Ghost Town USA

Ghost Town · Pennsylvania

Three Mile

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

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

Three Mile ghost town, Pennsylvania
Photo: United States Department of Energy (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons

Quick Facts

Status
Unknown Status
Access
Unknown Access
Coordinates
Not recorded

If walls could talk, Three Mile would never shut up. Lucky for visitors, they mostly just stand there. The Three Mile Island accident was a partial nuclear meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor (TMI-2) of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, located on the Susquehanna River in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, n

Elk County holds 18 documented ghost towns, including Arroyo, Big Run, Blue Rock — Three Mile keeps them company on the map.

The story of Three Mile

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

The Three Mile Island accident was a partial nuclear meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor (TMI-2) of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, located on the Susquehanna River in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The reactor accident began at 4:00 a.m. on March 28, 1979, and released radioactive gases and radioactive iodine into the environment. It is the worst accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history, although its small radioactive releases had no detectable health effects on plant workers or the public.

What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Three Mile 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 Three Mile 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.

Three Mile FAQs

Where is Three Mile located?
Three Mile is in Elk County, Pennsylvania. Precise coordinates aren't on record, so research maps and local directions before you go.
What county is Three Mile in?
Three Mile sits in Elk County, Pennsylvania. See our full guide to ghost towns in Elk County for its neighbors.
What is the history of Three Mile?
The Three Mile Island accident was a partial nuclear meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor (TMI-2) of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, located on the Susquehanna River in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
What remains at Three Mile today?
The on-the-ground condition of Three Mile 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 Three Mile?
Here's the honest truth: access to Three Mile 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 (“Three Mile Island accident”), CC BY-SA.

More Ghost Towns in Elk County

See all 18 ghost towns in Elk County, Pennsylvania