05 March 2023 , 21:34
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Littered across the US are abandoned towns, left by residents to slowly rot away and for nature to reclaim the land.
In some places the dry climate has perfectly preserved the buildings, meaning visiting these ghost towns feels like stepping back in time to a different era.
Although most were abandoned by residents after the wealth of the towns dried up, others were left for more sinister reasons such as natural disasters.
Here are 13 of the creepiest ghost towns scattered across the US.
1. Kennicott, Alaska
The bustling and busy town of Kennicott attracted thousands of families and miners from 1905 until 1938 and was responsible for over 590,000 tonnes of copper and nine million ounces of silver.
Spooky abandoned house in woods left full of creepy dolls and forgotten dentures
However, by the late 1920s profits started to decline and the Kennecott Copper Corporation started to look into other North American markets.
Abandoned factories of the historical Kennecott Copper Mine (Getty Images/iStockphoto)With increasing costs and the repairs of railroads set to reach millions of dollars a decision was made to close the Kennecott operation in 1938.
Moving the equipment away would have cost too much so the site was just abandoned.
Now the local Parks Service is desperately trying to stop further decay but often it can't be helped.
2. Rockport, Utah
As droughts continue to gripped the US during the summer, a forgotten 'ghost town' that was submerged underwater after a dam was built rose from its watery grave 64 years later.
The town of Rockport in Utah, disappeared completely in 1957 - five years after the White House green lit the construction of the Wanship Dam.
At the time, a total of 27 families still lived in the once thriving little town, located in a narrow part of Weber Valley at the mouth of Three Mile Canyon.
With the water levels the lowest they have been for years, the ruins emerged once egain.
3. Calico, California
Calico Ghost Town (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Once a thriving mining town with over 500 silver mines, nowadays Calico doesn't have many residents, although it does still get lots of visitors.
That's because the ghost town has been transformed into a museum where you can visit the Old West style buildings (including a school), not to mention some of the mines themselves are open for tours.
Inside abandoned funeral home's 'crying room' where children mourned quietly
Thanks to the preservation of its buildings, it's also been named a Historical Landmark.
4. Terlingua, Texas
The old company-town movie theater in the ghost town (Getty Images)Once the setting for the successful Chisos quicksilver-mining company, when the company filed for bankruptcy in the 1940s, Terlingua went from a booming hotspot to a nearly-deserted ghost town.
Nowadays it's not fully abandoned, and still offers a gift shop, quirky accommodation options, restaurants and bars.
There are also old-town buildings which continue to stand tall, such as the local cinema.
Oh, and foodies may want to bookmark it for the world-famous 'chili cook off' championship which historically draws thousands of visitors to the ghost town.
6. Rhyolite, Nevada
Ruined Bank building in the deserted ghost town of Rhyolite near Beatty and Death Valley. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Tucked away in Nevada's Death Valley, in the 1900s Rhyolite was booming as thousands flocked to the area during the Gold Rush.
It flourished with businesses, homes and schools - but as the Gold Rush passed, the town quickly deteriorated.
Nowadays it's a series of crumbling buildings and ruins, with some properties still standing tall such as the bank and the train station.
The town is located on Nevada's Death Drive, so it's popular with road trippers who want to stretch their legs and explore the derelict spot.
7. Shaniko, Oregon
An old truck in Shaniko (Getty Images)If you want to feel like you've stepped back in time to the Old West, then Shaniko needs to be on your radar.
Once hailed as the 'Wool Capital of the World', nowadays it's nearly deserted, but a number of its iconic buildings still stand tall including the City Hall with its jail, a school and a post office, as well as the Shaniko Hotel.
The town itself is a tourist attraction so there are a few fake facades, but the remains and old time buildings are very much real.
8. Thurmond, West Virginia
Thurmond, West Virginia (Getty Images/iStockphoto)At the start of the 1900s, Thurmond was booming.
Its trains and location by the coal mines saw it boasting heaps of wealth. Shops and saloons were always busy, hotels were always filled.
However, as demand for coal depleted, the town's residents began to move on to pastures new - and eventually, it became an abandoned town.
It's remained relatively untouched since then, although it underwent some restoration when it became a National Park Historical Site.
Nowadays you can visit the town and take tours to learn all about its fascinating history.
9. St Elmo, Colorado
St Elmo, Colorado, United States, North America (Getty Images)St Elmo had around 2,000 residents in the 1880s when it was a popular spot for mining gold and silver.
It's hailed as one of Colorado's best-preserved ghost towns, although there are still a handful of residents who call the area home.
A lot of its original buildings are still standing, and there are restoration efforts ongoing for some of its bigger buildings such as the Town Hall.
10. Goldfield, Arizona
An isolated mine cart in the Arizona desert (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Back in the 1890s, the mining town of Goldfield had saloons, a boarding house, general store, blacksmith shop, brewery, meat market and a school.
However, as the ore depleted, slowly it started to become a ghost town with residents moving on to new adventures.
Nowadays it's a historic spot and a tourist attraction.
You can take tours of the mines, or go on walking tours to learn about the ghosts said to haunt the region. (Those really after a thrill can even have a go on the zip line).
11. South Pass City, Wyoming
South Pass City State Historic Park, Wyoming, United States, North America (Getty Images)This abandoned city is one of Wyoming's biggest historic sites, and opens up to visitors during the summer months.
In its heyday the city was at the heart of a thriving mining area scattered with gold mines.
But when the mines stopped producing gold people gradually left the area, reports the Daily Mail.
The city was also where a bill was signed making Wyoming the first territory in the US where women could vote.
The law was signed in 1869, a whopping 51 years before similar rights were granted to women across the US in 1920..
12. Centralia, Pennsylvania
Smoke rises from a large crack in PA Highway 61 in Centralia (AFP via Getty Images)A coal mine fire in the 1960s transformed Centralia from a bustling town into a nearly deserted area.
Smoke used to show through the cracks formed along the nearby highway. Although these sightings are rare nowadays, the underground fire continues to burn nearly 60 years later.
Centralia isn't a tourist destination - some parts can be dangerous to visit due to the toxic substances and parts of the roads which can cave in.
13. Fairbank, Arizona
Old rustic cabin at ghost town of Fairbank (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Fairbank was once the nearest rail stop to the city of Tombstone, meaning it was in a prime location for both tourists and mining companies who needed to ship their cargo around the country.
However when the nearby mines shut, the town slowly lost its appeal.
Nowadays, it's owned by the Bureau of Land Management and has been opened to the public as a museum.
There are some fascinating buildings still standing, for example one property which was home to the general store, post office and saloon.
Other highlights include a hotel from the 1880s, a schoolhouse dating to the 1920s, a stable, a railroad bridge and a railroad platform.