7 Pennsylvania Coal Towns Left Abandoned And Overlooked By Tourists

Pennsylvania’s rich coal mining history has left behind ghostly reminders of once-thriving communities. These abandoned towns tell stories of industrial booms, devastating disasters, and the harsh realities of mining life. While many tourists flock to Pennsylvania’s popular attractions, these forgotten coal towns offer a hauntingly beautiful glimpse into America’s industrial past for those willing to venture off the beaten path.

1. Centralia: The Town That’s Still Burning

Smoke rises from cracks in the pavement, warning visitors of the inferno that has raged beneath this ghost town since 1962. What began as a controlled burn of a landfill ignited an underground coal seam, creating an unstoppable fire that forced nearly all residents to evacuate.

Today, the abandoned highways, empty lots, and graffiti-covered roads create an eerie landscape that feels apocalyptic. The few remaining structures stand as silent witnesses to a community that once housed over 1,000 people before being reclaimed by nature and fire.

2. Rausch Gap: Hidden Ruins Along the Appalachian Trail

Nature has reclaimed what was once a bustling community of 1,000 people nestled in the mountains of Lebanon County. Hikers along the Appalachian Trail might stumble upon stone foundations, scattered bricks, and an old cemetery – the only remnants of this forgotten 19th-century mining settlement.

Established in the 1820s, Rausch Gap thrived until coal reserves dwindled and a devastating typhoid outbreak struck. By 1910, the town was completely abandoned, leaving behind only whispers of its existence and the weathered gravestones of those who never left.

3. Concrete City: The Failed Experiment in Miner Housing

Twenty identical concrete duplexes arranged in a perfect square create one of Pennsylvania’s strangest abandoned sites. Built in 1911 by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, this experimental housing project for coal miners was supposed to be the future of industrial living.

The austere concrete structures proved to be damp, cold, and ultimately uninhabitable. When the town was abandoned in 1924, the company attempted to demolish the buildings with dynamite. Surprisingly, the explosion barely damaged one duplex, so the remaining structures were left standing – creating the surreal concrete ghost town visible today.

4. Peale: The Mountain Town That Disappeared

Perched high on a mountaintop in Clearfield County, Peale once buzzed with the activity of 2,500 residents working the Moshannon coal seam. The town boasted everything a mining community needed – a hotel, school, company store, and even a YMCA, all accessed by a remarkable inclined plane railroad that carried people and supplies up the steep mountain.

When the coal reserves proved disappointingly thin, Peale’s fate was sealed. By the 1930s, most buildings had been dismantled or moved to nearby towns. Today, only foundations, scattered mining equipment, and the old cemetery remain, silently overlooking the valley below.

5. Eckley Miners’ Village: Frozen in Industrial Time

Founded in 1854, Eckley stands remarkably preserved as a living museum of Pennsylvania’s coal heritage. Unlike truly abandoned towns, this former company town has been maintained to show exactly how miners and their families lived during the height of the coal boom.

Row upon row of identical company houses line the streets, showcasing the stark class divisions of mining communities. The village gained fame when it became the filming location for the 1970 Sean Connery film “The Molly Maguires,” bringing brief attention to this otherwise overlooked historical treasure.

6. Wehrum: The Non-Union Town That Faded Away

Built by the Lackawanna Iron and Steel Company in 1901, Wehrum represented the coal industry’s attempt to create a company-controlled alternative to union towns. At its peak, 250 company houses, a hotel, company store, and theater served 1,000 residents who lived under the watchful eye of company management.

When the mines closed in 1929, the town’s demise was swift and complete. Buildings were dismantled for materials, and by 1934, Wehrum was essentially abandoned. Today, explorers might find the town cemetery and scattered foundations hidden among the trees – the last evidence of this failed experiment in industrial control.

7. Landrus: The Dual-Industry Ghost Town

Landrus represents the fascinating intersection of Pennsylvania’s lumber and coal industries. Established in 1882 in Tioga County, this remote settlement featured a sawmill, coal mine, company store, and school – all connected to the outside world by a single railroad line through the wilderness.

Unlike pure coal towns, Landrus fell victim to the double depletion of both timber and coal reserves. By 1915, operations had ceased completely, and the town was abandoned. Today, hikers in Tioga State Forest might stumble upon subtle clues – foundation stones, scattered mining equipment, and the old railroad grade – that hint at this forgotten community.