Alabama, known for its Southern hospitality and rich history, also hides a darker, quieter side—one full of forgotten ruins, decaying buildings, and ghostly whispers of the past. These abandoned places are not just eerie relics; they’re remnants of lives once lived and bustling places now frozen in time.
If you’re a fan of the mysterious and macabre, here are ten abandoned sites in Alabama you won’t want to miss.
1. Sloss Furnaces – Birmingham
Once a thriving industrial complex, Sloss Furnaces was a key player in Birmingham’s steel industry. Today, it stands as a haunting skeleton of Alabama’s industrial age.
Though now a historic landmark and museum, much of it has been left in a deteriorating state, fueling ghost stories and paranormal legends. It’s said to be one of the most haunted places in the South.
2. Old Bryce Hospital – Northport
Opened in the mid-1800s, Old Bryce Hospital was once a progressive mental institution. But over the years, tales of patient mistreatment and tragic deaths turned this once-praised hospital into a site of infamy.
The abandoned ruins are now overgrown, dark, and unsettling. Entry is illegal, but that hasn’t stopped urban explorers from venturing into its decaying halls.
3. Pratt Cotton Gin Factory – Prattville
In the heart of Prattville lies the shell of an old cotton gin factory built by industrialist Daniel Pratt in the 1800s.
The massive brick buildings once buzzed with activity but have since fallen silent. Although partially restored, much of the complex remains eerily quiet, with rusty machinery and broken windows whispering tales of Alabama’s cotton past.
4. Cahaba – Alabama’s First State Capital
Old Cahawba was Alabama’s first state capital, but flooding, economic downturns, and war caused the town to be abandoned.
Now it’s a ghost town, with crumbling structures, empty streets, and stories of Civil War spirits. Today, it’s preserved as a historic site, offering a surreal walk through Alabama’s forgotten past.
5. The Jemison Center – Tuscaloosa County
This abandoned medical facility once served as a tuberculosis sanatorium and later as a geriatric hospital. The now-rotting buildings are filled with rusting hospital beds, peeling paint, and graffiti.
Locals say it’s haunted, with reports of unexplained noises and figures in windows. Urban legends only add to its terrifying charm.
6. Fort Morgan – Gulf Shores
While technically not fully abandoned, Fort Morgan holds areas that are no longer in active use, with many tunnels and rooms left to the elements.
The 19th-century military fort has a chilling atmosphere, especially at dusk. Some say soldiers still roam the fort’s empty halls, caught in a loop of history and war.
7. Downing Industrial School – Brewton
The Downing Industrial School, originally a girls’ boarding school, has been abandoned since the mid-20th century.
Today, the dilapidated campus is overtaken by vines, shadows, and silence. Although time has erased much of its original charm, its spooky shell remains a photographer’s and urban explorer’s dream.
8. The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club – Camden
Though still operating as a restaurant, Gaines Ridge is believed to be haunted and partially abandoned. Guests and employees have reported ghost sightings, strange voices, and unexplained happenings.
With parts of the building unused and aged, its mix of hospitality and hauntings creates a uniquely chilling dining experience.
9. Hell’s Gate Bridge – Oxford
This eerie bridge earned its nickname from a local legend: if you drive onto the bridge at night and look into your rearview mirror, you’ll see the fiery gates of Hell.
Though it’s no longer accessible to vehicles due to safety concerns, the skeletal remains of the bridge still stand, abandoned and terrifying, over the Coosa River.
10. Elkmont Historic District – Limestone County
This once-lively railroad town has mostly faded into history. Once home to a booming textile industry and a vital rail line, Elkmont is now nearly a ghost town. A few buildings remain standing—some crumbling, others swallowed by trees—offering a haunting glimpse into small-town life left behind.
Final Thoughts
Alabama’s abandoned places are more than just decaying structures; they’re silent witnesses to eras of growth, decline, tragedy, and mystery. Whether it’s the remnants of a grand hospital or the bones of a booming industrial town, each site offers a glimpse into the past—and maybe even the supernatural. But remember: many of these places are private property or unsafe to explore, so always do your research and respect boundaries before visiting. If you’re brave enough, Alabama’s ghosts of the past are waiting.
