10 Ghost Towns In Massachusetts [MAP]
Last Updated on August 26, 2022 by Urbex Underground
If you’re searching for ghost towns in Massachusetts, we’ve got you covered! Below are 10 different ghost towns you can explore across Massachusetts along with their status and exact GPS coordinates.
We rate ghost towns in Massachusetts based on their status. Here’s how our system works:
- Abandoned: Is abandoned with ruins and structures in a decayed state. Great for urban explorers.
- Historic: Preservation efforts have been made and sometimes plaques installed. Great for everyone.
- Barren: Almost nothing remains of the town. Ideal for metal detectorists.
- Commercial: Is commercially owned with amenities, restaurants, and stores. Great for families.
- Semi-Abandoned: Abandoned areas with a small population in the area.
- Privately Owned: Tours might be available but not open to the general public.
History:
Davis was a mining community founded in 1882. The mine supplied vast amounts of pyrite that supplied New Haven and other nearby towns. The town was abandoned when the mine collapsed in 1911.
What’s Left?
Today there are no structures that remain. However, this is just one of many ghost towns in Massachusetts that contains an abandoned mine.
2. Catamount
42.653, -72.756
Status: Abandoned
History:
This small town in the mountains was once home to many Revolutionary War veterans who could not afford to settle elsewhere. The land was rocky and not very conducive to farming, so early settlers grew potatoes in these rocky conditions.
What’s Left?
Today, the town is home to the Catamount State Forest, which includes trails for hiking. You can find remnants of the old schoolhouse and home foundations if you wander along the trails.
3. Long Point
42.027, -70.172
Status: Abandoned
History:
Long Point, in southern Massachusetts, was a former coastal artillery post that thrived from the 1830s until the late 1850s. Some of its residents actually floated their houses across the harbor when leaving. Long Point was also used during the Civil War as a coastal artillery post.
What’s Left?
Not much remains today. Visitors can still see a few old homes in the area as well as check out the lighthouse that its on the point.
4. Questing
42.1219, -73.2518
Status: Abandoned
History:
Questing, which is not its original name, is a former farming community in the Berkshires and Green Mountains. It was settled on a hilltop in the mid-1700s and is home to the Brookins twins, the first non-Native American children to live in the region.
What’s Left?
There are trails that lead to the site, and the hike is about one mile long, which makes it ideal for most hikers. The only remains of the town are old cellars and some stonework foundation. Questing is one of the oldest ghost towns in Massachusetts, making it a unique place to check out if you’re in the area.
5. Prescott
42.391667, -72.344722
Status: Barren
History:
Prescott and North Prescott both used to be populated with approximately 780 people, but were flooded by the Quabbin Reservoir in 1938. This forced many residents to leave, and the area to remain sparcly populated up until this day.
What’s Left?
Today, Prescott Center remains along with a few historic buildings. While this isn’t among the most exciting ghost towns in Massachusetts, its worth a visit if you’re nearby.
6. Whitewash Village
41.559306, -69.993639
Status: Historic
History:
If you’ve never heard of Whitewash Village, it is a little-known village on Monomoy Island in Massachusetts. The town, which may have gotten its name from the whitewashed houses, was a fishing community with up to 200 residents. It also had a school, Public School #13, and a tavern.
The town was first settled in the 1700s by fishermen and sailors. It eventually grew to 200 people and was home to a school, tavern for sailors, and trading shops. It was also a center for the lobster trade, with lobsters being shipped to the mainland. Unfortunately, the town was destroyed by a hurricane in 1860, stranding its residents on the island.
What’s Left?
Today, visitors to the ghost town can see the remains of the town, including the Monomoy Point Light. Whitewash Village is among the various ghost towns in Massachusetts that were abandoned due to extreme weather.
7. Dogtown
42.638889, -70.654167
Status: Barren
History:
Dogtown is a former inland settlement in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. It has been abandoned since 1895. There are now just a few relics of the past left in the town. The area surrounding the town of Dogtown was once mostly cleared for farming. There were many boulders on the site, and many residents of the town used the land to graze their farm animals. After the war, however, most people moved out of Dogtown.
The first “witches” of Dogtown emerged in the late 1700s. These women, who were often single and poor, lived in abandoned homes. Many people in Gloucester viewed these women as “witches” and feared them.
What’s Left?
The eerie atmosphere of Dogtown is attributed to the presence of giant boulders that are dotted around the town. Some say that the boulders resemble Stonehenge. People also report hearing voices. Those who visit the town claim to have experienced paranormal activities there.
8. Dana
42.421944, -72.2275
Status: Historic
History:
Dana Ghost Town is a place where a formerly prosperous town was flooded by the reservoir to make room for a large reservoir. The state of Massachusetts started this project in order to collect large amounts of fresh water. The result was a 40 square mile reservoir that flooded the town, displacing over 2,500 residents. Although much of the town disappeared in the flood, some parts of it still stand today.
What’s Left?
The original site of these towns lies at the bottom of the Quabbin reservoir. Many of the buildings and trees were wiped out during the flood, but a native American burial ground still exists. While you cannot see the roofs of the buildings during low water, you can still see the cellar holes and a few ruins throughout the area.
9. Enfield
42.316667, -72.332778
Status: Underwater
History:
Enfield is one of many ghost towns in Massachusetts that was swept away due to strategic flooding. In 1927, the state of Massachusetts passed the Swift River Act, which made it legal for the state to take land in the Swift River Valley.
This law gave the residents of the valley until April 28, 1938, to move their lives or lose their properties. This act also gave them an allowance of $108 per acre lost. The town held a celebration for the act, which resulted in a dance on the Town Hall lawn. After midnight on April 28, the residents were legally removed. Within a couple of months, the flooding began.
What’s Left?
Today, nothing remains of the town above the surface of the Quabbin Reservoir.
10. Greenwich
42.359167, -72.296389
Status: Semi-Abandoned
History:
The town was founded in 1737 from portions of the towns of Hardwick, Greenwich, and Petersham. The land was called the Quabbin when it was first settled. In 1754, the town was incorporated, and it was primarily a farming community. The town also had textile mills. The town was eventually disincorporated in 1938 during the construction of the Quabbin Reservoir.
What’s Left?
Just like the flooded ghost town of Enfield, nothing remains of Greenwich today.
Go out and explore!
That concludes our list of ghost towns in Massachusetts but that doesn’t mean that’s all there is to find. Take the back roads, follow train tracks, and find some places for yourself. There are plenty of places I kept off this list so get out there and explore.
If you’re having trouble finding ghost towns be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Finding Abandoned Places, or explore other ghost towns across the country.
