30 AMAZING ABANDONED PLACES
We see abandoned houses, store fronts and factories on such a regular basis that we barely even notice them. However, some abandoned places are truly beautiful, and can exert a powerful effect on visitors.Mysterious, surprising atmospheres can be found in these ruins, ghost towns or old castles. All of the following photos will make you curious—or, maybe, scared!Click on the photo gallery to see some of the most amazing abandoned places around the world.
MIR MINE– SIBERIA, RUSSIA
Stalin oversaw the building of this mine, which is the second largest man-made excavation ever. It was abandoned when digging deeper became too difficult.
THE FLOODED CITY OF SHICHENG – CHINA
Founded over 1,300 years ago, the city was flooded about 50 years ago by the Shicheng river.
HOLMESBURG PRISON – PHILADELPHIA
Built in 1829 and closed in 1971, it once housed famous prisoners such as Willie Sutton and Al Capone.
SIX FLAGS JAZZLAND, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
The park was ruined and abandoned after Hurricane Katrina, 2005.
SANZHI RESORT – SAN ZHI, TAIWAN
These odd houses were supposed to be sold to U.S. military officers, though construction stopped in 1980 due to a lack of investment.
CHRIST OF THE ABYSS – SAN FRUTTUOSO, ITALY
This bronze statue is submerged 17 meters under the sea off the Italian coast.
HOLY LAND USA – WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT
The Bible-themed amusement park once attracted 40,000 visitors per year, but dwindling interest caused it to close in 1984.
CITY HALL STATION – NEW YORK
The beautiful station was built in 1904 and closed 41 years later due to low demand from passengers.
WONDERLAND AMUSEMENT PARK – BEIJING, CHINA
It was supposed to be the largest amusement park in Asia, though a lack of funds meant it was never completed.
WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE CHRONIC INSANE – WILLARD, NEW YORK
The mental hospital was built in 1869 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It housed up to 4,000 patients at its peak, but closed in 1995.
ORPHEUM THEATRE – NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS
This hall was unveiled on the same day the Titanic sank (15 April 1912).
BANNERMAN’S CASTLE – POLLEPEL ISLAND, NEW YORK
Francis Bannerman VI built the castle to house military surplus. Old ammunition exploded in 1920, causing the castle’s destruction and subsequent abandonment.
PRIPYAT – UKRAINE
Pripyat was once home to around 50,000 people, but was abandoned after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
BODIAM CASTLE – UK
The moated castle was built in the late 14th century to protect against a potential French invasion during the Hundred Years War.
CENTRALIA – PENNSYLVANIA
A fire in an underground mine caused the town to be abandoned in 1962.
ANGKOR WAT – CAMBODIA
Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which peaked between the 9th and 15th centuries. The temple housed the royal palace, and was home to a further 20,000 people.
CHATEAU MIRANDA – CELLES, BELGIUM
The castle was built by French nobles fleeing the Revolution. It was later used as an orphanage and abandoned in 1980.
CRACO – ITALY
This medieval town once had a population of around 2,000 people, but earthquakes and wars caused it to be abandoned.
DADIPARK – DADIZEL, BELGIUM
The playground was built in 1950 and abandoned in 2002.
SEALAND – UK
The forts were built during WW2 and abandoned after the war’s conclusion.
DISNEY DISCOVERY ISLAND – LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA
The island was allegedly abandoned after poisonous bacteria were found in the water.
EL HOTEL DEL SALTO – COLOMBIA
The waterfall beside the hotel was contaminated, causing guests to lose interest in staying there.
MACHU PICCHU – PERU
The amazing citadel, 2,500m above the ground, is one of the most emblematic symbols of the Inca civilization.
CANFRANC STATION – SPAIN
This station was once an important stop on the railway between France and Spain, but an accident in 1970 destroyed a nearby bridge and the railway was closed off.
GULLIVER’S KINGDOM – KAWAGUCHI, JAPAN
The theme park based on the novel “Gulliver’s Travels” was opened in 1997 near Mt Fuji, but closed 10 years later due to dwindling visitor numbers.
MICHIGAN CENTRAL STATION – DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Built between 1912-13, this was once the tallest rail station in the world. It was been abandoned for nearly 30 years.
ANIVA LIGHTHOUSE – SAKHALINSKAYA, RUSSIA
This island was fought over by Japan and Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, and eventually recaptured by the USSR before being abandoned.
FARMHOUSE – LAKE SENECA, NEW YORK
This abandoned farm is also used as an old car cemetery.
RYUGYONG HOTEL – PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA
The 105-storey hotel began just as a famine struck the country, but was abandoned due to a lack of funding.
HASHIMA ISLAND – JAPAN
The coal mine was once inhabited by 5,000 people. When oil took over as the main fuel, the island was abandoned.
Source: StarsInsider
