If you fancy being in charge of your very own town, then this unique listing could pose the perfect opportunity. Left abandoned for years, Water Valley in Tennessee is a ghost town with plenty of promise. With a stunning acreage, rich history and an array of characterful extras hastily left behind, it's worth every penny of its $725,000 (£532k) asking price. Click or scroll on to discover the story behind this deserted community...

Situated on a quiet country road lined with fields and farmhouses, Water Valley, formerly known as Spencer's Mill, can be found on the edge of Maury County. Known for its flooding waters, caused by the town's close proximity to Leiper's Creek, Water Valley was established in 1874 when a new post office was opened. 

The now-empty community was once a bustling stop for the Middle Tennessee Railroad. According to the real listing agent, Christa Swartz, who spoke to The Tennessean, the train line was removed in the early 1930s. Pictured here in 1919 with a horse and cart outside, its removal was the beginning of the end for Water Valley. 

Long before residents upped sticks and moved on, Water Valley was a thriving little town. The Roundtree Brother’s Store opened its doors in 1892 and was originally owned and operated by business partners George Harlan and J.W. Oakley, according to local history blogger, Kerry Suit of Fly: Back in History. The town also boasted the McGowan Store which was known for selling handmade brooms and wild animal pelts, as well as offering haircuts and hack services to locals.

According to local legend, the McGowan Store (pictured) was moved by four horses, after the then owner, Frank Dodson, decided it needed a more prominent position in the town. A feat of engineering, the mules moved the building “with a triple block and tackle, rolling it on logs”, in order to turn it around to face Water Valley Road. A doctor’s surgery, dentist's office and blacksmiths all operated in Water Valley in the 19th century, too.

Just a few years after the arrival of the Roundtree Brother’s Store, in 1896, R.P. Pigg’s general store was constructed. However, it burnt it down years later in the 1930s and a replacement was built nearby by local resident, Cleve Alderson. In 1891, Thomas Pigg donated an acre of land to the town so that a non-denominational church could be built. The property doubled up as a school until a four-room schoolhouse was constructed in 1911, thanks to generous donations from Maury County and local resident, Donald Galloway.

Water Valley school was built in 1949 but it closed 10 years later, leaving the children from the area to travel to nearby Santa Fe to receive an education. It seems the abandoned school no longer exists, but there are plenty of properties that remain relatively intact across the now-empty town.

Described by Compass, as an "original little town", Water Valley is now left with four quaint abandoned buildings that date back to the late 1800s. These tiny timber shacks, which were once the town's general stores, mostly occupy a single room and have been left untouched for decades. Chairs and benches remain on the porch of this pre-1900s shop – a place where people would have gathered to watch the world go by.

Step inside one of the shops and you'll instantly be transported back in time. Although the shelves are empty, it isn't difficult to imagine this space being a bustling hub for the townspeople. The shop's door frame is still filled with the pencilled heights of the children that once lived in Water Valley, while the original cash register also remains in its place. According to The Tennessean, the highest amount a clerk could enter was $1 (74p). 

The property also offers three other old store buildings that were built before 1900, each one with its own unique design and character. While one is clad in rustic tin tiles, the others boast shiplap exteriors that have definitely seen better days. 

Despite their tumbledown appearance, these 100-year-old structures are ripe and ready to be restored. With the right budget and imagination, the rundown shacks could soon be transformed into beautiful homes. 

Yet much work would be needed to render the buildings habitable. Many feature broken windows, rotting timber frames, damaged floors and crumbling plasterwork, as well as leaking roofs and poor electrics. But if you're seeking an extreme fixer-upper, this town could be enough to spark your imagination...

This former general store is one of the town's most promising spaces. Light-filled and spacious, it offers a generous ceiling height, open-plan layout and plenty of period elements that could one day make a quirky converted living space. 

Full to the brim with antiques and discarded broken items, the space has made the perfect storage area over the years. However, from its panelled walls and ceiling to its many windows and the timber door, there's much that could be restored, rescued and upcycled. 

Throughout the eerie abandoned buildings you'll find endless items that could be salvaged and upcycled, including discarded sinks, wooden chairs and shelving. However, surrounded by inches of dust and dirt, they appear to have been untouched for many years... 

Two of the town's old buildings have already been updated with modern wiring and plumbing, taking some of the hard work away from the new owner of Water Valley. With three bedrooms and three bathrooms overall, the town could be move-in ready if the buyer wants to start living there right away.

The most recent owner has also already transformed two of the buildings into an events venue, where she hosts weddings and live music, as well as Friday night dances at the local Community Centre. There's also an apartment that's attached to one of the former general stores, which formerly served as a popular bed and breakfast.

Savvy restorers will love the fact that the town comes with a dilapidated barn, ready to be transformed into something beautiful. The rustic outbuilding is the town's original stock barn and was likely used for storing hay and equipment for the surrounding farmland. 

An ideal investment opportunity, the town could be used for commercial or residential purposes and even restored to its former life as a charming bed and breakfast – making it perfect for those seeking a home with a job thrown in.

Of course, the abandoned town for sale has more to offer than just a few ramshackle buildings. The seven-acre estate has parking, picnic spaces and Mulberry trees galore, as well as easy access to the main road in and out of town. Tranquil and secluded, and yet within easy reach of some of Tennessee's finest cities, including Columbia, Nashville and Mount Pleasant, the abandoned town offers the best of both worlds. 

With land aplenty, the town may once have been teeming with cattle and horses, too, thanks to its abundance of flat land and grassy pastures. This large field is perfect for development and could easily be utilised for farm animals, the construction of a new home or holiday cottages for visiting guests.

According to The Tennessean, the town was once renowned for its orchard trees but they were effected by a cedar tree fungus that was introduced to the area. Original apple boxes can still be found in some of the stores, offering a reminder of the town's former life.

The listing agent, Christa Swartz, hopes the ghost town will be transformed into a rural retreat. "It's just the most peaceful, lovely place," she told the Tennessean. "The minute I saw this, I was imagining a little, smaller version of [nearby] Leiper's Fork. This place is so rich in romance and dreaminess." We can't wait to see who snaps up Water Valley, and find out what becomes of the tiny town. 

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