There is a rather notorious abandoned place about 10 miles from where I work. Times Beach, Missouri was forced to be evacuated in the 1980s due to dioxin contamination from waste oil sprayed on the dirt roads to control dust. There is nothing left to see now; it has been converted to Route 66 State Park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_beach

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/MO-TimesBeach.html

http://www.mostateparks.com/route66.htm