We Dare You To Take This Road Trip To Mississippi’s Most Abandoned Places

Natchez is full of historic homes that have been carefully preserved throughout the years; Arlington isn’t one of them. Sadly, the onetime stunning home has fallen into disrepair due to years of neglect, exposure to the elements, and vandals. Before Arlington fell into disrepair, it was considered extremely architecturally significant. According to the National Park Service, the home is "one of four important Federal Style villas, which established the basic form for the later antebellum houses of Natchez." Even though Arlington is in such disarray, its beauty is undeniable, making it a must-see.

Filled with dilapidated buildings and remnants of what once was, Rodney is the very definition of a ghost town. Located about 30 miles northeast of Natchez, the now abandoned town was once destined for big things, but a series of unfortunate events completely changed the fate of Rodney, leaving behind an eerily quiet town that appears to be frozen in time. While visiting Rodney, be sure to explore the Presbyterian Church, which still has a cannonball lodged in its wall as a result of a Civil War battle. (The original cannonball eventually fell out, but it was replaced several years later.)

Known to be a magnet for paranormal activity, this abandoned hospital has attracted numerous paranormal investigators and was even featured on the show "Ghost Asylum." Opened in 1832 to combat a smallpox outbreak, the hospital would go on to treat Civil War soldiers, victims of a severe Yellow Fever epidemic, mental patients, and people with infectious diseases, who were housed in an area of the hospital known as the "Pest House." Throughout its years in operation, Kuhn State Memorial Hospital saw many pass before their time, which may have something to do with the inexplicable occurrences that have taken place there.

Please be aware that it’s recommended you explore only the exterior of Kuhn State since the building itself is extremely unsteady due to age, not to mention there are open elevator shafts, black mold, asbestos and debris.

Legend has it that a member of the Dalton Gang, Stuckey, opened a riverfront inn, hoping to appeal to those traveling the Chunky River. Once everyone turned in for the night, Stuckey would murder his guests, steal their possessions, and throw their bodies into the Chunky at the future site of this bridge. Eventually, Stuckey’s evil doings were discovered and he was hung from the railings of the bridge. Since his death, several strange happenings have occurred near the bridge, so be sure to keep your eyes opened when visiting. According to witnesses, you may see Stuckey’s ghost carrying a lantern along the river or see him hanging from the bridge followed by a loud splash, believed to be his body hitting the water after being cut from the noose.

It’s hard to believe this eerie looking site was once a fun-filled amusement park, but that’s exactly the case. Closed since the 1970s, Royal Land was the vision of the eccentric owner, Lloyd Royal. The park included just a few rides, all of which were purchased secondhand and ran by a generator. There are reports that the generator would sometimes die, causing everything in Royal Land to come to a screeching halt. While there’s not much left of the onetime amusement park, exploring the abandoned spot is truly a unique (albeit a bit eerie) experience.

Down a dirt road in Clarke County sits an old bridge with a sordid past that will forever remain part of a Shubuta’s history. Spanning the Chickasawhay River, the now infamous bridge was the site of at least six hangings, earning it the nickname "Hanging Bridge." By the time Civil Rights workers began arriving in Mississippi in the 1960s, the bridge’s reputation was well-known, which was due in part to a local worker taking volunteers out to the bridge and telling them of its dark past. The bridge has long been closed to traffic; however, paying a visit is like walking right onto the pages of a history book.