Once-Majestic Places Now Taken Over By The Wild
By Jack Ripley | March 30, 2023
Nothing to see here, just an abandoned Tu-144 super-sonic passenger jet in the backyard on the outskirts of Kazan City.
Many places of interest around the world have been abandoned or destroyed for various reasons. Some of these places are picturesque or entertaining such as amusement parks where many people once took vacations to. Besides the vacation hot spots that were abandoned, there are also some not so beautiful abandoned houses and wrecked vehicles (cars, planes, boats, etc.) that leaves one intrigued with mystery as to the details of those wrecks and stories behind those old abandoned houses.
The remains of the Pegasus in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica
On October 8, 1970, this C-121 Lockheed Constellation aircraft crashed. It was horrible weather that day; but luckily, none of the 80 passengers were injured. Because the weather changes so much in that area, planes flying from New Zealand to McMurdo have to make mid-air decisions on whether or not they have enough fuel to turn around and go back to New Zealand if they cannot land at McMurdo. On this particular day, the weather was terrible but the plane had already passed the point of safe return (PSR) so they had no choice but to attempt to land. Now this area is named Pegasus after this plane.
Abandoned Soviet passenger Hydrofoil rusting away in the autumn forest near Kama Reservoir
A rocket on water? In the 1960s, Russia introduced these high-speed, high passenger machines to get around on the waterways much faster. There were used until the 1980's and were given cool names like "Sputnik," "Comet," and "Meteor." This particular one was used in a fleet of vessels considered to be heroes in the Russian waterways. It could rise up out of the water at very high speeds. But when economic collapse hit the Soviet Union, production stopped and they were sent to die in this ship graveyard near Perm.
Amazing view of Autumn in Germany
How amazing! This is a 19th-century bridge in Germany that makes a complete circle when the light hits it and causes a reflection in the water below. It's especially beautiful in the Autumn but still very picturesque any time of year. Imagine yourself riding in a small boat or canoe with your sweetheart in this gorgeous place. What a beautiful painting this would make or even a puzzle. Looks a lot like a Thomas Kincaid puzzle but you would probably have to turn the puzzle in a 90-degree angle to complete it.
Lucy the elephant hotel, New Jersey
This enormous elephant-shaped building was first built back in 1881 with six stories and was originally called Elephant Bazaar. It had winding stairs that led up to the howdah, the seat where you would ride an elephant. Lucy endured many disasters including a fire during a period of time when the building was used as a tavern. During one of these disasters, Lucy's howdah got blown off. By 1960, it had been so neglected that the city condemned it. When a new developer wanted to have Lucy removed, a committee formed to save and restore her. Now she is back in operation fully restored.
An abandoned store lies desolate in Fukushima
A supermarket (just one of the many businesses and homes) is left abandoned after one of the greatest catastrophes in Japanese history. In March of 2011, an earthquake and tsunami hit the area which caused the evacuation of more than 300,000 people. The earthquake damaged a nuclear power plant which caused a radiation leak, bringing about the entire evacuation of Fukushima. Now Fukushima is nothing but a ghost town. The residents had to flee suddenly and leave their entire lives behind them, seeking (what they thought) was just temporary shelter; but, evidently starting over.
Abandoned Castle in Ireland built in 1586
Located in Roscommon, Ireland, McDermott's Castle is on an island in the southeast corner of Lough Key. There has been a castle on the island since the 12th century. In 1184, there was a fire caused by a lightning bolt where everyone in the place either burned or drowned except for one person, Conchobar mac Diarmata and a small number of his people. Another castle was built; but in 1586, the McDermotts lost the island and the castle was abandoned. In 2014, the castle and the island were used in a show called Moone Boy.
Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso, Italy
It's amazing what you can find in the depths of the sea. This original bronze statue is one of three that were sculpted and placed into the water, which represents Christ offering a benediction of peace looking up toward Heaven. This first statue was done in 1954 in Italy and was placed near the point where Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian to use Scuba gear, died in 1947. Because of a large amount of corrosion and crustaceans, it was removed and restored in 2003. After restoration was complete, it was returned to the sea in July of 2004.
Eerily beautiful cottage set amid the gorgeous yellow forest in Stradbally, Ireland
Near Stradbally, Ireland, is an eerily beautiful cottage set amid the gorgeous yellow forest, probably built back in the 18 or 1900s. That stunning blue roof is definitely unique. It would be a nice place to visit to just get away from the hustle and bustle of life, but unless you want to become a hermit, not a realistic place to live. After a while, the echoes throughout the forest would tend to get a little creepy. For a little weekend getaway; though, it could prove to be intriguing -- a little mystery to spice up your life.
Ferris Wheel at abandoned theme park in Japan
This monstrous Ferris Wheel was just one of the many rides that were inside of the now abandoned theme park, Kejonuma Leisure Land, opened in 1979. At that time, there were over 200,000 visitors per year. The park offered various forms of accommodations -- campsites if you loved camping as well as small huts. If that was not your "cup of tea" there was the hotel for the "not so outdoorsy" type. Although the park closed in 2000, the owner did not totally abandon the place. He went on to drill for hot water on the property.
Cars Left by US Soldiers at The Chatillon Car Graveyard in Belgium
Chatillon is a little village in Southern Belgium. The cars in this graveyard once belonged to US soldiers. Soldiers would obtain cars while in the country during World War II; but, once the war was over and they returned to the US, it was too costly to have them all transported back with them. So the officers in charge decided to leave them in the country and parked them all up at the top of a hill, which was hidden from view. It was left up to the individual soldier whether or not they wanted to have their car shipped to them once they returned home, at their own expense. Not one of them decided to retrieve their car.
Ash and smoke from the Mount Sinabung volcano fills the sky over an abandoned church during an eruption in Karo, Indonesia.
After many eruptions from the Mount Sinabung volcano, over the past few years, the surrounding area has many abandoned homes and buildings including this church. Thousands were forced to evacuate their homes in June of 2015, when yet another eruption occurred. Living in the slopes surrounding Mount Sinabung has proven to be hazardous. Villagers have had to abandon everything -- not just their homes, but also their livelihood and move to refugee camps. Despite all the eruptions and hazardous living conditions, many will still return to their village with determination to regain their life.
The Selma Abandoned Plantation Estate in Virginia
The Selma plantation estate was once a very socially active place. The original owners met with untimely deaths and so proceeded to pass through several new owners. At one time, a fire destroyed the original home but a new owner restored it and brought it back to life. Eventually, though, it was totally abandoned and became dilapidated as nature took over such as broken floors and mold growing on the walls -- even birds flying through the home. Not only was the home abandoned, but left behind inside the abandoned home was a grand piano. New updates reveal, though, that a new owner began restoration in 2016. It would be interesting to see the progress of that restoration.
Fishing hut on a lake in Germany
This abandoned fishing hut, located in Germany, is settled in a beautiful mountainous area inside of Berchtesgaden National Park. It was built in the water on Obersee Lake. Unfortunately, when it was discovered, it was found completely empty. No information has been found to determine the owners. It was most likely once a very active place for fishermen to fish surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of these German Alps -- a place to get away and enjoy the solitude with only echo sounds of the mountains and other sounds of nature while waiting for that "big" one to get on your hook.
Abandoned Yellow House in Nova Scotia
The picture of this old abandoned yellow house looks like something you would see in an old suspenseful movie like Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." With all the dandelions and the house being yellow (needs a good paint job), you would really have to like the color yellow to live there. It was probably abandoned though, not because of the color yellow, but because of the economy in the area. A lot of communities in Nova Scotia lacked opportunity for growth so when the children would grow up and leave for greener pastures, there was no one to leave the homes to; and, consequently, would end up being abandoned once the parents passed away.
This VW Bug is part of an underwater museum in Cancun, Mexico
This little Bug is part of an underwater museum in Cancun. If you love to dive or snorkel, this would be a great place to go check out. For those who don't have the courage or ability to dive or snorkel, there is also the option of going in glass bottom boats. What an amazing sight to see -- all those sculptures underwater. There are over 500 sculptures to view. This particular sculpture is a life-sized replica of the Classic Volkswagen Beetle which houses marine life as well as being entertaining for divers.
Abandoned space shuttle at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
This site was a secret site built by Russia in the area of Kazakhstan, unknown to the West. It was from Baikonur Cosmodrome that the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, was launched, in April of 1961. The "Buron" only flew one time which was in November of 1988. The goal was to send 30 tons to space and return 20 tons back to earth. The preparation for the test flight into space included 24 tests on earth, 15 of which were fully automatic. The cabin was designed to hold 6 passengers with room for extra passengers in the cargo area. The program was "iced" in 1991 when the Communist government fell and the nation was split into several countries.
A storm approaches an old abandoned farm home with a curiously manicured lawn in Ontario
This picture of an old abandoned farmhouse is quite the mystery. How is it possible to grow perfectly green grass with obviously dead trees especially in Canada? And, for the sake of argument, who would take such exquisite care of the lawn and totally neglect the house leaving it in ruins? More questions than answers but it does make an intriguing picture for a portrait to frame and hang in your home or art gallery especially with the illustration of the storm looming over the horizon.
Russian Shipwreck in the Red Sea
There were several shipwrecks in the Red Sea but this particular shipwreck looks like it may have been what is referred to as the "Russian Wreck." It was discovered back in 1988 and believed to have been a fishing trawler named Khanka. It is believed that the Russians used fishing trawlers for surveillance and or communication. A lot of communication equipment like electronic devices and batteries was found in it so it was most likely used as a spy ship of some sort.
The Last House on Holland Island, U.S.A
In 1910, Holland Island was thriving with 360 residents and was considered the most populated Island in Chesapeake Bay. Besides homes like this Victorian home, there were many other homes, shops, a school and a church. But this island had a problem -- erosion. Erosion gradually ate away at the island which greatly concerned its residents. In 1914, they had stones shipped in to try to build walls and tried to even sink ships to slow it down but nothing worked. Most of the residents tore down their homes and moved inland. Then in 1918, a tropical storm hit and damaged the church. By 1922, the few that stayed finally left after the church closed down. One man, in 1995, tried for 15 years to preserve the island, spending a fortune, all to no avail. This house was the last house to go.
Abandoned house of Bulgarian industrialist, Pencho Semov
Called the "Bulgarian Rockefeller," he was the first billionaire in Bulgaria. He was born in a village near Gabrovo and went from being a poor boy to a billionaire through trading, banking, and more. Two years before his death, he made out his will stating he wanted his mansion to become a retirement home and two other buildings he had to be girls' boarding schools. One of them was for the poor girls free of charge and the other was for the wealthy girls with small taxes to be charged. Unfortunately, when he passed away in 1945, his wishes were not carried out. All of the resources for his charity purposes were blocked by the government and the mansion was used for an infectious tuberculosis ward.
The oldest British warship to have been found in the Great Lakes in Ontario
The H.M.S. Ontario, a British warship that sank in 1780, makes it the oldest British warship to have been found in the Great Lakes. The ship was found between Niagara and Rochester, NY in 2008 and was mostly intact. It sank during a storm where about 130 men lost their lives. Jim Kennard started 35 years earlier to search for this ship but was not successful until he and Dan Scoville teamed up together searching for sunken vessels. Together, it only took them three years to find this ship.
Police Motorcycle Graveyard (Harley-Davidson)
These Harleys were previously owned by the National Police of Puente Piedra, which is located in Lima, Peru. Due to problems with the budget in operation and/or maintenance, they were taken out of circulation. Some of these Harleys were sold in bulk by Harley lovers due to the inability to obtain parts because there were no dealers or parts places in the area. So in order to make a good bike, they needed more than one bike to create it. The price for them in the auction was $1,300 but those who bought them in bulk and recreated a good one could sell it for $12,000.
Abandoned railroad bridge in Pittsburgh
This is just one of many abandoned railroad bridges in Pennsylvania. Many of them were abandoned because they were no longer needed when automobiles became the popular way to travel. Travel by train became the exception, not the rule. Because of the new mode of travel, many of these railroad bridges were just left abandoned with no further need of them and no funding to keep them maintained. Some were probably damaged as well and would have cost a fortune to repair.
Lightning over Abandoned Home in Nebraska, USA
This photo was taken by a photographer in 2015 during a lightning storm. He was able to capture the picture at just the right moment to capture this beautiful illustration. The photographer had no idea, while sitting in his car shooting this, the intensity of the lightning until afterwards. Something else interesting to note is that there are no trees in sight -- what might the lightning strike as its target? This is a beautiful photo and, with the portrayal of the intimidating sky, you tend to forget about the abandoned house sitting there. What a contrast!
Abandoned Hotel in Colombia when the Bogota River became contaminated with industrial waste.
This was once a gorgeous majestic hotel surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Columbia. Seated on the edge of a cliff, with a view of the exhilarating waterfall, it was the perfect place to spend your vacation. But, unfortunately, it all came to an end when the Bogota River became contaminated with industrial wastes. There were no efforts put in place by the proper authorities to control this type of problem. Consequently, the flow of visitors eventually stopped until it got to the point they had to close down.
Beautiful picture of old Helensburgh railway tunnel, Australia
This tunnel was one of seven tunnels built back in the 1880s to provide a passageway through the hilly country between Waterfall and Otford. It was abandoned in 1920 when a double lane was needed rather than a single lane for the steam locomotives so they built a new double lane in a different location and closed this one down. Legends surround this and the other tunnels that create mystery as well as beauty to the tunnels. Up until it was vandalized, visitors were allowed to tour the tunnel. They were advised to bring their torches and mud boots as it would get very muddy. When it is dark, you can see the glow worms light the place up.
Michigan Central Station in Detroit, U.S.A. - it replaced the original depot in downtown Detroit, which was shuttered after a major fire on December 26, 1913, forcing the still unfinished station into early service.
This rail station was built in 1913 but before its completion, it was put into use. At the beginning of World War I, there were more than 200 trains leaving the station each day. By World War II, it was used mostly by military troops and then eventually decreased significantly as people began using automobiles more and more. In 1988, it closed completely and since that time, many discussions have transpired between the owners and city officials trying to make a decision on how to best utilize the building. After making some renovations by the owners, eventually, Ford Motor Company took ownership of it in 2018 with big plans for using the building, which includes its autonomous vehicle development.
An abandoned bug in Lagoon Beach, Milnerton, South Africa
Why would someone abandon this little gem? Maybe it was a love affair gone bad and it turned out not to be the "Love Bug" they thought it was. Or maybe the owner just took a notion, on a dare, to drive it out onto the beach and got stuck in the sand. No, actually, it's neither -- if you look at the background, you can see fire or is it a volcano? They must have had to run for their lives so they abandoned the bug because they panicked and got stuck in the sand.
A quaint little abandoned Victorian home in San Francisco
Right in the middle of two modern homes is this quaint little abandoned Victorian home. I can just picture a writer or an artist living here gazing out the window as they work. In the mornings, they probably watched the people walking by while sipping on their morning coffee or in the afternoons while enjoying a cup of hot tea. On Saturdays, they would probably come out and take care of the tiny yard and tend to the lovely flowers that bloomed during the spring-time, which would be more of a hobby than a chore.
The stunning wreck of SS America who snapped her tow line in an Atlantic storm and ran aground off the Canary Islands
Built in 1940, the SS America had been mostly a passenger ship undergoing several different names up until the wreck, which occurred in 1994. In 1941, during a period of time when the ship was used by the Navy, there were two Nazi spies aboard among the crew. They were part of the Duquesne Spy Ring and were later convicted, along with 31 other agents when the FBI uncovered them. It was the largest espionage conviction in U.S. History. In 1994, on what was supposed to be a 100-day journey, they ran into a storm and later the ship went aground just off of the Canary Islands and eventually broke in two.
Partially Sunken Ship in Roatan, Honduras
The Dixon Cove Wreck that occurred in the '70s, according to one of many rumors, was partially caused by a storm that pushed it into the channel and was stranded there. Then, as it was supposedly carrying wood, in an effort to save the ship, they tried unloading it, which was later retrieved by pillagers. Another rumor claims that it was marble they were carrying and yet another rumor claims that it and another ship (that was also wrecked there) both caught on fire and were abandoned. It has been said that both ships were part of the Nicaraguan Revolution.
An abandoned mining town on Silver Islet, Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada, circa 1911.
In 1845, a large amount of silver was discovered in this little town but efforts to mine the silver were near impossible due to various weather conditions and tumultuous water of Lake Superior. They fought against storms, tidal waves, and ice surges all to no avail until decades later, the miners were finally able to retrieve the silver worth $3 million by building a breakwater of rock and concrete that was able to hold back the raging water. In 1883, all operations ceased due to lack of funds for fuel to keep the furnaces going as well as water-filled shafts.
I.M cooling tower - Old Power Station in Belgium
Built in 1921, this power station was one of the largest coal-burning plants in Belgium. It became the main source of energy for Charleroi by 1977. It was able to cool down 480,000 gallons of water per minute. Years later, it was determined that the plant was responsible for 10 percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions in Belgium. Greenpeace began protesting, which caused a lot of negative response, leading to the closure of the plant in 2007. Now security guards are posted due to looters collecting scrap metal.
Abandoned Gentzrode in Neuruppin, Brandenburg, Germany
Gentzrode must have had some type of curse on it as many well-laid plans regarding this place fell through. Beginning with Carl von Diebitch's son, Ludwig: after moving to the estate, he wanted a castle-like mansion with beautiful landscaped gardens surrounding it and a family mausoleum. It was completed in 1876-1877 but was far more expensive than what he anticipated, which ruined him and caused the family's bankruptcy. It then passed through several owners, a couple of which only owned it for a year or less. One of the owners had hoped to grow sugar beets but failed because of poor soil quality. After falling into the hands of the Nazis, it eventually fell into ruin when the Russian army dispersed.
Halcyon Hall, Bennett College, Millbrook, New York - Halcyon Hall was originally built as a luxury hotel in 1890 but closed in 1901.
If these walls could speak! Built in 1890, Halcyon Hall started out as a luxury hotel for the wealthy with five stories and two hundred rooms. Unfortunately, the hotel did not do as well as planned; so in 1901, it closed down. After a few years (1907), a school teacher from New York moved her school for girls there and more buildings were added, which eventually led to it becoming a Junior College (Bennett College). By the 1970s, it began sinking into debt as more coed colleges were popping up, eventually going bankrupt in 1977 and thus was abandoned. Despite being placed on the National Register for Historic Places, it was demolished in 2014.
An amazing "ice" castle called the Swallow's Nest Castle, Ukraine
Overlooking the Cape Ai-Todor of the Black Sea in Southern Ukraine stands this amazing "ice" castle called the Swallow's Nest. It kind of reminds you of the ice castle in the movie "Shark Boy and Lava Girl." This castle was built on top of a cliff (Aurora Cliff). It would be just a little scary to be in it even though it looks secure enough but if it happened to fall, it would fall hard. A wealthy oil merchant built it in 1911. Prior to that, there was a wooden cottage there called "The Castle of Love" that was built in 1895.
Sunken boats on purpose on Moreton Island in order to create a safe harbor for smaller boats in Queensland, Australia
A boat graveyard? Such a beautiful island to have rusty old boats sitting in that gorgeous blue-green water. It turns out that these wrecks were sunken here on purpose on Moreton Island in order to create a safe harbor for smaller boats on the island. That explains why they are lined up the way they are. These old boats were steam dredges and barges that were no longer used, dating back to 1963. It was at the request of a group of boat owners that these old wrecks were placed in the water.
Inside an abandoned castle in Italy
There are many abandoned castles in Italy. You can even find castles for sale, some of which have already been restored, but also some that you can buy to restore. In most of the castles you see in Italy, you will find all types of designs and artwork on the ceilings and the walls. Every castle is unique with the layouts, as well as the rooms, being distinctly different. A lot of them have winding staircases, balconies, dungeons and basements, and probably even secret passageways. It would be fun to explore them, while at the same time, could be eerie.
Abandoned dome houses in Southwest Florida
An interesting way to live -- in a circular home. These were built in 1980 by Bob Lee, a retired oil producer in Cape Romano, which is located near Naples, Florida. They were actually very beautiful when they were first built before hurricanes wreaked havoc on them. There used to be windows with a beautiful circular view of the beach. There was an added benefit to them in that they were solar-powered and self-sustaining. In 2005, they were sold to John Tosto right before Hurricane Wilma came and caused considerable damage not only to the domes but also washing away part of the coastline. Now the sea has completely taken them over and can only be reached by boat.
Abandoned home surrounded by wheat fields, Oregon
An abandoned home in Boyd, Oregon is just one of the homes left empty once Boyd was dis-incorporated in 1955. Boyd is now just a mere ghost town. The Great Depression had much to do with the demise of the town; especially, since the town was already struggling from low wheat prices. Businesses could not succeed with little to no visitors coming into the area. Besides empty homes and businesses, there are old dilapidated outhouses. There is, however, still an old neglected wooden grain elevator that still produces grain.
Love finds a church in Iceland
Because of its unique colors, photographers love taking pictures of Búðakirkja, one of the churches in Iceland where young couples love to go to get married. You don't see too many churches in black and white colors. This church is located in Búðir next to a beach and lava field with a volcano in the distance. The first church was built in 1703 but was deconstructed and later reconstructed in 1987 after someone lobbied to have it come back. There remains a bell and chalice from the time of the first church as well as an old graveyard.
The Remains of the Abandoned Six Flags in New Orleans, USA, Hit by Hurricane Katrina
Due to the tragic event of Hurricane Katrina on August 25, 2005, this Six Flags still, to this day, stands abandoned as a constant reminder of that fateful day. No one in America (or possibly around the world) can ever forget the tragic events that took place that day and afterwards. There are still many areas of New Orleans that have been left standing empty and ominous. Over the years since that time, there have been many discussions with ideas on what to do with the property and whether or not to try to restore the park but so far every idea has fell through.
Former Treatment House (Pavilionul de Bai) from Baile Govora, Valcea County, România. It was built between 1911-1912 by architect Ernest Doneaud and was used starting in 1914.
Built in the 1900s, this former treatment house (sanatorium) had 145 rooms and was built in an E-shape fashion. Even though it wasn't completed yet, it opened in 1915. Another 19 rooms were added but was never completed because of the war. Various forms of therapy that was performed here was water-based as well as electrotherapy. New editions completed after the war included compressed air cabinets. Patients could breathe in extreme air pressures which helped treat upper respiratory diseases. Communism eventually stopped tourism which had a major impact on resorts. Hopes are that now maybe this building can be restored before it is too late since the town seems to be growing again.
Abandoned Rollercoaster, Nara Dreamland, Japan
This is just one of the roller coasters in this abandoned theme park in Japan. This last abandoned theme park was supposed to have been demolished but yet it still stands as you can see from this old coaster luminously in the horizon. Named the Screw Coaster, which is very befitting considering its appearance, this roller coaster has become quite rusty. Nara Dreamland was a copy of the original Disneyland except due to money issues, they did not use the same characters but instead used less interesting characters. Another abandoned roller coaster at Nara Dreamland is the wooden roller coaster, Aska. From the top of it, you can get a great view of the park.
Atkins Hall Apartments, Cork, Ireland. The apartments, half of which remain abandoned, were once St. Anne's asylum.
Back in the mid-1800s, these apartments were once a mental asylum three stories high and extremely long. It was originally three blocks long with men on one side and women on the other side. Various other buildings were included such as a gate lodge and a Church of Ireland church among others. Now about half of this extremely long complex has been renovated into apartments with the other half still abandoned. Can you imagine living in an apartment where once mentally ill patients resided?
Huge man made hole spills diamonds for decades
The Mir Diamond Mine is one of the incredible treasures located in the city of Mirny, Eastern Siberia, Russia. Diamonds were spilling out of this hole from 1957 to 2001 and finally closed down in 2011. One of the World’s largest man-made holes, this massive treasure chest is referred to as the “Navel of the Earth”. What is most mind-blowing about this place referred to as an “open-pit”, is how a place that looks deserted and ugly to the naked eye could produce a number of diamonds that would make any miner rich beyond their wildest dreams.
An abandoned railroad track sits in a forest
Such a beautiful picturesque view of Jiancing Historical Trail in Taiwan, located near the Taipingshan Villa. Originally, it was used for a logging railway with a distance of 5.5 km. Later, it became a hiking trail in 2004 with a distance of 2.3 km. Just nine years later, in 2013, disaster struck with a typhoon hitting the area and destroying all but 900 meters of the trail. Sadly, because of the unstable condition of the last half of the trail, it now stops at 900 meters but still a beautiful hiking trail.
Old farmhouse in Orpund, Canton Bern, Switzerland
Like this old abandoned farmhouse sitting in the middle of this gorgeous flowery meadow, many farms in Switzerland have abandoned farming. Farming in Switzerland has dropped and only about 4% are still active in the farming business. The trend is leaning toward fewer farms but larger ones. About three-quarters of the land used for farming are actually meadows and pastures like the one pictured here. Due to climate and the terrain, the country has become unsuitable for growing crops, leaving only about a third still producing crops.
Submerged US WWII Lockheed P-38 Lightning discovered in Wales after 65 years under the sand
Imagine a fun day at the beach with your family when you notice something in the sand. You find out that it's a warplane that has been buried for 65 years from World War II! The pilot, Robert F. Elliot, during a practice mission in 1942, had to make an emergency landing due to a fuel supply error. As he landed, the belly of the plane sheared off a wing-tip in the shallow water but supposedly escaped unharmed. Sadly, three months later, he was shot down and his body was never found. His only living relative and nephew, Robert, was very emotional at the news because all he knew of his uncle was that he had left the plane and was uninjured.
Abandoned Theatre in Norwich State Hospital in Connecticut
If the walls of this creepy place could speak, what haunting tales would it tell? First opening in 1904 with only 95 patients, it grew to over 1,000 by 1915; and by 1955, had 3,186 patients. There were numerous buildings that were connected by underground tunnels. It was a very unhappy and frightening place, treating the criminally insane and patients who were mentally unstable. Reports and investigations of unethical behavior by the staff led to the bad reputation of the "hospital." There were reports of starvation, prolonged confinements, beatings and even a report of one being packed in ice. There were also reports of suicides and murders with some even occurring after they "successfully" left the place. They were finally shut down in 1996. Many believe it to be haunted.
London readers continue to browse at a bombed-out library, WWII
Are these looters or browsers? It was during the 1940 bombings of World War II that this privately-owned library (Holland House) in Kensington, London was hit by German bombs and almost totally demolished except for several of the bookcases still loaded down with books. Were these men curiously looking for valuable books to possibly resell one day or did they just have an insatiable desire to read? The Holland House library was left in a dilapidated state of neglect until 1952 when part of it was preserved.
St. Joseph Frozen Lighthouse on Lake Michigan looks more like a Disney Castle
A Disney ice castle? Frozen art forms from nature created this magnificent ice sculpture during freezing conditions on Lake Michigan, making this lighthouse look more like an ice castle. Freeze warnings were given by weather experts during December 2016 stating that just 10 minutes outside in those freezing temperatures could cause frostbite. The St. Joseph Lighthouse was completely iced over when the temperature dropped down to -34C. The Great Lakes Drone company flew out and took the pictures of this ice-capped beauty.
The Doomed Serendipity House, Rodanthe NC
The romantic movie "Nights in Rodanthe" is a movie, featuring Richard Gere, that was shot from this very house in North Carolina. It was originally built in the 1980s; and, at that time, had plenty of beach area between the house and the beach; in fact, 400 ft. of it. Over the years, storms, hurricanes, and erosion wreaked havoc on the beach; and eventually, the house was literally sitting in the water. After the movie was made in 2008, the house was condemned by the city. But then a couple that loved the movie tremendously wanted to purchase it and try to save it. They successfully bought it, had it moved over a short distance, renovated it and is now using it as a romantic vacation rental.
Oodnadatta Track in South Australia
An old 383 mile track in South Australia was named Oodonadatta Track by Adam Plate in 1980 to form unsealed tourist routes with the Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks close by. Many sites along the way include ruins of railway buildings, sidings, and bridges. There are springs that feed from the Great Artesian Basin. A well-preserved campground called Coward Springs Campground also exists with a natural artesian spa to enjoy. No major intersections exist along this track. If you want to travel this track, it is best to use a 4x4 vehicle especially if driving in or after the rain.
Abandoned cottage at the Kerry Way walking path between Sneem and Kenmare in Ireland
The abandoned buildings such as cottages and homes are always such beauties to behold in Ireland. This is one of the unusual sights you will see on the Kerry Way walking trail. The Kerry Way walking trail is a long distance hiking trail in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a circular trail of 133 miles long starting and ending in Killarney taking nine days to complete. Better get in shape before you attempt this hike. Seeing a sight like this makes you wonder just how those trees managed to grow up inside that cottage.
Barnes Hospital, also known as Manchester Convalescent Home, in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England. The building, completed in 1875, is a noted example of Victorian Gothic Revival
This Manchester convalescent home was closed in 1999 and left in neglect; but, despite that, it was first sold to a realty company in 2001 and then resold to a development company for 12 million euro who planned a 128 residential unit but they never followed through on it. Then in 2012, it was sold once again to another development company who actually did start construction in 2015 of converting the hospital into apartments. On two occasions, the place was used for filming -- once in 1974 for the horror film "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie" and again in 2005, it was featured on the show "Most Haunted Live!"
Ferris wheel in Pripyat, Chernobyl abandoned for 30 years after the nuclear disaster
Pripyat City Amusement Park was set to open up on May 1, 1986, to a population of 49,360 but something sinister interfered. It was the Chernobyl disaster that occurred on April 26 of that year just a few days before. The park did open up briefly to let the people in the city enjoy the rides for just a couple of hours on April 27 before they handed down the evacuation order. This huge ferris wheel stands like an ominous monument as a constant reminder of the incident that took place that year.
La Villa Zanelli in Savona, Italy. Built in 1907 and then sold to the municipality of Milan, which transformed it into a camp and international colony, then during WWII as a field hospital.
Just outside of Savona, Italy, on a beach is an oddly beautiful villa called La Villa Zanelli that was built in 1907. A sea captain named Nicolo Zanelli had it built for him and his family, who lived in it until 1933. At that time, it was sold to the municipality of Milan and later used during World War II as a field hospital. Then in 1967, it became a heart center up until 1998, when a ceiling collapsed. After that happened, it was left abandoned and exposed to vandals. Efforts are now being taken to try to restore it through awareness on a FB page and setting up a fund collecting account.
Home built in 1908 in Belgium has the look of a haunted house
This abandoned home was built back in 1908, set way back off from the road amidst a corn field. Inside, it is decaying with peeling walls and high ceilings, and even vines growing inside as well as outside the house. Broken and shattered walls and glass cover the floors with old antique wall-paper half-stripped from the walls. Because of its age and dilapidated state, it definitely has the look of a haunted house and has been used in videos as such. Very creepy indeed!
