It Doesn't Get Much Creepier Than This Abandoned Schoolhouse Hidden In Washington
By Courtnie Erickson|Published October 18, 2022
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
Here in Washington State, we are no strangers to ghost towns. With more than three dozen known ghost towns scattered around the state, it is easy to go and explore these historic, yet creepy areas. Govan is one of these ghost towns in Washington with a terrifying past filled with murders, fire, and more. While there are several abandoned structures in Govan, the old schoolhouse may just be the creepiest as it is rumored to be haunted by spirits you may not want to come across.
The ghost town of Govan is located in Lincoln County, just a short drive from Coulee City. With just a few abandoned structures left, you may not even know it is there.
This town was originally established in the late 1800s as a railway station on the Central Washington Railway. The town’s population significantly grew when a large sandbank was discovered and the sand was used for railroad construction.
In just a few years, the town became home to multiple buildings, businesses, and houses. But unfortunately, this wasn’t the most delightful place to live.
In the early 1900s, a judge and his wife were brutally murdered in town with an axe. It was considered one of the most brutal crimes ever committed in the county. Just a few months later, a masked gunman entered the saloon, and more even residents were murdered.
In the late 1920s, a large fire then swept through town, destroying many businesses. While many people went right to work to rebuild the town, it never fully recovered. It finally faced its demise when U.S. Route 2 was constructed and passed by the town, and more people traveled via automobile than the railroad.
This is one of the most well-known structures left in this town, but it is also one of the creepiest.
It is believed this abandoned schoolhouse in Washington is haunted by the spirits involved in the murders from years ago and it has attracted ghost hunters from all over the country.
