Morgan-Monroe State Forest Draper Cabin Ruins

These weathered stone foundations mark what’s left of the Draper family homestead, built in the 1870s and abandoned when the state acquired the land in the 1920s. The ruins sit in a small clearing surrounded by second-growth hardwoods, with remnants of the stone chimney still standing and parts of the root cellar visible. It’s a quiet spot that gives you a sense of what this country looked like before it became state forest — cleared farmland slowly being reclaimed by oak and maple.

Access is via Fire Tower Road and then a short hike on old logging trails that can be muddy in spring. No official trail markers lead here, but it’s a known spot among local hikers. The ruins are fragile, so look but don’t climb. Best visited during late fall or early spring when the leaf cover is down and the stonework is easier to spot.

1800s homestead ruins in deep forest