The Ghost Town Where the Ground Still Burns Today

Once a thriving mining town in the heart of Pennsylvania, USA, it has now almost completely disappeared from the map. A seemingly innocent fire in the early 1960s triggered a chain reaction that sealed the settlement’s fate for centuries. This place is now a ghost town, where the ground literally burns beneath.

Founded in the 1850s, it rapidly developed thanks to its rich anthracite coal deposits. Churches, shops, and schools were built, and in its heyday, over two thousand people lived there. However, during a trash burning in 1962, the fire likely reached an underground mine shaft and ignited the coal seams. The coal has been burning slowly but unstoppably deep underground ever since.

The dangerous signs of the fire first became apparent from the surface years later. Toxic gases seeped up, and cracks and sinkholes became increasingly common on the roads. At a gas station, the underground temperature was found to be many times higher than normal. The dramatic nature of the situation was highlighted when a local boy fell through the ground into a deep chasm.

In the early 1980s, the US government evacuated the population. Although many were reluctant to leave their homes, most accepted compensation and moved away. The town’s status was abolished, and the houses were demolished. However, a few held out until the very end.

A section of the old highway that once ran through the town became notorious as the Graffiti Highway, but it has now been closed to tourists. The area today presents a ghostly sight, with nature reclaiming the empty streets. The fire continues to burn underground, and experts estimate it could continue for centuries. Smoke can still be seen rising from the ground, and the smell of burning and the heat of the soil can still be felt.

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