There’s a saying that says, “Out with the old and in with the new.” As we know, life is moving fast and furious with technology screaming ahead. With the world becoming smaller it’s also easier for us to work from home or move across the country and leave everything we’ve done and had before behind. Abandoned places in Northern California and old buildings tell a story of a different time. Decayed and left without the light of human life to keep them working, these places are being reclaimed by nature…and it’s both sad and beautiful. Read on and see what we mean.

1. Country Beauty
Mendocino County, CA, USA
flickr/patrick dirden
Mendocino County is where you'll find this tiny beauty, shyly sinking into the land it's been sitting on for years. The photographer got a great shot of this one with flowers all abloom.
2. Industry Gone
Anderson, CA 96007, USA
flickr/patrick dirden
Anderson is the home of this abandoned TeePee Woodchip burner, used back in the day when the logging industry in these parts was booming. The logging industry has been around here for over 130 years. Sadly, lots of mills have closed up and down the state.
3. Old Rusted Cars
flickr/jan arendstz
The old ghost town of Bodie is where you can find this gem. You can bet your bottom dollar that a lot of guys would know exactly what the make and model is on this rusted beauty. Let us know in the comments.
4. Abandoned House
Moss Beach, CA, USA
flickr/bill gracey
Next up on our list of abandoned places to visit in Northern California is this empty house near Moss Beach. Not sure there's a better place for this home to die than along the lovely coastline. Whoever owns this place is missing out on some gorgeous views. So sad.
5. Noah's Ark?
Dan Pfeifer/ Google
We had no idea Noah landed here. This is the shell of an old fishing boat that has been left to be reclaimed by nature in Point Reyes. The irony is this: the company that bought the land specializes in wetlands preservation.
6. Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Richfield, CA 96021, USA
flickr/ patrick dirden
This old freight car is rusting away in Richfield. Who left it? Why is it still here? Do train companies just drop off a car and ride away? This one was probably a beauty in its day.
7. Old Bridge
Sacramento River, California, USA
flickr/patrick dirden
Find this one in the Sacramento River Canyon. This old abandoned bridge is a reminder of life not so long ago. It's near the Delta and while it's no longer functional, places like these are a photographer's dream.

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8. No Gas Today
Castella, CA 96017, USA
flickr/patrick dirden
Old Highway 99 in Castella is the home of this gas station and general store. Nature is reclaiming it while life still whizzes by as proven by the train in the background. It kind of looks like one shot in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" but with a fully functioning gas station!
9. On the Dock of the Bay
Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
flickr/patrick dirden
Bodega Bay hosts this old place. It makes you wonder who built it. Who came to enjoy gathering on the water? Where did they all go? A place like this is just waiting for someone to come along and love it again.
10. Hot Springs Hotel
flickr/david cohen
This is an abandoned hot springs in Northern California. Most people have probably never seen antique toilet paper before!
11. Loma Prieta Benched this Building
Oakland, CA, USA
flickr/ron reiring
The 1989 earthquake we know as Loma Prieta is the reason this gem stands empty. This train station in Oakland was built in 1912. A few generations back have a personal love for seeing this building restored - as the first settlers in their families were here even before it was built and probably watched it going up. Train stations were the airports of their time. How many people flocked to this building, eagerly awaiting their first ride on a train?
12. Graffiti
flickr/thomas hawk
This forgotten spot is where artists gather. Graffiti on display in a place that's been abandoned. There aren't too many cops who are going to hike here to check things out. Enter at your own risk but bring along a camera for sure.
13. Ghost Town Fuel
Bodie, CA, USA
flickr/Srikanth Jandhyala
Bodie is a ghost town built in the 1800s. The whole town is being reclaimed at the same time. But, we're pretty sure this is one of the earliest "gas stations" and almost looks like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie.
14. Passing Through
Point Reyes, California, USA
Shawn Clover
If you pass through Point Reyes on Highway 1 you'll see an old dilapidated brick and mortar building. Most pass by and think nothing of it. Built in the last 1800s, it was once a general store, then a hotel with over 20 rooms. Dwight D. Eisenhower once stayed here. It's been closed since 1950. The new owner had plans to resurrect it to its heyday. But, in 2005, bureaucratic red tape killed all plans. Way to go government.
15. Two Shacks
Alliance Redwood, CA 95465, USA
flickr/ patrick dirden
Two tiny shacks left abandoned near Alliance Redwoods. To some this might be an eyesore. To others, they see a rich history of a time gone by. And, for even more savvy folks, they see treasure in old barn wood. It's a commodity for the eclectic few who love to decorate in woods.

These abandoned places in Northern California hold so many stories…if only they could speak. If you ever do a search for “abandoned places near me,” one of these is sure to appear near the top of the list.

Have you been to any of these abandoned places? If so, what do you think? What emotions did they evoke? Do you have any suggestions of other abandoned places in California we should write about? We’d love to read about your experiences and ideas in the comments section below!

If you’re in the mood for more potentially creepy spots, then be sure to read this article about this eerie ghost town cemetery.

For those who love to hike, there are plenty of amazing trails around some of these abandoned places. You can get more information by going to the AllTrails website and searching for the area you desire.

If you’re still in the mood for more California adventures, take a look at this video about the Yosemite National Park’s Legendary Firefall.

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More to Explore

Ghostly Adventures in Northern California

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | January 30, 2023

Where are some haunted places in Northern California?

  • The Battery Point Lighthouse – Located in Crescent City, it is believed that a former lightkeeper is haunting it by ascending the spiral staircase.
  • The Fort Humboldt Historic State Park – Located in Eureka, the park is thought to be the “home” of a post commander. He supposedly died in 1859 of malaria and still walks the halls of the old hospital building.
  • The Ferndale Repertory Theatre – Located in Ferndale, it is where supposedly a shape-shifting ghost named Bertha performs some strange theatre-related tasks at night.

Learn more about other haunted places in Northern California.

Where can we find haunted cemeteries in Northern California?

  • Hills of Eternity Memorial Park in Colma – Multifaceted and well-known personality Wyatt Earp was laid to rest here.
  • Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland – A lot of early Northern California pioneers have been buried in this cemetery since the late 1800s.
  • Mare Island Cemetery in Vallejo – The cemetery is named after General Vallejo, leader of the Mexican army, and the site of the first naval base on the west coast.

Learn more about other haunted cemeteries in Northern California.

Are there any ghost tours in Northern California?

  • Pleasanton – Paranormal fans can embark upon a two-hour guided Ghost Walk walking tour of Pleasanton's most haunted sites every fall.
  • Ione – Here, The Preston Castle is an old abandoned prison constructed in 1894 in the Romanesque Revival style but made to look like the reform school that it was rather than a prison.
  • Placerville – The city’s nickname is "Hangtown" and here you can take a Hangtown Ghost Tour that guides participants through the tumultuous history of this town during the Gold Rush

Learn more about other ghost tours in Northern California.

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