Every ghost town is a bet that didn't pay off. Clifton just shows the receipt more honestly than most. Clifton Curtis Williams Jr.
Brevard County holds 8 documented ghost towns, including Allenhurst, Fontaine, Hopkins — Clifton keeps them company on the map.
The story of Clifton
Florida's ghost towns are railroad towns Flagler built, 1920s land-boom subdivisions that busted, and phosphate and turpentine camps.
Clifton Curtis Williams Jr. (September 26, 1932 – October 5, 1967), was an American naval aviator, test pilot, mechanical engineer, major in the United States Marine Corps, and NASA astronaut, who was killed in a plane crash; he never went into space. The crash was caused by a mechanical failure in a NASA T-38 jet trainer, which he was piloting to visit his parents in Mobile, Alabama. The failure caused the flight controls to stop responding, and although he activated the ejection seat, it did not save him.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Clifton is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Clifton is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.
Good to know
Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.
Survey Map
Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting
Clifton FAQs
01Where is Clifton located?
02What county is Clifton in?
03What is the history of Clifton?
04What remains at Clifton today?
05Can you visit Clifton?
Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Clifton Williams”), CC BY-SA.
More in Brevard County
Allenhurst
Brevard Co., Florida
Read the guideFontaine
Brevard Co., Florida
Read the guideHopkins
Brevard Co., Florida
Read the guideMinton's Corner
Brevard Co., Florida
Read the guideOrsino
Brevard Co., Florida
Read the guideShiloh
Brevard Co., Florida
Read the guide