North Carolina’s many hiking trails lead to a wide variety of treasures hiding in the wilderness. From majestic waterfalls to ghost towns there are many hidden gems to explore along the trails in the Tar Heel State. One such spot contains the ruins of a small town that was abandoned in 1957. The abandoned village of Lost Cove is believed to have first been settled around the time of the Civil War.

Although it got an early start in the mid-1800s, Lost Cove hit its heyday long afterward, when the logging industry here paired with the railroads.
Cory Van Natta/alltrails
Florida Trailblazer/YouTube
Even though the railroad ran nearby, it was far enough away for Lost Cove to remain a very isolated place. When the railroads ceased making passenger stops, people found it too difficult to live in isolation and started to move out of Lost Cove. The last family moved away in 1957.
After a long hike, arriving at the town of Lost Cove is an obvious triumph.
Cory Van Natta/alltrails
Florida Trailblazer/YouTube
Around every corner in the path there are ruins and obvious remains of the former town. A foundation at the base of a set of stairs is a reminder of one of the newer structures in the small town.

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Other structures haven't aged quite as well, however.
Florida Trailblazer/YouTube
Florida Trailblazer/YouTube
Some people hike to Lost Cove just to feel the history left behind in this small town. Several houses are still standing and are in terrible disrepair.
Others come to see the cemetery, possibly to pay respects to dearly departed loved ones.
Gwen Bodford/findagrave.com
Florida Trailblazer/YouTube
More that one vehicle was left behind when the town emptied out in the 1950s. In addition to the old Chevy washed up against the tree in the photo above, the body of yet another truck rests near a stately old chimney that has withstood the test of time. The house that once paired with the chimney is long gone.
In all, there are probably three houses still standing in Lost Cove and plenty more ruins to discover.
Florida Trailblazer/YouTube

See more of the hike and of this abandoned village in this fascinating video posted in 2018 by youtube user Florida Trailblazer:

Would you ever want to explore this abandoned village in North Carolina? Be sure you don’t simply Google this location and get it confused with this Wikipedia entry that talks of yet another Lost Cove in North Carolina that’s near Fontana Lake and Lakeshore Trail. For the best indication of how to arrive at this Lost Cove ghost town, which is located in Yancey County, watch the video above for more details.

For another amazing ruin hiding in the hills of North Carolina, read this previous article to check out a trail that leads to the wreckage of a downed airplane.

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