Abandoned Places That Look Like Visions Of The Apocalypse
By
Editorial Staff in
Amazing
On 24th February 2016
A lot of haunted houses will try to capture the aesthetic of an abandoned building for their scares, but in reality an abandoned place has a more complicated atmosphere.
Because they're isolated and decrepit, you can get an eerie feeling when you visit them, but it's quieter and more reflective. It's not that you're expecting something to jump out at you, but more like you're intruding on a space and it's making you feel uncomfortable about it.
Still, that quiet can also give way to a strange kind of serenity. Sometimes an abandoned place can be beautiful, especially when it's outside and there's vegetation growing all over it unchecked.
So whether they're scary, lovely or a little bit of both, here are 20 striking abandoned places that give off that special feeling.
#1 Paco Railway Station in Manila, Philippines.
This station has seen better days, but the rampant foliage gives it a kind of new life.
#2 Ouerbacker Mansion in Louisville, Kentucky.
This looks like the kind of haunted manor you'd inherit from an eccentric uncle you didn't know about. I can't say I'd blame anyone for refusing to spend the night, no matter what the reward is.
#3 Not much is known about this old fountain except that it's found in a natural park in Spain.
It's almost completely overrun by vegetation too, so there's a pretty slim chance of finding it. It's definitely the kind of hidden gem I'd be happy to stumble upon, though.
#4 Villers Abbey in Villers-la-Ville, Belgium.
I'm not sure how it feels to visit these ruins, but it sure looks beautiful in this light. It's also probably more popular now than it was when it was in use, since it's not uncommon to see open-air concerts and plays here nowadays.
#5 The Byron Hot Springs Hotel in Byron, California.
This abandoned hotel is pretty spooky looking, but being used as an interrogation camp will do that to a place. There's also some talk about restoring it, so it may not look like that for long.
#6 The Old Cleveland Aquarium in Cleveland, Ohio.
This former aquarium isn't the only abandoned building in Cleveland, but it's probably one of the coolest. With all of this encroaching plant life, it would fit right at home in The Last of Us.
#7 Neftyanuye Kamni in the Caspian Sea.
An abandoned building is one thing, but how about a whole village? This floating ghost town may have had a purpose during the days of the Soviet Union, but I guess it wouldn't be a very practical place to live.
#8 I'm not sure where these abandoned railroad tracks are, but it's really cool to see what they look like when they're overtaken by vegetation.
It's like looking at the world after the collapse of human civilization.
#9 This used to be a factory in Denmark, but now the only faces you'll see here are painted on the walls.
Unless the artists want to expand on their work, I guess.
#10 City Methodist in Gary, Indiana.
There's not much left of this former church. Although if you always wanted to see what Fallout would look like in real life, I guess this is the place to find out.
#11 Abandoned school in Pripyat, Ukraine.
This is easily one of the world's most eerie abandoned places. There wasn't much reason to stay in Pripyat after the Chernobyl disaster irradiated it, but some brave souls will still make the trip to see the aftermath.
#12 Abandoned casino in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
This casino was one of the victims of Asbury Park's decline in the '70s and '80s, but the city seems to be recovering. For now, the casino seems to be as hollow as in this photo by Edward Reese.
#13 I'm not sure what befell this sunken yacht in Antarctica.
Apparently, it's since been salvaged, but it made a sadly beautiful scene while it was down there.
#14 here's no information on where this abandoned auditorium is...
...but the graffiti and the glow stick lighting don't make it any less creepy, do they?
#15 Charleston Navy Base in Charleston, South Carolina.
There's a lot of cool shots of this abandoned base around, but this photo of the pool is the most striking. That algae really adds a lot of color to the scene.
#16 Abandoned villa in Lake Bled, Slovenia.
I suppose you could call this villa a fixer-upper, but don't look at me to get that started.
#17 Abandoned psychiatric hospital in Manteno, Illinois.
This place looked beautiful and unnerving at the same time in the winter, but unfortunately it's since been torn down.
#18 The American Star in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.
After almost 60 years of service and several name changes, this former pride of the American fleet finally wrecked at Fuerteventura in 1994. Sadly, it has since fallen into the ocean.
#19 Unknown ruin in Limerick, Ireland.
Apparently there's some debate on whether this used to be part of a castle or a watchtower, but you can find it near the University of Limerick if you want to decide for yourself.
#20 Apparently this used to be a 1976 Pontiac Ventura.
It's hard to tell how long it's been there.
#21 Abandoned ship in Tobermory, Ontario.
The ship may be abandoned, but this area is known for its diving.
