33 Ghost Towns That Have Become Stunning Tourist Attractions

33. Val-Jalbert, Quebec, Canada – An Intact Pulp Mill Village

Nestled beside a spectacular waterfall, Val-Jalbert was a state-of-the-art company town founded in 1901 around a booming pulp mill. It boasted modern amenities for its era, including electricity and running water in workers' homes. The town thrived for over two decades, driven by the demand for paper. However, technological shifts in the industry and the company's financial troubles led to the mill's abrupt closure in 1927, and the town was completely abandoned by 1929. Unlike many ghost towns that decayed over time, Val-Jalbert remained remarkably preserved. Today, it operates as an immersive historical village, classified as a heritage site. Visitors can explore over 40 original buildings (homes, convent school, general store, mill), ride a cable car for views of the falls, and interact with costumed interpreters, experiencing a near-perfect time capsule of early 20th-century industrial life in rural Quebec.