Abandoned, Old or Interesting Places - Eastern PA Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. After the unions came in the sewing factory and coal bottomed out the town starter to die. Pretty massive and interesting. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre Abandoned Train Station A train station that was abandoned by the coal industry and was later converted into a cocktail bar. This aqueduct was built for the South Penn Railroad, who also dug the tunnels of the nearby abandoned turnpike, though it never came to fruition and the projects were eventually abandoned. This former mining community has been abandoned for many decades and while much of it has been lost to the woodland, pieces remain, including several concrete structures and an old rail line. ThePine Grove Furnace POW Camp, as it was known at the time, was classified as secret and no civilians worked there or were allowed to have knowledge of the camp. Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike Source: flickr Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike. A person can sense the distress when one walks into an empty old house. [2] Fricks Locks is considered a modern ghost town and, although private property, attracts visitors. The Turn Hole Tunnel is located just outside of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania in Lehigh Gorge State Park (next to the trailhead for the now-closed Glen Onoko). Thanks for sharing. The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike is a 13 mile stretch of roadway that was part of the original alignment of the PA Turnpike. There are buildings and some families. Visit Website Visitors have reported being followed around the building by the apparitions of criminals, and have seen and smelt someone lighting a cigarette when there is no one around. (Note: While to the best of our knowledge you can legally these abandoned places at the time of publication, access can always change. Did we all have a hallucination? And while the tunnel is still open to park visitors, the popular and nearby Glen Onoko Falls Trail is no longer, closed by the PA Game Commission in 2019 after nearly 150 years of attracting tourists to the Jim Thorpe area. While the property is typically closed to the public, the owner often lets visitors roam around with prior permission. Change. My favorite is the giant elevator that once took miners deep underground. All major credit cards accepted. Hegeler Carus Mansion in La Salle, Illinois is one of the few abandoned residences that was actually restored and turned into a landmark. Do you have a favorite Pennsylvania ghost town that we didnt include on this list? (Note: While to the best of our knowledge you can legally visit these abandoned places at the time of publication, access can always change. Abandoned when the quarry closed in 1952, the Dinkey Shed has since been incorporated into the 1000 Steps, part of the Standing Stone Trail and one of the most popular hikes in central Pennsylvania. 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. Do you have a favorite ruin or abandoned place in Pennsylvania that you can legally explore and wasnt on this list? Follows the old railroad bed. Peale near winburne, pa is a cool spot I used to hunt in. While access is not permitted, its still possible to see the remnants of the bunkers from above ground and to peer into a few holes to catch a glimpse of these historic structures. While day time hay rides might be fun for the younger crowd, if you're looking for big scares this Halloween, you'll want to check out one of Lancaster's Haunted Nighttime Hay Rides! In addition to the abandoned mining structures, this area is also unique for its micro-climate, which is said to be several degrees colder than the surrounding area and supports unique plant life. By 1924, the community was abandoned. Frick's Lock can be found off of Route 724 in the Limerick/Pottstown area. Jim Cheney is the creator of UncoveringPA.com. Thats a great spot, but I wouldnt call it abandoned at this point since a rail-trail runs through it. The roadbed, which. Petroleum Centre was founded in 1866 and was once home to as many as 3,000 people. Anybody who hasnt visited this lost Town, is missing out. Be sure to check our daily dinner specials including steak . 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 Its amazing to tour the homes and think about what it would have been like to have lived in this community. The abandoned Coburn railroad tunnel was constructed as part of theLewisburg, Centre and Spruce Creek Railroadin the 1870s, and remained in service for nearly 100 years, until it was officiallyabandoned by the Penn Central Railroad in 1970. They are currently doing mine reclimation in the area. 3701 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140. Of all the places on this list, Yellow Dog Village might be the most like what you think of when you think of ghost towns. Demolished unfortunately. My friends Italian immigrant family lived up there and ran a boarding house. It's in Linfield near the Limerick Power Plant. The most popular spot at Centralia was Graffiti Highway, but this spot was sadly destroyed recently by the property owner. 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. Coal mining town & logging.Thats what my Grandfather did.Lost his thumb in Saw mill.Stayed in Gettysburg, Allentown, Coatsville,Burnham.ect.Family came to Pa. from Stockholm. Theres one way in and one way out of the town of Orviston for visitors that arent familiar with the area. Jim Cheney, I beg to differ about you saying there isnt anything of the Town left in Alvira, PA. After being closed, the mine was abandoned for two decades before it was open for tours in 1985. 22.6 miles from Lancaster, PA This historic prison is now abandoned, but was built in 1906 and decommissioned in 1979. The homes were lived in continuously until just a few years ago. Helvetia was a small coal mining and power plant company town in Clearfield County. Tons of cool architecture and history there. Let us know in the comments below. Make sure to obey any signage you might see, and obtain owner permission or pay the admission fees where required.). My mom was born in 1925 in a booming town in Butler County called West Winfield. Pitholes history was short-lived, however. there is an old lumbering town near Coudersport pa, its called Mina.it use to be a large town. 5. Email: ghosttour@ghosttour.com. Was a booming mine town but nothing much left. Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital. This 18th-century village outlasted the canal, being abandoned in the late 20th century with the construction of the adjacent Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. You're awesome for doing it! The ghost of a young girl with blonde hair has been seen, dressed in Victorian clothing, and the staff says she likes to play games. I have walked that area many times. Zillow has 1146 homes for sale in Lancaster County PA. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. All rights reserved. The Farnsworth House Inn is reported to be haunted by the ghosts of women, children, cats, a nurse named Mary, and Confederate soldiers, most notably a soldier named Walter who is known to harm women. My road atlas doesnt give the river name. Pithole became known as a rough and tumble town reminiscent of the communities of the Wild West. I have a whole article on the Alvira Bunkers. You can still find the original maps online and many foundations survived. As you go under the under pass and up the hill near Horseshoe Curve there was a town called Glenwhite in Blair County you can only see ruminants of foundations. One of the least known places on this list are the jet bunkers in the Quehanna Wild Area. It would have been torn down then, but the concrete used to build the homes ended up being too difficult for even dynamite to destroy. Unfortunately the resort was insolvent by 1989 and closed. Do you have anything on (West) Winfield, PA? Please ask about our family-style and banquet options for your next special event, meeting, or private gathering at our restaurant! The Carrie Blast Furnaces were in operation from 1884 until 1982,turning iron ore into purified, molten ironwhich was then used as an ingredient in the steel-making process. I was thrilled to see Pithole on the list! Check out Eastern State Penitentiary in Philly, Carrie Furnace in Pittsburgh, and the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike in Central PA. Jim Cheney is the creator of UncoveringPA.com. While nearly all of the community has been torn down, its still interesting to drive the city streets and see the curbs, sidewalks, and stairwells that lead nowhere. There are actually two tunnels in that same area just a few miles apart. One terminus of the Old loggers path. It opened in 1911 with 20 duplex homes. Let us know in the comments below. I was born in a small coal mining town, Madera, Pa Before the 1970s it was thriving two grocery stores, two 5&10, bank, gas station, Farms, post office, dentist, doctor office, theater, schools a Moose, VFW, Hotel, Insurance business, two beauty shops, coal tipple and many working mines and Sewing factory and other people with small home skills like shoe cobbler. Its part of the deadmans hollow trail and the town has a great set up with a park sports fields and boat drop in area. Graduated from Adams High School. There were a total of 20 duplexes in the community, so 40 carefully selected workers were chosen to move into the homes with their families. The place has a haunted vibe. Help spread the word. Just a thank you for Pennsylvania history. Masten, Pa. Since then, its been hidden away in the woods of this state forest. Warnertown in NE Pa. Located in McIntyre Township near Ralston, PA, I was raised In Ralston went to school there as a child gram lived by the cemetery trains went by our house. Fortunately this time, no one was killed. Ill have to add it to my list of places to check out. Many of the houses in Peale were moved to Grassflat. Way more fascinating and with much more to see than Centralia. Orviston was once a booming brickyard. If remember right we went swing too, I think. 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. Today, the bridge is the central point of Kinzua Bridge State Park. 38.8 miles from Gettysburg, PA. Or is there really something there? Nothing but some gravestones left. Its all I remember. This sprawling collection of trolleys, trains, and buses is tucked away on a dead-end street (fittingly) in the PA Laurel Highlands. 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. There is still a small church and remains of the company store. . My mom grew up in Laurel Run, PA. Ghosts are said to roam in the corridors and catacombs of Bube's Brewery. I lived in PA most of my early years and some of my adult life, never heard about the ghost towns. Located in Michaux State Forest, Camp Michaux is a former prison-of-war camp from World War II. Crum in shade Township pa you can find many foundations remaining and the famous haunted Crum cemetery the town had supposedly burned down. "Abandoned America" is a registered trademark. A lot of the kids went to college and never returned,and others left for jobs . After being closed in 1995, the Steel Stacks were abandoned for many years. Copyright Matthew Christopher Photography LLC 2004-Present. Abandoned in 1971, saved from the wrecking ball, and now owned by a non-profit organization, Eastern State Penitentiary operates asa year-round museum and historic site. Also, are there several small stone markers where the residence lived? Visit it often. It, six cemeteries and not sure how many bunkers are all that is left of Alvira and the ordnance. Today you can hike or bike through this 3,294 foot long tunnel which was a critical link in the Western Maryland Railway, until the entire line was abandoned in 1975. Exploring Hidden Ruins at Raystown Lakeis your guide to discovering theabandoned ruins of roads, bridges, and homesof historical significance, hidden around and beneath the surface ofRaystown Lake. Located in Columbia County in the states northeastern corner, Centralia was a bustling coal mining community until the coal seam below the borough caught on fire in 1962. By the census of 1870, less than 250 people lived in Pithole. Downtown Scranton is home to four of the best-preserved iron furnaces in Pennsylvania. Yellow Dog Village is a former company town in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. (About half an hour north of Pittsburgh) Most of the men there worked in the limestone mine. If youre looking for the best abandoned places in PA you can legally explore, this is the article for you! Not sure what if anything is still there, but I know Laurel Run had to be evacuated in the (early?) Located only a stones throw from the Abandoned PA Turnpike, youll find an abandoned railroad archhiding deep in the woods. Gilson Ridge Cemetery in Hydetown Pa. It was probably one of the most amazing places I visited time and time again! There are also several abandoned prisons and asylums making it the perfect setting for some paranormal activity. Located in Venango County, the furnace sits about a hundred yards downstream of Freedom Falls. Built in1922, the McGinnis Rod and Gun Club existed for roughly 20 years beforethe building was consumed by fire, leaving only the stone walls and fireplace you see today. Known as Pine Grove Furnace Prisoner of War Interrogation Camp, German and Japanese officers were brought here after being captured and interrogated. You can check out that second article and 50 additional photos of the abandoned Cresson Sanatorium right here. 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. Used to be some bits and pieces left behind Nay Aug Park. Many did for work. finally they all went. Today the land where Petroleum Centre once sat is now part of Oil Creek State Park. Walked the Cemeteries. I havent been there in some time so Im not sure if anyone ever cleared it for new construction. Hi Ginnie, I used to live in that area (1977-1992). Both options display elements of culinary genius and are sure to delight! Today, this perfectly preserved shop looks just as it did when it closed 60 years ago and offers the chance to see what a mid-century machine shop would have been like. Thanks to Pennsylvanias long industrial history, the state is filled with communities that have come and gone throughout the years. If you're interested in broadening your horizons and maybe overcoming a few stereotypes, call and reserve your bus. As with many similar operations, once the local limestone was exhausted, the kilns were abandoned, and their remnants are now part of Canoe Creek State Park. Search. As the oil boom began to wane, banks collapsed and a fire hit the community, Pitholes population quickly collapsed with only 2,000 residents in the community by December 1866. I dont know where in PA. Looking for more abandoned places to visit? For almost 80 years, the Westinghouse Atom Smasher was a landmark inForest Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh roughly 10 miles east of downtown, and it was instrumental in the pioneering work leading to the development of nuclear power in the United States. This tunnel was opened in 1886 by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company and carried trains until it was abandoned in 1956. You really need to revisit the area. Abandoned as a railroad bridge in the mid-Seventies, the Salisbury Viaduct has in more recent times been reborn as part of the Great Allegheny Passage rail trail in western PA. Explorers can hike or bike across this 101 foot-high, 1,908 foot-long former railroad bridge and experience exceptional views of the surrounding countryside. Constructed in 1915, this series of five blast furnaces was part of the large steel mill here in Bethlehem. Fortunately, thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers, Mount Moriah Cemetery is returning to its former glory. Perhaps the largest abandoned spot in Pennsylvania is an abandoned stretch of PA Turnpike. Today, the Alvira bunkers, as well as remnants of Wisetown, are located in theUnion Countyportion ofState Game Lands 252, approximately 7 miles south of Williamsport. Today, the ruins of the community can be found in St. Anthonys Wilderness along a great rail trail. Fair. The Ghost Tour of Lancaster departs from the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Penn Square at King and Queen Streets. The Stone Church is located in the center of the White Deer Valley, and was a focal point for the communities at that time. At its peak, Pithole featured more than 50 hotels, three churches, the worlds first oil pipeline, a newspaper, a theater, and a railroad. There were several reports of the creature jumping onto the back of the riders horse and riding along. Discover the experience of dining at Lancaster County's largest smorgasbord featuring 200 feet of deliciously authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking. u local - WGAL 8 News. The 14-story building is currently undergoing a $33 million renovation that will bring seven floors of senior affordable housing and four floors of non-profit office space to the site. There is probably no ghost town in PA thats more famous than Centralia. From 1911-1931, this mine operated on the outskirts of Ashland, PA. My grandpa worked his way up to foreman. In the late 1800s, the area around Oil Creek was home to tens of thousands of prospectors hoping to strike it rich. Do you have any other info on Onnalinda? Today the Abandoned PA Turnpike is a non-maintained hiking/biking trail, but how long it remains a viable destination for those activities is anyones guess. If you're looking for larger scale abandoned buildings check out the Kinsey Distillery. These bunkers were used to test nuclear-powered jet engines as part of the governments Atoms for Peace program. 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. My Grandmother was from Guffey, which is not even the maps anymore, probably faded into history. The article linked within this piece has all the info about how to request permission. Located along the Railroad Arch Trail, the South Penn Railroad Aqueduct sits at the end of a quiet and easy trail. Closings There are currently 2 active closings or delays. It is fascinating! I was young and didnt think anything about it. Springwater still runs through this building, creating one of the most unique abandoned places in PA. The brewery complex from the 1800s is a unique eatery with abundant ghost stories. Camp Sideling Hill is the second abandoned POW camp from World War 2 on this list. The Baptist Church, just outside the area seized for the Ordnance grounds is still a working church. It has a somewhat creepy past that is peppered with traumatic events, murders, and tragic accidents. The community flourished, growing to as many as 1,000 residents, but was gone by 1910. Austin Damin Potter County was billed asthe dam that could not breakat the time of its construction in 1909. He has also traveled to more than 30 different countries around the world. They forced out the residents,my great grandmother had a good sized chicken farm there .where my grandmother grew up.cemetery is definitely haunted. What about the old amuzment park village in Shohola pa ? Thank you! I think Fallbrook was. Today youll find the abandoned ruins of the Sideling Hill POW Camp in the Buchanan State Forest. There isnt much left of Rausch Gap, though there are a few building foundations that can be found as well as a cemetery. The abandoned Bayless Paper Mill will be forever linked to Pennsylvanias second-deadliest flood on record, the Austin Dam Flood of 1911. I lived in Clairton , pleasant hills and bethel Park, I now live in California but miss Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. I think there is an old cemetery there. Today, the Coburn Tunnel sits abandoned, but is still passable to foot traffic nearly150 yearsafter it was first dug. I thought about including them, but people live there and its run as a well-maintained historical site, so its not really a ghost town in my opinion. Visitors have reported being followed around the building by the apparitions of criminals, and have seen and smelt someone lighting a cigarette when there is no one around. 1 / 2. 18. Now the area is left abandoned places in NJ, reclaimed by nature with some dreaded stories. Clickon any of the icons below toget connectedto PA Bucket List on social media. I have. Some of them have been, in more recent times, repurposed for new uses. Somebody needs to explore the area. 2 mile walk to get to it but trail is flat and wide. S2 E6: The Lost Garden of Beatrix Farrand, S2 E5: The Skin Experiments at Holmesburg Prison, S2 E4: The Story of Urban Exploration Resource, S2 E2: The Life & Death of the American Mall. The highlights of this abandoned superhighway are two tunnels, both roughly a mile long. A visitor center is located at the corner of town which offers a fascinating look at this short-lived community. I think the County owned it then but I dont about now. Since the mine was closed with the plan of reopening, much of the original mine equipment is still present. Today the Lake Leigh Dam isslowly being reclaimed by Nature, but the abandoned ruins are still easily visible more that 100 years after they were first constructed. Wasnt there a town called Kinzua before the Kinzua Dam was built, now buried by the Allegheny Reservoir? WGAL News 8's Jeremy Jenkins explains how it all started with one man's love . The community of Pithole (Charming name, huh?) Shenandoah Woods (Abandoned): Located in Warminster, Pennsylvania, the Shenandoah Woods is 55-acres and contains 199 abandoned houses. (Forest Hills). Abandoned Places In Pennsylvania 1. Of all the abandoned train tunnels in PA, this might be the easiest to reach as its located directly adjacent to a large parking lot. Current management has plans to restore much of the East Broad Top track, and the tunnels are being considered for rebuilding and trains once again riding thru the tunnels. Today, visitors can go deep underground to see this once-active mine and learn more about coal mining. The largest still-remaining area consists of several concrete buildings that once served the mining operations, as well as the old railroad grade. I know the name but cant think of it. However, the mine never again reopened as an active coal mine. Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphiais Americas most-historic (and some say most-haunted) prison! The paved main street (complete with yellow pavement paint) can still be seen, along with several foundations and the remnants of the town cemetery including some old grave stones left behind. Concrete Citylies tucked away in an overgrown, city-owned plot of land on the outskirts of Nanticoke, inLuzerne County. The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike is a stretch of 13 miles of road on the Pennsylvania Turnpike that stopped being used when a more modern road was opened in 1968. I grew up in Armstong County we use call Yellowdog , mutesville. You can walk around campus in the daytime: https://pennhurstasylum.ticketleap.com/daytime-photography-tour/details. My Dad grew up in a town called Ralphton, near Somerset, PA. 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! kettner dam elk county,jones twp. Yes, many people still live there. 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. Theabandoned Alvira munitions bunkersare remnants of the American WWII war effort, as well as reminders of what lengths the federal government will go to to seize private property for the greater good. Lancaster Balloon Rides - Hot Air Balloon Rides Daily. Below are over 35 of our favorite abandoned locations throughout the state. It leaves you with a Feeling of peace yet sadness at the same time! My aunt lived in Bull Run .