Today, this approximately 200-foot arch looks in amazingly good condition and looks no worse for wear despite being over a century old. After the war, it became a church camp until the early 1970s. Orviston was once a booming brickyard. Visitors access the mine via a very cool railcar. The Vintage Electric Streetcar Company, as it is officially known, is located in the formerly abandoned Berwind Coal Company Railroad Shop in Windber, PA. Youll find this tunnel near the Rockport Access parking area (see map below) at GPS coordinates 40.96631, -75.75677. 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. In fact, it preserves several important buildings in the Lukens Historic District. What was once known as the town of Alvira PA, is now known as State Game Lands number 252. For over 100 years, trains used this viaduct to cross the valley more than 300 feet below. The ruins of the Colonial Springs Bottling Plant are located along the Mount Misery Trails in the little-visited western side of the park. 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. Based in the state capital of Harrisburg, Jim frequently travels around Pennsylvania and has visited, written about, and photographed all 67 counties in the state. Northeastern Pennsylvania has a rich anthracite coal mining history, and nowhere is that better seen than on a tour of the Lackawanna Coal Mine in Scranton. There are definitely foundations, steps, the Stone Church, and 2 cemeteries left from Alvira. Closings There are currently 2 active closings or delays. S1 E9: Abandoned Resorts of the Catskills, S1 E8: The Tragedy At Third Presbyterian Church, S1 E7: Losing Our Religion - Abandoned Churches, S1 E5: The Closure of the State Hospitals, S1 E2: The Rise And Fall of American Theaters, Join us on Patreon for high quality photos, exclusive content, and book previews, Subscribe to our mailing list for news and updates. 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. DEPARTURE POINT. 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 I was young and didnt think anything about it. A little history, in the township of Lawrence Park, east of Erie, there was a group of abandoned falling apart white painted small houses called White City. Some of them have been, in more recent times, repurposed for new uses. Masten Im pretty sure was lumberboth were good sized towns with nothing left now but a few foundations and some old roads. The town was vacated several years ago so the could build Curwensville Dam where boating and summertime activities are carried in now. While there are plenty of abandoned places in PA, these ghost towns take it to another level with many interesting spots to explore. Somebody needs to explore the area. The Westinghouse Atom Smasher can be found laying on its side in a residential neighborhood east of downtown Pittsburgh. There is an abandon tunnel left from the East Broadtop Railroad along Rt 994 not far from Saltillo / Three Springs. I remember some years ago visiting the cemetery there and seeing the foundation of a former band shell perched on a rock on the edge of a cliff. At Shady Maple some of Lancaster County's finest cooks prepare all your favorite PA Dutch foods, as well as some exciting new dishes. The Bethlehem Steel Stacks in the Lehigh Valley are one of the most impressive abandoned places in Pennsylvania. One foundation is octagonal, it was probably a silo. This sprawling collection of trolleys, trains, and buses is tucked away on a dead-end street (fittingly) in the PA Laurel Highlands. Copyright Matthew Christopher Photography LLC 2004-Present. I use to go to ghost town on a picnic and on rides. MARIETTA, Pa. . Fortunately, however, the current owner is trying to refurbish the homes and turn them into a period homestay. 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. It is so sad now. Many of these properties are not maintained or monitored for safety conditions, and therefore these are all strictly VISIT AT YOUR OWN RISK DESTINATIONS! glen hazel. So are traces of the streets. They are currently doing mine reclimation in the area. Abandoned Places Near YOU. Lock Ridge furnace in Alburtis Pa. Do you have a favorite Pennsylvania ghost town that we didnt include on this list? Passed front of house.Could see smoke stacks. There is probably no ghost town in PA thats more famous than Centralia. I went to help clean with Titusville Pa American Legion when I was little. Copyright 2013-2023 Uncovering Media, LLC - All Rights Reserved, ruins of the Colonial Springs Bottling Plant, best-preserved iron furnaces in Pennsylvania, National Iron and Steel Museum in Coatesville, How to Get to Yost Run Falls and Kyler Fork Falls in Sproul State Forest, Exploring the Blue Waters and Forested Hillsides along the Southern Shores of the Allegheny Reservoir, Visiting Blue Knob in Bedford County: The Second Highest Spot in Pennsylvania, 10 Fun Things to Do Near Penn State Lehigh Valleys Campus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn_Hole_Tunnel, https://pennhurstasylum.ticketleap.com/daytime-photography-tour/details. Was a booming mine town but nothing much left. 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. It was torn down to make way for an expressway. All thats left are foundations and a cemetery as well as the adits to some of the coal mines. MORE. finally they all went. Ill have to add it to my list of places to check out. Tunnel is over 900 feet long so take a flashlight along. Coal strip mining area. But in the late 1800s, the company town ofScotia, built by one of the richest men in the world at the time, served as home to employees of Andrew CarnegiesScotia Mines and Iron Works. I have a whole article on the Alvira Bunkers. Thank you! There also used to be an old railroad that ran through there for the brickyard and in the mountains there was coal mining too, you can still see remnants of the old railroad and a railroad tunnel from back in the coal mining days. Would like to see a photo of the old carbon county switch back and trail it was used for. Our search engine has helped millions of people scout out hundreds of thousands of locations across the world, from derelict buildings to abandoned theme parks.. While the property is typically closed to the public, the owner often lets visitors roam around with prior permission. In 1986 it was renamed again: the Shawnee Lancaster Resort. A person can sense the distress when one walks into an empty old house. Permanently Closed Ashley,. Experience the Hi-Tech horror at Jason's Woods! Peale, PA, Clearfield County. If you opt to go in, use extreme caution as theres no telling what else might be inside. Lancaster County dining scene has all the Pennsylvania Dutch dishes you know and love, as well as fine dining options. Would love to have good picture, so would many others. Abandoned Places In Pennsylvania 1. Do you have anything on (West) Winfield, PA? [2] Fricks Locks is considered a modern ghost town and, although private property, attracts visitors. 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. Haunted Pennsylvania - 10 Places You May Not Know About 8,544 views Jan 11, 2021 128 Dislike Share Save Did You Know Lists 1.31K subscribers Did you know that Pennsylvania has many. Pennsylvania has dozens of historic iron furnaces. 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! I have walked that area many times. When the mine closed in the early 1930s, it was thought to be a temporary closure, so all the equipment was placed inside the mine before it was closed. Abandoned downtown and hospital on the hill with nurses quarters. Coal mining was a tough life. lately but i have to go thar soon thar are old graves stones tharr crumb is near central city pa i use to go there often but i haven/t been thare lately i know thare old grave stones thaire that you cant read the names, Lived within walking distance of Crumbstill old logging railroad right-Of-Ways and a few foundations, McIntyre was an old mining town in the late 1800s. 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. Located along the Armstrong Trail, a 35-mile rail trail in Armstrong County, PA, youll find the Redbank Coaling Tower. The location has been recently renewed and improved, thus it has new attractions for the brave and fearless. Thirteen miles of abandoned superhighway, last open to normal vehicle traffic in 1968. Easy access from white Haven. The ghost is also said to turn lights of and on and move objects. Is it still around? : 2 This place is said to be the oldest operating inn in America. Jim Cheney, I beg to differ about you saying there isnt anything of the Town left in Alvira, PA. The status of visitors being allowed is unknown, but I assume that it is currently closed to exploration. Enjoy a taste of Italy at our rustic Italian inspired restaurant. Located only a stones throw from the Abandoned PA Turnpike, youll find an abandoned railroad archhiding deep in the woods. Built in 1907, the two blast furnaces here were in nearly continuous operation until 1978. Austin Damin Potter County was billed asthe dam that could not breakat the time of its construction in 1909. Within a few decades, Centralia was nearly abandoned, though a few hearty souls still live there. There were around 8 houses still standing and we went into a couple of them. Please ask about our family-style and banquet options for your next special event, meeting, or private gathering at our restaurant! Near the park office once stood the community of Petroleum Centre, though all that remains are a set of steps that once led to the bank. Id love to explore the interior of some of those downtown buildings. X. Attractions; Dates and Times; Directions; . 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. I think the County owned it then but I dont about now. Do you have a favorite ruin or abandoned place in Pennsylvania that you can legally explore and wasnt on this list? Now part of Tobyhanna state part, it was used for Army artilery training from WW1 through WW2. By voluntarily exploring any of these locations, YOU assume the risk of any personal injury or damage to personal property, and shall not hold the author liable for any injuries, losses, or damages that may occur while visiting any of these locations. Known as Pine Grove Furnace Prisoner of War Interrogation Camp, German and Japanese officers were brought here after being captured and interrogated. Carrie Furnace in Pittsburgh is nearly all that remains of the once massive Homestead Steel Works on the banks of the Monongahela River. Lancaster Brewing Company 1,178 reviews Closed Now American, Bar $$ - $$$ Menu "The black bean burger and the Swiss chard salad were really good!" "Love this brewery!" Order online 2022 9. The Kinzua Bridge State Park is home to the Kinzua Viaduct and located in McKean County, Pennsylvania. My father worked in the power plant and we lived in a company house. 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. There is still a chapel and a cemetery. Horse Inn 309 Gastropubs American (Traditional) $$ "Note: Beware of the parking restrictions just outside of this restaurant. 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. Today the abandoned Bayless Paper Mill is part of the Austin Dam Memorial Park in Potter County. Visit Website Today, both bike riders and hikers can check out the base of this tower to learn more about the railroading industry in the area. Without a doubt, this site is easily one of the largest abandoned places in Pennsylvania and one of the most varied. Based in the state capital of Harrisburg, Jim frequently travels around Pennsylvania and has visited, written about, and photographed all 67 counties in the state. Ghosts are said to roam in the corridors and catacombs of Bube's Brewery. The homes were lived in continuously until just a few years ago. What about Wierham know my dad used to go there for groceries with parents in horse and buggy. 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. This inn, originally from the 1820s, is said to be haunted by the men who worked nearby as well as many other spirits. The community of Pithole (Charming name, huh?) I havent been there in some time so Im not sure if anyone ever cleared it for new construction. Another vote for Fricks Locks. The area just went through a major clean up because unexploded ordinance was found there. When it was completed in 1882, the Kinzua Bridge was the largest and tallest bridge in the world. By the census of 1870, less than 250 people lived in Pithole. There is still a small church and remains of the company store. Last operated in 2014, the ski resort is closed, but the state park is still very much open to visitors. After being closed in 1995, the Steel Stacks were abandoned for many years. (Forest Hills). OnJuly 21, 2003, a tornado struck the bridge, destroying 11 of the 20 support structures. 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. 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. 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. The highlights of this abandoned superhighway are two tunnels, both roughly a mile long. 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. The GPS address is 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster, PA 17603. All major credit cards accepted. All I know about it is, it ran from down town to up over the hill behind the school in upper Jim Thorpe. There are two old cemeteries at the end of road, some of the head stone date back to the 1700s. Located a short distance south of Pittsburgh in Rices Landing, PA, youll find the W.A. Established in 1989 at the historic former site of Zimmerman's. Yorgos serves lunch, dinner, and late-night fare 7 days a week, and breakfast on the weekends. Did you know that during World War Two,German and Japanese prisoners of war were housed and interrogated at a secret camp near what is now Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County?! (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Penn Common Theres one way in and one way out of the town of Orviston for visitors that arent familiar with the area. Concrete City is located in Luzerne County near Nanticoke and was once company housing for select employees that worked at the nearby Truesdale Colliery. Been inside the bunkers. How about Somerfield in Fayette County? Youve got to be a local to find your way around on the mountain though to know where to find these things and to avoid getting lost. My aunt lived in Bull Run . I know the name but cant think of it. Occasionally open for tours operated by photographers specializing in abandoned places (and no I am NOT one of them! 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. The post office and the fire dept are both in existence too. I dont know where in PA. There are no buildings there. We have one of it in flames. How could I get permission from the owner of Yellow Dog to visit>. Of course a coal mining town that died when the mine closed. Its all I remember. The seam below this coal region town caught on fire in the early 1960s, which marked the beginning of the end for the community. 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. Above Beaverdale PA. Rausch Gap is another abandoned Pennsylvania town that got its start as a coal mining community. The place has a haunted vibe. Considered one of the most haunted eateries in Pennsylvania, Bube's not only has a brewery but a Victorian hotel and catacombs. Help spread the word. Bitumen, In Clinton county West of Renovo, my Mom grew up there. Abandoned Central Abandoned Central is another great resource for roaming cool abandoned buildings. Today, visitors can go deep underground to see this once-active mine and learn more about coal mining. Hidden deep in the woods of Valley Forge National Historical Park near Philadelphia, youll find the ruins of an early 20th-century bottling plant. By December 1865, 20,000 people called Pithole, PA home. Exterior view of the northern abandoned nuclear jet engine testing bunkers in the Quehanna Wild Area. 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. Ive been trying to find out where they might have been buried. 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. Email: ghosttour@ghosttour.com. 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. The article linked within this piece has all the info about how to request permission. Some of these sites were abandoned due to technological shifts that left them obsolete. The Ghost Tour of Lancaster departs from the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Penn Square at King and Queen Streets. 100 years ago did not know you could get close to it!!! Cant find where I lived. The Coplay Kilns are nine kilns that are the remnants of a large cement factory that was located on the outskirts of town. Oil Creek State Park is known as the Valley that Changed the World and was the site of the worlds first commercial oil well. Today, the towns owner is doing his best to maintain the site and turn it into a historic village, and a few people do live in the community. 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. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Be sure to check our daily dinner specials including steak . There is a turn out off the road in the valley from Arnot to Morris. Built in 1950 just outside Lancaster, PA as the Conestoga Motor Inn, this hotel was also known as Sheraton Conestoga, Conestoga Resort Inn, and Lancaster Farms Resort. My children had some great times there. 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. It was a trailer park with a pond across the street. There were several reports of the creature jumping onto the back of the riders horse and riding along. I-81 went through there in the 60s and took a lot of it out. Those were. Walked the Cemeteries. Rockland Furnace was powered by a dam and water wheel on Shull Run, where today youll find the beautiful Freedom Falls. Just a thank you for Pennsylvania history. Concrete City is an abandoned town in PA's Luzerne County. Search. There are some surviving houses, a mill and a museum commemorating the small community. 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. 6 - Bube's Brewery Bube's Brewery is located within a building complex that dates back to the 1800s. 32 Abandoned Places in PA You Can Legally Explore, a secret camp near what is now Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Haunted Quaker Church in Fayette County, the abandoned South Penn Railroad Aqueduct, abandoned hunting lodge at Linn Run State Park, abandoned ski resort at Denton Hill State Park, the abandoned ski resort at Denton Hill State Park, tours, workshops, exhibitions, and festivals, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, abandoned Lake Leigh Dam at Ricketts Glen State Park, Exploring the High Street Emporium in Ebensburg, Exploring the Curtis Publishing Building in Philadelphia, The 19 Best Hiking Trails Near State College, Exploring the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte. If remember right we went swing too, I think. My favorite is the giant elevator that once took miners deep underground. Theabandoned Lake Leigh Dam at Ricketts Glen State Parkis a towering remnant of anill-fated hydroelectric projectthat thankfully failed! Seeing this piece of history is well worth the cost of the tour. 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. I live within miles of there still, as I also grew up within miles from there. Tons of cool architecture and history there. Im not familiar with the park. Also, are there several small stone markers where the residence lived? The buildings were built in the 1920s and 1930s for workers at the nearby limestone mine. (About half an hour north of Pittsburgh) Most of the men there worked in the limestone mine. 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. Since then, while portions of Eastern State Penitentiary have been cleaned up, the site is managed as a preserved ruin and is a fascinating place to explore. Let us know in the comments below. The National Iron and Steel Museum in Coatesville isnt abandoned in and of itself. Hours Tuesday - Saturday, 7 am - 7 pm Breakfast served Tuesday - Saturday 7:00 am - 11:00 am Lunch Served Tuesday - Saturday 11:30 am - 3:30 pm Dinner Served Tuesday - Saturday 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm The Haunted Quaker Church in Fayette County is actually a stone chapel built in 1895 on the site of an even older, abandoned Quaker meeting house that dated back to 1793. Visitors can walk out onto the remains of the bridge or walk to the valley floor for a close up look at the bridges remains, which still lay where they fell. Along Pleasant stream. Concrete Citylies tucked away in an overgrown, city-owned plot of land on the outskirts of Nanticoke, inLuzerne County. It was abandoned for decades until the national park service opened it as a historical site. Nearby, you can also explore the ruins of Kunes Camp. 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. By 1924, the community was abandoned. 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. 3. Pithole was laid out in May 1865 after oil was discovered nearby. Families, couples and groups are all welcome at our hotel! It opened in 1911 with 20 duplex homes. (Note: While to the best of our knowledge you can legally visit these abandoned places at the time of publication, access can always change. There are some old foundations and a cemetery. Following Pennsylvania and CDC guidelines, we are now open offering our farm fresh and locally sourced menu perfect for . As a kid I had family that lived there so I was there quite often, my aunt used to own the only store in the town which has unfortunately been turned into a hunting camp after she sold it, so theres now no stores, there used to be a post office/motel as well which has now also been turned into residential apartments.