15 Cool and Creepy Ghost Towns to Visit In Canada

Railway Ghost Town

Photo taken by: ffyyff

Location Latlng: (46.568389, -79.410577) 

The Village began in 1905 as a section village along the Northern Ontario Railway (later ONR). The Village burned brightly and briefly. In 1906 it had 354 residents, a post office and a Baptist church. At its height the village contained about two-dozen homes, two bunkhouses and two stores. By 1921 the church and one of the stores had closed.

Altona Ghost Town

Photo taken by: Hvyds

Location Latlng: (43.975584, -79.1964)

Altona is a ghost town located on the border between Uxbridge and Pickering Townships, in the old Ontario County. It was named after the town near Hamburg, Germany where many of Markham Township(a)s first settlers hailed from. Today, Altona is in the City of Pickering in Durham Region at Sideline 30. It is just east of Stouffville, Ontario. Its north section is in Uxbridge Township.

Kiosk Ghost Town

Photo taken by: beach girl

Location Latlng: (46.090853, -78.882523)

Around 1974, plans for Algonquin Park were in the final stages of development. The plans called for logging to continue but that there would be no mills allowed. The Kiosk Union fought hard to keep their mill as it was situated inside the park and it was necessary for employment. The mill stood until Friday the 13th, in July 1973 when it was consumed by fire. Some homes were saved by the fact that metal railway cars stood between them and the mill.

Balaclava Ghost Town

Photo taken by: dragonscales36

Location Latlng: (45.39055, -76.94888)

Balaclava began as a mill town built on Constant Creek in 1855. By 1860 a blacksmith shop, hotel and homes were added. The mill was acquired by the Richards family in 1868 who operated the mill for the next 91 years. The mill was rebuilt in 1936 after a good deal of the original mill was destroyed by fire. Balaclava isn't totally isolated however, the mill is just east off of a highway (formerly the Opeongo Colonization Road).

Blairton Ghost Town

Photo taken by: ktolfree

Location Latlng: (44.467035, -77.76475)

Blairton began in 1822 when rich iron ore deposits were found in the area. The railway came in the 1860(a)s and Blairton grew as a mine town. The mine was actually owned by the Cobourg, Peterborough, Marmora Railway and Mine Corp and was an open-pit structure. They laid a site with 40 homes for the miners spread out over 12 streets. The mine shut down in the 1880s and the post office lasted until 1929 when the population dwindled down to about 25.

Demorestville Ghost Town

Photo taken by: OnlyMe

Location Latlng: (44.092101, -77.208781)

Demorestville was a bustling town in the 1800's, larger at the time than York (Toronto). It once had a grist mill and a saw mill as well as a carding and fulling mill powered by a creek fed by the nearby Fish Lake. There were also six general stores, three blacksmiths, a furniture factory, tannery and plow shop among the modern amenities available. Demorestville also boasted the County's first grammar school, newspaper and the first canning factory in Ontario to process tomatoes.

Germania Ghost Town

Photo taken by: historicallycultural

Location Latlng: (44.954233, -79.222641)

Germania Is a town with a dark story about the murder of a 2 year old child. In 1907, young Eva Suter gave birth to a son whom she named Dolan (Dola for short). Eva was the daughter of Martin and Jane Suter, who had 9 children in total. Jane died in 1905, but things were to become much more tragic for this family from Germania.

Burchell Lake Ghost Town

Photo taken by: GEM1982

Location Latlng: (48.60333, -90.591111)

This remote area of Ontario was not accessible by road until 1954, when the Atikokan Highway (today's Hwy 11) finally passed through the area. Until that time, transporting the necessary mining equipment to Burchell Lake proved to be prohibitive due to the area's remoteness. Copper prices began to rise, and by the mid-1950s, it became economical to mine the copper despite the high mine startup costs.

Ormsby Ghost Town

Photo taken by: clay70

Location Latlng: (44.881, -77.7501)

In 1856, M.P. Hayes opened an agency in Madoc to get settlers to locate themselves on the new Hastings Road. 1 of 25 such roads were built to lure pioneers to the highlands of central Ontario. The Hastings Rd. went from Madoc north to the Monck Rd. at Bancroft. Many settlers found conditions too harsh and left for the prairies. Ormsby (in Limerick Township) is the most intact of the road(a)s ghost towns. In its heyday it has 2 hotels, 2 stores, 2 churches (in my photos), a school, blacksmith, a sawmill and more

Gelert Ghost Town

Photo taken by: timo explorer

Location Latlng: (44.899781, -78.62576)

Gelert began as a sawmill village and at times had been called Little Ireland, Snowdonville and Minden Station. It was first settled in 1860 and thrived throughout the late 1800s. In 1878 the arrival of the Victoria Railway gaved the town an extra boost. By the 1890(a)s it had a post office, 2 general stores (both still stand), a shingle mill, a sawmill, a carpet mill, a blacksmith, a hotel, a carpenter, a shoemaker, a wagonmaker, churches and a school.

Depot Harbor Ghost Town

Photo taken by: BradCADAVER

Location Latlng: (45.31666, -80.1)

In the 1890(a)s, John Booth decided to build a railway to move his lumber from what is now Algonquin Park, to his mill in Ottawa. To accompany the railway, a town was also needed. Rather than purchase land from the people of Parry Sound, which Booth considered too expensive, Booth built his own town, Depot Harbour.

Millbridge Ghost Town

Photo taken by: SaintSi1999

Location Latlng: (44.69, -77.599444)

Millbridge (originally named "The Jordan") began as a small community along the Hastings Colonization Road. It’s location next to the Jordan River made it ideal for a mill operations town. It all began when a pioneer named Captain Ralph Norman constructed a trading post and mill nearby a bridge. Millbridge grew to include three hotels, a store, grist and saw mills, schoolhouse, St. Oswald(a)s Anglican Church, and a community hall.

Progeston Ghost Town

Photo taken by: Freaktography

Location Latlng: (43.397784, -79.96)

Progreston Mill was once a manufacturing centre on account of the available water power. The community of Progreston deteriorated rapidly as the twentieth century progressed, and by the 1950s was reduced to a handful of residents. Progreston Falls is a 6.7 metre high and 16.5 metre wide terraced curtain waterfall found on private property.

Tyrconnell Ghost Town

Photo taken by: Komodo1138

Location Latlng: (42.6004, -81.46705)

Tyrconnell is a Ghost Town on the North of Lake Erie. Having a good natural harbour, Tyrconnell was a busy port in pioneer days. The first settlers arrived around 1809. The first grist mill was built on the creek around 1817. Tyrconnell was somewhat famous for whiskey. The first distillery was built in 1826. Many typical businesses, church and school followed as Tyrconnell grew in size.

Rockingham Ghost Town

Photo taken by: mckscooter

Location Latlng: (45.399879, -77.500042)

This village was named after Rockingham Castle in Britain. In 1858, John Samuel James Watson left Rockingham Castle where he lived, but he left in disgrace. The 36-year old man had married a maid, Mary Martin, 14 years his junior. "This alliance, so far below his station" was just not acceptable to the Watson family who had lived at the castle, built for William the Conqueror, since Edward Watson leased the property in 1553.

Honorable Mention

The Legend of Mary Rutherford

Photo taken by: timo explorer

Location Latlng: (44.239606, -81.003583)

Also those who follow the ghostly legends of the paranormal may also be found visiting here, in curiosity of the Legend of Mary Rutherford. Cults and satanic rituals are common here, and apparitions have also been reported. Mary Rutherford was reportedly the first burial in what was once the West Bentinck Presbyterian Cemetery. She died on Christmas day of 1872. The last confirmed burial here was 1922. A visit here is spooky, deep within the forest setting, surrounded by the refuse of society and the uncertainty of the unknown.

Check out our complete list of all ghost towns in Canada