This Haunting Road Trip Through Pennsylvania Ghost Towns Will Not Be Forgotten
Top off your gas tank and prepare for an unforgettable journey exploring the eerie ghost towns scattered across Pennsylvania. First, join us on a virtual tour of these forgotten towns frozen in time.
Before embarking on our virtual adventure, a couple of quick notes. If you decide to hit the road for real—and we hope you do!—always ensure you stay on public property, avoiding trespassing on private land. Stay vigilant about your surroundings for safety, but most importantly, enjoy the experience! Let’s dive into our road trip through Pennsylvania’s haunting ghost towns.
1. Map out your road trip
2. Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike
Commence your journey where many Pennsylvanians begin their road trips: the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This time, head to an abandoned stretch unused since 1968. Leave your vehicle behind—no motor vehicles allowed—but explore the deserted railroad on foot or by bike. Traverse tunnels, now adorned with graffiti and overgrown with greenery. Learn more about the Pike 2 Bike Trail.
3. Centralia
Note that Centralia is only viewable from a distance due to its status as private property. Trespassing could lead to legal consequences.
Centralia, perhaps the most renowned Pennsylvania ghost town, witnessed a mine fire in 1962, prompting the evacuation of its residents. Today, a handful remain in the persistently burning town, while the rest faces official condemnation. For more details, watch a five-minute film on Centralia.
4. Fricks Locks
Once a thriving 18th-century village along the Schuylkill Canal, Fricks Locks and the canal now stand abandoned. Fortunately, Fricks Locks, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers ghost hunters a preserved site. Join a tour led by the East Coventry Historical Commission, typically held from May to October.
5. Eckley Miners’ Village
Time appears frozen at Eckley Miners’ Village, founded in 1854 and now a museum. Wander through the village to witness well-preserved buildings like Slater Picker’s House (1854), Immaculate Conception Church (1861), and the Company Store (1968). Plan your visit through the village’s official website.
6. Concrete City
Built in 1911 for the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad’s key employees, Concrete City stands as a ghost town today. Initially boasting modern amenities, it quickly became deserted in 1924 when the company and miners abandoned it.
7. Ricketts
Once a bustling lumber town, Ricketts played a vital role in Pennsylvania’s early 1900s development. By 1914, the town dwindled to a handful of residents as the boom turned to bust, and people sought better opportunities elsewhere.
8. Fallbrook
Once a thriving coal mining town in the late 1860s, Fallbrook met its demise by the turn of the 20th century. Abandoned for over a century, it now attracts tourists and ghost hunters, with rumors of hauntings in Fallbrook Cemetery.
9. Ghost Town Trail
Conclude our virtual road trip on foot or bike along the 36-mile Ghost Town Trail, passing remnants of vibrant towns like Bracken and Scott Glen. Plan your trek on the official website of Indiana County, PA.
Have you explored any of these Pennsylvania ghost towns? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Read More:
