The world is full of spooky and abandoned places. The eerie isolation and the history echoed within their walls make these abandoned places very interesting to visit. If you are someone who has fun interrupting the ghostly solitude of an abandoned building, you might want to go and visit these spooky locations.
Here Are 15 Of The Scariest Abandoned Places
1. Pripyat, Chernobyl, Ukraine
Pripyat was a nuclear city founded in the 70s. It was once occupied by more than 49,000 people until the Chernobyl disaster. During the catastrophic nuclear accident, many of the residents died due to radiation-induced cancer. Although Pripyat is open to public access and has become a popular tourist spot, Ukrainian officials say that the place will remain uninhabitable for another 20,000 years. Here’s where you can get some more history on the Chernobyl disaster.
2. Kolmanskop, Namibia
The once-thriving town of Kolmanskop started to die out after the First World War. German miners began to head south, leaving their homes and possessions behind, when they found rich diamond-bearing deposits on a beach terrace located 270 km south of Kolmanskop. The ghost town is now a popular destination for photographers.
3. Chateau Miranda in Celles, Belgium
The Miranda Castle in Celles was built in 1866 in a neo-gothic style. It was commissioned by Liedekerke-De Beaufort family, who had left their previous home during the French Revolution. The architect who was in charge died before the construction was finished. It served as an orphanage and also a holiday camp for sickly children till 1970. The castle has been abandoned places since 1991 as the maintenance cost was too expensive. The spooky-looking castle is also featured in the American TV series Hannibal.
4. Dhanushkodi, India
On the southeastern tip of Pamban Island, the wreck of this old city is located between India and Sri Lanka. A part of the state of Tamil Nadu, Dhanushkodi was destroyed by a cyclone and has been abandoned since 1964.
5. The Star Jet Rollercoaster, New Jersey, USA
The once fully operational roller coaster at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights was swept into the ocean when Hurricane Sandy hit the New York and New Jersey shores. The Star Jet was a replacement for the similarly-named Jet Star that stood there before it. It stands on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean as a reminder of the destruction caused by the hurricane. A replacement roller coaster, the Hydrus, opened in 2017.
6. Garh Kundar, India
Kundar is a small village situated in Tikamgarh district, near Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh. Located on a hill near the village are the ruins of the Garh Kundar fort. They tell the tale of the glorious past of the Khangar rulers. For several decades, the Garh Kundar fort has been rumoured to be haunted. It is currently under consideration to be restored.
7. San Zhi Houses, Taiwan
These houses, resembling flying saucers, are located in the Sanzhi District, New Taipei City. Although the buildings are completely abandoned places, it is popular with tourists for its unusual architecture. The location is said to be inauspicious as it witnessed a lot of deaths and suicides during construction.
8. Domino Sugar Factory, New York City, USA
The Domino Sugar Refinery in Williamsburg in Brooklyn dates back to 1882. It was one of the biggest sugar refineries, producing Domino brand sugar. A part of the building was completely burned down during a huge explosion in 1917 that also killed several workers. The refinery stopped operations in 2004. It is currently being redeveloped.
9. Hotel del Salto, Colombia
The mansion was built in 1928 and was intended to function as a hotel for tourists who visited Tequendama Falls. Featuring beautiful French architecture, it was abandoned due to pollution of the Bogotá River and was rumoured to be haunted. It was turned into the Tequendama Falls Museum of Biodiversity and Culture in 2013.
10. La Isla de las Muñecas, Mexico
Just outside Mexico City, the ‘Island of Dolls’ is home to many worn-out and creepy dolls. It’s said that the caretaker of the island found a dead body of a girl on the island; so he started hanging up old dolls to the trees all around the island in order to appease the girl’s spirit. Later, in 2001 the caretaker himself was found dead in the spot where he said he found the girl’s dead body.
11. Witley Court, Worcestershire, England
This imposing mansion was originally built in the 17th century for the Foleys. It was later expanded by architect John Nash under the Earls of Dudley in the 19th century. At its peak, it was one of the great palaces in England. However, it was sold off after the First World War and suffered a devastating fire in 1937 from which it never recovered. The ruins of the house have since been stabilised, and the garden restored.
12. Hashima Island, Japan
Commonly called Gunkanjima, or Battleship Island, Hashima Island is located 9 miles away from Nagasaki. Opened as a coal mining facility in 1887, it was abandoned in 1974 when the undersea coal mines started to deplete. It started to attract tourists in the 2000s because of the historic ruins it represented, surrounded by the calm sea. It was also featured in the James Bond film Skyfall, as villain’s lair.
13. Michigan Central Station, Detroit, USA
When it was built over 100 years ago, the Michigan Central Station in Detroit was the tallest train station in the entire world. Now, it is just one of the many abandoned places in the city. Much of its fine architecture has been destroyed by vandals. However, it was purchased by the Ford Motor Company and is under redevelopment.
14. The Floating Forest in Sydney
Homebush Bay is located on the south bank of the Parramatta River, in the Inner West of Sydney. This is where many decommissioned ships end up. The 102-year-old SS Ayrfield in the bay is known as the ‘floating forest’ because of the mangrove forest that has grown in its rusted hull.
15. Ross Island, Andaman & Nicobar, India
Located near Port Blair in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ross Island was once the hub of the British administration in the Andamans. Abandoned after an earthquake in 1941, the island is now home to ruins covered in vines and branches and also to many species of birds and deer.
These Abandoned Places Are Not For The Faint-Hearted!
If you enjoy exploring spooky, abandoned places as you unravel their complex history, this list is the perfect guide for you. Visit these abandoned places around the world and plunge yourself into a different dimension!
Also Read: 11 Places That You Are Forbidden From Visiting
Have we missed any of your favourite spooky and abandoned places? If so do share them in the comments below
