The stories behind 28 of the most terrifying abandoned locations

More Info interestingengineering.com

Some of the world’s most terrifying locations include sunken cities, wrecked ships, and old military installations that have long since been abandoned.

Even though some of them have been redeveloped or demolished in more recent times, those who have visited them still remember their legacy. While some are strictly prohibited, others are open to your exploration if you are brave enough.

#1 The hauntingly defunct Jet Star Rollercoaster was a fairground ride

Description of abandoned location: Between the 1970s and the 2000s, the Jet Star Rollercoaster was a popular attraction. The owners tried to sell the site but renovating it was too expensive.

In 2012, Superstorm Sandy finally destroyed it, allowing it to rust for six months in the Atlantic Ocean before it was destroyed.

#2 Pripyat: the abandoned city of Chernobyl

Description of abandoned location: In 1970, Pripyat was established as a Soviet Nuclear City to house workers at the doomed Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant that was located nearby. It was named after the nearby Pripyat River and became a city in 1979, with over 49,000 people living there.

The whole city was cleared in 1986 as the Atomic office confronted an implosion.

Access to the city, which oversees activities within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, is currently administered by the Ministry of Emergencies in Ukraine. Radiation levels have fallen extensively starting around 1986, with comparable dosages going from 1 to 336 microsieverts each hour.

The city is essentially a ghost town right now.

#3 SS Ayrfield, a 107-year-old floating forest

Description of abandoned Location: In the middle of the 20th century, a number of ship-breaking operations operated out of Homebush Bay. Different destroyed structures stay nearby, including the most well-known of them, the SS Ayrfield.

The ship was built and launched in the UK in 1911. In 1912, it was registered as a steam collier in Australia under the name SS Ayrfield. After serving as a steam collier during World War II, it returned to service and was decommissioned in 1972.

The 1970s saw the reclamation and scrapping of the majority of its superstructure, and the same decade saw the end of shipbreaking, leaving the hull to float ominously in the bay. Nature has since recovered the boat making a radiant, yet dreadful, deserted wreck.

#4 The Hotel de Salto is an abandoned hotel that has ghosts

Description of abandoned location: In 1928, the Hotel De Salto opened to accommodate visitors to the nearby Tequendama Falls, which rises 157 meters. The hotel was forced to close in the early 1990s after tourists lost interest in visiting due to reports of contaminated waters.

The structure was changed over completely to a historical center in 2012. Many people are under the impression that the location is haunted because locals assert that individuals have made the decision to use it for suicide.

#5 This neglected Soviet submarine base makes you shudder

Description of abandoned location: In the 1980s, the Soviet-era nuclear submarine base at Pavlovsk, which had been constructed in the 1960s, was abandoned and never finished. It is believed to have been constructed as a nuclear bunker to safeguard the valuable nuclear submarines of the Soviet Union.

The base has two huge tunnels for submarines and a maze of smaller tunnels for people to go through. Today, it is abandoned and frequently has frozen water in the areas where submarines dock.

#6 The New Bedford Orpheum, has ghosts

Description of abandoned location: On Water Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts, there is a theater and movie theater known as the New Bedford Orpheum, or Orpheum Theatre. It is currently vacant. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the building opened on April 15, 1912, the same day the Titanic went down.

After closing in 1958, the theater was only used for special occasions. In 1962, a tobacco company bought it and used it as storage, but it is now mostly empty. Today it’s a creepily scary spot to see, yet there are designs in the air to restore the structure as a non-benefit association.

#7 In Kiev, this subway tunnel is eerie

Description of abandoned location: The Kiev Metro system has some areas that are rarely if ever, visited or used. These sections of the tunnel, which are hidden deep beneath the city, are reminiscent of Aliens scenes.

Stalactites have begun to emerge from the ceilings of many of these tunnels, which are rarely cleaned and frequently flooded.

#8 You wouldn’t go to this abandoned submarine base in Balaklava by yourself

Description of abandoned location: Another submarine docking facility from the Soviet era is here. Even though it isn’t completely abandoned, this one is still very creepy. It would appear that Russian Communists have a propensity for constructing intimidating underground facilities. This was once a highly classified facility near Balaklava, but it was taken down after the Soviet Union broke up.

It is deep underground and was specifically constructed to withstand a nuclear attack. The structure’s maze of docks and corridors, topped by a 100-kiloton blast-resistant concrete and steel shell, was touted as virtually indestructible.

It was recently turned into a naval museum, but due to recent geopolitical issues in Crimea, it has since been closed. Russia and Ukraine are at odds over the facility right now.

#9 A creepy former train station

Description of abandoned location: The train station in Sukhumi, Abkhazia, Georgia, which is now abandoned, was once a bustling rail hub for the city. In the 1930s, construction began on the town’s railway, with the opening of the first station in 1940.

The current facility was constructed in the middle of the 1950s, and the line later became part of the Transcaucasian Railway. The building, which was constructed in the Stalinist architectural style, is both beautiful and ominous at the same time.

When loyalist Georgian and rebel forces clashed at the beginning of the 1990s, it finally closed its doors during the War in Abkhazia. Today, nature has partially reclaimed a significant portion of the building, providing an exciting and eerie experience.

#10 The spooky German military hospital

Description of abandoned location: The Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital is in a small town called Beelitz, which was originally known for its asparagus. It is close to Berlin. It was constructed in the early 20th century to treat tuberculosis and consists of approximately 60 buildings.

During the two world wars, it was taken over as a military hospital and used for Nazi experiments. The facility was taken over by Soviet forces at the end of the war, and it became their largest military treatment facility outside of Russia until 1994.

The majority of the parts are no longer in use for neurological research or treatment.

#11 The alarming SS America wreckage

Description of abandoned location: The SS America was designed by renowned Naval Architect William Francis Gibbs and built-in 1940 for United States Lines. Before sinking on the Playa de Garcey in the Canary Islands, the SS America served a distinguished 54 years.

Her name changed over the course of that time with her last name (at the hour of destruction), the SS America Star. At that point, she was under tow to be refitted as a drifting lodging in Thailand when an enormous tempest broke the tow lines leaving her unfastened.

She has largely broken up since 1994, but she can still be seen wrecked and beached. A huge piece of her bow stays noticeable at low tide and fills in as an obvious sign of the force of the ocean.

#12 The abandoned mill in Sorrento is beautiful and scary

Description of abandoned location: The Vallone Dei Mulini, or “Valley of the Mills,” is a deep canyon near Naples, Italy, where the Sorrento Abandoned Mill has been partially reclaimed by nature. Stunningly beautiful in its decay, it simultaneously entices and scares.

It was built in the 10th century and was used as a flour mill until the construction of Tasso Square in 1866 forced it to close. The mill became impractical as a result of this event, which cut it off from the sea and raised the humidity in the area.

In the 1940s, the building was finally shut down and left to its own devices.

#13 A cannabis factory is being built in this former NATO nuclear bunker

Description: This bunker from the Cold War era was constructed as part of NATO defenses to combat the real threat posed by Soviet Russia. However, in the future, it will serve a very different purpose. One German businessperson, Christoph Rossner, has plans to develop therapeutic marijuana in a failed-to-remember atomic fortification on a somewhat deserted airbase.

The German government’s recent legalization of marijuana will transform the once-scary nuclear bunker into something the architects could never have imagined. Between the years 1956 and 2003, the Memmingen Military Base’s defenses incorporated the former bunker, which measured 50 meters in length and 15 meters in height.

The strict regulations stipulated by the Bavarian Government for the facility’s intended use are perfectly suited to the facility’s existing high-security requirements. So, depending on how you feel about the drug, its plans might just work out for everyone.

#14 The catacombs of Paris are eerie

Description: This famous underground tomb, which is hidden beneath the Parisian streets, contains the skeletons of six million people. The French Resistance used the underground cemetery, which was constructed in the late 18th century, as their headquarters during the second world war.

The galleries of the old quarries that were used to build the city served as the foundation for the catacombs, which are a literal labyrinth beneath the city’s center. As graveyards were closed for reasons of public health, the ossuary’s walls were gradually filled with the deceased.

The cimetière des Innocents graveyard in the Les Halle neighborhood was the first to be constructed in 1786.

#15 The Tirpitz museum was once a bunker for the Nazis

Description: Exhibits on the ambitious Atlantic Wall project undertaken by the Nazis during the Second World War can be found at the Tirpitz Museum, also known as the Blvand Bunker Museum. The museum is housed within an old, defunct German bunker that was a part of the wall defenses along Denmark’s west coast.

A history museum, four exhibitions, a large amber collection, presentations on the bunker itself, and a special exhibitions gallery fill the museum’s 2,500 square meters of exhibition space.

The A.P. Miller and Chastine McKinney Miller Foundation provided funding for the museum’s ultra-modern design, which was shortlisted for the Mies van der Rohe 2017 Awards.

#16 The I.M. cooling tower is now closed to the public

Description of abandoned location: Even though it no longer emits steam, the cooling tower of an abandoned power station in the Belgian town of Charleroi still dominates the skyline. One of Belgium’s largest coal-burning power plants at the time, the power plant was built in 1921.

The power plant was upgraded in the 1970s to burn natural gas, and the cooling tower had the capacity to cool 480.000 gallons (1.8 million liters) of water per minute at its highest point.

The power plant alone was found to be the source of 10% of Belgium’s CO2 emissions, according to subsequent audits. Greenpeace staged protests as a result in 2006, which ultimately resulted in its closure in 2007.

#17 Mar Sem Fim, a former sunk ship

Description of abandoned location: If you had been in Ardley Cove in Antarctica a few years ago, you would have noticed a strange shape just below the surface of the water. The eerie wreck of the Brazilian yacht Mar Sem Fim, or “Endless Sea,” can be seen here.

Strong winds caused the yacht and her Brazilian crew to become entangled in the ice while they were filming a documentary. The ship’s crew disbanded, leaving the Mar Sem Fim to its own devices.

The Chilean Navy was eventually able to rescue all four filmmakers who were aboard. The entire crew was unharmed. The ship was surrounded by seawater from the winds, which eventually froze, cracking its hull and causing it to sink. In 2013, her remains were recovered and towed to shore.

#18 Pirate radio stations once operated from the Maunsell sea forts

Description of abandoned location: These army and navy forts, designed by Guy Maunsell, were constructed in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to protect the waterways from attack. The forts were decommissioned and left to their own devices after the war, when the Axis forces no longer posed an immediate threat.

Although they are all referred to as Maunsell Forts, their designs are distinct. The army forts that were closest to the mainland were shown below. Gun platforms were used for naval purposes on those further out to sea.

Since then, the forts have been used for pirate radio, and one of them, the Principality of Sealand, famously declared itself independent of the UK. despite the fact that its declared sovereign status is not recognized officially.

#19 The Sanzhi UFO houses have now been crushed

Description of abandoned location: The San Zhi UFO houses—also known as the Sanzhi pod houses—were a collection of pod-shaped homes in the Sanzhi neighborhood of New Tapai City. Although the project was never completed, and the units were left abandoned in the 1980s without being completed, their design was undeniably bold.

The building project was to be used as a vacation resort, and construction started in 1978. The project stalled and was never completed due to a lack of investment.

The buildings were used as filming locations and tourist attractions for a time. In 2008, the buildings were finally torn down, and by 2010, all of the UFO pods had been taken down.

#20 Shicheng, a city underwater, is a sight to behold

Description of abandoned location: Shicheng, or “Lion’s Gate,” is a sunken city that dates back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-200 AD). When work started on the Xin’an River Hydropower Station in 1959, the area where the old city was was flooded.

The submerged city is also frequently referred to as “China’s Atlantis Re-Discovered.”

The site benefits from its current situation because it is protected from wind and rain erosion. It can be found just 26-40 meters underwater, and it is still beautifully preserved today.

#21 There are some terrifying residents of St. George’s Church

Description of abandoned location: Not only is the decaying St. George’s Church in the Czech Republic eerie from the outside, but it’s also eerie inside. The church was demolished in the 1960s, but it has recently been transformed into the location of some eerie cloaked statues.

When the church’s roof fell off in 1968, many saw it as a bad sign and left it to rot; Shortly thereafter, the resident boarded up the church. Instead, services were held outside the church.

Nevertheless, residents desired its restoration, so Jakub Hadrava, an artist, was commissioned to transform it into an artwork installation to raise funds for the project. Since their installation in 2014, the plaster ghosts have developed into a minor tourist attraction.

#22 The castle of Bannerman is straight out of a horror movie

Description of abandoned location: Another one of the world’s most eerie abandoned locations is Bannerman Castle. The island on which the mock-Scottish castle was built was purchased in 1900 by the wealthy Bannerman family, and construction began in 1901.

It was used as a military surplus stockpile following its construction. In the 1950s, a fire severely damaged the castle, which has since been abandoned.

#23 You wouldn’t want to spend the night at the Ryugyong Hotel

Description of abandoned location: One of the scariest abandoned buildings in the world is the Ryugyong Hotel, also known as the Yu-Kyung Hotel or the 105 Building. It is also the tallest building in the world that is not occupied, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

The building’s construction began in 1987 and was abruptly stopped in 1992. In 2008, construction was resumed, but it was again put on hold in 2011.

The building has never been used and is still in its infancy.

#24 You won’t want to leave Michigan Central Station’s abandoned train station

Description of abandoned location: Another of the world’s most eerie abandoned locations is Michigan Central Station, which is located in Detroit, Michigan. Since around 1988, the historic former main intercity passenger rail depot has been completely vacant.

It was built to replace a depot that had been badly damaged in a fire in 1913. It was in use until Amtrak stopped operating in 1988.

Demolition work, minor structural repairs, and other changes have taken place since around 2011. The Ford Motor Company made the acquisition of the building in 2018 with the intention of transforming it into a mixed-use facility.

#25 Additionally, the underwater Christ of the Abyss is slightly unsettling

Description of abandoned location: Another one of the world’s most terrifying abandoned locations is the Christ of the Abyss. Off of San Fruttuoso on the Italian Riviera is a statue of Jesus Christ made of bronze that has been submerged.

Guido Galletti, an Italian sculptor, is credited with creating the statue, which has been copied in various forms all over the world. The initial statue was placed approximately 15 meters below the surface of the water in 1954.

It was first made in honor of Dario Gonzatti, who died in 1947 and was the first Italian to use SCUBA gear. It has undergone a number of restoration projects since then.

#26 The Wonderland Amusement Park never got finished

Description of abandoned location: Wonderland Event congregation is an unwanted, well never finished, carnival right external Beijing. It was first suggested by a Thai property developer with the intention of becoming Asia’s largest amusement park.

A number of abandoned structures can be found on the site, including a medieval-themed outer building and the framework of a castle-like structure. Around 2008, construction stopped, and subsequent attempts to finish the work failed.

Nearby ranchers have purportedly recovered a portion of the destinations to develop their harvests. Since around 2013, the site has been gradually demolished to its foundations.

#27 Who knows what the Willard Asylum for the Chronically Ill holds for its inmates?

Description of abandoned location: As its name suggests, the Willard Asylum for the Chronically Ill is also one of the world’s most terrifying abandoned locations. It first opened its doors around 1869 and is a listed building on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States.

“After Geraldo Rivera’s 1972 exposé of the appalling conditions at Willowbrook Asylum, large institutions saw a sharp drop in population. In 1995, Willard Asylum released its final patient and closed its doors permanently. Atlas Unknown.

 The Department of Correctional Facilities still uses some buildings for training and dormitories today. The majority of the former asylum grounds are also maintained by them, though many have been abandoned.

#28 Helicopters are said to be attracted to the Mirny Diamond Mine

Description of abandoned location: Another mysterious and abandoned location is the massive opencast diamond mine in Mirny, Russia. One of the world’s largest man-made excavations. One of the richest deposits in the world was the formerly operating kimberlite diamond mine.

It has a diameter of approximately 1,200 meters and is the fourth deepest in the world at over 525 meters. Around 1957, mining operations began, and they ended in 2001.

The underground extraction of diamond deposits has resumed since 2009. There is no evidence to support the myth that helicopters can be sucked into it.