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One of the Smoky Mountains' most eerie ghost towns is that of the Lost Town of Proctor hidden deep in the Western North Carolina section of the Smokies. Found along Hazel Creek in the mountains not far from the town of Bryson City, this quiet spot was once a busy lumber town full of life. Back in the 1930s, Proctor had sawmills running, homes filled with families, and even a company store serving the community. Everything changed in the 1940s when Fontana Dam was built. The project created Fontana Lake, and rising water covered much of the town to help power an aluminum plant during World War II. Families had to leave their homes behind, and the town slowly faded away. Today, getting there isn’t easy. You either have to cross the lake by boat or hike deep into the backcountry. What’s left are quiet reminders of the past...the old mill area, the Proctor House, and several cemeteries hidden in the woods. It’s a still, haunting place that shows just how quickly a town can disappear. #smokymountains #smokymountainsnationalpark #brysoncitync #Smokies #GreatSmokyMountains #NorthCarolina #northcarolinaliving