Ghost Towns in Missouri

Beyond the famous names lies a deeper map: Missouri holds 39 documented ghost towns. The Midwest's ghost towns grew around lead and coal mining, river trade, and early railroads, then emptied as industry consolidated. Standouts include Ark, Arlington, Bloodland, Cave, Columbia, and dozens more.

The heaviest concentrations sit in St. Charles County, Phelps County, Pulaski County, where settlements rose — and fell — in quick succession. Among towns with verified conditions, you'll find 1 foundations only, 1 demolished sites.

2 towns are known to be publicly accessible — the rest require checking land ownership and access rules before you go. Use the status and access filters below to narrow the list, or search for a specific town by name.