If you love history or want to take your exploring to the next level then you need to visit one of Ontario’s ghost towns! These spots are full of history and some have buildings that still stand, waiting for visitors to check out.
One thing’s for sure, you’ll have an interesting story to tell after visiting. Here are 6 ghost towns to explore in Ontario.
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Balaclava
This ghost town dates back to the 1850s when Balaclava was centred around a sawmill, general store and hotel.
When the sawmill was eventually shut down the town slowly was abandoned. Today, the area boasts a bit of a spooky feel, almost as if you’re in a scary movie.
Arden
This abandoned town Ontario brought in prospectors from all over Canada during the gold rush.
According to Toronto Public Library, the “gold rush was relatively short-lived, and today many of the buildings erected to house the miners and their families are gone or abandoned.”
Arden is now incorporated into Central Frontenac, which many people use as a cottage getaway destination.
Cheltenham Brickworks
If you’re familiar with Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, you’ll want to explore the abandoned Cheltenham Brickworks.
Cheltenham has a similar layout to Evergreen, gaining popularity in the early 1900s.
The brickworks were shut down in the 1960s which led to the spot becoming a ghost town.
The remains of the area are a 45-minute drive from Toronto, a perfect day trip!
Burwash
Burwash, around 50 km south of Sudbury, has an interesting backstory.
In 1914, the federal government opened a prison here that focused on reform instead of punishment for the inmates, says the Toronto Public Library (TPL).
Around 1,000 people lived in the area and worked at the prison but eventually, the buildings were demolished when the prison closed in 1975.
Today, you can explore the abandoned ruins of the prison – try not to get too spooked!
Crooks’ Hollow
Within Crooks’ Hollow Conservation Area is an abandoned village!
This historic area was once a bustling community with mills, a general store, factories, and even an inn in the 19th century.
Because the now-abandoned spot is within the conservation area, visitors can walk through the preserved nature and ruins left behind.
Eldorado
Eldorado was founded during the first gold rush that hit Ontario in 1866.
Word spread that fortunes could be found here, making people flee to the area.
Hotels, bars, brothels, boarding houses, stores and more than 80 buildings were soon built which made Eldorado grow quickly.
The gold mines eventually were proved to be worthless, causing the town to become abandoned.
Which one of these ghost towns in Ontario are you visiting first?
Taylor Lucas
Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.
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