US Abandoned Towns: Deserted Places You Can Still Visit in the US - Thrillist - The Creepiest, Coolest Ghost Town in Every State
However, the saline body of water became an ecological disaster. There was no rainfall or drainage system in Salton Riviera, so the water slowly became more and more polluted, and at one time was saltier than the Pacific Ocean.
Fish began to die, beach resorts closed, and visitors stopped coming. By , the area had practically been abandoned. These days, you can pick your way through the very smelly ruins of the Salton Riviera. The Kennecott Mines are part of an abandoned copper mining camp that operated from to , but dried up during the Great Depression. Considered one of the best-preserved abandoned mining towns in America, its most recognizable landmark is the giant red mill building owned by the Kennecott Copper Company.
Decades later, the Kennecott Mines are a national historic landmark and tourist attraction for many visitors to Alaska. The Home of Truth was the site of a cult-like religious settlement founded in by Marie Ogden, a woman who believed she could communicate with the dead. For several years, Marie and her almost followers practiced their religion in the middle of the desert.
After Edith — one of the cult members — died, Marie claimed she could bring her back to life. But eventually, after police raided the mysterious religious settlement, Marie admitted that Edith had been cremated years before. Afte Marie died in , the commune became private property. You can still see the sign for "Marie's Place:" the entrance to her "Inner Portal," where members would supposedly be saved during the second coming of Jesus Christ.
But these buildings were actually once part of a one-family house: a 2,foot "dome home" that was built in and fitted with state-of-the-art solar panels. In , owners Bob and Margaret Lee sold the dome home, but regained it in in foreclosure.
After being pummeled by multiple hurricanes over the years, the state declared the unique dome home uninhabitable in In , the dome home was once again heavily damaged — this time by Hurricane Irma — but most of the buildings are still intact. The Vulture Mine and the surrounding ghost town are considered one of the most haunted spots in Arizona.
The mine opened in during the height of the gold rush. Vulture City, home to around 5, residents, led to the development of agriculture in the area. The town was abandoned in after the mines were shut down for regulatory offenses. The most eerie part of the town is the hanging tree, where 18 miners were said to have been hanged in the late 19th century for stealing gold. Today, you can take guided tours of the supposedly haunted area. The Houston Astrodome — when it opened in — was the first domed multi-purpose sports venue in America.
In , the last ticketed entertainment to call the Astrodome home — a rodeo show — left as well. Since then, the stadium has remained empty , except as a refuge center during natural disasters. City officials have been trying to come up with plans to renovate or come up with a new use for the space, but plans haven't moved forward. Disney's wilderness-themed water park operated from until and is actually one of multiple abandoned theme parks on the Walt Disney World property.
The park resembled Magic Kingdom's Tom Sawyer Island with rope swings, a "swimmin' hole," flume rides, and a natural sandy beach for guests. River Country first closed at the end of the warm weather season in , and in , Disney announced that it would never re-open again. No explicit reason was ever given for its closing, but fans speculate that it was closed for safety concerns after several accidents in the park.
River Country was recently the subject of photographer Seph Lawless' creepily unsettling photo series "Dismaland. These strange-looking structures were supposed to be used as computer manufacturing facilities in the late s and early s, but the project was never completed.
Locals warn curious tourists to stay away from the domes because they supposedly have been the site of satanic rituals. Despite the warnings, the domes have attracted attention, thanks to their appearance on an episode of The Travel Channel's "Ghost Adventures. In late , the city announced that the domes were a safety hazard and could be demolished soon. Rhyolite is one of Nevada's largest ghost towns that was formed in during the Gold Rush.
But like most Gold Rush towns, the rush was short-lived. The mines closed in and the town was abandoned by Rhyolite used to be one of the most crowded towns in the Death Valley area, with a red light district, a hospital, a school for children, 50 saloons, and a three story bank considered a very tall building for its time.
The abandoned town has been restored multiple times for Western movies over the years. If you visit Rhyolite now, you'll see the remains of the bank, the town jail, and the restored Bottle House , a house made from 50, glass beer bottle bottoms. The original architect Tom Kelly built his house out of beer bottles because there were not many other construction materials in the desert town. Bannerman Castle was built on Pollepel Island by the wealthy military goods salesman Francis Bannerman, who bought the island in In , he began construction on his extravagant Scottish-style castle.
Bannerman lived in the castle with his wife during the summers, and also used his new home as a military weapons arsenal. In , Francis Bannerman died, and in , Bannerman Castle was practically destroyed in a gunpowder explosion.
Between that accident and arsonists setting fires over the years, the castle's facade was ruined. Today, you can take a tour of the island through a kayaking tour or hard hat walking tour. In the early 20th century, Waverly Hills was built as a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. The sanatorium was in use before doctors had found a cure for the disease, so over the years, thousands of patients allegedly died painful deaths from experimental treatments. Waverly Hills was also the site of two suicides that both took place in the same room.
Founded in as a "nuclear city ," a city specifically built to house the workers at a nearby nuclear power plant, Pripyat had more than 13, apartments , schools for 5, children, two dozen stores and cafes, a cinema, sports hall, cultural center, several factories and a hospital when disaster struck at the Chernobyl power plant, according to USA Today. After the reactor blew on April 26, , releasing toxic radiation into the surrounding area, the entire city was evacuated.
The people from Pripyat were relocated and the city of Slavutych was built as their new home. Since the radiation levels have decreased considerably in the years since the disaster and the reactor has been capped, people have been allowed back into the "Nuclear Exclusion Zone. Hashima Island, colloquially known as Gunkanjima meaning Battleship Island , is an abandoned island located off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan.
Originally developed as a residence for people working in the undersea coal mines in , Hashima Island quickly expanded into an island of concrete high-rise buildings housing over 5, people. In addition to the usual community buildings, this island fortress featured a clubhouse, movie theater, communal bath, swimming pool, rooftop gardens, stores, and even a pachinko parlor. The mine eventually closed in when Japan moved away from coal power and with the jobs went the residents.
As interest in the island grew because of its interesting history and striking architecture, travel to the island was resumed in Hashima Island was also featured as a villain's lair in the James Bond movie " Skyfall.
Soldiers killed individuals and left few survivors. Post-war, the village became symbolic of German crimes against civilians and was declared a memorial and museum. It remains preserved in its ruined state and every year on June 10, a commemoration ceremony is held to mark the anniversary of the massacre. In the late s, Bodie was a mining town packed with people trying to get in on the success of the California Gold Rush. For 17 years, it was a small mining camp that was filled with a variety of people.
Rough winters, disease, and mining accidents led to the death of many of Bodie's inhabitants — and Bodie's high crime levels earned the town a reputation for lawlessness. By , the population declined as mining companies became bankrupt and people sought out better opportunities. Over the next few decades, Bodie was built up and destroyed again by multiple fires. But, by , Bodie was a ghost town. Later, when coal production skyrocketed, people from across the country arrived in the Arctic region for its high-paying jobs.
Towns and villages quickly popped up as the city boomed, as Insider previously reported. But when the Soviet Union collapsed in , a majority of the mines closed. With few job prospects nearby, people left, leaving deserted buildings behind. Since then, more than 1 million people have left the Arctic zone.
Today, there are still 50, people in the city of Vorkuta, but the surrounding small towns have been abandoned. A few final residents remain in the villages' apartments.
Today, the building is abandoned, crumbling, and considered one of the most haunted places in America. Garnet is Montana's most famous ghost town. In the late 19th century, Garnet was established as a gold mining town. At its peak in , the town had 1, residents, saloons, stores, and 20 working mines. Finally, after the gold rush fever died down, most of the town's residents moved away. In , a fire destroyed much of the town. Garnet had a brief resurgence in the s, but turned back into a ghost town after World War II was over.
The relatively well-preserved ghost town is owned today by the Montana Bureau of Land Management and is said to be haunted by the spirits of past residents.
This abandoned City Hall subway station was actually the first station in New York City's subway system. Known for its ornamental tiles and skylights, the station opened in and was closed in from disuse. John Baptist Greco, a devout Catholic, opened this roadside biblical-themed amusement park after allegedly receiving a message from God. From the s until when the park was permanently closed for renovations, Holy Land U.
The theme park had a miniature Bethlehem, a replica of the Garden of Eden and a foot light-up cross that could be seen for miles, according to Atlas Obscura. Much of the park still remains intact today, and the land is owned by a group of nuns.
The City Methodist Church is a crumbling, nine-story gothic church in Gary, Indiana — a town that was once nicknamed the "murder capital of America. The church was built in during the height of the steel boom in Indiana. When the steel industry crashed in the s, people moved away, and both the church and Gary itself began to crumble and decay. Today, the abandoned building is a popular stop for urban explorers and was used as a filming location for horror movies like "A Nightmare on Elm Street.
One of many famed ghost towns along Route 66, the Christmas-themed town of Santa Claus, Arizona is now eerily abandoned. When Santa Claus was founded in , it was meant to be a year-round tourist destination in the middle of the desert. Attractions like the Santa Claus Inn where kids could sit on Santa's lap even if it wasn't December, remained popular with roadtrippers through the s.
But by the s, the romanticism of Route 66 had died down and many of the roadside attractions along the famed highway closed. Today, you can see the remains of Santa Claus, Arizona behind a barbed wire fence. Bob Cassilly was an American sculptor and inventor who tried to turn an abandoned cement factory just outside St. The unique project was abandoned halfway through construction when Cassilly died in a bulldozer accident although new evidence points to a theory that his death may not have been an accident.
Today, after arson, graffiti, and theft have destroyed much of the half-finished modern art park, Cementland is abandoned with only a handful of sculptures and structures remaining. Cassilly's family plans to restore the park one day.
Glenrio is another roadside casualty along Route The town's population never really exceeded a couple of dozen, but stayed up and running thanks to the booming road tripping tourism industry along Route But when the faster, sleeker Interstate 40 was built in , and it bypassed the town, fewer visitors came by Glenrio.
By the end of the millennium, the last few residents had moved away or died, and Glenrio became a ghost town. Bombay Beach, nicknamed the Salton Riviera, was a short-lived chic beach resort community known as "the miracle in the desert. In the s and s, Bombay Beach was an upscale resort destination for beachgoers, with yacht clubs, fancy hotels, and boardwalks.
However, the saline body of water became an ecological disaster. There was no rainfall or drainage system in Salton Riviera, so the water slowly became more and more polluted, and at one time was saltier than the Pacific Ocean. Fish began to die, beach resorts closed, and visitors stopped coming.
By , the area had practically been abandoned. These days, you can pick your way through the very smelly ruins of the Salton Riviera. The Kennecott Mines are part of an abandoned copper mining camp that operated from to , but dried up during the Great Depression.
Considered one of the best-preserved abandoned mining towns in America, its most recognizable landmark is the giant red mill building owned by the Kennecott Copper Company. Decades later, the Kennecott Mines are a national historic landmark and tourist attraction for many visitors to Alaska. The Home of Truth was the site of a cult-like religious settlement founded in by Marie Ogden, a woman who believed she could communicate with the dead. For several years, Marie and her almost followers practiced their religion in the middle of the desert.
After Edith — one of the cult members — died, Marie claimed she could bring her back to life. But eventually, after police raided the mysterious religious settlement, Marie admitted that Edith had been cremated years before.
Afte Marie died in , the commune became private property. You can still see the sign for "Marie's Place:" the entrance to her "Inner Portal," where members would supposedly be saved during the second coming of Jesus Christ. But these buildings were actually once part of a one-family house: a 2,foot "dome home" that was built in and fitted with state-of-the-art solar panels. In , owners Bob and Margaret Lee sold the dome home, but regained it in in foreclosure.
After being pummeled by multiple hurricanes over the years, the state declared the unique dome home uninhabitable in In , the dome home was once again heavily damaged — this time by Hurricane Irma — but most of the buildings are still intact. The Vulture Mine and the surrounding ghost town are considered one of the most haunted spots in Arizona.
Agnes Catholic Church now stands abandoned. Constructed in , the church was at the center of a densely populated area of the city. The parish grew rapidly, as did the surrounding community. By the 50th anniversary, the church had grown so large as to require three priests and 22 nuns to run the parish and the Catholic girls school adjacent to the church.
But soon, things would change for the worse for the church and the community. In , racial tensions and violent riots burned most of the 12th Street neighborhood, but St. Agnes escaped the flames. By the s, the area began to experience the loss of thousands of jobs in the automobile industry. In there were only families still worshipping there, not enough to cover the operating costs of such a large church.
The Diocese put the church up for sale, but the new owner never took possession. It has stood open to the elements and vandals, a gothic wonder to behold. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, visit the abandoned subterranean Titan 1 Missile silo site located in Deer Creek, Colorado, a minute drive from Denver. A relic of the Cold War, the Titan 1 missile silos once housed Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles designed to carry a nuclear warhead to another continent.
These sites were only active from — , replaced by a more efficient delivery system, the Titan II. After decommissioning the sites in , the government removed all the equipment and passed the sites onto new owners leaving behind a maze of underground tunnels in the Rocky Mountains foothills. The foot deep shaft is 55 feet wide, supported by a network of underground tunnels, fuel storage tanks, filtration systems, and much more. Be sure to see the 3-ton blast doors rusting on their hinges. Arrests of several people for trespassing at this site, so be ready to assume entry risks.
With no electric power or natural light, the silo is housed in pitch blackness. Bring a strong flashlight and a backup to navigate the treacherous passageways. While there is no risk of radiation exposure, the place is full of rust, asbestos, and other chemicals, so wear a mask with filtration. During the early s, a tuberculosis epidemic swept through Washington, DC, filling hospitals to overcapacity. The area needed a dedicated hospital for tuberculosis patients. Glenn Dale Hospital opened in to care for the overabundance of tuberculosis patients and stop the spread of the disease.
With little known about the disease, the treatment for tuberculosis patients was isolation. Patients with the condition often spent months to years confined in the tuberculosis sanitarium. Medical treatment at that time consisted of plenty of fresh air and sunshine and little else.
Connecting the 34 buildings on site is a vast array of underground tunnels used to move patients during inclement weather. These tunnels are flooded and inaccessible now. The s saw the discovery of antibiotics, and doctors found new methods of treating tuberculosis. With dwindling patient numbers, the hospital reopened as a nursing home in Later, repurposed again, the site was a community health center.
It finally closed in when the cost of asbestos removal and building maintenance were prohibitively expensive, and the buildings have been vacant since. A private security firm guards the site. If you are on the hunt for a great respirator to more safely observe some of these incredible abandoned places in the United States, we highly recommend the 3M for a full-face option and the North if you would prefer a half-face option.
Find more respirator options in our in-depth guide. A very unusual site for urban exploration is in Croaker, Virginia. Each of the statues weighs 5 — 10 tons and stands 18 feet tall. Inspired by Mount Rushmore, Presidents Park opened in Williamsburg as a joint venture between Houston-based sculptor David Adickes, who sculpted the busts, and Everette Newman, a local who supplied the land.
The park generated controversy from its opening in , with locals calling it a tacky eyesore. Several of the large busts were damaged by the cranes moving them. All the figures have been victimized by the elements, cracking and peeling in the harsh climate. Most of the heads are still available to view, although a few have been abducted to grace RV park entrances or local hotels.
One of the most famous abandoned places for urban exploration in South Carolina is the vacant and crumbling South Carolina Lunatic Asylum. Located in Columbia, the Asylum opened to patients in Quickly filling, construction began on the second building in This building took over 25 years to complete with , square feet of space, 1, windows, and inch thick walls.
Built according to standard practices of the day for treating the mentally ill, the buildings featured south-facing windows to let in the fresh air and sunshine.
Despite the architectural elements designed to promote healing, patients frequently complained about the cramped rooms, inadequate ventilation, and frequent flooding of the ground floor. Many county jails started sending inmates to the asylum, swelling its patient population to more than 1,, compared to only 20 years earlier.
In the 20th-century, pharmaceutical advancements and outpatient treatments resulted in the discharge of many patients to the community. The Asylum closed its doors in Several fires since then have left the historic buildings in deplorable condition. On the acre campus, only two buildings remain mostly intact.
In the heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a gigantic fortress known as the Eastern State Penitentiary. One time hailed as a monumental improvement in the penal system, as many as similar fort-like structures around the world are modeled after this breakthrough in prison reform.
Designed to produce penitent prisoners, it instead produced madness. At the time prisons were corrupt and mistreatment of prisoners was common. The Society designed this prison to make prisoners penitent, hence the new name for prisons, the penitentiary. Compared to other prisons of the time, Eastern State Penitentiary was a model of order and a technological wonder. During the s, everyone including the President Andrew Jackson was still using a chamber pot. Prisoners were not allowed any contact at all with other prisoners.
They ate their meals alone in their cell and had a private time for outdoor exercise. The guards even wore felt shoe covers to keep the prison silent. During its time, — , Eastern State housed several well-known prisoners such as Al Capone. Visit this historic gothic-structure when in Philadelphia. The former boomtown of Jerome, Arizona, is now a famous ghost town with curiosity seekers from around the world traveling to see the ruins of this once prosperous mining town.
This former mining boomtown reached its heyday in the years following World War I when tons of Copper Ore were extracted from the hills surrounding Verde Valley. The population of Jerome multiplied and was incorporated in , the fifth largest town in the territory. After the war, the demand for copper diminished. Unionization of the miners, coupled with the soaring costs of removing the copper, caused the mines to be closed for good.
At one time, the entire town was considered abandoned, but recent years have brought a new settler to the city. A thriving community of artists now lives among the historic buildings. On the outskirts of town sits the decaying post office. Modern urban explorers have documented this crumbling hulk of a building and have renewed interest in this Old West ghost town.
If you dare to venture into the rickety old structure, you will find old lockers, broken glass, and pieces of the ceiling littering the floors. The facility is considered unsafe so explore with caution. It was once a popular family destination on the shores of Lake Dolores, a acre artificial lake fed by unground springs.
Construction of the waterpark took place in the late s and early s. Designed and built by Bob Byers, a local businessman, the lake was initially a fun getaway for his extended family to enjoy. The original park consisted of several long steel slides which dropped riders into the lake at the end. Soon, a campground was added, and the park opened to the public.
Over the next 25 years, the park expanded, adding new slides and attractions. After reaching the peak of its popularity in the s, the park was closed in After baking in the hot desert sun for years, Byers sold the defunct waterpark to an investment group.
After spending millions of dollars, the park was re-opened in ; now a retro-fifties-themed family attraction called Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark. New owners added a collection of modern waterslides and a lazy river ride.
Despite the popularity, the park closed only one year later. A park employee had a tragic accident leaving him paralyzed, plunging the owners into bankruptcy, and forcing the park to close. Located in Newberry Springs, California, on I-5, the park ruins stand baking in the relentless sun of the Mojave Desert.
No Trespassing signs surround the property, but the graffiti indicates a general lack of compliance. Following the war, the site was redesignated Naval Air Station Cecil Field and was home to fleet aircraft squadrons. Later, it expanded into a master jet base for carrier-based tactical units.
The Most Fascinating Abandoned Places In The United States.15 Cool Abandoned Places in USA You Need to Visit - Paulina on the road
Elmo was once a highfalutin gold mining town and popular whistle-stop on the Pacific Railroad. It had almost 2, residents and more than mines—plus enough inns and dance halls to keep everybody in town happily cutting a rug.
When the Alpine Tunnel closed in , however, the music stopped. With the price of silver already down, the last remaining rail service stopped in The dedicated few that stuck around suffered another loss 30 years later when the postmaster died and postal service was discontinued, further sequestering them from civilization.
Despite numerous fires charring the canyon over the years, St. Several original structures are still intact, providing an unfiltered glimpse into life during the mining boom one big exception is the town hall, which had to be rebuilt in following a particularly destructive blaze. Most tourists stop in during warmer months when St. Elmo comes to life, but some prefer to visit in the wintertime when roads and trails are truly abandoned. Like a straight-up Western movie set, Bodie is one of the most famous and the largest unreconstructed ghost towns in America.
Established in when William S. Bodey discovered gold in the area, the original camp of around 20 miners mushroomed to some 10, during the California Gold Rush—roughly the same population as Los Angeles. By , the town consisted of 2, buildings , including roughly restaurants. As the gold vanished, so did the townsfolk.
By , the last mine had shut down. Today the town is a National Historic Site protected by the California parks system.
Inns still contain pool tables complete with balls and cues, plus assorted chairs and cutlery, resting exactly where they were left more than half a century ago, and some store shelves remain stocked with goods no, they're not for sale. Visitors should plan to arrive during regular park hours with admission cash in hand ; during the summer, guests can take guided tours through the Standard Mill for an inside look at the gold-extraction process. It remained for years a hub of cotton distribution.
During the Civil War, it was home of the Confederate Castle Morgan prison, where thousands of Union soldiers were kept between and , when another massive flood started driving people out for good. By the early s, most buildings had been demolished, too. Guests can take self-guided tours of the major Civil War sites, the cemetery, and a woodsy nature trail; and no visitor should leave without seeing the Crocheron Columns , the only remaining parts of the Crocheron Mansion where important negotiations were made during the Battle of Selma.
Former home of the famous frontierswoman Calamity Jane, this old gold-mining town est. As a result, robberies and murders were the norm, and gangs of outlaws known as road agents killed people between and alone. Still, Virginia City briefly served as the capital of the Montana Territory before it was a state , and grew to a population of around 10, When gold ran out, though, the city lost momentum and became the Victorian-era time capsule it still is today.
A number of tours provide visitors with whatever experience suits their interests best. Want ghost stories? Fascinated by trains? Like luxury? Ride in style to the most important historic spots.
Prefer novelty? The town was abandoned in after the mines were shut down for regulatory offenses. The most eerie part of the town is the hanging tree, where 18 miners were said to have been hanged in the late 19th century for stealing gold. Today, you can take guided tours of the supposedly haunted area. The Houston Astrodome — when it opened in — was the first domed multi-purpose sports venue in America. In , the last ticketed entertainment to call the Astrodome home — a rodeo show — left as well.
Since then, the stadium has remained empty , except as a refuge center during natural disasters. City officials have been trying to come up with plans to renovate or come up with a new use for the space, but plans haven't moved forward.
Disney's wilderness-themed water park operated from until and is actually one of multiple abandoned theme parks on the Walt Disney World property. The park resembled Magic Kingdom's Tom Sawyer Island with rope swings, a "swimmin' hole," flume rides, and a natural sandy beach for guests.
River Country first closed at the end of the warm weather season in , and in , Disney announced that it would never re-open again. No explicit reason was ever given for its closing, but fans speculate that it was closed for safety concerns after several accidents in the park. River Country was recently the subject of photographer Seph Lawless' creepily unsettling photo series "Dismaland.
These strange-looking structures were supposed to be used as computer manufacturing facilities in the late s and early s, but the project was never completed. Locals warn curious tourists to stay away from the domes because they supposedly have been the site of satanic rituals.
Despite the warnings, the domes have attracted attention, thanks to their appearance on an episode of The Travel Channel's "Ghost Adventures. In late , the city announced that the domes were a safety hazard and could be demolished soon. Rhyolite is one of Nevada's largest ghost towns that was formed in during the Gold Rush.
But like most Gold Rush towns, the rush was short-lived. The mines closed in and the town was abandoned by Rhyolite used to be one of the most crowded towns in the Death Valley area, with a red light district, a hospital, a school for children, 50 saloons, and a three story bank considered a very tall building for its time.
The abandoned town has been restored multiple times for Western movies over the years. If you visit Rhyolite now, you'll see the remains of the bank, the town jail, and the restored Bottle House , a house made from 50, glass beer bottle bottoms.
The original architect Tom Kelly built his house out of beer bottles because there were not many other construction materials in the desert town. Bannerman Castle was built on Pollepel Island by the wealthy military goods salesman Francis Bannerman, who bought the island in In , he began construction on his extravagant Scottish-style castle. Bannerman lived in the castle with his wife during the summers, and also used his new home as a military weapons arsenal.
In , Francis Bannerman died, and in , Bannerman Castle was practically destroyed in a gunpowder explosion. Between that accident and arsonists setting fires over the years, the castle's facade was ruined. Today, you can take a tour of the island through a kayaking tour or hard hat walking tour. In the early 20th century, Waverly Hills was built as a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. The sanatorium was in use before doctors had found a cure for the disease, so over the years, thousands of patients allegedly died painful deaths from experimental treatments.
Waverly Hills was also the site of two suicides that both took place in the same room. The hospital finally closed in and today the building is known, unsurprisingly, as one of the most haunted places on earth.
Many visitors have reported eerie ghost sightings and other paranormal activities. Waverly Hills has been featured on dozens of ghost hunter TV shows. If you're brave enough, you can schedule a tour of the sanatorium. Alabama's first state capital was a thriving town along the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers in the early 19th century. Alabama officials soon realized that Cahawba was not the best location for the state government headquarters because the area was prone to flooding, and the capital was moved for safety reasons.
During the Civil War , the Confederate government ripped up Cahawba's railroad and seized control of the town as a central location for Union prisoners. After the war, a flood destroyed much of the town, and it was abandoned. The three-story train terminal opened in , and at the time, it was the tallest railroad station in the world, with foot ceilings, chandeliers and foot Corinthian columns.
By the s, train travel had diminished , railroads were closing all over the country, and the number of passengers out of Michigan Central Station had dwindled. After Amtrak's attempt to revitalize the station in , demolition was held off for a few years. In , the last train left the depot, and Michigan Central Station was quickly abandoned. It became a site of vandalism and theft until the city built a barbed wire fence in In , the station was set to be demolished , but the historic building was saved.
Lake Shawnee Amusement Park closed in The now-abandoned amusement park was built on the site of a Native American burial ground and the brutal massacre of the Clay family in by a group of Native Americans.
In the s, the old Clay family farm was purchased by businessman Conley T. Snidow, who developed it into a small amusement park with a swing set, Ferris wheel, and swimming pond. After six guests were killed over the years, Lake Shawnee closed for good in The rusty remains of the park's rides are still standing and every year during the week leading up to Halloween, you can take a flashlight tour of the supposedly haunted area.
In the years the fire has burned, residents have slowly abandoned their homes fearing not only the fire beneath their feet but sudden sinkholes and carbon monoxide poisoning. Eminent domain was used to take control over most of the homes in Centralia and the dozen or so remaining residents agreed to give their property over to the government when they pass away.
The state government condemned Centralia in Founded in as a "nuclear city ," a city specifically built to house the workers at a nearby nuclear power plant, Pripyat had more than 13, apartments , schools for 5, children, two dozen stores and cafes, a cinema, sports hall, cultural center, several factories and a hospital when disaster struck at the Chernobyl power plant, according to USA Today.
After the reactor blew on April 26, , releasing toxic radiation into the surrounding area, the entire city was evacuated. The people from Pripyat were relocated and the city of Slavutych was built as their new home. Since the radiation levels have decreased considerably in the years since the disaster and the reactor has been capped, people have been allowed back into the "Nuclear Exclusion Zone.
Hashima Island, colloquially known as Gunkanjima meaning Battleship Island , is an abandoned island located off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan. Originally developed as a residence for people working in the undersea coal mines in , Hashima Island quickly expanded into an island of concrete high-rise buildings housing over 5, people.
In addition to the usual community buildings, this island fortress featured a clubhouse, movie theater, communal bath, swimming pool, rooftop gardens, stores, and even a pachinko parlor.
The mine eventually closed in when Japan moved away from coal power and with the jobs went the residents. As interest in the island grew because of its interesting history and striking architecture, travel to the island was resumed in Hashima Island was also featured as a villain's lair in the James Bond movie " Skyfall.
Soldiers killed individuals and left few survivors. Post-war, the village became symbolic of German crimes against civilians and was declared a memorial and museum. It remains preserved in its ruined state and every year on June 10, a commemoration ceremony is held to mark the anniversary of the massacre.
In the late s, Bodie was a mining town packed with people trying to get in on the success of the California Gold Rush. For 17 years, it was a small mining camp that was filled with a variety of people. Rough winters, disease, and mining accidents led to the death of many of Bodie's inhabitants — and Bodie's high crime levels earned the town a reputation for lawlessness.
By , the population declined as mining companies became bankrupt and people sought out better opportunities. Over the next few decades, Bodie was built up and destroyed again by multiple fires. But, by , Bodie was a ghost town.
Later, when coal production skyrocketed, people from across the country arrived in the Arctic region for its high-paying jobs. Towns and villages quickly popped up as the city boomed, as Insider previously reported. But when the Soviet Union collapsed in , a majority of the mines closed. With few job prospects nearby, people left, leaving deserted buildings behind. But with a view like that, it might be time to lace up those hiking boots.
Unfortunately, the porous concrete walls frequently dripped with condensation and residents' clothing often froze in their closets during the cold winter months.
These luxury apartments were abandoned in , and the buildings are now a popular canvas for graffiti artists and paintballers. This abandoned railroad station in the Flint Hills region of Kansas is actually hidden in an undisclosed location, in an effort to preserve the architecture against vandals. But that only makes this rural ruin more enigmatic. The gorgeous coloring and interiors make this a perfect spot for ruin photography…if you can find it.
The structures in the abandoned mining town of Eagle Mountain evoke Aztec geometry and industrial strength. The town is located at the entrance of the now-defunct Eagle Mountain iron mine, once owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad, then Kaiser Steel, and located on the southeastern corner of Joshua Tree National Park. This town was only abandoned in the s, and there has been talk of revitalizing the area.
For now, however, these eerie structures stand as a reminder of a modern boom-and-bust mining ghost town. This abandoned amusement park was left in ruins when hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in The park was under 10 feet of water during the storm and though there were hopes that the park would be revived, today the rides and grounds are eerily silent.
