Visit These 8 Creepy Ghost Towns In Alabama At Your Own Risk
It’s surprising how many ghost towns are in Alabama. Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. Others may still have residents, but not as many as they once had, making them “living ghost towns in Alabama.” Some abandoned historic sites may even be classified as a ghost town, depending on the size of the site. Ghost towns, especially those that have been completely abandoned, can be a bit creepy. Listed below are eight creepy Alabama ghost towns worth a visit.
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Arcola, established in the early 1820s, is a ghost town on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, Alabama - formerly Marengo County. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. In the 1830s, settlers continued to move into the area to use Arcola as a river landing. In the 1850s, the settlement had disappeared and was replaced by adjoining plantations. (Picture: Hatch Plantation)
Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. It was also a very thriving town. Shortly after the American Civil War, Cahawba became a ghost town. Sadly, nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba. (Picture: Old schoolhouse)
Learn more about Old Cahawba in our previous article here.
Fort Gaines, a historic fort on Dauphin Island, was established in 1821 and is well known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War. This historic fort is one of the best-preserved Civil War era masonry forts in the U.S. Fort Gaines has become a tourist attraction and on the property you'll find original cannons, a blacksmith shop, kitchens, a museum, gift shop and a few tunnels.
Learn more about Fort Gaines in our previous article here.
Before the settlement of the original St. Stephens was abandoned, it sat atop a limestone bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. St. Stephens is located nearly 70 miles north of Mobile and served as the capital of Alabama between the years 1817-1819, until Cahawba became the capital. (Picture: St. Stephens Gravesite)
Learn more about St. Stephens in our previous article here.
Riverton, located in Colbert County, Alabama, was an old trade town that was destroyed when the Pickwick Landing Dam was built during the 1930s. It's now underwater and the only remnant left of the town is a cemetery. (Picture: Wheeler Dam Village - 1937)
Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. The only things remaining in Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn (see picture), and piles of bricks.
Learn more about the history of Bellefonte in our previous article here.
Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. Prairie Bluff disappeared from maps around 1900. As the river trade continued to increase, the town continued to grow. In 1861, Prairie Bluff was at its height. Unfortunately, the introduction of new railroads following the American Civil War really hurt the town. Also, the construction of Millers Ferry Lock and Dam in 1963 was really overwhelming. Today, the only thing remaining in the area is the Prairie Bluff Cemetery. (Picture: Prairie Bluff, taken from the Alabama River in 1894)
Blakeley, founded in 1813, is a ghost town in Baldwin County, Alabama and was a location of a major fort during the American Civil War. This popular ghost town was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. (Picture: The Boyaux fortification at the Blakeley battleground)
Did you know about these Alabama ghost towns? Have you visited any before? Share your experiences with us in the comments below! And if you consider yourself a ghost hunter, you’ll love this creepy road trip in Alabama.
Address: Arcola, AL 36744, USA
Address: 9518 Cahaba Rd, Orrville, AL 36767, USA
Address: 51 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA
Address: St Stephens, AL 36569, USA
Address: Riverton, AL 35616, USA
Address: Bellefonte, AL 35769, USA
Address: Prairie Bluff, AL 36720, USA
Address: Blakeley, AL 36527, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Alabama Ghost Towns
February 17, 2021
Jackie Ann
What are the creepiest cemeteries in Alabama?
Alabama’s many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. In Huntsville, the Maple Hill Cemetery is also known as the “Dead Children’s Playground”. If that wasn’t creepy enough, visitors have been known to hear the sounds of a rocking chair moving back and forth as they pass. The Forks of Cypress Plantation in Florence was one of the most beautiful antebellum mansions in the state, built by the Jackson family who is buried on the plantation grounds. Local legend claims that a woman appears should a visitor kiss the tallest tombstone. But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. Located among the graves is an open tomb missing its corpse.
What are the most popular ghost stories in Alabama?
The Heart of Dixie is steeped in history, making for truly spooky tales. Stories of figures haunting cemeteries, ghostly marching soldiers, and mysterious music playing in empty abandoned buildings are told in every corner of our state. However, the legend tied to one of the most haunted sights in Alabama, the Drish House in Tuscaloosa, is absolutely chilling. This Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1837 by Dr. John R. Drish who died in 1867. His wife Sarah was said to have become obsessed with planning an elaborate funeral for him and insisted on saving the candles from the funeral to be burned at her own. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. As the Drish mansion lore goes, the ghost of Sarah was furious about this and occasionally locals will see the third-story tower lit in flames.
What are the most haunted places in Alabama?
No matter what part of the state you are in, if you ask around you’re sure to be pointed to a haunted site. Sardis is home to a truly creepy rumor claiming that a man with fiery red eyes and the ghostly figure of a Confederate soldier has also been spotted wandering the property of the Adams Grove Presbyterian Church. The son of former Alabama governor, Robert Patton is said to be one of many ghosts to haunt the Sweetwater Mansion in Florence. The most haunted bridge in our state is aptly named Hell’s Gate Bridge, located in Oxford. As the tale goes, a couple’s car drove off the bridge, plunging into the water below. If you stop on the bridge and turn off your lights, the couple will enter your car and leave behind a wet stain on your car seat.
Address: Arcola, AL 36744, USA
Address: 9518 Cahaba Rd, Orrville, AL 36767, USA
Address: 51 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA
Address: St Stephens, AL 36569, USA
Address: Riverton, AL 35616, USA
Address: Bellefonte, AL 35769, USA
Address: Prairie Bluff, AL 36720, USA
Address: Blakeley, AL 36527, USA
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Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. She enjoys discovering new places and currently calls North Alabama home.
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