Northern California is home to a number of eerily beautiful ghost towns. However, few will give you the creeps as much as this abandoned town in Tuolumne County. Chinese Camp contains the remnants of an old mining town from California’s Gold Rush days. Today, the dilapidated structures look like they’re seconds away from crumbling into nothing. Although there is something oddly beautiful about this place, the town’s creepy atmosphere is bound to send a chill or two down your spine. In fact, some consider this place the most haunted ghost town in Northern California. There’s only one way to find out for yourself whether that’s true or not and you’ll want to see it for yourself.
Located in the grassy foothills of the Sierra Nevada near the southern end of Gold Country is an abandoned ghost town known as Chinese Camp. The town is notable for its several remaining structures which have withered over time but remain standing. However, some say that this town is home to more than just a few old buildings…
David Berry/Flickr
Chinese Camp is believed to be downright haunted by many. Although there’s no way to know for sure if something paranormal lurks here, many visitors have expressed a feeling of unease when visiting the town—the feeling of being watched.
Christopher Michel/Flickr
It’s not hard to believe this place is haunted. Just look at these buildings! The atmosphere will make you feel like you’ve stepped onto the set of a scary movie or something. The century-old structures seem like they are ready to fall down at any moment and nature seems to slowly be reclaiming them.
David Berry/Flickr
One of the town’s eeriest features is St. Francis Xavier Church located on a hillside above the town. Complete with a small graveyard and surrounded by spooky-looking trees, the church is considered to be the oldest in the county.
David Berry/Flickr
Beside the church you can stroll along the old headstones of the graveyard. Complete with wrought iron fencing, this place would be perfect for a Halloween-themed photoshoot.
Elaine with Grey Cats/Flickr
Looking at the town today, it’s hard to believe it was home to at least 5,000 Chinese laborers. You can’t help but wonder if some of the spirits of the townspeople still linger, trapped in between the living world and whatever comes next.
Newman H/TripAdvisor
Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, there’s a lot to appreciate about this hauntingly beautiful town. At one point, Chinese Camp was considered something of a metropolis, comprised of a post office, bank, and many urban comforts. All of that is history now, but the empty shells of these places remain.
Beste L/TripAdvisor
There’s an intense energy in Chinese Camp that’s undeniable. Although considered a haunted ghost town by many, the history of this place is what makes it truly mesmerizing. Chinese Camp is a fascinating place to visit when you find yourself in the area, but be sure to keep your eyes peeled for anything supernatural!
TrippingTrudy/TripAdvisor
What do you think? Does this haunted ghost town in Northern California scare you at all? Check out our list of 6 Unbelievable Ruins In Northern California for more eerily beautiful destinations to check out.
David Berry/Flickr
Christopher Michel/Flickr
Elaine with Grey Cats/Flickr
Newman H/TripAdvisor
Beste L/TripAdvisor
TrippingTrudy/TripAdvisor
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Address: Chinese Camp, CA 95327, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Ghost town in California August 29, 2022 Sarah M. Are there any other ghost towns in California? There aren’t just ghost towns in California, there’s one of the country’s most infamous and iconic ghost towns in California! One of the best-known ghost towns in the country, Bodie is a place frozen in time. This Northern California community is your classic boomtown, with the promise of gold attracting nearly 10,000 residents by 1880. But by 1900, enthusiasm for this elusive metal had begun to wane, so when two fires in the early 1930s destroyed most of the town, the remaining residents up and left. Today, visitors can come and explore this California state park, with its abandoned buildings and cemetery making for an eerie and unsettling experience. Another ghost town in California is Calico. Calico is an Old West mining town in Southern California that has been around since 1881, and was abandoned in the mid-1890s after silver lost its value. Today, Calico is a place that offers an immersive historical experience; visitors can tour the town and also camp overnight in this historic locale. The camping facilities are clean, quiet, and offer lots of modern-day amenities for guests. But the main appeal of this campsite is its access to one of the most intriguing ghost towns in SoCal.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Ghost town in California
August 29, 2022
Sarah M.
Are there any other ghost towns in California? There aren’t just ghost towns in California, there’s one of the country’s most infamous and iconic ghost towns in California! One of the best-known ghost towns in the country, Bodie is a place frozen in time. This Northern California community is your classic boomtown, with the promise of gold attracting nearly 10,000 residents by 1880. But by 1900, enthusiasm for this elusive metal had begun to wane, so when two fires in the early 1930s destroyed most of the town, the remaining residents up and left. Today, visitors can come and explore this California state park, with its abandoned buildings and cemetery making for an eerie and unsettling experience. Another ghost town in California is Calico. Calico is an Old West mining town in Southern California that has been around since 1881, and was abandoned in the mid-1890s after silver lost its value. Today, Calico is a place that offers an immersive historical experience; visitors can tour the town and also camp overnight in this historic locale. The camping facilities are clean, quiet, and offer lots of modern-day amenities for guests. But the main appeal of this campsite is its access to one of the most intriguing ghost towns in SoCal.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There aren’t just ghost towns in California, there’s one of the country’s most infamous and iconic ghost towns in California! One of the best-known ghost towns in the country, Bodie is a place frozen in time. This Northern California community is your classic boomtown, with the promise of gold attracting nearly 10,000 residents by 1880. But by 1900, enthusiasm for this elusive metal had begun to wane, so when two fires in the early 1930s destroyed most of the town, the remaining residents up and left. Today, visitors can come and explore this California state park, with its abandoned buildings and cemetery making for an eerie and unsettling experience.
Another ghost town in California is Calico. Calico is an Old West mining town in Southern California that has been around since 1881, and was abandoned in the mid-1890s after silver lost its value. Today, Calico is a place that offers an immersive historical experience; visitors can tour the town and also camp overnight in this historic locale. The camping facilities are clean, quiet, and offer lots of modern-day amenities for guests. But the main appeal of this campsite is its access to one of the most intriguing ghost towns in SoCal.
