PA Ghost Towns? Has anyone Visited any? (Gettysburg, Austin: house, live)

[DowntownHarrisburg]

Here's a Google Maps link to Concrete City.

Concrete City is back in the woods just off Front St / Hanover St in Nanticoke. It's directly across the street from some mining operation with a big sign. Park along the shoulder (NOT in the company's parking area). You'll see a non-drivable dirt road on the opposite side -- follow this about 1/4 mile into the woods. You will eventually see what looks like a few dozen concrete bunkers -- that's Concrete City.

It's easiest & safest to follow the road the entire way around to the back side of CC. That also seems to be where most of the paintballers congregate. In my experience they are usually pretty cool about letting their teams know there are "civilians" around.

I can't stress this enough, though -- those buildings are dangerous. Visit at your own risk.

[MatildaLoo]

Originally Posted by floor9

Here's a Google Maps link to Concrete City.

Concrete City is back in the woods just off Front St / Hanover St in Nanticoke. It's directly across the street from some mining operation with a big sign. Park along the shoulder (NOT in the company's parking area). You'll see a non-drivable dirt road on the opposite side -- follow this about 1/4 mile into the woods. You will eventually see what looks like a few dozen concrete bunkers -- that's Concrete City.

It's easiest & safest to follow the road the entire way around to the back side of CC. That also seems to be where most of the paintballers congregate. In my experience they are usually pretty cool about letting their teams know there are "civilians" around.

I can't stress this enough, though -- those buildings are dangerous. Visit at your own risk.

Thanks! Looks like I have to make a trip when the snow melts in the spring. I'll be careful, I promise.

You've probably already seen this site, but here's a little history of the place along with a snapshot of an old postcard.

The Concrete City

[MatildaLoo]

Oops, I just realized that you were the author of the blog that Magritte posted. Sorry!

[puddintang]

Originally Posted by sheena12

By Ghost towns I am being inclusive - towns that are empty such as Centralia would qualify. Also towns with more than their fair share of reported paranormal activity.

I know that not everyone believes in the Paranormal.
I am not posting to find out your beliefs on this subject.

I am assuming that everyone believes in towns left empty and abandoned.

Because of certain experiences I have had in my life I believe in both.
But that's not the question.

Are there any Ghost towns IN or near NEPA?

If so which type? Have you been there? My 17 year old son has a burning desire to visit Centrailia I am a little afraid and I think it could be dangerous, against the law or both.

centralia- not much to see there realy-just odd and eerie-its not dangerous or against the law a big road runs right through there-just nothing there realy-2 houses people live in rest are gone-see my videos i just made last week
‪centralia pa movie 8-2-2011ghost town+smoking coal mine+deserted roads- town‬‏ - YouTube

[2nd trick op]

Cooncrete City was in large part, an experuiment in "social engineering" by the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The Lackawanna served a nuber pf cement plants in Northampton County, and used a great deal of the stuff in thr complete re-building of two stretches of ts Main Line (the Lackawanna Cutoff in Western New Jersey and the Nicholson Cutoff, with its enormous viaduct, north of Scranton). The DL&W built many of its interlocking (signal) towers from reinforced conrete; several survive, and one, at Tobyhanna, is in use as an office today.

Williammsport's Thomas Taber produced a three-volume history of the DL&W back in the 1970's, and one photo shows the winner of a "beautification" contest staged at Concrete City during its heydey. Nanticoke was at one time home to four major breakers served by the DL&W, which could generate over 200 carloads of coal daily. I's sure many of those employed called Concrete City home.

[sheena12]

Concrete City is indeed an interesting example of social engineering in that it was an attempt to localize those in upper level positions and effectively segregate them from anyone who might be a "rabble rouser" in the eyes of the DLand W.

They truly showed there "feet of concrete" when they refused to hook up with the municipal sewer system.

Are the volumes that you reference available or out of print? Sounds so interesting!

[weluvpa]

Watch what vents you put your hands near in Centralia...LOL My 12yr old son and his buddy pee'd in a few...trying to put out the fire...LOL

Does Scranton count as a ghost town since its so empty...LOL Just kidding, my wife and I might drive down to Nanticoke and check out that concrete city thing...Looks interesting..

[sheena12]

It is interesting. My son goes there to take photographs of the ruins of what was once designed as a Working Mans Utopia - complete with fountains, a kiddie pool and lavish court yards.

A bit sad how it was just "let go" It could have been a museum of sorts. Actually it is one to the growing number of "urban archeologists"

[weluvpa]

here is some cool info on it...

The Concrete City

[PA_Native71]

Originally Posted by sheena12

By Ghost towns I am being inclusive - towns that are empty such as Centralia would qualify. Also towns with more than their fair share of reported paranormal activity.

I know that not everyone believes in the Paranormal.
I am not posting to find out your beliefs on this subject.

I am assuming that everyone believes in towns left empty and abandoned.

Because of certain experiences I have had in my life I believe in both.
But that's not the question.

Are there any Ghost towns IN or near NEPA?

If so which type? Have you been there? My 17 year old son has a burning desire to visit Centrailia I am a little afraid and I think it could be dangerous, against the law or both.

If you want to see a real ghost town go to Pithole, PA and Drakes Well it is a nice weekend getaway and an easy drive to get to plus learn some history, Pithole at one time had 20,000 people there and in a few years time went to 0 nothing really left there but it is still amazing, this is in NWPA but well worth the trip before school starts.