20 Abandoned Places in America That Are Beautiful and Creepy
These 20 abandoned places across America are visually stunning, deeply quiet, and full of unsettling history.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 6 min read
Across the United States, there are places that once held life, noise, and people — but now sit empty. These sites carry stories of disaster, decline, or simply time moving on. They are still standing, and in their silence, they leave a powerful impression.
1. Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania
Dudva on Wikimedia Commons
This prison opened in 1829 and was once the most advanced of its time. It introduced a strict system of solitary confinement, which influenced prisons worldwide. It closed in 1971 and has been open for public tours since the 1990s. The stone corridors are empty now, but the structure remains exactly as it was left.
2. Bodie, California
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Bodie was a gold-mining town that boomed in the late 1800s and was mostly abandoned by the 1940s. Today, it’s preserved in a state of arrested decay. Furniture, tools, and items are still inside the buildings, untouched for decades. It is now a state historic park and open to visitors.
3. Centralia, Pennsylvania
Codyrt on Wikimedia Commons
A coal mine fire started beneath this town in 1962 and is still burning underground. The population slowly moved away as the ground became unstable and dangerous. Only a few residents remain today. Most of the town’s buildings have been demolished, leaving behind empty streets and cracked pavement.
4. Salton Sea, California
Tuxyso on Wikimedia Commons
The Salton Sea was once a booming resort destination in the ’50s and ’60s. However, due to rising salinity and pollution, fish began to die off, and the area became uninhabitable. Buildings were abandoned, and the shoreline was covered in salt and debris. Many of the surrounding towns are now mostly empty.
5. Villisca Axe Murder House, Iowa
Jason McLaren on Wikimedia Commons
This home was the site of an unsolved murder in 1912, where eight people were killed. The house is preserved just as it was, with period-accurate furniture and layout. It is open for tours and overnight stays. Many visitors report feeling unsettled while inside.
6. Michigan Central Station, Detroit
Albert duce on Wikimedia Commons
Opened in 1913, this massive train station was once a symbol of Detroit’s prosperity. It was abandoned in the late 1980s as the city’s economy declined. The structure sat empty for years, though restoration efforts began in 2018. Even while vacant, its scale and architecture were striking.
7. Six Flags, New Orleans
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This amusement park closed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was never reopened. Much of the park was left as it was after the storm. Rides and structures remain in place, weathered and damaged by time. The site is not open to the public but is often photographed by urban explorers.
8. Cape Romano Dome House, Florida
Flyhighnewport on Wikimedia Commons
Built in 1981 on a remote part of Marco Island, this concrete dome house was meant to be self-sustaining. Over time, erosion and rising sea levels pushed the water closer until it surrounded the structure. It was eventually abandoned and partially collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico. It stood offshore until the last part fell in 2022.
9. Elkmont, Tennessee
Brian Stansberry on Wikimedia Commons
Elkmont was a logging town that later became a vacation spot in the Great Smoky Mountains. It was eventually absorbed into the national park, and the homes were left empty. The National Park Service has preserved several of the buildings. The area is quiet, with visible signs of age and decay.
10. Winchester Mystery House, California
The wub on Wikimedia Commons
This house in San Jose was built over decades by Sarah Winchester, heir to the rifle fortune. It contains hundreds of rooms, staircases that lead nowhere, and other unusual features. The construction never followed a clear plan. Today, it operates as a museum and historic site.
11. Helltown, Ohio
Frank John Aleksandrowicz on Wikimedia Commons
Helltown is the nickname for an area in Boston Township where the National Park Service took over several buildings in the 1970s. The properties were vacated for park development but were never fully demolished. The boarded-up homes and blocked roads led to local legends and conspiracy theories. While most stories are false, the area still feels isolated.
12. Bannerman Castle, New York
PhreddyCox on Wikimedia Commons
Built in the early 1900s, this structure on Pollepel Island was used to store military surplus. A fire in 1969 and years of neglect left it in ruins. The castle is still partially standing and can be visited by boat. Trees and plants now grow through much of the interior.
13. North Brother Island, New York
reivax on Wikimedia Commons
This island housed a quarantine hospital in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including during the time of Typhoid Mary. It later served as housing for war veterans and was eventually abandoned in the 1960s. The buildings have been overtaken by dense forest. Access is restricted, and the island is used as a bird sanctuary.
14. Ghost Ship, Ohio River (near Kentucky)
SouthernOculus on Wikimedia Commons
An old cargo ship rests in a narrow part of the Ohio River. It was originally used in World War II and later for commercial purposes before being abandoned. The ship is rusted and partly submerged. It is on private property, but photos from a distance show its weathered structure.
15. Palmer House Hotel, Minnesota
McGhiever on Wikimedia Commons
This hotel has been in operation since the early 1900s and is still open today. It has gained a reputation for paranormal activity based on guest reports. While these claims are not verified, the hotel embraces its history. The building retains many of its original features.
16. Packard Automotive Plant, Detroit
Albert duce on Wikimedia Commons
This large factory was used to produce Packard cars in the early 20th century. It was one of the largest industrial buildings of its kind. Production stopped in the 1950s, and the site was abandoned over time. It remains a well-known example of urban decay in Detroit.
17. Doll Island (near U.S.- Mexico border)
Emmanuel Eslava on Wikimedia Commons
While technically in Mexico, the island is known along the U.S. border for its eerie visuals. Dolls are hung across trees and buildings, placed there by a former caretaker. According to local stories, the display was created in memory of a drowned girl. Though not in the U.S., it often appears in American media coverage of strange places.
18. Cahaba, Alabama
Fæ on Wikimedia Commons
This town was Alabama’s first capital before being abandoned due to repeated flooding. Only ruins and foundations remain. Cemeteries and broken streets are still visible in the wooded area. It is now part of a historic park and can be visited.
19. Fort Proctor, Louisiana
US National Park Service on Wikimedia Commons
Built in the 1800s to protect New Orleans, this fort was never used due to damage from a hurricane. It was later abandoned as technology changed. The structure still stands in shallow water and is accessible only by boat. It is deteriorating but remains a striking sight.
20. Hotel Monte Vista, Arizona
Christopher Amrich on Wikimedia Commons
This hotel in Flagstaff was built in 1927 and has hosted many famous guests. It is still in operation but is known for reported ghost sightings and unexplained sounds. The staff keeps records of guest reports over the years. The building is well-preserved and part of the town’s historic downtown.