Sleman's 'Ghost Village' Becomes Content Creator Hotspot, Residents Put Up Warning Signs

An abandoned hamlet in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, which has been reclaimed by nature since a major earthquake struck in 2006, is now drawing unwanted attention from social media content creators. The area, once the Padukuhan Nglepen and part of Sengir in Sumberharjo Village, Prambanan District, has become a dense forest and is often considered haunted.

The frequent visits, especially at night, have prompted local residents to take action. A sign made of plywood has been erected at the entrance to the overgrown footpath, reading: “Dilarang ngonten, pengin ayem lur..” (No content creation, we want peace).

“It has become a forest. The trees aren’t big, but they are dense,” said Rubingan (62), a native of Nglepen, when met at the Rumah Domes tourist village on Saturday (27/6/2026). “There are often people who come at night to make content. Yes, very often.”

Rubingan explained that since residents left, the area has become a thick forest. Locals now rarely visit, except to collect grass for animal feed. The land can no longer be used for growing vegetables or crops, as residents are prohibited from returning due to the risk of land subsidence.

Another resident, Samijo (71), noted that the area has become overgrown with trees and is often visited by outsiders. “It’s like a mound, now it’s considered a spooky place. People often go there, but we locals don’t even know about it,” he said.

The village was abandoned following the powerful earthquake that struck Yogyakarta on 27 May 2006. Lasiyem (70), a former resident now living in the nearby dome houses, recalled the morning of the disaster. “I was cooking and my child was bathing, getting ready for school. When the shaking happened, everyone in the house ran outside to save themselves. Alhamdulillah, no one was hurt, and there were no casualties in our neighbourhood because everyone ran out.”

Although there were no injuries, all the brick buildings were damaged, with some collapsing entirely. “The land subsided, and the walls cracked. After that, we lived in tents, and in 2009 we were moved here to these dome houses,” Lasiyem said, referring to the distinctive Teletubbies-style homes. She and her family, along with 50 other residents from Nglepen, have lived in the new settlement since 2009. The original village is now completely overgrown and officially off-limits for habitation.