Daniel is a copywriter who has well and truly been bitten alive by the 'travel bug'. After ticking off several North American National Parks and exploring Europe by train, his sights are now set on South East Asia. Usually with at least one camera locked and loaded, you'll find Daniel wherever there are mountains, lakes or beaches.
Ready to step into the pages of history? Embark on a remarkable voyage through these 11 ghost towns in Mississippi, where the echoes of the past are found around every corner. From quiet streets to idyllic natural surroundings, each town holds mysterious tales, silent reminiscences, and a captivating past that you’ll want to explore!
Plymouth
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Plymouth was an early settlement in Mississippi, steeped in history and intrigue located on the Tombigbee River. Once a thriving community revolving around John Pitchlynn’s fortified house, the town had a peak population of 200. Although abandoned since the 1840s, Plymouth’s silent streets and deserted cotton warehouses echo tales of a vibrant past that curious travelers will find intriguing.
Bankston
Once the site of The Magnolia State’s first successful mechanically powered textile mill, Bankston in Choctaw County is now one of the most popular ghost towns in Mississippi. Visitors can trace the mill’s industrious history, from its role supplying the Confederate Army disrupted by a Union raid, to its determined but doomed restart after the war. Surrounded by the calm of the Mississippi woods and the silent vigil of the Bankston Cemetery still stands.
Rodney
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Founded in 1828 and nearly the capital of the Mississippi Territory, Rodney is a hidden gem in Jefferson County. With Spanish, British, and French connections, this former city is a trove of history, encompassing landmarks such as the 1832-dedicated Old Rodney Presbyterian Church and the long-standing Alston’s Grocery. Today Rodney isn’t quite a ghost town, with a few inhabitants still living there, and is now considered a hamlet.
Gainesville
Previously a bustling port town and lumber powerhouse, Gainesville in Hancock County, Mississippi, now stands as a ghost town with an intriguing past. Here, visitors can tread the same paths that Andrew Jackson’s forces once marched, while picturing the prosperity brought about by the once-largest lumber company in the South. The town’s story continued with the arrival of NASA in 1962, transforming Gainesville into the Stennis Space Center.
Rocky Springs
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Rocky Springs in Claiborne County, Mississippi, offers a trip back in time from its origins as a vibrant watering place for travellers to its present-day status as a ghost town. Visitors can explore the remnants of its past along a self-guided trail dotted with informative placards that narrate its rise and fall. The sole surviving 1837 Methodist church and a nearby graveyard provide a silent yet vivid picture of the community that once called this place home.
Satartia
Satartia, the smallest incorporated municipality of Mississippi, is a historical gem located on the Yazoo River’s east bank. Once a busy port that shipped cotton via steamboat to New Orleans, the village has stories of Civil War occupations and a Confederate regiment, the ‘Satartia Rifles’. Visitors can relish the tranquillity of this ‘pumpkin place’ – a nod to its Choctaw namesake – while immersing themselves in the stories etched into the village’s history.
Logtown
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In the heart of Mississipp you’ll find Hancock County and Logtown, a ghost town with a prominent logging history now sitting silently within NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center’s buffer zone. Visitors can journey through Logtown’s past via the Possum Walk Trail, uncovering the remnants of its bustling heyday and learning about its rich history through informative signs. The preserved cemeteries, dating back to the 1850s, and the foundations of old buildings along the Pearl River, offer a poignant journey into this one-time vibrant hub of industry.
Gattman
Small but echoing a rich history, Gattman in Monroe County, Mississippi, is a quaint village with a population of just 77. Nestled within a total area of 0.6 square miles, Gattman is an ideal destination for those seeking the tranquility of a small-town atmosphere. From exploring its modest locale to understanding the cultural blend of its inhabitants, a visit to Gattman offers a unique, unhurried escape from bustling city life.
Dogtown
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Found in Lafayette County, Mississippi, lies the ghost town of Dogtown. Once a small, active community, it now offers a unique experience for the history enthusiast. Visitors can explore the remaining White’s Grocery or delve into the traces left by the Wampanoag people who lived here into the 17th century.
Brewton
Previously home to thriving lumber and turpentine businesses before the Civil War, Brewton in Mississippi now stands as a ghost town with a dramatic past. The town’s tumultuous history, from multiple fires to questionable management and persistence of rumors, adds a layer of intrigue for visitors. Today, the solitary remaining basement of the town’s courthouse invites travelers to explore and imagine Brewton’s thriving past and its shift towards silence.
Holmesville
Situated near the Bogue Chitto River in Pike County, the ghost town of Holmesville once bustled with commerce and summer resort visitors seeking refuge from New Orleans. Today, visitors can explore the remnants of this bygone era, with two standing churches and a store offering silent testament to Holmesville’s prosperous days before the rise of the Illinois Central Railroad and a devastating courthouse fire.