1. The Town of Tecopa, California
Tecopa, California, was once a thriving mining town in the 1800s but was abandoned after the mines were depleted, according to Rob Kachelriess from Thrillist. Located in the Mojave Desert, this small desert town was eventually left to ruin, and nature has taken over the remnants of its buildings. Today, Tecopa is a quiet ghost town, with desert plants and wild grasses overtaking the foundations of long-forgotten buildings. The area is now a favorite spot for hikers and explorers who can walk among the ruins and witness how quickly nature can erase human history.
The harsh desert climate has played a key role in transforming Tecopa’s remains into a surreal landscape, where wildflowers bloom among cracked concrete and the desert winds whisper through the remnants of old homes. What was once an industrious and hopeful place has slowly been enveloped by the desert, showing how quickly the natural world can reclaim what was once built by human hands. The landscape has transformed into a fascinating mix of natural beauty and forgotten history. The plants that now cover the area seem to erase the town’s past, offering a peaceful but eerie sense of abandonment.
2. Centralia, Pennsylvania
Centralia is one of the most famous ghost towns in America, largely due to the underground coal fire that’s been burning for over 50 years, according to Matt Benedetto from ABC27. The fire started in 1962 in a nearby landfill, eventually spreading into the coal mines beneath the town. The fire still smolders to this day, making the area hazardous and forcing residents to evacuate. Over time, nature has taken over the streets, with trees and shrubs growing through cracks in the pavement and creeping over abandoned buildings, creating an eerie yet fascinating landscape.
Today, Centralia is largely inaccessible, but the remnants of the town are still visible. What makes it so intriguing is the way nature and destruction have intertwined—moss covers abandoned homes, and trees have overtaken roads that once saw traffic. Despite the danger from the underground fire, the power of nature to reclaim urban spaces is on full display here. Centralia stands as a haunting reminder of both human resilience and nature’s quiet dominance.
3. Bodie, California
Bodie, a once-thriving gold mining town, is now a state historic park where nature has slowly overtaken its once-bustling streets, according to Rick Paulas from Bloomberg. The town, founded in the 1850s, flourished during the California gold rush, but by the early 1900s, it was abandoned as gold resources dwindled. Now, Bodie sits in a state of “arrested decay,” where abandoned buildings remain frozen in time, but nature has begun to reclaim them. Sagebrush, wildflowers, and grasses grow in the empty streets, and trees slowly encroach on structures that once housed miners and their families.
The contrast of dilapidated structures surrounded by natural vegetation gives Bodie a unique charm. Over the years, the desert climate has weathered the wooden buildings, and plant life has taken root in the cracks and crevices. Nature’s reclamation of Bodie is an example of how, even in the harshest environments, life will find a way to thrive. Visitors can walk through the ghost town, witnessing how time and nature have joined forces to preserve history while slowly erasing it.
4. Gary, Indiana
Gary, once a booming industrial city, now stands as a testament to both economic decline and nature’s relentless takeover, according to Jon Lowenstein from NBC News. The city was founded in the early 20th century as the headquarters of U.S. Steel, but as industries left and factories shut down, the population declined sharply. Today, much of Gary is abandoned, with overgrown forests and vines swallowing up old factories, homes, and schools. Streets that were once lined with cars are now home to wild animals, and abandoned buildings are covered with ivy and moss.
Gary’s transformation into a “nature-infused” city highlights the rapid pace at which nature can reclaim urban spaces. Areas once bustling with workers are now eerily quiet, with the sound of birds and rustling leaves replacing the noise of industry. It’s a strange blend of decay and natural growth, where man-made structures blend seamlessly with the environment. Gary is a poignant reminder of how quickly an urban area can fall into ruin, only to be overtaken by the resilience of the natural world.
5. The Town of Granite, Colorado
Granite, Colorado, was a small mining town in the late 1800s, flourishing with a bustling population due to its mining operations. However, as the resources dwindled and the mines closed, the town was abandoned, leaving behind a few buildings and homes that slowly began to fall apart. Over the decades, nature has reclaimed the land around Granite, with trees, shrubs, and wild grasses overtaking what was once a thriving town. Today, visitors can explore the remains of the town, where old stone foundations and the occasional rusted artifact can be seen, now covered in moss and ivy.
What’s fascinating about Granite is how the surrounding wilderness—dense forests and rolling hills—has gradually blended with the remnants of the town. It’s as though the town’s history has been folded into the landscape, with nature quietly erasing the human-made structures. Despite its remote location and small size, Granite is a powerful reminder of how quickly the natural world can overtake an area once inhabited by people. It serves as a beautiful, peaceful example of how nature can weave itself into the fabric of human history.
6. The Ruins of St. Thomas, Nevada
St. Thomas was a small town founded in the early 1800s along the Virgin River, but when the construction of the Hoover Dam led to the flooding of the valley in 1938, the town was submerged. After decades of being underwater, droughts in recent years have led to the town’s remains being exposed. Now, visitors can walk along the riverbanks, where ruins of the old town—bricks, foundations, and even old gravestones—are visible. The surrounding desert has gradually encroached on these remains, with weeds and brush overtaking the stone remnants.
The exposure of St. Thomas is a reminder of the power of nature, not just in terms of its ability to reclaim abandoned spaces, but also in how it shapes and reshapes the landscape over time. As water levels fluctuate in the area, the town’s skeleton emerges and recedes, almost as if it were never meant to stay. The contrast of the desolate desert and these ruins highlights how quickly nature can erase even human history. It’s a beautiful, eerie place where the landscape itself tells the story of human persistence and nature’s indomitable force.
7. The Town of Kennecott, Alaska
Kennecott was once a thriving copper mining town in the early 1900s, with a peak population of over 300 people. However, when the copper deposits were exhausted, the town was abandoned in the 1930s, and over time, the natural environment began to reclaim the area. Today, the town is a ghostly reminder of its industrial past, with its large mill and various buildings standing in various states of decay, slowly overtaken by vegetation. Lush green grass, shrubs, and wildflowers have started to grow through the cracks in the concrete, and nearby forests continue to creep closer to the old structures.
The site of Kennecott is now part of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and visitors can explore the area to see the interplay of history and nature. The stark contrast between the abandoned industrial structures and the vibrant natural surroundings is breathtaking. Kennecott offers a unique perspective on how nature can both erase and preserve history, as the buildings that were once symbols of human achievement now stand in quiet decay, surrounded by a flourishing wilderness. The town’s slow decline into the Alaskan wilderness makes it a striking example of how quickly nature reclaims human settlements.
8. Folsom, California (Old Gold Rush town)
Folsom, California, was once a key player in the Gold Rush, but after the gold ran out, the town experienced a slow decline. The town’s old mining district, now an abandoned part of the city, is being overtaken by trees and plants. The rugged hills around Folsom once saw miners and workers building homes and businesses, but now the area is filled with sagebrush, wildflowers, and sprawling oak trees. Nature has flourished where industry once reigned, transforming the landscape into a lush but haunting reminder of what was.
Today, remnants of Folsom’s gold rush past—old houses, dirt roads, and the odd rusty piece of equipment—are slowly being swallowed up by nature. It’s a surreal mix of history and wilderness, with vines creeping up over old wooden structures and tall grasses growing in what were once streets. It’s amazing to see how nature can blend so seamlessly with the past, erasing the marks of civilization while still holding onto the memory of its existence. Folsom serves as a quiet testament to the passage of time and the way nature quietly reclaims its territory.
9. Rhyolite, Nevada
Rhyolite, a ghost town in the Nevada desert, was once a bustling gold mining town in the early 1900s. At its peak, the town had a population of over 1,000 people, but it was abandoned after the mines failed. Today, Rhyolite’s remains are partially engulfed by the desert landscape, with cacti, grasses, and small shrubs slowly growing around the foundations of buildings. The famous “ghost” structures, including the remains of the old train station and bank, now stand as skeletons of a bygone era, surrounded by vast stretches of wild desert.
Nature’s takeover of Rhyolite is a striking sight, with plant life creeping through old windows and across crumbling stone walls. It’s a remarkable example of how quickly the desert can envelop human-made structures, turning them into part of the landscape’s natural beauty. Visitors to Rhyolite are drawn not only to its history but also to the juxtaposition of human achievement and nature’s quiet dominance. The town’s slow erosion by the desert adds an element of mystery, making it a unique place to explore.
10. Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, once the heart of the American automotive industry, now features miles of abandoned factories, homes, and buildings overtaken by nature. As the city’s population plummeted and many areas were left to decay, nature crept into vacant lots and buildings. Trees now grow through cracks in the sidewalks, and vines cover old buildings that were once thriving centers of production. Entire blocks of homes have been overtaken by weeds, with gardens and grasses flourishing where people once lived.
What makes Detroit stand out is the contrast between its industrial history and the way nature has slowly reclaimed these spaces. Areas like the old Packard Plant and the Motor City Casino stand as testaments to what was, now slowly vanishing beneath the growth of vegetation. Detroit is a place where the natural world has become intertwined with the city’s past, offering a poignant reminder of how both urban decay and natural growth can co-exist. It’s a fascinating sight for those interested in the ways nature takes over human spaces.
11. Cahawba, Alabama
Cahawba, once the capital of Alabama, was founded in the early 1800s and grew into a prosperous town, but it was abandoned in the 19th century after floods and disease devastated the population. Now a state historic site, Cahawba is largely reclaimed by nature, with ruins of old homes, churches, and public buildings overtaken by vegetation. Tall grasses, wildflowers, and trees now fill the space where a thriving community once stood, and the remnants of its past are visible among the wilderness. What’s left of the town includes crumbling brick foundations and some standing structures, but nature has taken over the majority of the land.
Walking through Cahawba is like stepping back in time, but with the added intrigue of how nature has woven itself into the fabric of the town’s history. The slow encroachment of trees and shrubs on the old buildings gives it an eerie but beautiful atmosphere. The town’s quietness, broken only by the rustling leaves and chirping birds, creates an almost haunting experience. Cahawba’s transformation into a ghost town surrounded by natural beauty highlights the power of nature to both preserve and erase the traces of human life.
12. French Lick, Indiana
French Lick, Indiana, was a booming resort town in the early 20th century but declined after the Great Depression. Over time, nature has reclaimed the once-lavish resort area, with trees now growing around the old buildings and taking over once-bustling streets. The French Lick Springs Hotel still stands as a reminder of the town’s glory days, but the surrounding area has slowly been overtaken by forests and wild plants. What remains of the town is a fascinating contrast between the past and nature’s ongoing reclamation.
As the town fades into history, the natural world thrives, with wildlife such as birds, deer, and small animals making their home in the area. The contrast of nature growing over old, majestic resorts is both striking and peaceful. French Lick’s transformation is a testament to the power of nature’s ability to erase even the most carefully constructed human habitats. It’s a surreal place where time seems to stand still, and nature continues to spread its roots into what was once a vibrant tourist town.
13. North Brother Island, New York
North Brother Island, located in the East River near New York City, is a rare example of nature taking over an entire island. In the early 20th century, it housed a quarantine hospital, and later, a rehabilitation center, but was abandoned in the 1960s. Since then, nature has reclaimed the land, with dense forests now covering the hospital buildings, and birds and other wildlife thriving in the area. The isolation of the island, combined with the slow decay of human structures, has created a unique environment where nature rules.
The remains of the old hospital can still be seen through the thick overgrowth, with windows boarded up and walls crumbling as the vegetation creeps up. It’s a fascinating site for explorers and those interested in the interplay between human-made structures and the natural world. North Brother Island has become a sanctuary for wildlife, free from human interference, and offers a glimpse into what happens when nature is given free reign. It’s a stark, almost surreal contrast to the city just a few miles away.
