This Abandoned Sawmill Town Is The Scariest Place In Deep East Texas

Imagine being deep in the forest and working at a sawmill over 100 years ago. This location is very isolated now, but then it was even more so.

You can't drive to what used to be Aldridge, but according to this article written by late local historian, Bob Bowman, there were railroad tracks that used to haul the over 100,000 board feet of lumber the sawmill produced every day to Dallas, Houston, and Beaumont.

The tracks were ripped up in 1925 and that signified the end of a town that once was home to around 2,000 people. Now the only way to get there is on foot.

A Forgotten Ghost Town In The Middle Of The Angelina National Forest

If you go to the Angelina National Forest in Deep East Texas, you can still visit the Aldridge Sawmill on the Neches River. The hike begins at the Boykin Springs Recreation Area.

Just follow the aptly named Sawmill Trail, and you'll find the trailhead at the creek crossing. Then it's just a matter of following the yellow arrows nailed to the trees.

You usually have to muck around through some areas of the trail, but when it's dry the hike is much easier. All of that hard work to get there makes the reward at the end just that much sweeter.

Visit This Abandoned Sawmill In The Angelina National Forest 

At one time the sawmill had as many as 500 employees. The town of Aldridge popped up next to the mill, but its population peaked at about 1500 people in 1912. By 1925 the sawmill stopped operations for good.

Soon after the area became a ghost town and has since been somewhat reclaimed by the forest. A few structures around the area are completely gone, but the hand-poured concrete walls of three sawmill buildings still stand proud.

Concrete Monoliths Covered In Graffiti Create An Apocalyptic Scene

Once you get to what remains of the sawmill town, you will be immediately assaulted by graffiti. Uninspired tags and other larger works of stone art continue to change with each visit.

Even in the daylight, you feel like you have just stepped onto the set of the latest zombie flick. Large holes were punched into the sides of walls to remove the steam-powered equipment once the mill closed, just adding to the scene.

If you are looking for a perfect place for your next spooky Halloween photoshoot for Instagram this is it. I just wouldn't stay there after dark.