The abandoned wreckage of a crashed sailboat, an empty homestead, and some classic ghost towns are just a few of the coolest abandoned places in Oregon.

Written by Cameron Thiessen

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

Table of Contents

Abandoned structures in Oregon
Abandoned towns in Oregon
Tips for exploring Oregon’s abandoned places
How to find affordable car insurance in Oregon
FAQ

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From the wreckage of an early 20th-century sailboat to some of the creepiest haunted houses and ghost towns in the Pacific Northwest,

Oregon

has earned itself a reputation of being home to seemingly endless liminal spaces and abandoned places. If you’re someone who can’t resist getting as close as possible to the weirdest and eeriest sights in the Beaver State, you’re going to love this guide to Oregon’s most interesting abandoned places!

Smack-dab between the states of Washington and California is Oregon, which has been inhabited by human beings for at least 15,000 years. During that time many structures and settlements have been lost to history. Sometimes, though, history leaves something behind for explorers from later generations to gaze upon and allow themselves to be transported back in time.

For those willing to look, there are befuddling and unnerving abandoned places and structures all over the particularly haunted state of Oregon, just waiting to be explored by responsible time travelers.

For the time traveler who's seen it all or the local explorer looking for new destinations, the

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Abandoned structures in Oregon

Stone House/Macleay Park Shelter/Witch’s Castle

Location: Forest Park, Portland

Abandoned since: 1962

Is it legal to go in? Yes

Sometimes the stories and names we build around abandoned places end up being far more intriguing than their true histories, and the Macleay Park Stone House aka the Witch’s Castle is a perfect example.

Overgrown and crumbling, the structure that stands in Portland’s Forest Park has gained a reputation far beyond its true history. The structure, completed in 1936, was initially intended to be a public toilet.

The Stone House was abandoned after the infamous Columbus Day Storm of ‘62 destroyed the restroom’s water line. It has descended further into ruin and local lore ever since, accumulating its share of periodically removed edgy graffiti while continuing to look more and more like a medieval-era ruin.

If you’re keen to visit, you’ll be able to go right into the ruins of the “castle.” Be careful, though, because rumor has it that the entire park—although perhaps not the Stone House itself—is haunted by a witch who manipulated her husband, the owner of the land, into murdering their would-be son-in-law, Mortimer Stump. The husband, one Danford Balch, was the victim of the first legal hanging in Oregon, leaving his daughter Anna alive to continue living on the property with her mother.

The house is now a favorite destination for high school kids looking for a place to party—the same high school kids who dubbed it “The Witch’s Castle” in the first place.

The Wreck of the Peter Iredale

Location: Fort Stevens State Park, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Abandoned since: 1906

Is it legal to go in? Yes

Owned by a Liverpool businessman of the same name, Peter Iredale was a four-masted sailing vessel built in June 1890. High winds drove it onto the Oregon coast on October 25, 1906. Since then, the wreck of the Peter Iredale has sat along the shore of the Pacific Ocean for over a century, embedded in the sands of Clatsop Spit, even after seeing action during WWII.

The Wreck of the Peter Iredale is by far one of the most interesting abandoned structures in Oregon—but since it’s now such a popular attraction for tourists, its abandonment appears to be in recession.

MORE: Oregon electric vehicle incentives

Collins Beach UFO Boat

Location: Portland

Abandoned since: 1973

Is it legal to go in? Yes

Collins Beach, a nude beach in Portland, is home to one of the stranger-looking abandoned structures you’re likely to see. It’s known for the incredible graffiti covering its exterior—and the strange alien-saucer-like shape with its creepy porthole windows.

The boat was supposedly a temporary home for a family in 1973 and once had a fully-functioning kitchenette inside. No one really knows why it was abandoned, but it has remained a Portland landmark ever since. You can go inside, but be careful because the floor is covered in glass!

George Conrad Flavel House

Location: Astoria

Abandoned since: 1990

Is it legal to go in? Yes

The George Conrad Flavel House is part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and the city of Astoria considers it a derelict building.

George Conrad Flavel moved into the house with his wife Winona and their son Harry, living there until he died in 1923. Winona also lived there until she died in 1944. The next to die in the house would be Harry, who inherited the house from his father.

The Flavels went down in local infamy when Harry’s son, Harry S.—just a young adult at the time—violently attacked one of their neighbors with a hatchet. This caused the family to be ostracized from the community, though it would not be the end to Harry S.’s violence. In 1983, Harry S. was sent to jail for hitting a man’s car with a chain and stabbing him.

He was released from prison after his seven-year sentence in 1990, returning to the house with the rest of his family for only a brief moment before abandoning it to history.

To make matters spookier, the house was sold to a local businessman, Greg Newenhof, who planned to restore the house and move into it—a project that he planned to last him the rest of his life. But as the story often goes with haunted houses, the Newenhof would not live to see the Flavel house’s restoration, passing away unexpectedly in January of 2018. He was only 61 years old when he died.

You can visit and get a sight of the completely unnerving (and surely cursed) exterior of the building, but don’t expect to be able to go in. The entire thing is boarded up.

MORE: How to check for Oregon road closures

Abandoned towns in Oregon

Bull Run

Location: Clackamas County, 5 miles northeast of Sandy

Abandoned since: Technically still listed as a USGS populated place

Is it legal to go there? Yes

While the origin of Bull Run’s name continues to be contested by historians and armchair historians alike, what’s certain is its status as a picturesque and eerie abandoned town—its character amplified by the nearby derelict hydroelectric power plant.

The dam project began in 1906 and 100 years later, the power plant was ultimately abandoned. By 1940, Bull Run had a population of only 35. Now, it is a bonafide ghost town.

The site is generally abandoned, but you can take guided tours of the power plant.

Whitney

Location: Baker County

Abandoned since: 1947

Is it legal to go in? Yes

A classic ghost town for the modern explorer, Whitney was once home to a population of about 150. The town was made up of people who tended to a stop along the Sumpter Valley Railroad.

Both were abandoned in 1947, although several wood homes are still standing. Some even still have inhabitants, living remnants of a community and industry swept up by the current of modern progress.

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Kent

Location: Sherman County

Abandoned since: 1930s

Is it legal to go in? Yes

You might be starting to notice a pattern here, because Kent is another grade-A, cream of the crop traditionale ghost town. And like all great ghost towns, the creepiest thing about Kent is that it isn’t actually uninhabited.

In 2018, the population was 67—though the post office remains operational. The best ghost towns still have their ghosts.

Shaniko

Location: Wasco County

Ghost town since: 1959

Is it legal to go in? Yes

In its heyday, Shaniko was known as the “Wool Capital of the World”—but for over 60 years it has remained essentially a ghost town. When the wool processing and exporting industries started to boom at the start of the 20th century, so did the town’s economy and population. But the boom was cut short within a decade when a new railroad route left the town disconnected from the world of the new century.

The community has preserved much of the abandoned structures, dedicating themselves to maintaining the last bit of life that persisted there through time—beyond the town’s circumvention, into the roaring twenties, through the Great Depression, and beyond, for who knows how long.

In Shaniko, you can go talk to the “ghosts,” the committed residents who maintain Shaniko as their home. They’ll even play music for you, offer you something to eat at their still-operational diner, or give you a tour of their historical town. The best ghost towns…

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Tips for exploring Oregon’s abandoned places

Before heading out on your little Gravity Falls LARPing excursion, you’re going to want to make sure you’re prepared for all the spooky things you might find. Here are some tips if you’re not sure where to start:

Be aware of where you’re allowed to go (and where you’re not). A lot of these places are difficult to get to in the first place—but some of them are literally blocked off. Be sure to check where you’ll be able to go safely and legally.

Be prepared. While some sites on this list can be found right in Portland, others are ghost towns that became ghost towns in part because they are in the middle of nowhere. If you plan on visiting, make sure to fill your gas tank, bring some food and water, and probably also a friend

Leave the spot as you found it. Don’t be that guy. A lot of these spots have to constantly have graffiti removed from them—and while it seems to have been encouraged on the UFO boat, it’s definitely not appreciated by the “Witches” of the Stone House. Don’t ruin a spot for the next adventurer!

Bring a buddy or let a friend know your location. Don’t abandon your loved ones just to go see abandoned things! It’s always a good idea to let someone know where you’re going—and even better if they want to go with you.

Consider bringing protective gear. Abandoned places can be scary, and some of them aren’t the friendliest places to traverse. Wear good shoes and protect your body by wearing good pants, long sleeves, and maybe even gloves. The UFO boat's floor is covered in broken glass because of aliens, apparently.

Investigating historical sites—even the more overgrown and forgotten ones—is a great way for people to connect with the identity of the place they live in, and in turn, feel more connected to the real people who once inhabited those places. Remember, though, respect and safety are the name of the game!

How to find affordable car insurance in Oregon

Speaking of safety, if you plan on doing a fair bit of road trippin’ this season, make sure you’ve set yourself up with the insurance that will have you covered in the case of anything unexpected. Consider

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