Oregon’s misty forests, rugged coastlines, and weather-worn mountains are perfect backdrops for stories of the past. Scattered throughout the state are hauntingly beautiful places time forgot—ghost towns, decaying buildings, and eerie remnants of once-thriving communities.
These abandoned places offer a glimpse into Oregon’s forgotten history, wrapped in mystery and a touch of the supernatural. Here are 15 of the eeriest, most captivating abandoned spots in the Beaver State.
1. The Ruins of Battery Russell – Fort Stevens State Park
Built in the 1900s, this concrete coastal battery in Astoria saw action during WWII when it was shelled by a Japanese submarine. Now covered in moss and graffiti, the structure feels frozen in time—and some say, haunted by soldiers still standing guard.
2. The Ghost Town of Shaniko
Once the “Wool Capital of the World,” Shaniko boomed in the early 1900s. Today, it’s a dusty ghost town with empty buildings, rusted wagons, and wind whistling through broken windows.
3. The Abandoned Town of Whitney
Deep in the Blue Mountains, Whitney was a bustling logging town. Its collapsing cabins, crumbling mill, and lonely cemetery now rest under a blanket of pine needles and silence.
4. Sutters Mill – Abandoned Lumber Site
Located near the Malheur National Forest, this mill was once vital to the local economy. What’s left now are rusted saw blades, vine-covered conveyor belts, and an eerie stillness that creeps under your skin.
5. The Derelict Wreck of the Peter Iredale
This 1906 shipwreck on the Oregon coast remains stuck in the sand at Fort Stevens. Its jagged skeleton draws visitors—and some swear they’ve seen ghostly sailors standing near the twisted metal.
6. The Oregon Trail Ruts at Laurel Hill
Not exactly a structure, but these ancient ruts carved by covered wagons are still visible. They evoke the hardships, hope, and hauntings of the pioneers who traveled west.
7. Lone Pine Mine
Hidden in the Wallowa Mountains, Lone Pine was an old silver mine abandoned in the early 1900s. The decaying entrance and rusted rails seem to whisper warnings to anyone brave enough to approach.
8. The Forgotten Buildings of Antelope
Once a sleepy ranching town, Antelope made headlines in the 1980s as the site of the Rajneeshpuram cult. Today, remnants of the cult’s compound remain—empty, unsettling, and steeped in strange history.
9. The Crooked River Train Bridge (Old Alignment)
Now unused, the original Crooked River rail bridge stands as a skeletal monument to engineering from a bygone era. Below it, the gorge hums with wind—and maybe voices from the past.
10. The Empty Shell of The Dalles Naval Hospital
Built during WWII and long since closed, this forgotten facility has become a haven for graffiti and ghost stories. Locals claim shadowy figures walk its moldy corridors.
11. Tiller – The Town That Was for Sale
This tiny town in southern Oregon went up for sale in 2017. Many of its buildings are abandoned—classrooms, homes, and a church—still intact but eerily empty, like a movie set waiting for a scene.
12. Camp Abbot Ruins – Sunriver
Once a military training facility, Camp Abbot was almost entirely dismantled—except for one stone structure: the Officer’s Club. Surrounded by forest, it looks like the perfect place for a ghost story.
13. Cayuse Railroad Tunnel
Part of an old, unused railway line, the Cayuse Tunnel near Pendleton is dark, damp, and eerily silent. Brave visitors claim strange echoes bounce off the walls that weren’t made by their own steps.
14. Golden Ghost Town
Golden, near Wolf Creek, was abandoned in the 1920s. Unlike other towns, it never had a saloon—just churches, homes, and a schoolhouse. Today, its empty buildings are said to be full of whispers.
15. The Haunted Remains of Bayocean
Once a luxury resort community billed as the “Atlantic City of the West,” Bayocean was built on a fragile spit of land and eventually washed into the sea. Only a few foundations and crumbled roads remain, now part of a ghostly shoreline hike.
Final Thoughts
Oregon’s abandoned places are more than just forgotten structures—they’re echoes of lost dreams, economic collapse, war, disaster, and even the supernatural. Whether you’re a history buff, a photographer, or someone drawn to eerie beauty, these locations stir something deep in the soul. But be warned: some of them aren’t just empty—they might still be watching.
