest still-remaining area consists of several concrete buildings that once served the mining operations, as well as the old railroad grade. In 1986 it was renamed again: the Shawnee Lancaster Resort. Coal strip mining area. Eldora Park between Donora and Monongahela in Carroll Township. This ingeniously constructed camp has survived in part because two of the four walls are actually massive boulders that were incorporated into the camp structure itself. The Abandoned Shawnee Resort (Lancaster, PA) | Abandoned America But before they are gone, Ill share with you a few of the more interesting abandoned places in PA I have explored in recent years. Villagers from the tiny town of Alvira in northcentral Pennsylvania are some of World War II's unsung heroes. Make sure to obey any signage you might see, and obtain owner permission or pay the admission fees where required.). This photo taken in 2002 shows the unfinished roadbed near Greenfield Industrial Park that was supposed to be part of a four-lane highway from Lancaster city to New Holland. The rumors persist in part due to the ghostly image which is apparent on a boarded-up back window of the chapel. Or is there really something there? There was one by allenwood pa its now the state game lands the us government came in and took the land from them in ww2 to make TNT the bunkers you can still go its right by where the allenwood federal prison is i have heard there is still buildings ba k there but have not seen anything YET!!!! The 5 Best Sites to Find Abandoned Places and Old Ghost Towns - MUO Haunted Places in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania If you walk through the forested trails of the Scotia Barrens, you might even find more hidden ruins of this ghost town. From Route 724, follow Lower Frick's Lock Road until you reach the yellow road barrier. How could I get permission from the owner of Yellow Dog to visit>. I have a whole article on the Alvira Bunkers. Wasnt there a town called Kinzua before the Kinzua Dam was built, now buried by the Allegheny Reservoir? Other than the bunkers and a cemetery, though, I dont believe there is anything left. 32 Abandoned Places in PA You Can Legally Explore Exploring the Abandoned Bayless Paper Mill in Potter County Exploring the Abandoned Lime Kilns at Canoe Creek State Park Exploring the Ghost Town of Scotia Near State College Exploring Concrete City in Luzerne County The 12 Spookiest-Sounding Places in Pennsylvania Many old presidents visited there.I worked as a waitress there 1959- 1963. Both options display elements of culinary genius and are sure to delight! Do you have a favorite Pennsylvania ghost town that we didnt include on this list? Shady Maple Smorgasbord | Authentic PA Dutch Cooking | Lancaster County PA The depot was built on land that was once the town of Alvira before it was seized by the government for the depot. Fortunately this time, no one was killed. The Westinghouse Atom Smasher can be found laying on its side in a residential neighborhood east of downtown Pittsburgh. Today, the ruins of the community can be found in St. Anthonys Wilderness along a great rail trail. It is fascinating! Located in Lebanon County near the Appalachian Trail, Rausch Gap was formed in 1828. This sprawling collection of trolleys, trains, and buses is tucked away on a dead-end street (fittingly) in the PA Laurel Highlands. The Stories Behind The 13 Most Haunted Places In Pennsylvania 23. Was a booming mine town but nothing much left. Way more fascinating and with much more to see than Centralia. Be sure to check our daily dinner specials including steak . Ruins to explore and in the summer there are weekend yours. Built in 1883 by Sicilian stone masons for a railroad that was never completed, the abandoned South Penn Railroad Aqueduct can be found in the present-day Buchanan State Forest. Anyone have any pictures of White Swan Park which was near the Pittsburgh airport ? Now, Scotia is but a ghost town (and some say still inhabited by ghosts! Also Orvistan which I believe was once a lumbering community as well. The Old Stone (Lutheran) church is on part of the Ordnance area later taken for the Allenwood Federal Prison, and is open on special occasions to the public. Families, couples and groups are all welcome at our hotel! Although it is a privately-operated attraction and open by invitation only, the Windber Trolley Graveyard deserves an honorable mention on any list of amazing abandoned places in Pennsylvania. C. Hegeler, a zinc manufacturer. X. Attractions; Dates and Times; Directions; . All major credit cards accepted. The Kinzua Viaduct was oncethe longest and tallest railway bridge in the entire world! The National Iron and Steel Museum in Coatesville isnt abandoned in and of itself. Theabandoned hunting lodge at Linn Run State Parkis a remarkable set of ruins from the early days of retreat camping in western Pennsylvania. I just decided not to include it since there really isnt anything from the town left there, minus the cemetery. (About half an hour north of Pittsburgh) Most of the men there worked in the limestone mine. The abandoned nuclear jet engine testing bunkers in the Quehanna Wild Area are a fascinating Cold War-era remnant of Pennsylvania history, now slowly being reabsorbed by the surrounding forest of Cameron County. Fall Brook in Tioga County some foundations left and a cemetery that is pretty cool lots of immigrants from Europe buried there whole families from a Scarlet fever epidemic ! While the industry is (mostly) long gone and natural beauty has once again returned to the park, there are still points of interest for those that love abandoned spots. I have. By all accounts, this was a pleasant and desirable community to live in, though it was short-lived due to plumping and other issues. What about Buck Hill Falls Inn? All torn down when the newer Lawrence Park High School, football field and parking lot were built in the 1960s. Centralia Wikimedia Commons By far the most well-known ghost town in the entire state, Centralia has been nearly abandoned since the underground mine fire that broke out there in 1962. A person can sense the distress when one walks into an empty old house. In 2010, the furnaces were opened for tours and offer a gritty look into how steel was made. Is it still around? Haunted house in Lancaster County attracts thousands - WGAL Gilson Ridge Cemetery in Hydetown Pa. There isnt much left of Rausch Gap, though there are a few building foundations that can be found as well as a cemetery. I recall knowing folks from Helvetia heard they took it off the map a few decades ago. Concrete City is an abandoned town in PAs Luzerne County. Following a path that goes downhill by the creek you can pass flat stone foundations for the buildings from a farm including the well and by going further you reach the old cemetery. Curtin, PA. My 2x great Grandfather was born there. After the unions came in the sewing factory and coal bottomed out the town starter to die. The area just went through a major clean up because unexploded ordinance was found there. Sadly, years of neglect left this cemetery, which was first opened in 1855 and was once the site of Betsy Ross grave, overgrown and nearly unvisitable. Thank you! You really need to revisit the area. I lived there summer of 1970. The penitentiary was open until 1970 when it was closed in favor of more modern facilities. Dating back to 1681, it was known as the Ferry House owned by Samuel Clift who operated the ferry service from Bristol to NJ. However, the site is also home to two long-closed steel mills that can be seen on tours of the museum. Jasons Woods is Reborn with all new Terrifying Haunted Attractions that are the best in Pennsylvania! My road atlas doesnt give the river name. Theabandoned ski resort at Denton Hill State Parkin Potter County is a case study in dystopian beauty. Rausch Gap is another abandoned Pennsylvania town that got its start as a coal mining community. With the help of Pennsylvania, the Harrisburg main line was upgraded to operate at 110 mph and has trimmed . The round bunkers alone are something to see as some of them are opened and you can walk inside. The place has a haunted vibe. I lived in PA most of my early years and some of my adult life, never heard about the ghost towns. While much of this Pennsylvania ghost town has disappeared, there are still remnants if you know where to look for them. Today it can be accessed via bike or walking the Indian Creek Valley Trail. For many, abandoned asylums, and closed down hospitals are some of the spookiest Real Haunts in STATE. Please ask about our family-style and banquet options for your next special event, meeting, or private gathering at our restaurant! When the previously mentioned nuclear jet engine testing bunkers were built in Cameron County, local hunting camp owners were forced to abandoned their properties, and the abandoned Kunes Camp is one such property. 9,622 talking about this. Today, the homes sit hidden in the woods on land owned by the city. It was wiped out by a flood, many of the villagers were killed in the flood and it was eventually abandoned. Lumber City- Once a small town near Curwensville, Pa (Clearfield County). We have one of it in flames. 12 incredible abandoned places in Philly - Curbed Philly Peale near winburne, pa is a cool spot I used to hunt in. Buildings and houses all abandoned No population, except caretaker Site no longer in existence except for one or two buildings, for example old church, grocery store The famous graffiti highway in Centralia Semi abandoned site [ edit] Building or houses still standing Buildings and houses largely abandoned few residents many abandoned buildings Is there any places in the Allegheny area or near Bradford? Petroleum Centre is another oil-boom community that once thrived in northwestern Pennsylvania. You missed fallbrook pa the cemetery is still there and there are also some remains, There are some pretty cool ruins in Allegheny county a town called little Boston in the Elizabeth area I was told but not sure if the info is correct but the ruins may be from an old terracotta factory. AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC. There is still a chapel and a cemetery. (Forest Hills). Today, its laying on its side around piles of bricks waiting for hopeful restoration. Walked the Cemeteries. During WWII the land was seized by the army and used as an army ordnance. I havent been there in some time so Im not sure if anyone ever cleared it for new construction. They are currently doing mine reclimation in the area. Change. Now part of Tobyhanna state part, it was used for Army artilery training from WW1 through WW2. My Dad grew up in a town called Ralphton, near Somerset, PA. No jobs to bring them back to the area the town was left with aging people or others who were to poor to leave or some who could find a job. Unfortunately, this spot is surrounded by a chainlink fence, so youll have to view it from a distance, but its still a really neat spot to visit. Camp Sideling Hill is the second abandoned POW camp from World War 2 on this list. Constructed in 1915, this series of five blast furnaces was part of the large steel mill here in Bethlehem. Coal mining was a tough life. 3701 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140. While many of these ghost towns in PA have completely disappeared, a few still exist in the woods and along the roadways of the state. However, few have been left alone in the middle of nature like Rockland Furnace. Driving along Scotia Range Road throughState Game Lands 176near State College now, youd never guess that you are passing right by the location of a once-thrivingiron mining boomtown. Its where Indian Creek flows into the Tough. From 1834 to 1904, the furnaces of Greenwood in Huntingdon County produced charcoal-fired iron in great abundance, and a thriving company town that included nearly 130 buildings evolved around that industry. Despite this, driving on the public roads through town, however, is still fascinating. If so, be sure tolike and followPA Bucket List on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest tolearn more aboutthe best things to see and do in Pennsylvania! Without a doubt, this site is easily one of the largest abandoned places in Pennsylvania and one of the most varied. Other points of interest are scattered throughout the park, and its nearly impossible to hike a trail without seeing old, rusting oil equipment sitting in the forest. There is still a small church and remains of the company store. 2151 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA, Phone: 717-397-6191 Cool places to go near me, luxury spas, golf: Wichita, CT, CA, Corpus Christi, Best aquariums in the US, Hartford, NM, GA, NC, UT resorts, NM, LA, MI, DE, PA lakes, San Diego Beaches 9. They can be accessed from several points along the spectacular Lehigh Gorge. (Note: While to the best of our knowledge you can legally these abandoned places at the time of publication, access can always change.