Ellaville

Ellaville is a ghost town in Florida that grew around a sawmill and now consists mostly of ruins scattered through the forest. The remains of stone foundations and weathered wood structures mark where workers once lived and processed timber for shipment by rail.

The town was founded in the 1860s by George F. Drew, who built a successful sawmill and named it after his longtime household servant. It thrived until a fire destroyed the mill in 1898, leading to decline followed by regular flooding and economic hardship that eventually caused the place to be abandoned.

The town takes its name from Ella, a longtime household servant of founder George F. Drew, reflecting the connection between the place and its people. The remaining ruins and stone foundations scattered through the woods speak to a way of life built around timber work and the railroad that once moved through here.

The site is overgrown and rough, so wear sturdy shoes and be ready for uneven ground. There are no facilities or regular services on site, so plan ahead for anything you might need.

George F. Drew, the founder, was one of the first people in the region with running water and electricity in his home, which was extremely rare for the time. Such wealth and modernity were striking for a place built on timber work in wild Florida.