abandoned places in decatur, alabama

Local residents have reported seeing a strange mist rise up in the area in front of the statue of boxing great Joe Louis, who was born in Chambers County. The Haunted Decatur Tours are based on the bestselling book by Troy Taylor, HAUNTED DECATUR. (Picture: Wheeler Dam Village - 1937). The Penney Building is a 31,000-square-foot structure in downtown Dothan. Owners Bobby and Lynn Bright are refurbishing the film set of Spectre because public interest remains high. According to the Chamber of Commerce website, a scarecrow apparition moves from room to room on this floor. The two-story structure made of brick is said to be haunted by the souls of those who were incarcerated there. Decatur was one of the first mills to take advantage of river transportation of grain. It is now a concert venue. According to the Dothan Eagle, employees noticed strange sights in Bella's and Colby's restaurants on the lower floors, including lights turning off and on by themselves and dishes crashing to the floor. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. However, the legend tied to one of the most haunted sights in Alabama, the Drish House in Tuscaloosa, is absolutely chilling. Rock Run is a residential community in Cherokee County where a small pocket of residents live in well-kept homes. That makes sense, because the fort was in use during the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. Winter Place at 454 Goldthwaite Street is one of the most iconic properties in Montgomery and in the state, both because of its Second Empire-style beauty and its history, which includes acting as offices for the Confederate Army and, according to legend, being the place where F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre met, setting off one of the most fiery romances of the Jazz Age. Cook Museum. After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. Location: 30338 Lester Road, Lester, Alabama Hours: 7 to 11 p.m. Website: Click here Haunted House of Horror About: Wander around an 8,000 square-foot town filled with supernatural scares. The Alabama Center for the Arts, a 44,000 square foot arts education facility, and the Princess Theater, a historic art-deco theater built in 1919 are also nearby. According to the Auburn University Libraries, this is the only known interior photograph of the building that served as the Dallas County Courthouse at Old Cahaba from ca. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. According to legend, she was driving her baby in a horse-drawn carriage one night. You may experience the presence of a Native American ghost named Mary who knocks things over, plays electrical pranks, alters the temperature, and whispers over the drive-through speakers. Winter Place is actually a complex with two huge homes; the second is that both homes are in dire need of renovation. After the main asylum became known as Bryce Hospitalin 1900, the Jemison Center was often called "Old Bryce Hospital," despite the fact that Bryce was built first. In 1902 the new facility was finished, featuring 33 buildings, a power station, and a general store. People claim to hear knocking on the floors and walls. The ca. The story was told by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. She founded many of the things Judson students still love: theConversationalistyearbook, theTriangle(student newspaper), theScrimshawliterary magazine, the college archives, and several (shh!) When she finally reached her home and reported the accident to her husband, the man began drinking to soothe his grief. According to legend, Jenny and her remaining sons set out to get revenge. This cemetery is reportedly haunted by the sweetheart of a real man named Robert Musgrove, who was killed in a train wreck in 1904. Today, only its stone foundations remain. William Chancellor House in Harpersville today. The Decatur Mall is anchored by Belk, jcpenney Outlet, Sears and Regal Cinemas. Click hereto see more photos. These are cars, trucks, and SUVs that were abandoned or otherwise not claimed by their owners after a period of time. One surviving example is the stone on the grave of Korea Nettles, which has three faces said to be those of her children. Penn's and Big Bob's have the greatest longevity and are synonymous with Decatur. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. Detail of the abandoned mansion on Goldthwaite. Apparently the entire length of Main Street is haunted by the ghosts of tornado victims. Eerie. People claim that her ghost still haunts her Bankhead Forest property, angry at anyone who trespasses. During the 1920s, Decatur would gain infamy as a place where murder, bootlegging, prostitution, kidnapping, gambling, corruption and, of course, ghosts, were commonplace. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. Legend says if someone says, We have your baby, she will attack. According to legend, the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier. Perrins, Alfonso's, Josie's, and Let's Do Lunch are very casual. Ashland Place Historic District in Mobile. Each tour gets on and off the bus throughout the night at the most haunted places in town and includes indoor locations, where you might just have the chance to meet a deceased Decatur resident face-to-face! For 75 years, the stone structures built by the Works Progress Administration in Chalkville sheltered girls labeled "incorrigible," "delinquent," or "wayward," although most arrived at the Alabama Training School for Girls because of behavioral and emotional problems and had committed no crimes, according toits superintendent in 1966. For tour information and fees, visit the ghost town's websitehere. This photo shows the Crocheron Columns, the only things remaining from a mansion built in Cahaba in 1843 by Richard Crocheron. The training school, shown when it was in use at left, was abandoned after a tornado destroyed several buildings and a new facility was built in 2015. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. The land this was built on was at one time a cemetery. There are several websites out there that state something to the effect of "Aunt Johnson would hang anyone who trespassed on her property and the rope can still be seen to this day." Every year during Halloween a pumpkin mysteriously makes its way into Romeo's hands. Read about the Brights and the plans for the island by clickinghere. According to Prattvilleal.gov: Pratt's "love of beauty is evidenced in Prattville in his manufactories which feature graceful arches, soaring ceilings and vast open spaces, interesting brick and stonework and a picturesque site alongside Autauga Creek. 9 Best . Several of the brick structures that Pratt built are still used today for an industry manufacturing cotton gins. During the Civil War, Nancy lived with her husband and son on a small farm but her son was killed in the war and his body was never recovered. Decatur Alabama Population Reportedly, visitors to the home can still hear the sounds of the piano Some have reported seeing the apparition of a woman walking around the home. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge 159 Nature & Wildlife Areas By 460LizF Outstanding location to view wintering Sandhill Cranes. Scare-seekers with an appreciation for history will love this night-time walking tour of Gatlinburg's most "haunted" places. 100+ Abandoned Places In Alabama | Explore Alabama 2023 Recent Locations Judge A. E. Singleton House February 27, 2023 | City/Town: Union Springs Judge Singleton House This home located on North Prairie Street in Union Springs, Alabama was built by Judge A. E. Singleton sometime between 1900 and 1903. The firefighters felt that is simply wasn't worth the risk to aggressively try to stop the fire, and to let the fire burn itself. (Illustration from historic photo/AL.com file). Thank you! Others have claimed to see odd sights while driving the road, from lights darting through the trees to ghostly figures. Copper Center - Tonseno Lodge - A man was killed in the hotel, and now he's haunting it. More history, more hauntings, and more off-the-bus locations, this 4-hour tour delves into the most ghost-infested people and places in Decatur's history. It was reportedly closed in 1924 and was later opened as a medical hospital. The cemetery remains. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. This historic fort is one of the best-preserved Civil War era masonry forts in the U.S. Fort Gaines has become a tourist attraction and on the property you'll find original cannons, a blacksmith shop, kitchens, a museum, gift shop and a few tunnels. The abandoned Peerless Laundry building at Royal and Conti streets in Mobile. Remnants of the town remain, including the courthouse, shown above, two cemeteries and the grave of an unknown War of 1812 soldier. For 50 years, the woman brought flowers and kneeled to pray at the foot of his 8-foot obelisk marker. We went online to see which stories were most repeated ineach of Alabama's counties to make the following list. Stewartfield in Mobile. The spirit of an inmate who committed suicide in the building is reported to walk its halls. Now, join us for our award-winning tours of Decatur as we journey back in time to uncover the "other side" of the city's history and reveal not only the scandals and sins that haunt Decatur, but the many ghosts that linger here as well! Measured by other resorts built in Alabama in the 1800s, such as nearby Shelby Springs Hotel or Blount Springs Resort, the Dennemora Hotel offered a pared-down version of entertainment. It was a stormy night and her carriage flipped, killing Burns. Information with the photo said: This building stood on the southeast corner of Vine Street and First Street North. Please follow the law and be safe. The abandoned Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot at 303 Church St. in Huntsville. Others claim to have seen phantom cars, strange balls of light and the apparition of a small figure, about 4 feet tall. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. It is alleged that you can hear the screams of soldiers who died in the Civil War at this cemetery. Although the mist is not thought to be connected to the statue, it does form the shape of a figure as it rises, before disappearing. They will come with a title that will be put into the auction bidder's name. We have the list of places to check out! Read more 0 The last of our abandoned places: Balaklava, Ukraine. No trespassing. The stately relics are located, oddly, on the outskirts of a neighborhood of beautifully restored turn-of-the-20th-century cottages, a beautifully restored 1925 elementary school, churches and a few businesses. Having promised her adoring audience she would return, she was killed in an accident on the way. Bass Cemetery is located off a dirt road in the woods. Before long he was drunk and, in his anger, he dragged his wife to the bridge and hanged her from the railing before jumping to his death. This church on AvenueU in Pratt City has been empty since it was struck by a tornado. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. People report hearing strange noises and seeing apparitions at the site. Apparitions seen floating through the hotel are thought to be those of people who checked in but never checked out. As the tale goes, a couple's car drove off the bridge, plunging into the water below. Fort Crawford was built on a bluff in 1816. But, after burning twice in its 186-year history, the elegant mansion is more famous in its ruinous state than it ever was as a family home. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. NOTE:This site was visited with permission and under supervision of the State Department of Mental Health. This account of the hauntings comes from RawlsBandB.com: Unusual occurrences are not uncommon in the historic Rawls hotel. Contact this Facility Decatur Mill 2050 Market St NE Decatur, AL 35601 256-280-4761 Number of Team Members: 40+ The church is now a ruin but the adjoining cemetery remains. A staircase in the Empire building before renovations began. The image of a Confederate soldier appeared inside, which meant it may have been the ghost of one of Patton's sons. (Alabama Department of Archives and History). The Greek Revival and Italianate architecture is covered in stucco, making it one of the most unique homes in the state. The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. Completely inundated, this abandoned town exists in a watery grave. A local storyteller dressed in period clothing leads the one-mile tour of haunted hotels, infamous murder sites, cemeteries, and more. When Hood arrived at Decatur on October 26, he found a Federal infantry force of 3,000 to 5,000 men defending an entrenched line that included two forts and 1,600 yards of rifle pits; a much heavier force than Roddey had believed. Murder Creek Bridge is located on this stretch. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. Those people still haunt the road. Condie allegedly ran, screaming, with flames streaming from her. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the sites listed below are on private property; others may be condemned or located in dangerous locations. Athens State was founded in 1822 as the Athens Female Academy, making it the oldest higher learning institute in the state. This floor is allegedly haunted by an inmate who hanged himself in one of the cells, where visitors have reported feeling a sad presence. Today, it is a historical landmark and is open for tours. People claim if they get out of their cars, they hear and feel a presence beside them. "Abandoned Alabama: Exploring The Heart of Dixie," by Leland Kent, (Arcadia Publishing), 2021, 96 pages, softcover. According to legend, Burns performed at the buildings opening night and was carrying a bouquet of roses as she boarded her carriage to return to her hotel in Huntsville. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. One truck driver said that he struck the bridge after a ghostly horse-drawn carriage crossed the interstate in front of him. Vernon/Searcy Hospital site, shown here in 1935, with photo galleries. The Grace Evans house in Cahaba, the states first capital city, in the 1930s, decades after the town was abandoned due to flooding. We only offer a very limited number of these tours each season and it's one not to miss! The only trace that remains is the nearby cemetery, which some believe was initially established as the posts burial ground. Another story says when people feel a sudden sense of dread, they will soon see the apparition of a soldier. The Jemison Center was built in the 1920s as part of Bryce Hospital, which opened in Tuscaloosa as the Alabama State Hospital for the Insane at the outset of the Civil War. Visitors here may see ghostly children coming out to play. She would squeeze them tightly, then scream in their ears. TOURS OFFERED FOR THE 2023 SEASON: Haunted History Bus Tours: $32 Per Person Once the world's most expensive prison, from 1829 this Philadelphia facility boasted grand architecture, modern luxuries and notorious inmates including Al Capone. It was restored but is once again in need of repairs. The rare folk-art stones, declared historic sites by the National Park Service, have unfortunately been all but destroyed by vandals. It is to her that witnesses attribute the sound of footsteps, lights that turn on and off by themselves, cold spots, and a phantom Locals tell a tale of playground sounds that can be heard at night: children laughing, playing and having fun. People have claimed to see a ghostly face in the windows of this historic covered bridge, known as the Livingston Covered Bridge and the Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge. Temple B'nai Shalom in Huntsville's Old Town Historic District, in Huntsville. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Another popular tale is the appearance of theapparition of the ghost ship of the Eliza Battle, which burned on the Tombigbee River in 1858 killing more than 30 people. Jesse James is rumored to have holed up in the canyon. Love Alabama? Others have reported hearing disembodied screams and footsteps. Another legend says if an 18-wheeler travels down the road, her spirit can be seen hanging onto the side of the truck so she can look inside and see if it is being driven by the same person who killed her. Sadly, nature has reclaimed much of Old Cahawba. Check out the 15 most haunted places in Decatur then learn more by visiting HauntedDecatur.com. Aunt Jenny Brooks Johnson, shown above, was a real mountain woman whose sons became outlaws. Reportedly haunted by the ghost of a young singer who died on the night of her greatest triumph. Furthermore, it is not allowed for any person to excavate . Parts of the building have been renovated into living space but the penthouse, basement and old bank area remain abandoned and off-limits, awaiting restoration. No matter what part of the state you are in, if you ask around youre sure to be pointed to a haunted site. The chemical plant was built by the company in 1918 to make wood alcohol from charcoal for World War I. Cook Museum of Natural Science 123 Science Museums Educational sites By alwildflower3 It's fun for groups, children of all ages, and solo adults or couples. Combined, the TAG area contains more than 14,000 caves (9,200 in Tennessee and 600 in Georgia). The northeast of Alabama is part of the TAG area (the region where Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet). Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. NOTE: Horton House burned and nothing remains. Her sons pulled her from the wreckage, but she died in the front bedroom on the eastern side. Local writer and historian Lee Peacock said the 40-mile stretch of Interstate 65 between Evergreen and Greenville is known as "The Haunted Highway." Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. For the next 125 years, people claimed the hole would always return no matter how many times it was filled. She would die from her burns on Feb. 6 at the age of 17. It is also known as the Colby Building. Located at 112 Moulton Street E Decatur, AL 35601; Scares start Friday, October 22, from 7-11 p.m. . This was the exact same year Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. The home was completed in 1835 by Robert Patton, Brahan's son-in-law and former Alabama governor. Some say theyve seen orbs of light that appear to float on the river. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, USA. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. This photo was taken in 1973. Whatley home no longer stands, it is shown above in 1936, but legend says the site is still haunted. You may even stumble upon an old, abandoned homestead site in the woods.