Abandoned Places to See Now

Ghost towns, deserted amusement parks, drifting shipwrecks, dilapidated castles — better see these disappearing places soon, before they’re gone forever.

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The Maunsell Sea Forts, England

The Maunsell Forts, located 10 miles offshore in the Thames Estuary in England, were built as gun emplacements during World War II. Now, these abandoned forts can be visited on boat trips, subject to tide and weather restrictions.

Wreck of the SS America, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

Off the coast of the Canary Islands lies the shipwreck of the SS America, an ocean liner built in 1939. After a long history that included carrying everyone from Nazis to Navy troops to cruise passengers, it went adrift in a thunderstorm in 1993. Today, tourists can visit Garcey Beach, where the ship’s bow is still visible.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

Considered to be one of the most haunted locations in the world, this 11-acre abandoned prison in Philadelphia first opened its doors in 1829. Now, it offers many different tours year-round. Or you can watch the Ghost Adventures crew investigate its ghost lore.

Chateau Miranda, Belgium

Chateau Miranda — also known as Chateau de Noisy, despite the fact that it has been silent and empty for 25 years — draws urban explorers and history buffs to its crumbling remains in Belgium. Built in the 19th century in the neo-Gothic style, the dilapidated chateau has suffered fires and storms and is currently in danger of being demolished.

Six Flags/Jazzland, New Orleans

A Six Flags amusement park sits idle in New Orleans after it was severely damaged when Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. Now, the abandoned remains are a popular spot for urban explorers.

Kayaköy, Turkey

Once a thriving Greek village, Kayaköy, Turkey, is now an eerie ghost town after being completely deserted in 1923. The area’s 25,000 Greek inhabitants, along with more than a million other Greeks living throughout Turkey, were returned to their home country following the Greco-Turkish War.

Wonderland Amusement Park, Beijing

This Disneyland-inspired amusement park — intended to be the largest in all of Asia — was being developed just outside of Beijing. The failed project lost funding and was abandoned during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. Plans are underway to build a shopping center in its place.

New York World's Fair, Flushing, Queens

The remains of New York’s 1964 World's Fair can be seen in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. The Unisphere, a 140-foot-tall, 700,000-pound, stainless-steel globe, stands as a national treasure and a memory of this iconic moment in New York City’s history.

Sanzhi UFO Houses, Taiwan

The Sanzhi UFO houses, also known as Sanzhi Pod City, are deserted, pod-shaped buildings in Taiwan. Once intended to be a colorful seaside resort, the project was abandoned in 1980 because of the loss of funding and strange accidents that led to speculation that it’s haunted. Currently, little remains of these unusually designed buildings, which recently have been demolished to nothing but ghost lore and rubbish.

Holland Island, Chesapeake Bay, MD

The last house on Holland Island, a marshy, rapidly eroding island in the Chesapeake Bay, fell into the water in 2010. Once 5 miles long, this island was home to a fishing community with more than 60 houses and other buildings, but the last residents left in 1922.

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Abandoned Places to See Now

Related To:

The Maunsell Sea Forts, England

Wreck of the SS America, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

Chateau Miranda, Belgium

Six Flags/Jazzland, New Orleans

Kayaköy, Turkey

Wonderland Amusement Park, Beijing

New York World's Fair, Flushing, Queens

Sanzhi UFO Houses, Taiwan

Holland Island, Chesapeake Bay, MD

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