Pitkin

Louisiana's ghost towns are river landings, lumber and turpentine camps, and oil-boom towns that deflated.

Pitkin is a census-designated place (CDP) in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. Pitkin is approximately 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Leesville, the parish seat, and approximately 45 miles (72 km) southwest of the city of Alexandria. As of the 2020 census, Pitkin had a population of 455. Burl Cain, former warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola and commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, was reared in Pitkin. His older brother, James David, a former member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature, was born in Pitkin in 1938.

The on-the-ground condition of Pitkin 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.

Here's the honest truth: access to Pitkin 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.

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.