Click here to see a five-part history of the Mt. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County. Cook Museum of Natural Science 123 Science Museums Educational sites By alwildflower3 It's fun for groups, children of all ages, and solo adults or couples. And if you consider yourself a ghost hunter, youll love this creepy road trip in Alabama. (Source: Historic Drish House Facebook page), This home was built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He may flush the toilet as well. This building now houses a geriatric treatment facility but when it was a hospital, employees claimed it was haunted by a ghost named Homer. Homer would roam the halls as a dark shape. Matt Glasscock, who took the photo at left, and members of Steel City Urbex were invited by the owner to tour some of the closed portions of the City Federal building in downtown Birmingham. Spectre, Ala., is a fictional town built as a set for the 2003 movie "Big Fish." This gorgeous natural site is said to be haunted by the spirits of outlaws who once hid there. The building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. This is part of the warehouse complex for Dallas Compress Co. in Selma, photographed in the late 1960s. She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. Today, only its stone foundations remain. It was torn down in 1952. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, USA. Another popular tale is the appearance of theapparition of the ghost ship of the Eliza Battle, which burned on the Tombigbee River in 1858 killing more than 30 people. "Abandoned Alabama: Exploring The Heart of Dixie," by Leland Kent, (Arcadia Publishing), 2021, 96 pages, softcover. Others claim to have seen phantom cars, strange balls of light and the apparition of a small figure, about 4 feet tall. That makes sense, because the fort was in use during the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. 1890s commissary that served the mining families still stands but the vine-covered building is said the be the site of miners killed at the site. The ROW can still be made out in many places . Local legend claims that a woman appears should a visitor kiss the tallest tombstone. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. Located in Decatur, Alabama, the Ardent Mills Decatur facility is a pneumatic mill and one of the most automated mills in the United States. Members of Steel City Urbex were allowed into the bank area and the basement that are being developed for a business such as a restaurant or wine cellar, he said. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The 1833 Old State Bank of Alabama in Decatur as it was getting a coat of paint in 1934 after it had been abandoned for decades. As they crossed the bridge, the horses were spooked and the carriage was tipped into the water below. Coal towns were abandoned when the coal (or the need for it) ran out. His spirit has been seen wearing a white zoot suit, and he may try to catch a ride with you to Florence. Several abandoned mill sites remain in the town, although historic groups hope to re-purpose some of the factories. In this 1934 photo, renovation work had begun on Spring Villa in Opelika. For 75 years, the stone structures built by the Works Progress Administration in Chalkville sheltered girls labeled "incorrigible," "delinquent," or "wayward," although most arrived at the Alabama Training School for Girls because of behavioral and emotional problems and had committed no crimes, according toits superintendent in 1966. The activity is reportedly caused by the spirit of a woman who died on the top floor in the 1950s. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. Today, Jackson Lake Island is open to the public for camping and fishing. When they turn to look, nothing is there. Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. At the WHBC frat house, they say former Youth Minister Anthony Stephens' spirit walks through the house later at night. Once the world's most expensive prison, from 1829 this Philadelphia facility boasted grand architecture, modern luxuries and notorious inmates including Al Capone. The son of former Alabama governor, Robert Patton is said to be one of many ghosts to haunt the Sweetwater Mansion in Florence. Students and teachers alike have reported seeing white (no reviews) Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Highway 11 In September 1934, a young man named Lonnie Stephens was wrongfully accused of murdering his (no reviews) BESbswy It is continually guarded and visitors are not allowed without prior approval. But this playground is different. 30+ Abandoned Industrial Buildings In Alabama | Abandoned Alabama Archive - Industrial Western Railway of Alabama February 13, 2023 Add comment | City/Town: Montgomery The Montgomery Railroad, later known as the Western Railway of Alabama, was one of the earliest railroads in the South. The Jemison Center was built in the 1920s as part of Bryce Hospital, which opened in Tuscaloosa as the Alabama State Hospital for the Insane at the outset of the Civil War. Beelitz Military Hospital, Berlin. An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. Coffins were stacked on racks like a storage facility. The three-story tower was added to the home after the Civil War. 3. People claim to see Marys spirit on the bridge, searching for her lost child. In the 1930s, this beautiful 1842 home known as the Bethea-Strother House, located on Alabama Highway 28 in Camden, was abandoned and deteriorating. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, was near collapse when this photo was taken in the 1930s. Get directions Red Hat Road Decatur , Alabama , 35601 USA Coordinates: 34.65420, -87.07780 Cemetery ID: 21888 Members have Contributed 3 Memorials 0% photographed 0% with gps About these numbers Photos No additional photos. Visitors here may see ghostly children coming out to play. St. Clair's Bait & Tackle, Grocery and Hardware. Simp McGhee's Abandoned building at Chewacla Lime Works in Lee County as seen in 1933. People are fascinated with abandoned sites. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! Some claim to see the orb today. The home was completed in 1835 by Robert Patton, Brahan's son-in-law and former Alabama governor. To visit Norwood, take exit 126B off Interstate 20/59, just north of downtown Birmingham. McCandless Hall auditorium, which opened in 1914, is said to be haunted by the spirit of Abigail Burns, an opera singer. In a little-known cemetery deep in the woods of Clarke County are tombstones created by a man who was ahead of his time. His wife Sarah was said to have become obsessed with planning an elaborate funeral for him and insisted on saving the candles from the funeral to be burned at her own. The city was the capital after Huntsville was the temporary capital city in 1819 so a Constitutional Convention could be held to choose the first official capital, which was Cahawba. Have you visited any before? According to the Chamber of Commerce website, "Haunted Places: The National Directory. She was struck by a truck and her body was later found beside the highway. From vacant factories and industrial sites to long-shuttered schoolhouses, our list of the 10 most amazing abandoned places in Alabama has a little bit of everything. No trespassing. Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery as it looks today. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. Residents hear screaming and footsteps and other ghostly sounds. Many ghost hunters have visited the hotel. Take I-65 to Decatur, Exit 334. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. The population in 2010 census was 55,683. White orbs also appear in the childrens room. The training school, shown when it was in use at left, was abandoned after a tornado destroyed several buildings and a new facility was built in 2015. At right, a historical photo of City Federal. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. Some people claim Sydneys ghost followed the drama students to the Telfair Peet Theater when it was constructed in the 1970s. (Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History). Kids and adults will enjoy exploring various hands-on exhibits, including a gallery of bees, turtles, alligators and snakes, a recreated Alabama cave, insect galleries, a 15,000-gallon aquarium, and more. We can promise that you'll never look at the city of Decatur in the same way again! Oct 13, 2016; Decatur has a sordid reputation and a . Abandoned Western Railway of Alabama building in Montgomery is shown in the late 1960s. Alabamas many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. Guests of the inn reported seeing apparitions on the porch and downstairs of a woman in Victorian dress and a little girl. ", The Pickens County Courthouse in Carrollton is widely known as the site of hauntings by the spirit of Henry Wells, who was once incarcerated in a jail cell on the second floor. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Location: 1205 Tennessee St., Courtland, Alabama Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. Now her ghost is often seen along the road. Sloss Furnaces (Birmingham, AL) 20 32nd St. N., Birmingham, AL 35222 (205) 254-2025 In the years following the Civil War, Birmingham's Sloss Furnaces became the mecca of pig iron needed for thousands of steel products around the country. It was abandoned for years and is currently being refurbished. A marker was erected nearby detailing the legend. This abandoned funeral home in Opelika still has hearses and caskets inside its casket showcase room. Mary survived. Legends often say that he was hanged on trumped-up charges for deserting the Confederate army, although details vary. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. Flickr/Jon Dickson. When Hood arrived at Decatur on October 26, he found a Federal infantry force of 3,000 to 5,000 men defending an entrenched line that included two forts and 1,600 yards of rifle pits; a much heavier force than Roddey had believed. The hole disappeared in the past couple of years when the area was flooded but people continue to visit. The facility on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer was abandoned with bodies inside but they were removed in 2015. All rights reserved (About Us). It is said that a mysterious fog covers this area day or night, and it surrounds the gravestones. Jacksons Military Road passed through the town. Railroad tracks run alongside the backs of the surviving buildings, parallel to the dirt lane called Robinson Switch Road. The swings sometimes can be seen swinging by themselves, and the sounds of laughter Urban legend tells of a man who was hit by a car and killed while walking across this bridge. Although the spot where the Dallas Mill was is now open field, legend has it was once haunted by a man who died while working there. Some report that is you park on the bridge, your car will begin to rock. The remains were removed in 2015. The preserved ruins of Alabama's first permanent capital city can be toured at Old Cahawba Archaeological Site. The date of the photograph is unknown, but it was probably taken in the late 19th or early 20th century, after the building had been used as a grist mill. It is no longer standing. Hall Hotel dates to 1895 and residents of Gurley hope to restore it. The laws of the state of Alabama first and foremost follow the laws of the ARPA (the Archaeological Resources Protection Act). Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). According to the Dothan Eagle, employees noticed strange sights in Bella's and Colby's restaurants on the lower floors, including lights turning off and on by themselves and dishes crashing to the floor. Abandoned Marshall Space Flight Center power plant test stand in the east test area in Huntsville shown in 1968. During the 1920s, Decatur would gain infamy as a place where murder, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, gambling, corruption and, of course, ghosts, were commonplace. Combined, the TAG area contains more than 14,000 caves (9,200 in Tennessee and 600 in Georgia). (Picture: Hatch Plantation), Between the years 1819-1826, Cahawba was Alabama's state capital. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. Located among the graves is an open tomb missing its corpse. "Forks of Cypress" ruins near Florence. One-by-one, the boys killed anyone involved in the deaths of their family. At least two, possibly . These, shown in 1935, were demolished but the main house remains. The Victoria Inn was built ca. Arcola, established in the early 1820s, is a ghost town on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, Alabama - formerly Marengo County. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Nearby, a pair of eyeglasses gathers dust, as if the owner were suddenly interrupted in the middle of a workday and never returned. Click hereto see more photos. Vernon Hospital for the Colored Insane. A massive oak at the junction of the Pea and Choctahatchee rivers is known as the Constitution Oak and is one of the largest in the state. Although the haunting of Sloss Furnaces is oft repeated, legends surrounding Bass Cemetery in Irondale are definitely the spookiest. Her spirit can also be seen floating past windows on the second floor. It is also known as the Colby Building. Sketoe's Hole is the site where Methodist minister William "Bill" Sketoe Sr. (1818- 1864) was hanged during the Civil War. Decatur, Dothan, Hoover, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and more. (Picture: Prairie Bluff, taken from the Alabama River in 1894), Blakeley, founded in 1813, is a ghost town in Baldwin County, Alabama and was a location of a major fort during the American Civil War. Prairie Bluff disappeared from maps around 1900. Shown: The Old Shelby Hotel in Shelby County. It is located at 1928 First Avenue North. Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. In the 1900s, it was used as a YMCA and later as the college drama departments theater. William Chancellor House in Harpersville today. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. Copper Center - Tonseno Lodge - A man was killed in the hotel, and now he's haunting it. Every community has a ghost tale that everyone has heard, often related to an old or abandoned house, a spooky cemetery or a dark and creepy road. It was restored and listed on the NRHP but its buildings burned in 1976 and 1986. According to legend, many apparitions haunt the house. Winter Place at 454 Goldthwaite Street is one of the most iconic properties in Montgomery and in the state, both because of its Second Empire-style beauty and its history, which includes acting as offices for the Confederate Army and, according to legend, being the place where F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre met, setting off one of the most fiery romances of the Jazz Age. Legend says the apparition of a woman named Nancy, for whom Nancys Mountain is named, haunts a path to the river on Haines Island, shown above. Rawls, who repeatedly took down window treatments he tried to install. 3 bedrooms (63 homes) $205,869. Click hereto see more photos. Some have heard footsteps from the second floor and the sound of the piano playing when no one is there. Although the mist is not thought to be connected to the statue, it does form the shape of a figure as it rises, before disappearing. Now, it's just old and long abandoned. This slideshow includes photos gathered from state archives and from two federal programs that helped document our history: The Historic American Buildings Survey taken in the 1930s, and the Historic American Engineering Record from the late 1960s. The reason there are all these caves . After the Jemison Center was built, the hospitals were kept segregated. The national recognized museum first opened in 1980 and was reinvented and reopened in summer 2019. Tales extend to the adjoining cemetery and even the churchs outhouse. Now it looks like something from a horror movie. Crime truly came to Decatur in the 1850s with the arrival of the railroads. The property is still owned by the Department of Mental Health and is trespassing is illegal. The woods off Hinds Road are said the be haunted by a witch who sold her soul to the devil. It survives but the third story and its Romanesque embellishments were removed. This photo of the Alabama Capitol in Tuscaloosa was taken in the 1890s or early 1900s. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. At night, ghosts of the people buried there haunt the area. The courthouse burned in 1866 and was rebuilt. Go north on AL-67 approximately 7 miles. Posted: (10 days ago) Decatur, AL: 1802 Central Pkwy SW Decatur, AL 35601-5808 1 520.30 Haywood County, NC: 2147 Asheville Rd Waynesville, NC 28786-3139 1 520.90 Rogers Water Utilities, AR: 601 S 2nd St Rogers, AR 72756-4608 3 521.10 Galax, VA: 111 E Grayson St Galax, VA 24333-2903 View Details Govdeals.com Fitness View More The only trace that remains is the nearby cemetery, which some believe was initially established as the posts burial ground. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. 42 places sorted by traveler favorites 1. People report hearing maniacal screaming among other reported paranormal activity. Currently, there are 14 new listings and 212 homes for sale in Decatur. But, after burning twice in its 186-year history, the elegant mansion is more famous in its ruinous state than it ever was as a family home. Dicksonia Plantation in Lowndesboro had a reputation in its day as a stately mansion in picturesque surroundings. In the small south Alabama town of Mount Vernon, one of the state's greatest historical treasures is slowly being consumed by kudzu, time and apathy. Temple B'nai Shalom in Huntsville's Old Town Historic District, in Huntsville. Please follow the law and be safe. But by far the creepiest spot is the 200+-year-old Bass Cemetery in Irondale. Both federal and state laws govern this activity. The current owners of the Moody Brick claim that the old plantation is definitely not haunted. (Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). One of the most important factors to keep in mind is that metal detecting on historical grounds is prohibited.