When it comes to ghost towns, no matter how creepy they may be, we always find ourselves fascinated and curious as to the history behind them. Fighting against time and withering away as each day goes on, it can often be heartbreaking to see the ruins of towns that once were. Each succumbed to its own rough circumstances, and the stories are very intriguing. If you have been searching for "spooky towns near me," then these spots are for you! Keep in mind that visiting any of these ghost towns in New York is something you'll want to do at your own risk:
1. Doodletown, Stony Point
First settled in the late 1700s, this abandoned town is now a part of Bear Mountain State Park! The peaceful and remote town which was once quite popular began to fall apart in the 1950s. More than thirty signs label the foundations and structures of buildings that once stood in Doodletown, the school house even remained until 1980 but was demolished because of vandalism. While there are no stories of ghosts here, to see a town that was alive such a short time ago does create a very eerie ambiance. One of the many reasons that caused the downfall of Doodletown was World War II, drafting many of its residents and resulting in many families leaving the town. New York's park began buying up Doodletown's land in 1910 and by 1962 all remaining land of the town had been purchased.
2. Love Canal, Niagara Falls
A neighborhood of Niagara Falls that once drew national attention, the abandoned streets of Love Canal are truly terrifying. There may not be any ghost sightings or creepy decrepit buildings, but the story behind this place is quite disturbing. Over the years of 1942 through 1952, a chemical company buried over 20,000 tons of chemical waste in Love Canal. Disposed inside barrels and buried into the earth, when the land was sold a disclaimer was made in the deed stating the site was used for waste disposal. Only a few years later would homes and a school be built across the street from the toxic land. It wasn't until the 1970s that the rest of the country learned of the toxic town, shining a light on the families living here and all of their health problems. Most of the families living in Love Canal dealt with health issues that indicated they had Leukemia, with many suffering from high counts of red blood cells.
3. North Brother Island, New York City
Found in between the Bronx and Rikers Island, North Brother Island was once home to the River Island Hospital. Roughly 20 acres, the island became a treatment center for those with smallpox and also briefly served as a facility to treat New York's drug addicts. Now abandoned and taken over by nature and wildlife, the hospital was once the home of Typhoid Mary. If you haven't heard of the well-known Irish immigrant, Mary came to the U.S. in 1884 and was a cook. After refusing to accept her diagnosis, Mary infected many others and ultimately was forced to live out her life on the island until she passed away in 1938 with the virus still living inside her.
4. Tahawus, Newcomb
While we've gone in-depth about Tahawus
before, we couldn't leave it off our main list. Abandoned not once but twice, many of the town's structures still remain, making it the most true ghost town on our list. Hidden up in the Adirondacks, you'll find this place that used to be a thriving mining town. It's filled with creepy homes and buildings and stories of a town ghost are widely told. Stories of a man working for the town's mining company have also circulated. The rumor was that he was often strict with his employees and overworked them. While the true story remains a bit unclear, it is said that the man's death was the result of an upset worker murdering him. Many sightings of the man riding a horse and walking through the town of Tahawus have been reported- yikes!
5. Pottersville, Warren County
Located off Lundy Road near Kingston, this ghost town may be the most chilling on our list. Once your average small town, Pottersville experienced tragedy over its existence. Not only did the town experience a devastating flood in 1927, but a case of awful murders took place here as well. The story goes that a man killed every member of his family and then afterward shot himself. Many who explore the land of Pottersville and hike nearby trails have said they've seen floating objects and ghosts. During the day you can see the foundations of old homes and garages that have since been demolished, but the real attraction is apparently at night! Many people interested in the happenings of the ghost town make their visits after dark, claiming that what you'll experience here is absolutely chilling.
To see even more about Pottersville, check out this video from ColonialEraHunter on YouTube.
So many of these abandoned places are right outside some of our biggest cities. Did you know these towns once existed? Share with us if you've ever explored a ghost town in New York! Did you see any apparitions or experience any other paranormal activity? People have said it's creepy and exhilarating at the same time to be in any of these spooky locations. Regardless of what you see when you're there, there's nothing quite like visiting abandoned towns in New York. If you're going in the cooler months of the year, you can stay warm while exploring with outerwear from LL Bean.
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