New Hampshire has a long history, so it’s no surprise that a few ghost stories have popped up along the way. However, some places in New Hampshire have such an odd, spooky history that they’re widely acknowledged as ghost towns – whole areas where the veil between realms is thin, and it’s said that there is an otherworldly presence. Visit these 6 ghost towns in New Hampshire at your own risk. You’ll probably want to go before dark.
- Isles of Shoals
Roger H. Goud/flickr A double murder, an escaped victim, a jailbreak and a hanging: if that doesn’t make for a ghost story we don’t know what will. The Smuttynose Murders on the Isles of Shoals happened in 1873, when two women were found murdered. A third victim escaped, and identified the murdered, who then fled through the isles and to Boston. When he was caught and brought back to Portsmouth he still proclaimed his innocence. He escaped again, before being caught and executed in Maine. It is said that spirits of the victims still walk the rocky islands, especially around Maren’s Rock, where the surviving victim hid during the attack.
- Old Hill Village
Army Corps New England/flickr Imagine relocating a whole village, buildings and all. That’s exactly what happened in Hill, where in 1937 the government announced that the town would be relocated so that the original location could be used as part of the Franklin Falls Reservoir. By 1941 the town had been relocated and is now home to about 1,000 New Hampshire residents. However, it’s said that the original Old Hill Village, now part of the Franklin Falls Reservoir, still has residents as well – ghosts from the original town who weren’t happy to see their home destroyed.
- Madame Sherri’s, Chesterfield
James Walsh/flickr Madame Sherri was known in Chesterfield and beyond for her over-the-top parties. The Paris native was either a socialite or a business women – operating a brothel – depending on who you ask. Madame Sherri built her fabulous home in the 1930s, but it burned down just 30 years later. Today, it’s said that ghostly revelers still party among the ruins of her once glamorous home.
- Livermore
Madeleine/flickr In the late 1800’s, Livermore was a lively logging town located in the heart of what is now the White Mountains National Forest. Although the town was made up mostly of men and boys working in the logging industry, there was a school house, a mill, and many more buildings, which are now being reclaimed by nature. Life in Livermore was dreary however: the long winters, hard work and even a smallpox epidemic resulted in many lives lost too young. The town has officially been empty since 1946, but some say the loggers never really left. Check out this hampshire/abandoned-livermore-nh/" target="_blank">video to see some hauntingly beautiful footage of this ghost town.
- Zealand
Wesley Carr/flickr Another abandoned logging town in the White Mountains, Zealand was plagued by bad luck, driving in into oblivion before its time. In the 1880s, J.E. Henry began the town to support his logging company, and it quickly flourished. However, in 1886, a forest fire destroyed much of the timber around the village, forcing Henry to move his operation to virgin forest new Lincoln. There, forest fires again destroyed the Zealand logging operation in 1897. After that, the railroads stopped serving the cursed town, and soon after the population vanished. Today, you can see remnants of the village from the Zealand Falls Trail in Bethlehem.
- Monson Center
Susannah/flickr This colonial town near Milford was one of the first in-land settlements in New Hampshire, with buildings dating back to the 1700s. When you walk past the large sign greeting your entrance to the village, you may think that you’re in another ordinary hiking spot in New Hampshire, but as the woods open up to fields and you walk among the ruins you’ll find that this old, abandoned town has an energy to it that is simply other-worldly. There are 2.5 miles of trails nearby, so happy exploring!
Still wanting to explore New Hampshire’s haunted past? This epic road trip will take you to all of the most haunted spots in the state.
Roger H. Goud/flickr
A double murder, an escaped victim, a jailbreak and a hanging: if that doesn’t make for a ghost story we don’t know what will. The Smuttynose Murders on the Isles of Shoals happened in 1873, when two women were found murdered. A third victim escaped, and identified the murdered, who then fled through the isles and to Boston. When he was caught and brought back to Portsmouth he still proclaimed his innocence. He escaped again, before being caught and executed in Maine. It is said that spirits of the victims still walk the rocky islands, especially around Maren’s Rock, where the surviving victim hid during the attack.
Army Corps New England/flickr
Imagine relocating a whole village, buildings and all. That’s exactly what happened in Hill, where in 1937 the government announced that the town would be relocated so that the original location could be used as part of the Franklin Falls Reservoir. By 1941 the town had been relocated and is now home to about 1,000 New Hampshire residents. However, it’s said that the original Old Hill Village, now part of the Franklin Falls Reservoir, still has residents as well – ghosts from the original town who weren’t happy to see their home destroyed.
James Walsh/flickr
Madame Sherri was known in Chesterfield and beyond for her over-the-top parties. The Paris native was either a socialite or a business women – operating a brothel – depending on who you ask. Madame Sherri built her fabulous home in the 1930s, but it burned down just 30 years later. Today, it’s said that ghostly revelers still party among the ruins of her once glamorous home.
Madeleine/flickr
In the late 1800’s, Livermore was a lively logging town located in the heart of what is now the White Mountains National Forest. Although the town was made up mostly of men and boys working in the logging industry, there was a school house, a mill, and many more buildings, which are now being reclaimed by nature. Life in Livermore was dreary however: the long winters, hard work and even a smallpox epidemic resulted in many lives lost too young. The town has officially been empty since 1946, but some say the loggers never really left. Check out this hampshire/abandoned-livermore-nh/" target="_blank">video to see some hauntingly beautiful footage of this ghost town.
Wesley Carr/flickr
Another abandoned logging town in the White Mountains, Zealand was plagued by bad luck, driving in into oblivion before its time. In the 1880s, J.E. Henry began the town to support his logging company, and it quickly flourished. However, in 1886, a forest fire destroyed much of the timber around the village, forcing Henry to move his operation to virgin forest new Lincoln. There, forest fires again destroyed the Zealand logging operation in 1897. After that, the railroads stopped serving the cursed town, and soon after the population vanished. Today, you can see remnants of the village from the Zealand Falls Trail in Bethlehem.
Susannah/flickr
This colonial town near Milford was one of the first in-land settlements in New Hampshire, with buildings dating back to the 1700s. When you walk past the large sign greeting your entrance to the village, you may think that you’re in another ordinary hiking spot in New Hampshire, but as the woods open up to fields and you walk among the ruins you’ll find that this old, abandoned town has an energy to it that is simply other-worldly. There are 2.5 miles of trails nearby, so happy exploring!
Have you ever visited any of these ghost towns in New Hampshire? Let us know in the comments below!
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Address: Isles of Shoals, Kittery, ME 03905, USAAddress: Hill, NH, USAAddress: Chesterfield, NH, USAAddress: Livermore, NH, USAAddress: Mount Zealand, Lincoln, NH 03251, USAAddress: Federal Hill Rd, Hollis, NH 03049, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
ghost towns in New Hampshire April 24, 2021 Jackie Ann What is the most haunted place in New Hampshire? Behind the charming ski town veneer of Henniker, fans of the paranormal will discover eerie tales of a sordid past. Widely considered one of the most haunted places in New Hampshire, the Ocean-Born Mary House is a hotbed of ghoulish activity. As seafare folklore goes, an infamous pirate by the name of Don Pedro commandeered a ship in 1720 and discovered a newborn baby on board. Don Pedro swore to spare the lives of the passengers if the child was given the name of his mother, Mary Wallace. Don Pedro later married “Ocean Born” Mary and took up residence in a mansion overlooking Henniker. One day Mary found him murdered and buried his body under a kitchen hearthstone. Today, visitors to the property report the spirit of Mary haunts the grounds, protecting it from her husband’s murderers. Can I visit any abandoned places in New Hampshire? With a history dating back to early colonial days, long abandoned places can be found all across New Hampshire. The tiny town of Dublin is home to Beech Hill Estate, a massive Georgian Revival manor house that has been uninhabited since the 1980s. This impeccable example of grand Victorian architecture was built by architect Charles Platt in 1902 and served as a vacation home to a wealthy family from Baltimore who retreated to Dublin Lake during the summer months. Today, the property is privately owned but the years of neglect have deteriorated its original splendor. What are the most popular ghost stories in New Hampshire? One of the most bone-chilling ghost stories in New Hampshire is the terrifying tale from Mount Washington. One spring, a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club was sent out to prepare the cabins for hikers and backpackers in the area. When the man failed to radio in his safe arrival, a team was sent out on the slopes and found the cabin was still boarded up. After searching the grounds, they discovered the man cowering in a sink cabinet, frozen in fear. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital to recover but was unable to recall what had happened, only remembering sensing an eerie presence in the cabin and seeing a gruesome face that appeared in the boarded up windows.
The OIYS Visitor Center
ghost towns in New Hampshire
April 24, 2021
Jackie Ann
What is the most haunted place in New Hampshire? Behind the charming ski town veneer of Henniker, fans of the paranormal will discover eerie tales of a sordid past. Widely considered one of the most haunted places in New Hampshire, the Ocean-Born Mary House is a hotbed of ghoulish activity. As seafare folklore goes, an infamous pirate by the name of Don Pedro commandeered a ship in 1720 and discovered a newborn baby on board. Don Pedro swore to spare the lives of the passengers if the child was given the name of his mother, Mary Wallace. Don Pedro later married “Ocean Born” Mary and took up residence in a mansion overlooking Henniker. One day Mary found him murdered and buried his body under a kitchen hearthstone. Today, visitors to the property report the spirit of Mary haunts the grounds, protecting it from her husband’s murderers. Can I visit any abandoned places in New Hampshire? With a history dating back to early colonial days, long abandoned places can be found all across New Hampshire. The tiny town of Dublin is home to Beech Hill Estate, a massive Georgian Revival manor house that has been uninhabited since the 1980s. This impeccable example of grand Victorian architecture was built by architect Charles Platt in 1902 and served as a vacation home to a wealthy family from Baltimore who retreated to Dublin Lake during the summer months. Today, the property is privately owned but the years of neglect have deteriorated its original splendor. What are the most popular ghost stories in New Hampshire? One of the most bone-chilling ghost stories in New Hampshire is the terrifying tale from Mount Washington. One spring, a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club was sent out to prepare the cabins for hikers and backpackers in the area. When the man failed to radio in his safe arrival, a team was sent out on the slopes and found the cabin was still boarded up. After searching the grounds, they discovered the man cowering in a sink cabinet, frozen in fear. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital to recover but was unable to recall what had happened, only remembering sensing an eerie presence in the cabin and seeing a gruesome face that appeared in the boarded up windows.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Behind the charming ski town veneer of Henniker, fans of the paranormal will discover eerie tales of a sordid past. Widely considered one of the most haunted places in New Hampshire, the Ocean-Born Mary House is a hotbed of ghoulish activity. As seafare folklore goes, an infamous pirate by the name of Don Pedro commandeered a ship in 1720 and discovered a newborn baby on board. Don Pedro swore to spare the lives of the passengers if the child was given the name of his mother, Mary Wallace. Don Pedro later married “Ocean Born” Mary and took up residence in a mansion overlooking Henniker. One day Mary found him murdered and buried his body under a kitchen hearthstone. Today, visitors to the property report the spirit of Mary haunts the grounds, protecting it from her husband’s murderers.
Can I visit any abandoned places in New Hampshire?
With a history dating back to early colonial days, long abandoned places can be found all across New Hampshire. The tiny town of Dublin is home to Beech Hill Estate, a massive Georgian Revival manor house that has been uninhabited since the 1980s. This impeccable example of grand Victorian architecture was built by architect Charles Platt in 1902 and served as a vacation home to a wealthy family from Baltimore who retreated to Dublin Lake during the summer months. Today, the property is privately owned but the years of neglect have deteriorated its original splendor.
What are the most popular ghost stories in New Hampshire?
One of the most bone-chilling ghost stories in New Hampshire is the terrifying tale from Mount Washington. One spring, a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club was sent out to prepare the cabins for hikers and backpackers in the area. When the man failed to radio in his safe arrival, a team was sent out on the slopes and found the cabin was still boarded up. After searching the grounds, they discovered the man cowering in a sink cabinet, frozen in fear. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital to recover but was unable to recall what had happened, only remembering sensing an eerie presence in the cabin and seeing a gruesome face that appeared in the boarded up windows.
