(Check out our complete collection of 100+ Abandoned Buildings, Places and Property.)
Abandoned places, particularly those that once housed the mentally ill, wartime inmates and even nuclear missiles have a creepy,haunted quality that some urban explorers go to great lengths to capture on film – whether they be individual structures or entire abandoned cities. These abandoned buildings, ships, railroads, theme parks and other facilities may no longer be inhabited, but they all possess an eerie, almost permeable sense of history. The uneasy feeling that one gets simply by viewing photos of these decaying structures is multiplied when personal items are left behind … including jars full of brains and skulls.
See Page 2 for 10 More Abandoned Buildings, Property and Places
Russian Waterpark
This abandoned Russian water park was under construction when a deadly accident at another Russian water park, Transvaal, killed 28 people. At this point, construction was halted due to safety concerns. This 12-story structure was to include 3 underground floors, 5 pools, water slides, an athletic arena, a sports gambling palace, a hotel for nonresident athletes, offices, cafes, a medical center and a sports medicine center. The site was purchased in 2007 to make way for a shopping center, but it has yet to be demolished.
Cane Hill Lunatic Asylum
The Cane Hill Asylum in London is one of the most famous abandoned hospitals, and has been a magnet for vandals, urban explorers, photographers and filmmakers ever since it closed 18 years ago. In 2006, the site’s owners gave Hipposcope Films permission to film a documentary inside. Shooting is due to begin sometime this year.
Russian Brain Research Facility
This is possibly the weirdest, grossest series of abandoned places photography we’ve ever seen. The photos are obviously not for the faint of heart, and we’ve chosen some of the mildest ones. Entering an abandoned Russian brain research facility complete with brains and eyeballs in jars and partially disassembled animal skulls is quite brave, but we’re glad they did it.
Opko Land, South Korea
This abandoned theme park, Opko Land, proves that places once filled with the sounds of happiness can be among the most depressing once they’re empty and forgotten. Located in South Korea, Opko Land has stood silent since it closed in 1999 after the park’s second fatal accident. A vehicle dangling precariously from roller coaster tracks is suggested to be the site of the young girl’s death.
Richmond, Virginia Juvenile Detention Center
Three urban explorers curious about a boarded-up building in Richmond, Virginia made their way in after four hours of pulling boards off four doors and a window. Unsure exactly what the building was used for, they made their way through the inside and passed dozens of doors with locks on the outside. Going deeper into the building, they discovered that it was once a juvenile detention center complete with cots, a cafeteria, two gyms and admittance records labeled “Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Corrections”.
Staten Island Boat Graveyard
This collection of rusting, disused abandoned boats lies off the shore of Staten Island, New York. Salt water has caused the boats to decay more rapidly than they would otherwise, and nearly all of them are a reddish-brown that contrasts beautifully with the blue of the sky and water. This “boat graveyard” is currently being cleaned up so the space can be used for something new.
Linda Vista Hospital
The Linda Vista Hospital in East L.A. was built in 1938 as a hospital for railroad employees, and was reportedly occupied by Howard Hughes a time or two before it closed in 1990. Parts of the films Outbreak, End of Days, Boogeyman 2 and the pilot for the television show E.R. were shot in its creepy, mold-infested abandoned rooms. Writer-director Ransom Riggs took these photos while scouting the location for another film shoot.
Procida, Italy Jail
Procida is a colorful island off the coast of Naples in Southern Italy, and its decaying beauty has only recently become a draw for tourists. The island, which houses this stunning abandoned jail, has long been a lonely, sleepy locale and was used as a setting of the film The Talented Mr. Ripley. It was once a frequent target of pirate raids, including a notable one by 16th century Turk admiral Barbarossa.
Barcelona Water Park
L’Aquatic Paradis is an abandoned water park in Barcelona, Spain. It was open only for a brief period before closing, reportedly due to a number of accidents including a fatality. The photographer who captured these photos of what remains theorizes that economic reasons may have played a role as well, since tourists tend to prefer the beach. The place certainly has a lonely, forgotten feel.
Abkhazia Railway
This abandoned railroad in Abkhazia, Northern Siberia was built on Stalin’s orders in the middle of nowhere. Its original purpose is unclear. It was abandoned long before the collapse of the USSR, and has never been connected to any other Russian Federal Railway system. Rusting and in ruins, it’s now accessible only by helicopter.
Wylam Farm
A photographer stumbled across this abandoned farmhouse in Wylam, a small village located in the English county of Northumberland. The decaying remains of stone, wood and metal have now been flattened to make way for luxury apartments.
Newark, New Jersey Subway Tunnel
The Newark City Subway was built between 1929-1937 and was originally used as an off-street route for some of the Public Service trolley lines. The underground portion is only a mile long, and parts of it have been closed off since the streetcar lines were discontinued in 1952. Until a few years ago, urban explorers resourceful enough to find a way in could still see the old trolleys that were stored in these areas, but they’ve since been donated to museums and other cities.
Russia Country Manor
This stunning, intricately detailed abandoned farmhouse in Russia is located deep within the forest, far from civilization. It’s thought to be a 19th century family home in the region of Kostroma. Its outside is remarkably well preserved, but the inside has suffered serious damage. There are many abandoned homes in the forests of Russia, too far away from modern conveniences for most people’s preference.
Gary, Indiana City Methodist Church
The City Methodist Church in Gary, Indiana once housed 3,000 congregants, but attendance dropped sharply as Gary fell victim to an economic depression that saw thousands of the city’s residents move elsewhere. When it closed in 1975, there were only 200 members. In 1997, the church suffered a fire that greatly damaged the interior. It has stood empty ever since, like so many other buildings in Gary.
Brussels Warehouse
This grand building was part of the Brussels Tour & Taxi site at the turn of the 20th century, and was used until 1987 as a warehouse by customs. Known as “Warehouse B“, the building consists of five floors of galleries that encircle an atrium. During World War II, it was used by the Germans as a prison. It is still known locally as “The Prison”.
Pick Fort Shelby Hotel
The Pick Fort Shelby Hotel was one of Detroit’s many abandoned buildings before renovations began this year. It’s set to become a Doubletree Hotel in December 2009. The historic building opened in 1917 and enjoyed many years of success, but didn’t survive the economic depression of Detroit in the early 1970s. Since 1974 the only remaining life was its last tenant, a bar, which closed in 1998.
Danvers State Insane Asylum
The Danvers State Insane Asylum is, of course, the most famous of all abandoned psychiatric hospitals. It was built in 1878 in an extremely rural location in Massachusetts, and stood empty between its closing in 1992 and demolition in 2006. In April 2007, the apartment buildings erected in its place partially burned down in a fire. Many of the Salem witch trials reportedly took place in the vicinity of the hill upon which Danvers was built. Danvers is thought to be the inspiration for H.P. Lovecraft’s Arkham Sanitarium, which in turn provided inspiration for Arkham Asylum in the Batman comic book series.
Chippewa Lake Park
Chippewa Lake Park, located in Chippewa Lake, Ohio, operated from 1878 until 1978 when it closed due to low attendance. The Chippewa Lake Ballroom burned down in 2002, and the land the park sits on was sold earlier this year. The owners sold all of the valuable parts and what remains has been partially reclaimed by the surrounding forest.
Antelope Valley Ranch Home
L.A. photographer JJ MacCrimmon came across this abandoned home in the Antelope Valley area of Los Angeles County. The residents of this 1950s era ranch home seem to have been forcibly evicted, as evidenced by the toys, clothing, drawings and other personal effects still scattered outside. It’s certainly sad to see what was once a family’s life lying face-down in the dirt.
Lambarte, Latvia Soviet Missile Silo
The Dvina Complex, located near Lambarte in Latvia, is an abandoned military facility once used as a nuclear missile silo by the USSR. The Dvina Complex consists of a central command and technical support bunker and four silos. The entrance, located at the end of a dirt road, is barely visible and the domes of the silos simply resemble grassy hills.
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