By definition a ‘ghost town’ is a deserted town with either no remaining inhabitants or very few. Often these towns are abandoned with good reason, leaving behind an eerie, quiet place where imaginations can run wild. Disaster, tragedy or simply forgotten, these abandoned cities are the birth place of campfire tales and myths. While creepy in appearance, these abandoned cities and towns are full of stories.
Call it a ghost town or simply abandoned, these places have an air about them that sends shivers down our spines. Fueled by tales of hauntings or simply interesting histories, we seem to be drawn to these locations. Here are ten creepy abandoned cities that time forgot.
Founded in 1880 as a gold and silver mining town, St. Elmo once had a population of almost 2,000. In its peak, the town was equipped with a schoolhouse, hotels, dance halls, a newspaper and a general store. Several railroads ran alongside the town, allowing for supplies and travelers to pass through. In the early 1920s, the mines began to shut down and the railroads discontinued service to the area. By the 1950s, the town was all but abandoned. Today it is a historic site where tourists can visit and rent four-wheelers to explore the area.