Whether once-loved residences or part of formerly bustling communities, these amazing abandoned homes across Canada are shadows of their former selves. Left to fall into decay, their crumbling exteriors, dusty hallways and long-forgotten belongings tell some of the tales of how they came to be left behind.

Click or scroll to take a tour of Canada's tumbledown treasures and uncover the fascinating stories hidden inside their walls.

Dating back to around 1799, The Easson House is a very rare example of a residential home that has been occupied throughout the centuries. Still mostly in its original condition, the home lies in Lequille, Nova Scotia, and is a truly fascinating piece of real estate.

Let's step inside...

The home's interior is fairly well preserved, although many of the previous owner's belongings have been cleared out and stacked up in the barn outside.

The entrance hall boasts a retro thick-pile carpet, a unique curving staircase and dainty pink wallpaper, leading through to dual living rooms that appear to have been left untouched for many years.

The house measures 1,700 square feet (158sqm) and there are lovely period details throughout, including high ceilings, original fireplaces and sash windows.

The stuff of real estate nightmares, the house also happens to be filled with rather creepy empty rocking chairs, all facing the fireplace. Did we hear a creak!

If you want to delve deeper into its history, The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia dedicated a section of their book Seasoned Timbers to the house, and it was recently designated a Municipal Heritage Property. 

The Easson House was for sale in October 2024 for CAD$250,000 ($184k/£139k). Here's hoping this historic home gets the happy ending it deserves.

The town of Bents in Marriott, Saskatchewan was officially established in 1930, along the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) line that connected the communities of Perdue and Rosetown.

Thanks to the train station, Bents began to grow in size and soon boasted residential homes, a dance hall, a general store, a post office and two grain elevators, including the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevator, which can be seen in the background of this picture. 

Sadly, in the 1960s the southern section of the CPR rail line was abandoned, which quickly led to the town's decline. It deteriorated so much that the long-standing Longworth’s General Store closed its doors.

This haunting image shows the inside of the shop, which doesn't appear to have changed much since the 60s. While the cash register is gone and the shelves are bare, there is the odd item scattered throughout the store, including an old ice skate, which was left behind when the town was vacated. 

The railway continued to pass through Bents until it was completely removed in 1977, cutting off access to the declining town and driving any remaining residents to neighbouring towns for work.

The grain stores were also closed, and while one still remains today (pictured here), the United Grain Growers elevator was demolished, leaving just the aforementioned Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevator, which has become something of a landmark in the area and is owned by Dallas Ostrom, who grew up in the area. Even this iconic structure is threatened following a storm in 2021 which caused damage to its roof and concerns that it might cause injury to passersby.

Of all the structures that were once bustling homes, very little now remains.

Scattered across the village you’ll also find rusting farm machinery, metal swing sets and the odd personal belonging that was left behind in a hurry. Now private property, tourists are no longer permitted to explore the eerie ghost town unless by prior arrangement with the owners.

This remote abandoned home in Annapolis, Nova Scotia might be the ultimate fixer-upper, but it's also been completely frozen in time. Sadly, we don't know when it was constructed, but we do know that its previous owner deserted it in haste...

The historic home spans 2,750 square feet (255sqm) and, despite its crumbling façade, boasts plenty of kerb appeal. Step inside and things take a slight turn, with the property's rooms full to bursting with personal belongings and antique furnishings.

For starters, someone's long-forgotten jacket can still be seen hanging from the coat hooks in the entrance hall...

Going through to the large living room, you'll find more historic furniture, including an intricately carved piano. There's also a dining room with its tablecloth still in place, and a rusty kitchen equipped with old crockery and work boots. The walls, ceilings and floors throughout are in a general state of decay.

However, there are plenty of eye-catching period fixtures, which are worthy of being restored. These include gorgeous original woodwork, fireplaces and timber floors.

There's also an acre of land, five bedrooms, an old barn and a machinery shop that could be transformed into habitable accommodation.

The old farmhouse was for sale in October 2024 for just under CAD$220,000 ($162k/£122k). The property comes with a barn, tractor and a machine shop full of tools including a welder, wood lathe and band saw.

Once set to become the biggest mansion in Canada, this sprawling home was never finished. Multi-millionaire Peter Grant, who made his fortune in wood, started working on his self-build project in 2005 when he bought a 43-acre plot  (17.4ha) next to Lake Temiskaming in Northern Ontario.

Grant paid around CAD$110,000 ($81k/£61k) for the land and began crafting the building, which was to become his home and corporate office. Thanks to images captured by urban explorer Freaktography, we can still take a look around. 

Grant's mansion, which is said to span 65,000 square feet (604sqm), was almost finished when the global economic recession left him without the funds to continue. Then, in 2009, Grant filed for court protection from creditors, following mounting debts. 

Shortly afterwards, all of Grant's company assets, including his part-finished mansion, were put up for sale. The asking price in 2010 was a whopping CAD$25 million ($18.5m/£13.9m). 

Inside, the abandoned building boasts huge winding corridors that lead to vast living rooms kitted out with floor-to-ceiling windows, grand fireplaces and statement brick walls. There is a massive atrium with a soaring ceiling, two discarded swimming pools and a colossal stone waterfall that appears to spill outside from the home's interior. 

The building was purchased by a Toronto-based company but they did little to improve the property. Many of the exterior spaces have been damaged by vandals, despite the security cameras that were installed, while the interior remains littered with construction materials. 

In 2023, the mansion was reportedly snapped up by Texan entrepreneur Chris Fischer, who has been described as an "audacious, irreverent, master of sarcasm". He was said to be looking at several possibilities for its future use, including a starring role in a reality TV series called Mansion Impossible. 

Apparently, the series will follow the businessman and his family, as they take on the major renovation project, which would undoubtedly take several years to complete. According to the show's Facebook page there’s been a lot going on behind the scenes, with a camera crew pictured outside the mansion in October 2024.

Many abandoned homes are shrouded in mystery, but this one definitely wins the award for haunting echoes of former lives.

Photographer Freaktography, also known as Dave, headed inside the property in rural Ontario to take some snaps. But he wasn't quite prepared for what he found inside. And we're not just referring to the discarded personal possessions that can be found in every room...

According to Dave, the home's most compelling history began at the turn of the 20th century, when a Polish couple and their three children moved to Ontario and bought the place. They reportedly made their living selling fruit from their orchard, which quickly became popular with locals.

In 1985, the family abruptly left the house, leaving their photos and personal effects behind. Left to decay for almost 40 years, the home is frozen in time.

According to relatives, the family's fortunes declined after their eldest son caused a fatal accident while driving under the influence. He was sent to prison for three years, and due to the shame suffered by the family, they went into hiding.

When their son was purportedly arrested again in 1984, they decided to leave the area for good.

The house remains strangely untouched, with the kitchen cupboards filled with canned foods and the bedroom closets still containing dresses and suits.

A calendar from 1979 hangs from one of the walls and Dave even found a plastic bag tucked behind a mattress, containing just under CAD$7,000 ($5.2k/£3.9k) in cash. 

He managed to contact the daughter of the family, who's now the owner of the home, and returned the money to its original owners.

Take the full tour here.

In the city of Burlington, Ontario, this abandoned house was discovered and documented by Dave at Freaktography in 2017.

According to Talking Walls Photography, it was vacated when the previous owners defaulted on their mortgage payments. But before they left the mid-century modern home, they installed plenty of unusual features...

Inside, the home boasted expensive fixtures, including marble floors, huge stone feature walls and plenty of glass. There was a large foyer that was akin to a waiting room, numerous living spaces that had been partly renovated and six bedrooms that would once have been lavish sleeping quarters. 

Other highlights included the home's indoor swimming pool with waterfront views.

Yet there was more to the mansion than met the eye. For example, the bathroom in the master suite revealed a seriously ostentatious side of the home's former owners.

Decked out with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, the space was almost too much to take in. There was no room for modesty here. Yet this wasn't the home's most surprising space...

That's right, hidden behind a door in the luxurious basement was this incredible red room. Kitted out with a vibrant carpet, leather chairs and fabric-covered walls and ceilings, the space had almost certainly seen its fair share of parties. 

For a period the property was taken over by content creators, who used the space as a filming location and studio for musicians and artists. 

Then in 2019, the building was sadly demolished, and the nearly three-acre (1.2ha) lot went up for sale for around CAD$6.5 million ($4.8/£3.6m) with Sotheby's International Realty Canada. It's gone, but not forgotten!

As well as its stunning scenery, New Brunswick on the Atlantic coast of Canada, is known for its historic covered wooden bridges, but it’s also pretty good at coming up with some unique properties at hard-to-beat prices. 

This little treasure in Hoyt comprises a 1,400 square-foot (130sqm) home, a large barn with stalls and a fenced field, plus nearly five acres (2ha) of land. Best of all, it boasts a river running through it, and all for the price of a good family car. The four-bedroom house which is just down the road from the charmingly named Blissville was on the market priced at CAD$89,900 ($66k/£49k) in October 2024.

Imagine waking up every morning and you're just a skip and a hop away this stunning view? The river is teaming with trout apparently, so if you like to while away your days waiting for a bite on the riverbank, this property is for you. 

It’s not as remote as it looks either. According to Zoocasa, nearby is a softball field, convenience store and it’s a short 14-minute drive to Welsford, and half-an-hour to Fredericton, where you will find larger stores and all manner of amenities.

If horses are more your thing, then look no further. The barn is already set up with multiple stalls for your equine friends and there is pasture galore where they can exercise, including a fenced field and a timbered loft where you can store your hay. 

Picture yourself riding your horses daily down to your own private stream and then into the picturesque trails and countryside beyond.

Don’t expect too much from the interiors of the four-bedroom house however. The home has lain derelict for some time and is in a state of neglect. There’s not much to recommend it in terms of period features either to judge by this image.

The beauty of this property is that at this price, you could happily tear down the existing structure and build your dream home from scratch in a location of spectacular scenery, where you have trails, creeks and waterfalls on your doorstep.

Dating back to 1901, the authentic company village of Val-Jalbert in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec was founded around a pulp mill located at the base of the Ouiatchouan Falls.

The mill was constructed by local Damase Jalbert and pulp production began in 1902. As the mill's success increased, so did the fortunes of the village.

Three years after the pulp mill opened, Damase Jalbert passed away and the company faced major cash problems, until it was bought by the Compagnie de pulpe de Chicoutimi, headed by Joseph-Édouard-Alfred Dubuc, in 1909.

After this, the mill and Val-Jalbert village underwent several years of modernisation. In fact, in the early 1920s, the village became known for its modern conveniences and was the envy of the surrounding communities.

But then, between May 1924 and December 1925, most of the mill workers were laid off, following administrative setbacks. It was temporarily closed until 1926 and a year later production halted permanently and the village was quickly deserted.

In 1942, the Québec government took ownership of the eerie ghost town. 

The residents of Val-Jalbert left behind their traditional timber homes, as well as the school, shops and restaurants that once lined its main thoroughfare. In the 1960s, the community was revived and opened to the public, offering a fascinating insight into life during the Roaring Twenties.

Today, the old mill is the pièce de résistance of the historic village and has been transformed into a museum.

Is there anything more haunting than an abandoned farmhouse?

This lonely building is positioned in the idyllic Ottawa Valley in Ontario and is surrounded by five sprawling acres (2ha) of land. As for the interior, the property appears to have been left in a rush.

The house dates back to the turn of the 20th century and features a unique interior filled with retro touches.

From vintage furnishings to wood-clad walls and mustard carpets, there’s plenty to fill you with nostalgia.

There’s an old-fashioned living room, a dated and dusty kitchen and four bedrooms.

According to the last listing agents, the home had been unoccupied for several years, but you can still spot traces of the previous owner in every room in these images.

This isn’t the only structure on the old farm, either. There are also several timber barns that are ripe for restoration.

The house was listed for sale for CAD$138,500 ($102k/£76.5k) in December 2021, but it was removed from the market just five days later. When it returned to the market, it went to multiple offers, explains realtor Robyn Voisey, but then the owners put it back on the market. 

The new proprietors have plans to renovate but works had not got underway at the time of writing. Maybe they're waiting for the better weather...

Rowley lies close to Drumheller, in Starland County, Alberta, and is brimming with history, as well as plenty of cool structures and remnants from the past.

Unlike many of Canada’s historic industrial settlements, this one still has nine permanent residents, although looking at the town’s ramshackle buildings, you’d never know.

Much like Bents, Rowley was created when a new train line was constructed through the town. With the increased foot traffic came new homes and businesses, as well as grain stores where locals worked.

In the 1920s, the town is thought to have had in the region of 500 residents, but by the mid-1970s the community was dying out. Sadly, in 1999 the last train passed through Rowley and only a few residents remained.

The cool ghost town is actually currently being restored by the remaining residents, who have pulled together to save many of the old pioneer buildings, including the railway museum, prairie school and the historic Sam's Saloon, which now serves refreshments to keen tourists.

Locals also purchased the old grain elevators for a dollar. But there are plenty of abandoned structures across the town that are yet to be rescued. 

Despite their efforts, and the town's renewed popularity with visitors, there are still plenty of eerie spots around Rowley that can be explored.

This old structure, which could have been a home or possibly a church, appears to have suffered some fire damage, but with a little TLC could be returned to its former glory. Watch this space!

Once a haven of opulence, comfort and luxury, this extensive mansion has been left to rot and be reclaimed by nature. 

According to local lore, the building was once owned by the so-called ‘Crypto King’, who had amassed a huge fortune through his crypto-mining operations, which he ran from the basement of the building.

Business must have taken a sky-dive however, because the owner is said to have vanished without a trace, leaving the residence to the elements. 

The property spans two separate lots and includes a tennis court, swimming pool and spacious garden. 

Luckily for us urban explorer Freaktography explored the property in 2023 and provides us with some fascinating insights into what life was like inside the once grandiose residence.

Polished hardwood flooring and vast elegant rooms abound, although broken windows and a ceiling leak in this one has caused extensive damage to the space.

The beautiful property features marble flooring, exquisite wooden panelling from floor to ceiling, and a dramatic spiral staircase. A true work of craftsmanship, the detailing is indicative of the extensive wealth of the home’s previous resident.

The unknown owner had a large set up in the basement, complete with technical equipment dedicated to Bitcoin mining. But his enterprise clearly turned bad.

The Crypto King clearly knew how to relax though, to judge by the hot tub installed on the second floor with its own ornate leaded stained-glass keyhole window and skylight. 

Despite the fact that the home was left to decay, it is still thought to be worth CAD$4.2 million ($3.1m/£2.3m) but with the owner vanished, he is unlikely to benefit from any sale and the property is likely to be demolished to make way for a new build.

Digital currencies are often the subject of scams, but this owner should not be confused with another self-proclaimed ‘Crypto King’, Aiden Pleterski, who owned a mansion in Burlington and is said to have spent around CAD$40 million ($30m/£22m) in investor funds and was reportedly kidnapped.

Not so grisly is the story of Guyitt House, which was once thought to be the most photographed house in Canada.

The enigmatic abandoned home was located just off the historical Talbot Trail, close to the shoreline of Lake Erie in Chatham-Kent, southwestern Ontario. Sadly, the storied landmark was demolished in June 2023 after a campaign to save it failed. 

Despite the home's popularity, relatively little was previously known about its history before CBC tasked one of its journalists, Meg Roberts, to find out about the intriguing home in 2018. Roberts approached the estate's final owner, Peter Anderson, whose grandparents, Roy and Ethel Guyitt, bought the house back in 1908. Peter's childhood memories are punctuated with happy times spent at the house with his family. 

Reportedly built between 1840 and 1850, the historic home succumbed to the elements over the years. When Peter became the legal owner, he was financially unable to complete all the repairs that were required, although he ensured the front lawn was always mowed in honour of his grandparents. 

Sadly, the home's fragile state caught the attention of local lawmakers in 2022 when a complaint about the property's structural safety was  made to the local municipality. 

Peter was told by officials that under the property standards bylaw, he had 14 days to make the house structurally sound or demolish it. Peter lodged an appeal in April 2023.

While the committee acknowledged the property's tourism value, the municipality rejected Peter's appeal in May 2023, stating that one of their own inspectors had since found that the property violated property standards, so the original complaint was irrelevant. 

They emphasised that the bylaw exists to protect the public. Peter was given until 20 October 2023 to “pursue options to preserve and protect the property and/or to complete work to bring the property into compliance with the bylaw.” In June, however, Peter bowed to the inevitable. 

"Unfortunately, the condition of this structure was such that, in our opinion, it was beyond repair and the only path forward was to demolish it," said Chatham-Kent's chief municipal building official, Paul Lucina. "At the end of the day, we need to protect the people of Chatham-Kent," he told CBC. 

Peter remained philosophical about the house’s demise. "All those things, you wish you can bring it back, but you can't," he explained. "It can only leave memories."

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