I love picture books and websites about Canada. I peruse them searching for places to visit, especially communities lost to time. Not long ago I had read about a couple of ghost towns near Ottawa, Ontario. The author, a very popular Ontario resident who not only writes about but photographs this beautiful province, had mentioned an area referred to as the “forgotten land”. Forgotten by whom? By the residents who briefly called these lands home? By the government itself? The thought of this “forgotten” land intrigued me. Maybe, just maybe it had been forgotten on purpose! Muuaaaahahahahah….
Taking note of two towns in particular, Q and I made our way to our first destination – Balaclava, Ontario. A bustling lumber community in its day, Balaclava is found in Renfrew County nestled on Constant Creek.


Upon entering the town, Q and I were excited at our first glimpse of the abandoned buildings and ransacked mill. Parked along the water’s edge, we exited the car anxious too begin photographing this memory from the past. My camera was up to my eye when I heard Q speaking. I couldn’t make out what he had said and was about to inquire when I heard a woman’s voice respond. I lifted the camera away from my face and noticed two women standing and conversing with Q. Awesome! More ghost town hunters to join the fun, I thought. Well, as I was about to find out, they weren’t exactly ghost town hunters. No in fact, it turned out these ladies were residents of Balaclava, along with a few other families situated down the road from where we stood.

HOLD UP! Isn’t Balaclava supposed to be a ghost town? Isn’t a “ghost” town supposed to be filled with nothing but ghosts? Lets be real here. If a rundown, abandoned building or two makes for a ghost town then Ontario is loaded with them starting with it’s largest city Toronto. Hell, there are thousands across this country by this definition. I have to admit I was disappointed and maybe a wee pissed off. Honestly, all the excitement, fun, uncertainty and definitely creepiness drained quickly from the experience once we found out people were still living among what was supposed to be remnants of life long ago. The only saving grace might have been if people had just started moving back to the area. But no, the ladies confirmed they’d been there forever.
So after some quick photos we hopped in our car and drove to the next town. Newfoundout, a very Maritime sounding name, had officially been declared abandoned in 1948. Grown from the government’s colonization plans to move immigrants into the area, the offer of free land was enticing to many seeking a better life in North America. But free land doesn’t feed your children when the soil cannot grow crops and the topography and weather of the area make it a hostile environment to live in. With schools and shopping far from this off beaten path the locals were left to fend for themselves.

After a long drive down a narrow, windy, rocky, bush road we finally arrived at Newfoundout. I was pleased that no one was living in this ghost town. Unfortunately, almost everything has been reclaimed by nature or time and only fragments of some barns are what remain on what is now private property. If you didn’t already know a town had once been here, the bits and pieces of buildings did not make it obvious. Newfoundout looked more like an abandoned farm rather than a town but it was still pretty cool.
I had read how this area of the Ottawa Valley was remote and readers were warned to proceed with caution. These warnings seemed a bit exaggerated to us, but hey who are we to judge? We’ve only done a road trip in the arctic where you can drive hours if not days and see no one. The funniest part was that once we were at the cusp of the middle of no where at Newfoundout’s doorstep, our cell phones had full bars!

For whatever the reason it has been forgotten, whether the crappy soil or inhospitable environment, this area along the Opeongo Road is a beautiful drive. If you are visiting Ottawa, take a road trip this fall to see the beautiful colours. Or, if you are into abandoned buildings and a possible “ghost” town, search out Balaclava and Newfoundout and tour the memories of long ago.
And once you’ve made it back to civilization, forget you were ever even there….
~True North Nomad
Where are some cool ghost towns you’ve visited? Know of any abandoned buildings with a creepy past? Talk to us in the comments below.
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Love finding out about these old places!!!! I have to admit I’m slightly obsessed with ghost towns and abandoned buildings!!! Great pictures!!!
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Thanks it was a lot of fun! You’d have loved it Tabs!
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Thank you for sharing your travels; your adventures and photographs are a mesmerizing tribute to your beautiful country. Great work…you’ve got us all daydreaming!
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Wow – the stories that could be written about that place. Very spooky!
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You DID capture the place beautifully (as usual). Loved that I could FEEL the worn out barn wood and visually hear the sounds. LOVED IT! Definitely makes me want to go there! It also reminds me of some beautiful older places we had in Mississippi and Texas (but like you, I like the old weathered worn adventures) – ghosts or not, peaceful and historical. 🙂
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Agreed. Thanks for dropping by!
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This so reminded me of David Francey’s song Torn Screen Door.
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that song is awesome – thanks for sharing!
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I love those old places. There are some old, abandoned farm house around here that were begging for exploration. It turns out it was where a friend of ours great grandparents lived!
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Small world eh! I was searching out ghost towns in New Brunswick when I was there and couldn’t find any. I wonder how many are out in Nova Scotia? If you ever find one let us know! Take care.
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I sure will! So far I haven’t found any ghost towns… just ghost farms and farm houses.
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I enjoyed your journey ~ fabulous photos!
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Thank you and I’m glad you enjoyed the trip!!
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Definitely enjoyed it and am more than a little envious of your life. lol
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What I like about looking at old structures is the manner of construction. I am not a Doomsday Prepper but I always think what could I do if I had nothing and had to start again – and I look at the old ways when true pioneering was still the way.
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Thats a good point. We’re so caught up in technology doing things for us I often wonder if it were all of a sudden to disappear how would we survive… who remembers how to do things on our own.
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What words within those walls be spoke. What tales be held of long dead folk?
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Exactly! Thanks for dropping by.
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Fascinating place! Great that places like this are still accessible…and great that you visit it in your own country too!
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It’s really very cool. There are actual provinces in Canada with no ghost towns… New Brunswick comes to mid!
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Reminds me of a place I’ve visited. I’ll gather some photos and put up a post.
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Oh I’d love to see them.
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Nuttallburg, the town that once was, is up on my site now. Shout out to TNM at the end.
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I’m on my way over to check it out!!!
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Nice place
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Yes it was very nice. Thanks for visiting.
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I really like pictures of old farm buildings barns etc.
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The barns were cool and it was very peaceful in this area.
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Sounds like cool places Lily; adventures off the beaten path are right up our alley too. I was thinking about the concept of ghost town. Maybe its just a matter of a place that is a ghost of its former self, what do you think?
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That could be possible. Both of these places were definitely ghosts of their former selves. Still I like it better when no one lives there – it ups the creepy factor! :). Thanks for dropping by.
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No ghost towns around me, but I enjoyed the read and pictures. Pretty cool
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Some are very hard to find… which just up their cool factor. Thanks for dropping by!
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Seems like a nice place to take pictures!
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It was a great place to photograph! Thanks for dropping by.
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Beautiful pictures!! It sounds quite fascinating going out on exploring ghost towns, even if they aren’t as ghostly as expected. But still looks like an amusing and peaceful trip 🙂
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Yes they weren’t as spooky as we were hoping for but it was still really beautiful!
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A great post with great photos!
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Thank you!
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Like to see signs of people in such places
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It is definitely an experience being in such a remote place and find traces of people long ago.
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My mother grew up in Nordegg, Alberta–about 100 miles west of Red Deer. It was a coal mining town, but the market for coal declined and the mine was closed in the 1950s. Soon after, the town closed. It’s now maintained as an historic site.
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I actually have been to Nordegg, too funny! Another town listed as a ghost town but you’re right – its a historic site and very touristy. Small world – we keep crossing each other’s path across the US and Canada. I’m in New York right now and the leaves are starting to change. I was thinking it must be well on its way in Michigan!
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Maybe in the far north of Michigan, but here in Detroit it’s almost entirely green, which is unusual. A few flecks of yellow or red, that’s all.
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I’m going to have to wait a few weeks then and take a trip up there… can’t wait to see the colours!
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This link may be helpful.
http://www.freep.com/story/travel/2016/09/24/michigan-fall-colors-leaves/90004418/
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Hey thanks so much!
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no problem!
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Wow. Its true that we will never touch these towns you have just described. I recalled reading somewhere (perhaps on NatGeo) about such towns in the Russian far east too. Guess Canada is just as large a country too! Keep these stories coming!
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I bet there are so many ghost towns especially throughout Europe! Now that is a trip I’m interested in!
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Hmm, yes. Wonder if any other bloggers out there can share where to find them…
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I would love to know. I’m on New York right now and there is one called Doodletown I’m dying to check out!!
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I read recently that there are many towns with funny names in the US (eg Butzville)…check them out too!
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Will do!
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Thank you for a virtual exploring of an area I likely will never see in person – your photos are wonderful!
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Thank you!
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