WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – Many have watched the 2006 horror film ‘Silent Hill’ which was based in West Virginia, but in reality, where is the actual Silent Hill?
Silent Hill is a fictional town in the popular video game and film series of the same name, known for its eerie atmosphere, foggy streets, and disturbing creatures.
The movie was filmed in 2006 and directed by Christophe Gans and written by Roger Avary.
The Silent Hill movie follows Rose Da Silva’s desperate search for a cure for her daughter Sharon’s mysterious illness. Against her husband’s wishes, she takes Sharon to the eerie town of Silent Hill, where they become separated amidst a supernatural darkness.
As Rose unravels the town’s dark history involving a religious cult and a tormented girl named Alessa, she must confront grotesque creatures and navigate the nightmarish dimensions of Silent Hill to reunite with her daughter and escape its horrors.
The 2006 horror movie was based in West Virginia, but the real town that it was based on is actually located in the deserted town of Centralia, Pennsylvania.
Centralia was once a thriving coal-mining town located in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The town’s downfall began in 1962 when an underground coal fire ignited in the mines beneath Centralia.
The fire started due to the negligent burning of trash in an open pit, which allowed the flames to spread to the coal seams. Despite efforts to extinguish the fire, it quickly became uncontrollable and started to spread throughout the extensive network of underground coal mines.
The coal fire caused a series of devastating consequences for Centralia and its residents. Toxic fumes and carbon monoxide emissions permeated the town, posing serious health risks.
Sinkholes and cracks appeared in the ground, leading to the evacuation of several homes. The authorities made numerous attempts to extinguish the fire, but their efforts proved futile.
As the situation worsened, the government made the difficult decision to condemn the town.
Over the years, most of the buildings were demolished, and the residents were forced to relocate. Centralia’s population dwindled from over 1,000 residents in the 1980s to just a handful today.
Today, Centralia presents a haunting and surreal landscape. The town is mostly abandoned, with only a few houses remaining. The once-bustling streets are now covered in graffiti and vegetation, giving the town an eerie and post-apocalyptic feel.
The remnants of buildings and infrastructure stand as decaying relics of a bygone era.
One of the most striking features of Centralia is the pervasive smoke and steam that emanates from the ground. This visible reminder of the underground fire is a constant reminder of the town’s tragic history. The ground is warm to the touch in some areas, and the hissing sound of the escaping gases adds to the unsettling ambiance.
Centralia has become a tourist attraction, drawing curious visitors intrigued by its ghost town-like appearance. Graffiti Highway, an abandoned stretch of Route 61, was once a popular spot for visitors to leave their mark on the town’s forgotten roads although it has since been covered up with dirt.
The sight of steam rising from cracks in the ground and the desolate streets covered in graffiti create a surreal and unsettling experience reminiscent of the atmosphere in the Silent Hill series.
While it has gained notoriety as a tourist attraction, caution should be exercised due to the ongoing underground fire and associated health risks.