Barry PhilipsMissouri is famous for jazz, barbecue, caves, and the legendary Route 66—but hidden beneath its lively culture lies another fascinating side: ghost towns. These abandoned or nearly abandoned communities tell stories of boom-and-bust mining eras, railroad decline, environmental disasters, wartime displacement, and highways that redirected prosperity elsewhere.
Some Missouri ghost towns still have crumbling storefronts and empty streets, while others survive only through cemeteries, ruins, and local legends. Exploring them offers a unique glimpse into the state’s forgotten past and makes for an unforgettable road trip for history lovers and adventure seekers.
In this guide, we explore the Top 50 Ghost Towns in Missouri, why they were abandoned, and what remains today.
Top 50 Ghost Towns In Missouri
1. Times Beach
Perhaps the most famous ghost town in Missouri, Times Beach became a national symbol of environmental disaster. Founded in 1925 along Route 66, it was once a small riverside town where families built homes and businesses flourished.
Its downfall came when roads were sprayed with waste oil contaminated with dioxin, a highly toxic chemical. In the early 1980s, the contamination was discovered, and the federal government bought out the town’s residents. By 1985, the city was officially disincorporated. At its peak, more than 2,000 people lived there before the complete evacuation.
Today, the area has been transformed into Route 66 State Park. Visitors can walk the grounds, visit the visitor center, and learn about one of America’s most shocking environmental tragedies.
Times Beach remains one of the clearest examples of how a thriving town can disappear almost overnight.
2. Avilla
Avilla is often called Missouri’s “living ghost town.” Located along Historic Route 66, it was founded in 1856 and became an important settlement in Jasper County.
The town thrived during the Route 66 era when travelers stopped for fuel, food, and rest. However, after World War II and especially when Interstate 44 bypassed Route 66 in the 1960s, business dried up. Residents moved away, shops closed, and the town slowly faded.
Even though a small population remains, Avilla is largely remembered for its abandoned storefronts and eerie atmosphere. Old buildings and stories of paranormal sightings attract curious visitors.
It is one of the best-preserved Route 66 ghost towns in Missouri and offers a haunting reminder of how changing highways can reshape entire communities.
3. Halltown
Halltown is another haunting reminder of Missouri’s Route 66 past. Once nicknamed “Little Chicago,” this small town was a bustling stop for travelers and truckers.
The town prospered because of its location on the Mother Road, with gas stations, restaurants, and a busy general store. But like many small Route 66 communities, Halltown declined when the interstate system rerouted traffic.
One of the most iconic remaining structures is the old general store, now weathered by time and partially overtaken by nature. Trees growing through abandoned buildings make Halltown especially attractive for urban explorers and photographers.
Though nearly forgotten, Halltown preserves the authentic atmosphere of a town left behind by progress and modernization.
4. Arlington
Arlington was once a lively railroad and resort town in Phelps County. It became a popular destination thanks to the nearby river, hotels, and steady Route 66 traffic.
Vacationers and travelers helped the local economy thrive for decades. But when Interstate 44 replaced much of Route 66 and traffic patterns changed, Arlington’s tourism economy collapsed.
Businesses shut down, hotels closed, and the population shrank rapidly. Today, visitors can still find remnants of old resort buildings and structures that hint at the town’s former charm.
Its quiet roads and abandoned spaces make it one of Missouri’s most atmospheric ghost towns, proving that when the road moves, sometimes the town dies.
5. Hamburg
Hamburg tells a different kind of ghost town story—one caused by war rather than economic decline.
Located in St. Charles County, Hamburg was a functioning farming community until World War II. In 1941, the federal government acquired the land for the Weldon Spring Ordnance Works, a massive wartime production facility.
Residents were forced to leave, farms were abandoned, and the town disappeared almost completely. Similar nearby communities also faced the same fate.
Today, very little physical evidence remains, but the history is preserved through local records and the broader story of the Weldon Spring Site.
Hamburg stands as a reminder that national events can erase entire communities almost instantly.
6. Red Oak II
Red Oak II is a unique ghost town because it was intentionally recreated rather than simply abandoned.
The original Red Oak was a small Missouri mining and farming town that declined over time. Artist Lowell Davis relocated historic buildings from the original town and nearby communities to create Red Oak II near Carthage.
The recreated village includes old houses, a school, a gas station, and shops arranged to preserve the spirit of rural Missouri from the 1930s.
Unlike most ghost towns, Red Oak II feels both abandoned and alive—a preserved memory rather than a ruin. It is one of Missouri’s most fascinating historical attractions.
Visitors experience history in a way that feels personal and deeply nostalgic.
7. Devil’s Elbow
Devil’s Elbow is one of the most iconic ghost town stops on Route 66. Once a lively town serving travelers, truckers, and military traffic near Fort Leonard Wood, it thrived because of its strategic location.
Its famous bridge and roadside cabins made it a memorable stop for road trippers. But as modern highways replaced the original Route 66 route, the town’s economic heart faded.
Today, visitors can still see remnants of the old cabins, the historic bridge, and sections of the original road. The dead-end stretch of Route 66 gives it a haunting “end of the road” feeling.
It is one of the best ghost towns for anyone interested in classic American road history and nostalgic travel.
8. Old Pattonsburg
Old Pattonsburg became a ghost town because of nature’s force rather than economic change.
In 1993, severe flooding devastated the original town. Instead of rebuilding in the same flood-prone location, the entire community relocated to a safer nearby site.
This made Old Pattonsburg one of the first American towns completely moved after a major flood. The old location still contains abandoned streets, churches, and traces of the original settlement.
Walking through the remains feels like stepping into a paused moment in history—where residents simply chose safety over rebuilding.
It offers a rare look at a town frozen in time.
9. Bloodland
Bloodland disappeared because of military expansion.
Located in Pulaski County, the town was absorbed when the U.S. Army expanded what is now Fort Leonard Wood. Residents had to relocate, and the town gradually vanished.
Unlike tourist-friendly ghost towns, Bloodland is more of a hidden memory. Roads, foundations, and traces of settlement remain in the surrounding landscape, but much of it is difficult to access.
Its unusual name and military history make it one of Missouri’s most mysterious lost towns.
Bloodland is less about visible ruins and more about remembering what once stood there.
10. Monark Springs
Monark Springs was once a resort town famous for its healing spring waters and tourism appeal.
Travelers came for health treatments, relaxation, and the charm of a small resort destination. But over time, changing travel habits, highway shifts, and economic decline caused the town to fade.
As tourism declined, businesses closed and the community shrank into near-abandonment. Today, little remains beyond ruins and historical references.
Its story reflects how quickly resort towns can disappear when visitors stop coming.
Monark Springs remains one of Missouri’s quieter but deeply intriguing ghost towns.
Comprehensive List
| No. | Ghost Town | County | Why It Became a Ghost Town | What Remains Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Times Beach | St. Louis County | Dioxin contamination and forced evacuation | Route 66 State Park |
| 2 | Avilla | Jasper County | Route 66 bypass and economic decline | Old buildings and abandoned storefronts |
| 3 | Halltown | Lawrence County | Decline after Route 66 changes | General store and abandoned structures |
| 4 | Arlington | Phelps County | Interstate bypass and tourism decline | Historic resort remains |
| 5 | Hamburg | St. Charles County | Government takeover during WWII | Historical traces only |
| 6 | Red Oak II | Near Carthage | Original town decline and relocation | Restored historic village |
| 7 | Devil’s Elbow | Pulaski County | Route 66 traffic decline | Cabins and bridge remnants |
| 8 | Old Pattonsburg | Daviess County | Great Flood of 1993 | Old streets and churches |
| 9 | Bloodland | Pulaski County | Military expansion | Foundations and forgotten roads |
| 10 | Monark Springs | Newton County | Resort decline and highway shifts | Ruins and spring area |
| 11 | Moselle | Franklin County | Railroad decline and population loss | Church and scattered buildings |
| 12 | Phelps City | Lawrence County | Mining decline | Mine remnants and foundations |
| 13 | Ilasco | Ralls County | Cement industry collapse | Ruins and historic cemetery |
| 14 | Riverton | Cherokee Area | Economic decline and relocation | Few abandoned structures |
| 15 | Sligo | Dent County | Iron mining decline | Furnace ruins and old homes |
| 16 | Gano | Texas County | Railroad decline | Empty roads and foundations |
| 17 | Keltner | Christian County | Agricultural decline | Scattered ruins |
| 18 | Melva | Ozark County | Population migration | Cemetery and abandoned land |
| 19 | Luna | Mercer County | Railroad bypass | Old roads and ruins |
| 20 | Scotia | Crawford County | Timber industry collapse | Forest ruins and foundations |
| 21 | Monegaw Springs | St. Clair County | Resort decline | Old resort traces |
| 22 | Roanoke | Howard County | River trade collapse | Historic remnants |
| 23 | Elko | Putnam County | Agricultural decline | Empty farmland |
| 24 | Midco | Pulaski County | Military land acquisition | Hidden foundations |
| 25 | Gaskill | Stone County | Economic migration | Cemetery and ruins |
| 26 | Blandville | Osage County | Transportation changes | Old church remains |
| 27 | Powell | McDonald County | Mining decline | Foundations and trails |
| 28 | Dillard | Crawford County | Mining and rail decline | Furnace remains |
| 29 | Arlington Heights | Phelps County | Tourism decline | Resort remnants |
| 30 | Garfield | Newton County | Economic decline | Sparse ruins |
| 31 | Cedar Gap | Wright County | Highway bypass | Old stores and empty streets |
| 32 | West Eminence | Shannon County | Tourism shift | Building remains |
| 33 | Leasburg Old Town | Crawford County | Highway relocation | Historic foundations |
| 34 | Edgar Springs Old Site | Phelps County | Rail decline | Old roads and traces |
| 35 | Bixby | Iron County | Mining reduction | Historic structures |
| 36 | Mystic | Texas County | Population decline | Cemetery and scattered homes |
| 37 | Howes Mill | Jefferson County | Industrial decline | Mill ruins |
| 38 | Ocie | Taney County | Migration and farming decline | Empty settlement remains |
| 39 | Nottinghill | Ozark County | Isolation and migration | Abandoned land |
| 40 | Jerome | Phelps County | Military and highway changes | Old downtown traces |
| 41 | Crider | Douglas County | Economic migration | Ruins and cemetery |
| 42 | Protem Old Settlement | Taney County | Population movement | Old structures |
| 43 | Zanoni | Ozark County | Farming decline | Church and cemetery |
| 44 | Arno | Texas County | Rail decline | Scattered remains |
| 45 | Capps Creek | Barry County | Route changes | Foundations |
| 46 | Gibson Mill | Dunklin County | Mill closure | Mill ruins |
| 47 | Frisco | Benton County | Rail decline | Historic remnants |
| 48 | Dogwood | Douglas County | Agricultural collapse | Empty roads and cemetery |
| 49 | Tiff City Old Area | McDonald County | Economic decline | Few abandoned traces |
| 50 | Caplinger Mills | Cedar County | Mill and trade collapse | Historic mill remains |
Comparison Table of the Top Ghost Towns in Missouri
| Ghost Town | County | Why It Became a Ghost Town | What Remains Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Times Beach | St. Louis County | Dioxin contamination and forced evacuation | Route 66 State Park |
| Avilla | Jasper County | Route 66 bypass and economic decline | Old buildings and abandoned storefronts |
| Halltown | Lawrence County | Decline after Route 66 changes | General store and abandoned structures |
| Arlington | Phelps County | Interstate bypass and tourism decline | Historic resort remains |
| Hamburg | St. Charles County | Government takeover during WWII | Historical traces only |
| Red Oak II | Near Carthage | Original town decline and relocation | Restored historic village |
| Devil’s Elbow | Pulaski County | Route 66 traffic decline | Cabins and bridge remnants |
| Old Pattonsburg | Daviess County | Great Flood of 1993 | Old streets and churches |
| Bloodland | Pulaski County | Military expansion | Foundations and forgotten roads |
| Monark Springs | Newton County | Resort decline and highway shifts | Ruins and spring area |
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Conclusion
Missouri’s ghost towns are more than abandoned places—they are living history lessons. From the environmental tragedy of Times Beach to the Route 66 decline of Avilla and Halltown, each town tells a story of change, resilience, and disappearance.
Some were lost to floods, others to war, and many simply to progress moving elsewhere. Yet these places continue to attract historians, photographers, paranormal enthusiasts, and travelers seeking something beyond the ordinary.
If you ever travel across Missouri, consider taking the road less traveled. Behind the silence of these forgotten streets lies a powerful reminder: every ghost town was once someone’s home.
Sometimes, the most fascinating destinations are the ones the world left behind.