Ghost Town USA

Ghost Town · Pennsylvania

Bells Mills

A ghost town of unknown status in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

By the Ghost Town USA research team · Last reviewed September 2026

Bells Mills ghost town, Pennsylvania
Photo: Leo A. McMullen, Photographer (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons

Quick Facts

Status
Unknown Status
Access
Unknown Access
Coordinates
Not recorded

Some ghost towns feel like museums. Bells Mills feels like an interruption — a place that stopped mid-sentence. Bells Mills Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge in Sewickley Township and South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It is a 95-foot-long (29 m), Burr truss bridge, constructed in 1850.

Indiana County holds 28 documented ghost towns, including Appalacha, Aqueduct, Armerford — Bells Mills keeps them company on the map.

The story of Bells Mills

Pennsylvania invented the American company town — coal patches and oil booms that burned bright and short.

Bells Mills Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge in Sewickley Township and South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It is a 95-foot-long (29 m), Burr truss bridge, constructed in 1850. It features pedimented gables and plain pilasters in the Greek Revival style. It crosses Sewickley Creek. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Bells Mills sounds like exactly what it was — a working town, not a resort.

What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Bells Mills is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Getting there

Here's the honest truth: access to Bells Mills is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Good to know

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.

Bells Mills FAQs

Where is Bells Mills located?
Bells Mills is in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Precise coordinates aren't on record, so research maps and local directions before you go.
What county is Bells Mills in?
Bells Mills sits in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. See our full guide to ghost towns in Indiana County for its neighbors.
What is the history of Bells Mills?
Bells Mills Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge in Sewickley Township and South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It is a 95-foot-long (29 m), Burr truss bridge, constructed in 1850.
What remains at Bells Mills today?
The on-the-ground condition of Bells Mills is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
Can you visit Bells Mills?
Here's the honest truth: access to Bells Mills is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Sources: description based on Wikipedia (“Bells Mills Covered Bridge”), CC BY-SA.

More Ghost Towns in Indiana County

See all 28 ghost towns in Indiana County, Pennsylvania