Ghost Town USA

Ghost Town · Florida

Ethel

A ghost town of unknown status in Lake County, Florida.

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

Ethel ghost town, Florida
Photo: NOAA Central Library, Silver Spring, Maryland (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons

Quick Facts

State
Florida
Status
Unknown Status
Access
Unknown Access
Coordinates
Not recorded

Some ghost towns feel like museums. Ethel feels like an interruption — a place that stopped mid-sentence. Hurricane Ethel was one of two major hurricanes in the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season.

Lake County holds 12 documented ghost towns, including Acron, Bayview, Chetwynd — Ethel keeps them company on the map.

The story of Ethel

Florida's ghost towns are railroad towns Flagler built, 1920s land-boom subdivisions that busted, and phosphate and turpentine camps.

Hurricane Ethel was one of two major hurricanes in the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season. The sixth known tropical cyclone, fifth named storm, and fourth hurricane of the season, Ethel developed from a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico on September 14. After becoming a tropical storm, Ethel rapidly intensified and became a hurricane six hours later. By early on September 15, the storm reached major hurricane intensity when it became a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.

What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Ethel 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 Ethel 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.

Ethel FAQs

Where is Ethel located?
Ethel is in Lake County, Florida. Precise coordinates aren't on record, so research maps and local directions before you go.
What county is Ethel in?
Ethel sits in Lake County, Florida. See our full guide to ghost towns in Lake County for its neighbors.
What is the history of Ethel?
Hurricane Ethel was one of two major hurricanes in the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season. The sixth known tropical cyclone, fifth named storm, and fourth hurricane of the season, Ethel developed from a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico on September 14.
What remains at Ethel today?
The on-the-ground condition of Ethel 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 Ethel?
Here's the honest truth: access to Ethel 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 (“Hurricane Ethel (1960)”), CC BY-SA.

More Ghost Towns in Lake County

See all 12 ghost towns in Lake County, Florida