The Coolest Abandoned Places in Mississippi
From empty amusement parks to once-flourishing ghost towns, Mississippi is home to a handful of fascinating abandoned places.
Written by Samuel Todd
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
When you explore the twisted trees of Royal Land amusement park or read about the terrifying dolls in Hoarder House, you might think you’ve stumbled into a Stephen King novel—but really, you’ve just found two of the coolest abandoned places in
Mississippi
.When most people think of Mississippi, they think of major towns like Jackson and Gulfport. Hidden on the outskirts of those concrete jungles, though, are a handful of fascinating (and often frightening!) abandoned locations. From the skeletal remains of a theme park to forgotten bridges and ghost towns, Mississippi is brimming with lost history—and
Jerry
, our super app
for car insurance
, is here to uncover it for you. We’ll travel through eight incredible abandoned places in Mississippi and dish out some tips for anyone brave enough to visit them on their own. Ready or not, here we go!
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversMississippi’s abandoned amusement park
Royal Land
Location: Meridian
Abandoned since: Mid-1970s
Is it legal to go in? Yes
When carnivals started to lose their popularity in the late 1960s, A. Lloyd Royal began collecting secondhand rides—merry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels, train rides, you name it—from them when they went out of business. Once his assortment was large enough, Royal hired his son, Monte, and a crew of carnival workers to put together the Royal Land amusement park.
Though the theme park was short-lived—going out of business in the early ’70s—many of the structures that made the park special remain. Rusted train tracks lurk beneath tree roots. Long-forgotten carnival prizes are buried beneath the soil.
You might not be able to ride Royal Land’s roller coaster or Ferris wheel, but you’ll be treated to a mysterious and little-known slice of Meridian’s history—if you’re willing to brave Royal Land’s eerie, worn-down gates, that is!
Abandoned homes and bridges in Mississippi
Stuckey’s bridge
Location: Enterprise
Abandoned since:1901
Is it legal to go in? No
Stuckey’s bridge (or “Old Man Stuckey’s Bridge”) is one of the most intriguing structures on the list—but be warned, its backstory isn’t for the faint of heart.
According to legend, a member of the Dalton Gang of outlaws named Stuckey owned an inn nearby. After using his lantern to lure travelers across the bridge and into his inn, he would rob and murder his guests, then bury their bodies along the riverbank.
Finally, after killing as many as twenty people, Stuckey was caught and hanged from the very same bridge. Though a new bridge was constructed in 1901, rumors of the haunted bridge still circulate through nearby towns. Some travelers even claim to have seen a vision of Old Man Stuckey himself, trudging along the riverside, pale lantern in hand.
You won’t be able to cross Stuckey’s bridge (we’re not sure who would want to, anyway!), and it was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
in 1988.Arlington
Location: Natchez
Abandoned since: The 1990s
Is it legal to go in? No
Built in the early 1800s, Arlington is a historic, Federal-style mansion in Natchez, Mississippi. Though the home itself isn’t believed to be haunted, its history includes a series of tragic deaths, causing the home to change hands many times since its construction.
The current owner, Dr. Vaughn, inherited Arlington from his mother. Many hoped that he would oversee the repair and preservation of the magnificent structure—but, as the years have passed, the mansion has continued to deteriorate in Dr. Vaughn’s absence. Though its interior is rife with rot and decay, the white pillars that adorn the house remain as majestic as ever.
In 2009, the city of Natchezsued Dr. Vaughn for neglect, but their efforts were in vain. As such, you won’t be able to see Arlington in its former glory—but you can still admire the National Landmark from afar, knowing that it is one of the most spectacular structures in Natchez.
Hoarder House
Location: Utica
Abandoned since: The 1980s
Is it legal to go in? No
Of course, every great list of abandoned places should have at least one creepy house—in Mississippi, that dubious honor belongs to the Hoarder House. Built just two years after the end of the Civil War, the home has been empty since 1980 after a well-known singer and her novelist brother moved out.
So, what makes Hoarder House a chilling sight for thrill-seekers in Mississippi? This time, it’s not the backstory or the design of the house—it’s what’s inside! Between discarded guitar cases and old photographs, a large, blue-eyed doll rests in a reclining chair, staring absently towards the ceiling.
We’ve seen enough scary movies to know that abandoned homes filled with dolls are a big “nope!”, so we’ll leave the rest of the investigation to the horror aficionados among us.
MORE: Haunted Georgia road trip
Abandoned towns in Mississippi
Rodney
Location: Jefferson County
Abandoned since:1930
Is it legal to go in? Yes
At its height in the 1800s, Rodney was a bustling riverfront town, home to as many as 4,000 people. Inch by inch, the Mississippi River reclaimed the restaurants, churches, and inns that bolstered Rodney, forcing its population back into the single digits, where it stands today.
If you visit Rodney, you won’t encounter the booming business districts and flourishing river trade that the city was once known for. However, you’ll still get a fractured glimpse into its past: beneath the grand bell tower of its Presbyterian Church, covered in layers of Spanish moss, lie the remnants of Rodney’s historic buildings and once-paved roads.
Plymouth
Location: Lowndes County
Abandoned since:1840s
Is it legal to go in? Yes
Located in present-day Lowndes County, Plymouth met a similar fate as Rodney. Formedin1809, the low-lying village was especially susceptible to flooding and lacked easy access to high ground. Unlike Rodney, Plymouth failed to take off as a successful business town and was abandoned nearly as quickly as it arose.
It’s not all bad news, though! Just miles downstream of the village,
Plymouth Bluff
has become well-regarded as a center for ecological studies and is well worth a visit if you’re in the area.Gainesville
Location: Hancock County
Abandoned since: Late 1960s
Is it legal to go in? Yes
Founded in 1810, Gainesville isn’t so famous for its specific history, but rather, for what it symbolizes: the rise of rural towns in the 1800s, followed by their downfall due to railroad expansions in the 1900s.
Before the Civil War, the Pearl River Lumber Company was founded in Gainesville, quickly becoming the largest timber supplier in the South. Gainesville prospered alongside the timber industry, with shops, factories, coffee houses (and even a racetrack!) lining its streets.
When a major rail line bypassed the city in the mid-1900s, Gainesville’s timber companies became nearly worthless—after all, the railroad was by far the most efficient way to transport wood across the country. One by one, families began to move out of Gainesville in search of better jobs and brighter futures.
In the 1960s, when NASA purchased the land for its
Stennis Space Center
, only two buildings remained—the Loveless house and a grocery store
.Bruinsburg
Location: Claiborne County
Abandoned since:1865
Is it legal to go in? No
Since it’s located on private property, Bruinsburg is the only ghost town on the list that you won’t be able to visit—but it still has a wonderfully interesting history.
During the Civil War, American General Ulysses S. Grant was planning a large-scale assault on the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg. Though his original plan was to land his forces at Rodney (another present-day ghost town), an escaped slave told him to land in Bruinsburg instead—a closer town with a fantastic port.
When Grant’s forces arrived in Bruinsburg, the town was largely abandoned, and there was plenty of space for Grant’s navy vessels. At the end of the day, Grant’s military expertise and a piece of crucial intel from an escaped slave made Bruinsburg the site of the largest naval operation in American history until the invasion of Normandy on D-Day.
Tips for exploring Mississippi’s abandoned places
Whether you’re thinking about sneaking into the ruins of Royal Land or visiting one of Mississippi’s abandoned villages, take note of these tips before you do:
- Double-check the ownership of the land. Nothing ruins the fun of exploring an abandoned area like getting a hefty trespassing fine—so you should make sure that the law is on your side before you jump into the unknown.
- Dress comfortably. Wear cheap, hand-me-down clothes if you can, and lace up some closed-toed shoes, too!
- Leave things where they lie. As tempting as it may be to snag a souvenir from the theme park or ghost town, you’ll harm the integrity of the abandoned place and potentially pick up some nasty germs while you’re at it.
- Bring a buddy! Some of these locations are off the grid, and you never know what you’ll encounter. Have a friend with you at all times (and share your location, while you’re at it!).
- Add some protective gear. A face mask and gloves never hurt anybody—especially if you’re going to be sifting through the rubble of an old town.
Last (but definitely not least), treat each location with respect! Remember, you’ve only been around a few decades, but most of these structures have lasted hundreds of years. Do your part by keeping Mississippi’s abandoned treasures intact and staying safe while you explore.
How to find affordable car insurance in Mississippi
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FAQs
Is it illegal to visit abandoned places?
Long story short: it depends. Many abandoned places are public property, which means that anyone can visit them at any time. However, some places (especially old homes) are privately owned—so you’ll need explicit permission before you can check them out.
Remember, always double-check that you’re not trespassing before you explore an abandoned area!
Why are there so many abandoned towns in Mississippi?
Though each abandoned village has its own history, most empty towns in Mississippi are the result of either theCivil War or the railroad. When the railroad swept through the United States, some towns in Mississippi were left out (for example, Gainesville).
After the railroad diverted traffic from these towns, families had to pack up and move to cities with better job prospects and stronger economies.
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