Ghost Towns in Tennessee

Beyond the famous names lies a deeper map: Tennessee holds 17 documented ghost towns. Southern ghost towns rose with cotton, timber, oil, and river commerce — and fell to floods, fires, changing trade routes, and the boll weevil. Standouts include Cades Cove, Cute, Devonia, Elkmont, Fork Mountain, and dozens more.

The heaviest concentrations sit in Sevier County, where settlements rose — and fell — in quick succession. Among towns with verified conditions, you'll find 1 partial ruins sites. Access information is limited for many of these towns, so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting any site.

Use the status and access filters below to narrow the list, or search for a specific town by name.