12 Historic American Locations That Once Drew Crowds But Are Now Deserted

At a certain time in history, some places in America were full of life and laughter. Visitors clamored to tour and explore these locations, but today, all that is left of these places are tales of their former glory and dilapidated structures that are barely recognizable.

If you are wondering what could reduce a once-populated town or community to nothing but a jungle of abandoned buildings reclaimed by nature, then read on to find out how these 12 American locations became shadows of their former selves.

Centralia, Pennsylvania

Centralia’s story is one of fire, destruction, and devastation. Beneath the small town lies an underground mine fire that has been burning since 1962 and experts say could continue for another 250 years. Smoke and toxic gases seep through the ground, and residents have long since relocated, causing this once-thriving town to regress into near-total abandonment.

Detroit, Michigan: Packard Automotive Plant

The Packard Automotive Plant is now a sad symbol of what happens when industrial vigor ebbs. Built in 1903 and abandoned in the late 1990s, this sprawling 40-acre facility was one of the largest in the state. Its crumbling walls and graffiti-covered halls attract photographers and urban explorers. Detroit’s population loss left behind massive structures that now house only echoes and memories of times gone by.

Salton Sea, California

In the 1950s, the Salton Sea was a glamorous place for Hollywood stars to get away and unwind. However, with rising salinity and pollution levels, this once popular paradise has since transformed into a toxic wasteland. Today, only abandoned homes and forsaken marinas cling to its shores, and the eerie quiet is broken only by birds and the sound of salt beneath your feet.

Bodie, California

At the peak of the gold boom in the late 1800s, the former gold rush town of Bodie boasted a population of 10,000 residents and countless visitors. Today, it’s a ghost town frozen in time in a state of ‘arrested decay.’

Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico

Once a popular pitstop along Historic Route 66, Glenrio was a gas station, diner, and motel town. However, the downfall of this bustling hub came when Interstate 40 bypassed the town in the 1970s. This meant little to no new visitors, and soon enough, it became a ghost town with much of its structure in ruins or demolished.

Picher, Oklahoma

Once a lead and zinc mining powerhouse, Picher had over 14,000 residents at its peak. However, years of mining left behind toxic waste piles, known as ‘chat,’ causing grave health problems, including lead poisoning in children. A 2006 government report that the town was in danger of sliding into abandoned mine shafts compounded the problem. In 2009, Picher was officially deemed uninhabitable, and residents were relocated.

Cahaba, Alabama

Now an archaeological treasure trove, Cahaba was once Alabama’s first state capital. Despite residents’ best efforts, flooding was a big issue for them, and eventually, Cahaba had to be abandoned. Much of the town has been reclaimed by nature. Today, visitors can explore moss-covered ruins and winding paths in this beautiful and historic, albeit ghostly, town.

Rhyolite, Nevada

This bustling business hub operated during Nevada’s gold rush and boasted a population of up to 5000 residents in 1904. However, its popularity was short-lived because by 1916, the gold was gone, and the residents left. Its iconic bottle house and crumbling train station now draw history buffs and photographers to admire its long-gone past.

Detroit, Michigan, Michigan Central Station

Although it closed in the 1980s, Michigan Central Station was once the tallest train station in the world and a grand symbol of Detroit’s prosperity. As the city’s population declined and rail travel dwindled, the station fell out of use. After it was closed for good in 1988, the boarded-up station became a mark of Detroit’s many struggles.

Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary

Famous for housing high-profile inmates such as Al Capone, Eastern State Penitentiary was once one of America’s most well-known prisons. Closed in 1971 and now a museum, its crumbling cellblocks have been neglected and abandoned. On tours of this dilapidated establishment, visitors are told chilling stories of disturbing events, reform experiments, and solitary confinement.

Fort Ord, California

Fort Ord was a former military base that trained soldiers from World War II through the Gulf War. At its peak, Fort Order had been home to over 10,000 residents (mostly troops and their families). However, after the end of the Cold War, the government had no further use for the area, so it was closed and decommissioned in 1994. Although some areas have been repurposed today, large areas still sit eerily abandoned.

Grossinger’s Resort, New York

Grossinger’s was once a top Catskills vacation spot, a celebrity haunt, and the location for the classic movie “Dirty Dancing.” However, despite its once massive popularity, the resort shut down in 1986 when public taste changed. Today, much of the site has been reclaimed by nature with crumbling buildings and moss-covered tennis courts.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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