Posted in Mississippi Small Towns March 19, 2023
When it comes to interesting sites from the past, Mississippi’s got plenty. However, none quite compare to Nitta Yuma. Part ghost town and part tourist attraction, it’s home to about 20 residents, several historic buildings, and one of the state’s biggest doll collections. Keep reading to learn more about the unique town where time seems to stand still. Let’s explore some of the lovely things to do in Nitta Yuma, Mississippi.
Nitta Yuma is a small community located along U.S. 61, about four miles north of Anguilla, MS.
The name Nitta Yuma is Choctaw for bear tracks.
Not much has changed in Nitta Yuma over the past century.
The age of this little town is evident wherever you look. This ruin of an old house has been here for over 100 years.
However, there is one thing that’s changed drastically over the past century – and that’s the population, which has dwindled from around 600 to about 20.
Among those 20 residents are members of the Phelps family. Practically Nitta Yuma royalty, the Phelps have lived in the town for over 200 years.
Dedicated to preserving the history of the area, the family has worked hard to restore the town’s historic structures.
Today, Nitta Yuma is home to nine antebellum buildings, some of which date back to the late 1700s.
But deserted buildings from the past aren’t the only intriguing thing about Nitta Yuma. There’s also a huge doll collection that includes more than 3,000 dolls!
The collection, which used to belong to Dorothy Cole Phelps, is on display at Nitta Yuma’s old general store.
Caretaker’s Cottage is another must see. A former railway section house, it’s been transformed into a vintage shop that’s open on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
In recent years, word of Nitta Yuma has spread near and far, attracting visitors from as far as France and Germany! The tiny community has even been featured in Southern Living.
Watch the video below to get a closer look at the unique town.
https://youtu.be/bevhdZiHXdQ