Nestled within countless forested areas in Pennsylvania are the remnants of a time long gone – ghost towns, now decaying, that give clues to a vibrant past. Some of those ghost towns are well-known, while others don’t get as much attention. Come along as we delve into the history behind this mysterious and eerie place in Scotia, Pennsylvania.

Mining has always played a significant role in Pennsylvania history.

All Trails/Mengda Din And it’s the reason this, and so many other ghost towns in the state got their start.

Andrew Carnegie bought the land in Centre County in 1880.

All Trails/Alexa Desolena It would become the village of Scotia, for the purpose of operating an iron ore mine. Mr. Carnegie gave the town the name of Scotia as a tribute to his home country of Scotland.

For the coal mine to operate and make a profit, it needed a wealth of workers.

All Trails/Kaitlyn Livie Therefore, a community - homes, a church, and a company store - were all built to house the miners.

It took just two years for Carnegie’s idea, which included a railroad station, to come to life.

All Trails/Brian Roudabush However, in 1899, Carnegie sold the mine to the Bellefonte Furnace Company. The family has a town named after them.

The mine would continue operating until 1911. The shutdown lead to the abandonment of Scotia.

All Trails/Scott Irvin Nevertheless, World War II brought with it an attempted comeback of mining in Scotia.

However, the iron ore mined from the area was deemed inadequate, effectively drawing the mining era in Scotia to a permanent close.

All Trails/Justin Strickland Looking back, its easy to see that this is how the ghost town of Scotia came into being as a relic of a bye-gone era. It really is one of the many interesting, abandoned towns in the state.

Today, what remains of the abandoned town sits on State Game Lands 176.

All Trails/Kaitlyn Livie You can find it by following the 1.4-mile long Scotia Barrens Trail, which is one of the most popular trails in Pennsylvania.

Considered a relatively easy hike, the trail offers a unique glimpse into yesteryear.

All Trails/Rob Peeler You’ll pass the remains of an old car and…

…the skeletons of the homes…

All Trails/Todd Alexander …and other buildings that dotted once the town.

Have you heard of this abandoned town in Scotia, Pennsylvania? Have you ever been there? If so, we’d love to read about your experiences in the comments section below!

All Trails/Mengda Din

And it’s the reason this, and so many other ghost towns in the state got their start.

All Trails/Alexa Desolena

It would become the village of Scotia, for the purpose of operating an iron ore mine. Mr. Carnegie gave the town the name of Scotia as a tribute to his home country of Scotland.

All Trails/Kaitlyn Livie

Therefore, a community - homes, a church, and a company store - were all built to house the miners.

All Trails/Brian Roudabush

However, in 1899, Carnegie sold the mine to the Bellefonte Furnace Company. The family has a town named after them.

All Trails/Scott Irvin

Nevertheless, World War II brought with it an attempted comeback of mining in Scotia.

All Trails/Justin Strickland

Looking back, its easy to see that this is how the ghost town of Scotia came into being as a relic of a bye-gone era. It really is one of the many interesting, abandoned towns in the state.

You can find it by following the 1.4-mile long Scotia Barrens Trail, which is one of the most popular trails in Pennsylvania.

All Trails/Rob Peeler

You’ll pass the remains of an old car and…

All Trails/Todd Alexander

…and other buildings that dotted once the town.

If you’d like, here is another abandoned town in Pennsylvania called Centralia that you can explore. It is accessible along a short hiking trail too! For more insights into Centralia, watch this intriguing video:

 

For something perhaps a bit more uplifting, the next time you need some quiet time in nature, visit this Pennsylvania waterfall.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Scotia Barrens, Scotia Range Rd, Port Matilda, PA 16870, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Adventures in Pennsylvania February 01, 2023 Lysa Allman-Baldwin Where can we find other abandoned towns in Pennsylvania?

Eckley - Located near Hazleton, it was originally a miner’s town and holds a great deal of history about the Irish immigrants who lived and worked here. French Azilum - Located in Wyalusing, refugees who fled the French Revolution built the original settlement which once encompassed dozens of homes. The Frick’s Lock Historical District – Located in East Coventry, this once thriving village was abandoned after the construction of the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant.

Read on to learn about other abandoned towns in Pennsylvania.   We’re looking for hiking trails in Pennsylvania.

The Raymondskill Creek Trail – Located in Dingman Township, this trail leads to Raymondskill Falls, the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania. The Copper Kettle Trail - Located in Somerset, it is only one mile long and particularly beautiful in the wintertime. The Chickies Rock Overlook Trail - Located in West Hempfield Township, this trail offers spectacular views of the Susquehanna River, is dog-friendly, wide, and gentle enough for strollers and those needing wheeled methods of movement.

Read on and discover more wonderful hiking trails in Pennsylvania.   Where can we learn more about the history of Pennsylvania?

The  Independence Visitor’s Center - Located in Philadelphia, it is the home of numerous historic documents including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, all of which were written and signed here. The Duquesne Incline – Located in Pittsburgh, it is a century-old cable car that originally opened in 1877 and is today one of the few remaining inclines in the U.S. The Kinzua Viaduct – Located in Mount Jewett, when it was built in 188, it was the world’s longest and highest railroad bridge. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a National Engineering Landmark.

Read on to learn more about the history of Pennsylvania.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Adventures in Pennsylvania

February 01, 2023

Lysa Allman-Baldwin

Where can we find other abandoned towns in Pennsylvania?

Eckley - Located near Hazleton, it was originally a miner’s town and holds a great deal of history about the Irish immigrants who lived and worked here. French Azilum - Located in Wyalusing, refugees who fled the French Revolution built the original settlement which once encompassed dozens of homes. The Frick’s Lock Historical District – Located in East Coventry, this once thriving village was abandoned after the construction of the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant.

Read on to learn about other abandoned towns in Pennsylvania.   We’re looking for hiking trails in Pennsylvania.

The Raymondskill Creek Trail – Located in Dingman Township, this trail leads to Raymondskill Falls, the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania. The Copper Kettle Trail - Located in Somerset, it is only one mile long and particularly beautiful in the wintertime. The Chickies Rock Overlook Trail - Located in West Hempfield Township, this trail offers spectacular views of the Susquehanna River, is dog-friendly, wide, and gentle enough for strollers and those needing wheeled methods of movement.

Read on and discover more wonderful hiking trails in Pennsylvania.   Where can we learn more about the history of Pennsylvania?

The  Independence Visitor’s Center - Located in Philadelphia, it is the home of numerous historic documents including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, all of which were written and signed here. The Duquesne Incline – Located in Pittsburgh, it is a century-old cable car that originally opened in 1877 and is today one of the few remaining inclines in the U.S. The Kinzua Viaduct – Located in Mount Jewett, when it was built in 188, it was the world’s longest and highest railroad bridge. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a National Engineering Landmark.

Read on to learn more about the history of Pennsylvania.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

  • Eckley - Located near Hazleton, it was originally a miner’s town and holds a great deal of history about the Irish immigrants who lived and worked here.
  • French Azilum - Located in Wyalusing, refugees who fled the French Revolution built the original settlement which once encompassed dozens of homes.
  • The Frick’s Lock Historical District – Located in East Coventry, this once thriving village was abandoned after the construction of the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant.

Read on to learn about other abandoned towns in Pennsylvania.

We’re looking for hiking trails in Pennsylvania.

  • The Raymondskill Creek Trail – Located in Dingman Township, this trail leads to Raymondskill Falls, the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania.
  • The Copper Kettle Trail - Located in Somerset, it is only one mile long and particularly beautiful in the wintertime.
  • The Chickies Rock Overlook Trail - Located in West Hempfield Township, this trail offers spectacular views of the Susquehanna River, is dog-friendly, wide, and gentle enough for strollers and those needing wheeled methods of movement.

Read on and discover more wonderful hiking trails in Pennsylvania.

Where can we learn more about the history of Pennsylvania?

  • The  Independence Visitor’s Center - Located in Philadelphia, it is the home of numerous historic documents including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, all of which were written and signed here.
  • The Duquesne Incline – Located in Pittsburgh, it is a century-old cable car that originally opened in 1877 and is today one of the few remaining inclines in the U.S.
  • The Kinzua Viaduct – Located in Mount Jewett, when it was built in 188, it was the world’s longest and highest railroad bridge. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a National Engineering Landmark.

Read on to learn more about the history of Pennsylvania.