Uncovering the Globe's Priciest Ghost Towns

5. The Great Bend Fronton Jai Alai in Chattahoochee, Florida

Place: Florida's Chattahoochee Year: 1978 Price: Total Estate Value = $22 million This arena in Florida has been vacant for many years. The arena was called the Big Bend Jai Alai Fronton, and it hosted the "fastest game" in the globe. It was also full of risk and gambling. People would wager on the Big Bend players in the notoriously risky Spanish sport of jai alai, which was played in the arena.

Advertisement

Big Bend Jai Alai Fronton @atlasobscura/Pinterest, Chattahoochee, Florida Stephen Calder, who left a $22 million estate that included the Big Bend, created the area. It was discovered that Calder may have been a highly dishonest businessman, encouraging gambling, holding set games, and even, supposedly, storing suitcases of diamonds and gold everywhere. His estate was contested in probate court for thirteen years.

6. Santa Claus in Arizona's Golden Valley

Place: Arizona's Golden Valley Year: 1937 Price: $8,000  Sale Price in 2021 One of the hottest regions in the country is the Mojave Desert, which is the last location you would think to find a town with a Christmas theme. In spite of this, Nina Talbot and her husband established Santa Claus, a now-ghost town, in the 1930s.

Golden Valley, Arizona; Santa Claus Twitter/@HallowsHaunts In addition to rides and other Christmas-themed buildings, Santa Claus was established as the North Pole in the desert. Santa Claus was a well-liked tourist destination for a while, drawing even movie stars. However, Santa Claus began to struggle as no one was purchasing land in the area, and Talbot sold the town in 1949 with very little profit. Over the years, the land has changed hands; the record sale price was $8,000 in 2021.