7 Reasons Portlock, Alaska Is America’s Creepiest Ghost Town

Portlock, Alaska, was a census-designated town on the southern tip of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. At one point, this town was vibrant and bustling with an active cannery scene. Most goods produced in Portlock were canned salmon, and the town’s inhabitants lived peacefully near the water. However, the town is now abandoned — and you won’t believe why! Learn why Portlock is one of the creepiest ghost towns on the planet.

1. Sudden Changes

At one time, Portlock was a popular town with a role in Alaska’s canning industry. The area was renowned for salmon. The town’s name came from Nathaniel Portlock, a British ship captain who docked in the area in 1786. For the next many decades, inhabitants of the town produced canned goods and lived in peace. In fact, the area established a post office in 1921, which proves a significant presence of inhabitants.

However, in the 1940s and 50s, the residents of Portlock quickly picked up their bags and left town. The area was beautiful, and the fish were plentiful, so the quick exit from Portlock didn’t make sense. Unless… there was a mystery afoot!

2. A Town Disturbance

Reportedly, the Portlock residents left the beautiful town in the mid-1900s because of a disturbance around the village: unexplained murders. Reportedly, a man was found dead by a single blow of an ax. It didn’t make sense how or why a person would kill someone in that manner, and the town grew anxious about the unknowns.

3. A Mysterious Creature Spotted

One day, a group of men were hunting in the forests when they saw unexplainable large footprints in the dirt. Keep in mind that these folks grew up in the woods and were extremely comfortable identifying animals in and around the town. But these footprints were so large and unrecognizable that a story began to form: a creature lived in these woods.

Over time, the footprints became more and more common, coinciding with murders and other unexplainable activities. The Alutiiq named the unidentified beast a “nantiinaq,” which means half-man, half-beast.

Soon after the initial sighting, residents began witnessing the beast with their own eyes! Nantiinaq sightings were becoming more frequent, and with each sighting, the spirit of unrest grew in the community. Families were growing more and more afraid with each passing day.

4. Body Recovery

Once the nantiinaq sightings began, more unexplainable activities started to take place. For example, bodies were found in the nearby lagoon with markings that couldn’t be identified. Again, recall that the residents of Portlock lived off the land and were extremely familiar with the animals in the area. The markings could only be explained by a beast who was larger than life: the nantiinaq.

The frequency of the nantiinaq sightings, coupled with unexplained injuries, prompted residents to leave the town in the 1950s. The post office closed in 1951, and the people abandoned the town entirely.

5. Trust the Locals

The locals in surrounding towns believe that the stories about Portlock are true. They don’t visit the town due to its haunted history! Thus, it’s still a completely abandoned area.

6. Odd Census Reporting

Interestingly enough, Portlock participated in a census count in both 1940 and 1980. The census report states that Portlock had exactly 31 residents in both 1940 and 1980. By 1990, it lost its status as a census-designated place with no further reports.

7. A Visitor in the 1970s

A storm in the area reportedly occurred in the 1970s, and a fisherman stopped in Portlock to take shelter. While sheltering, he reported witnessing a startling creature walking through the camp. They left immediately due to the incident. Its description aligned very much with that of the earlier nantiinaq sightings.

Can you Visit Portlock Today?

While there has been some movement to reestablish Portlock as a census-designated place, the town is still very difficult to visit due to its remote location. There are a few towns nearby, including Seldovia, Chrome, and Port Chatham. It’s not easy to get to Portlock, and even if you could, would you want to? What do you think about the haunting tales of the Bigfoot of Alaska?

However, there are plenty of spots to check out in Alaska that aren’t haunted. If you’re planning a trip to the northernmost state in the US, be sure to check out Juneau, Kodiak, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center!

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