16 Abandoned Sites That Will Give You Chills
There are places more deserted than others, they’re just downright spooky. From crumbling walls to eerie silence, these abandoned sites around the world tell the stories of the past. These are forgotten amusement parks, or once thriving towns, and they tug at our imagination and make us wonder what happened to them.
They’re like flipping through a mysterious, dusty scrapbook. It’s eerie and beautiful in decay, and you can be both fascinated and unsettled. As we get into the holiday spirit, we hope you’ll grab your flashlight and join us on a trek through 16 abandoned sites that could make your spine tingle.
Pripyat, Ukraine
Pripyat was once home to nearly 50,000 people, known as the ghost town of Chernobyl. The city was evacuated overnight after the 1986 nuclear disaster, leaving homes, schools, and even an amusement park with a Ferris wheel frozen in time. In recent years, however, radiation levels have decreased dramatically and tours are now guided. Desolate streets and the remnants of life are enough to give anyone goosebumps yet though.
Centralia, Pennsylvania
An underground coal fire ignited beneath Centralia in the 1960s and it’s still burning today. The streets lead to nowhere, and smoke pouring from cracks in the ground delivers the scene of a horror movie. Today, it is a modern-day ghost town, with everyone but a handful of residents having left. The setting of the video game Silent Hill is based on Centralia.
Hashima Island, Japan
Hashima was a thriving coal mining community that was once nicknamed ‘Battleship Island.’ The resources ran dry by the 1970s, and people left. With the abandoned buildings and crashing waves, it somehow looks post-apocalyptic. It is now a World Heritage Site, but its eerily empty corridors paint a story of abandonment.
Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary
This prison, built in 1829, was one of the first to reintroduce solitary confinement as a form of rehabilitation. Visitors these days come but for its crumbling walls and decayed cells in their pursuit of ghosts or history buffs. This place had its own lore, including the fact that Al Capone even served time here. It’s one of the spookiest spots in the U.S., and visitors have reported hearing whispers and footsteps.
Oradour-sur-Glane, France
A memorial to the 642 inhabitants massacred during World War II, this small French village is frozen in time. The tragedy is marked by rusting cars, shattered windows, and bullet holes. Oradour is a walking experience, chilling but disappointing.
Kolmanskop, Namibia
Kolmanskop was once a busy diamond mining town before it was buried under layers of sand. Its remains are crumbling walls and empty windows, and it’s a photographer’s dream. This space has been reclaimed by the desert in some otherworldly way.
Gunkanjima Island, Japan
Gunkanjima was another abandoned gem in Japan, once home to thousands of miners. However, its derelict buildings and overspreading paths are now off-limits to all except for authorized visitors. Even filmmakers couldn’t resist the island’s haunting beauty, as it appeared in the James Bond movie Skyfall.
The Maunsell Sea Forts, England
Perched above the North Sea, these wartime forts look like alien structures. They were built in World War II to defend against air raids and have been abandoned for decades. Now, they serve as rusting and isolated sentinels of the past.
The Salton Sea, California
The Salton Sea was once a booming resort destination, but now it is a desolate wasteland. A combination of rising salinity which affected fish and the environment. These issues led to fish die-offs and a sharp decline in tourism. Today, it is a magnet for urban explorers, abandoned homes, and decaying boats dot its shores.
Beelitz-Heilstätten, Germany
This massive complex began life as a military hospital during World War I and treated World War I soldiers, including Adolf Hitler. Its haunting beauty combined with decaying interiors has seen it make it a favorite for filmmakers. Despite its history, the site gives a strangely poetic view into the past.
Garnet Ghost Town, Montana
Fifteen miles north of Rock Springs, Garnet is frozen in time, being abandoned during the Great Depression. Wooden cabins and a saloon stand as they did more than a century ago. If you do visit, don’t be surprised if the sound of creaking wood gives you the shivers.
Craco, Italy
Craco was abandoned because of landslides and earthquakes, this picturesque Italian hilltop town was left to rot. Its stone buildings are breathtaking and eerie. Filmmakers love it and it’s a hauntingly beautiful destination for adventurers.
Bodie, California
Bodie is a ghost town in the Sierra Nevada mountains, a former bustling mining hub. It’s now in a state of ‘arrested decay’, with dusty buildings and rusting machinery. The townsfolk seem to have just disappeared into thin air.
The Floating Forest, Australia
An old shipwreck in Homebush Bay has become a thriving mangrove forest. After World War II, the SS Ayrfield was abandoned and now looks like something from a fairytale. Its greenery-covered rusted frame is eerie and enchanting at the same time.
Varosha, Cyprus
Varosha was once a luxury resort that became a no man’s land when Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974. Shops, hotels, and homes stand untouched as if their owners will return. The area has been frozen in time, with political challenges preventing efforts to reopen the area.
The Paris Catacombs, France
Under the busy streets of Paris, there are tunnels filled with the bones of six million people. First made to deal with the city’s cemetery overflow, the catacombs have turned into a macabre tourist attraction. The air is often described as heavy, and it’s easy to see why, it’s not every day you’re surrounded by centuries-old skeletons.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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