When I was a kid we used to drive through there every year on the way to Knoebels. Back when the houses were still standing and the hell smoke was still coming out of the ground next to the highway. It was damn trippy.
I love a good Knoebels name-drop
Eh, they paved over the cool stuff
Yeah, it’s basically a smelly nature walk now.
Centralia was the inspiration for the Silent Hill (2006) movie.
Also the film Nothing But Trouble (1991).
I guess Judge Valkenheiser finally moved out…
As of 2020, only 5 residents remain.
Perfect place to mind their business
I detoured through here on a road trip one time, the town was just kind of abandoned but didn’t look too weird, but I just happened to get stuck in one of the worst thunderstorms I’ve ever been in as I was leaving. That’s my overriding memory of the place.
Picture from ~2011 edit: a few more