Willets Ghost Town
Jackson County, North Carolina35.4117, -83.1156
Can you visit?
Likely private land
Private or unlisted land · Ask the owner first
- Nearest town
- 6.3 miSylva, NC
- Mild months
- Mar–Nov9 of 12
- Elevation
- 2,690 ft820 m
Willets is a former settlement in Jackson County, North Carolina, listed among the ghost towns of North Carolina. It lies at about 2,690 feet above sea level.
On the map
- National Forest
- National Park Service
- Private or unlisted
Star: Willets. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Sylva, NC, about 6.3 miles southwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Asheville, NC, 34 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- Cataloochee16 mi north
- Glenville16 mi south
- Judson25 mi west
- Elkmont31 mi northwest
- Wasp32 mi north
- Proctor35 mi west
- Visage46 mi southwest
- Burton47 mi southwest
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
Private or unlisted land
The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run March to November, judging by NOAA normals from Waynesville 1 E. Snow is normal from December to March.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Waynesville 1 E station (USC00319147), 9.8 miles away. About 50.1 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Jackson County, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35.41170, -83.11560 |
| Elevation | 2,690 ft (820 m) |
| Also known as | Willets, North Carolina, Willets, NC |
| Sources | Wikidata Q8003699 · Wikipedia article |
Questions
Where is Willets ghost town?
In Jackson County, North Carolina, at 35.4117, -83.1156. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Sylva, NC, about 6.3 miles southwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Asheville, NC, 34 miles away.
Can you visit Willets?
Likely private land. The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
When is the best time to visit Willets?
Mild months here run March to November, judging by NOAA normals from Waynesville 1 E. Snow is normal from December to March.
Are there other ghost towns near Willets?
Yes. Cataloochee (16 mi), Glenville (16 mi), Judson (25 mi), Elkmont (31 mi).
