Discover 10 abandoned places with haunting histories that will send shivers down your spine in this article. From the now desolate city of Pripyat in Ukraine to the Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania and the Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital in Germany, these abandoned sites offer a glimpse into their dark pasts. Hashima Island in Japan, North Brother Island in New York and the Hellingly Hospital in England, together with City Hall Station in New York and the Mirny Diamond Mine in Siberia also feature on the list. The final eerie location discussed is Château Miranda, Belgium.
10 Abandoned Places That Will Give You the Creeps
If you’re a fan of spooky and eerie locations, you’ll be excited to know that there are abandoned sites all around the world with a chilling story to tell. From abandoned prisons to ghost towns, these 10 locations have all been left to decay and are now filled with a haunting aura. In this article, we will take a closer look at each of these places and delve into their dark pasts. Be warned, if you’re faint-hearted, you may want to skip this list.
1. Pripyat, Ukraine
The infamous city of Pripyat in Ukraine was once home to nearly 50,000 people, most of whom were workers at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. After the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, the area was abandoned and has been uninhabitable ever since. Pripyat is now a ghost town that remains frozen in time, with abandoned buildings, personal belongings, and amusement park rides. The radiation levels in the area are still high, so visiting the site is only possible on a guided tour.
2. Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania
This prison, known for its unique design, was one of the most expensive and well-known prisons in the world when it opened in 1829. The Eastern State Penitentiary was designed with a radial layout, which allowed for easier control over prisoners. The prison was in operation for over 140 years before it was finally abandoned in 1971. Today, visitors can take guided tours and explore the empty cells and halls of the creepy prison, which is said to be one of the most haunted places in America.
3. Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital, Germany
This military hospital in Germany was built in the late 1800s and was used during both World War I and World War II. After the wars, the hospital was used by the Soviet army, who abandoned it in the 1990s. Beelitz-Heilstätten now stands in ruins, with vines crawling up the walls and debris scattered throughout the empty buildings. Despite some restoration work, much of the hospital remains in a state of decay, and it’s not uncommon to hear strange noises or catch the fleeting image of someone wandering the halls.
4. Hashima Island, Japan
Also known as “Battleship Island,” Hashima Island is a small, abandoned island that can be found off the coast of Japan. The island was once home to more than 5,000 people who worked in the coal mines that covered the island. However, when coal use declined in the 1970s, the mine was abandoned along with the island. Today, visitors can take a boat tour of the island and explore the empty buildings and mines that are slowly decaying away.
5. North Brother Island, New York
This small island in the East River was once home to a hospital that treated people with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and smallpox. The island was abandoned in the 1960s and has remained off-limits ever since. The buildings on the island, including the hospital and staff quarters, are in a state of decay, covered in vines and rusted steel. What’s even more chilling is the fact that the island is said to be haunted by the ghosts of patients who died at the hospital.
6. Hellingly Hospital, England
Once a grand Victorian mental asylum that housed thousands of patients, the Hellingly Hospital in East Sussex, England, has been abandoned since 1994. The hospital was known for its unique design, high walls, and expansive grounds, but now the buildings lie empty and the land has been reclaimed by nature. A walk around the abandoned site will give you a glimpse into how these eerie buildings and grounds must have felt for the patients who once resided there.
7. City Hall Station, New York
Beneath the bustling streets of New York City lies a deserted subway station that has been abandoned since 1945. The City Hall Station was the original southern terminus of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, opened in 1904. After changes to the subway were made in the late ’30s, the station became obsolete and was eventually closed. Today, the station remains empty and is only viewable from the 6 train as it makes its turnaround in the City Hall loop.
8. Kolmanskop, Namibia
Built in the early 1900s, Kolmanskop was a diamond-mining town located in the Namib Desert. The town was abandoned in the 1950s when the diamond deposits ran out, and the sand dunes eventually reclaimed the town, covering everything in a layer of sand. Today, the empty buildings stand as reminders of a once-thriving town in the middle of the desert.
9. Mirny Diamond Mine, Siberia
Once an extremely active diamond mine in the heart of Siberia, the Mirny Diamond Mine was abandoned in the 2000s when it became too costly to excavate deeper into the crater. With a diameter of almost 1.2 kilometers and a depth of over 500 meters, the blazingly cold and isolated site is now an eerie and abandoned shadow of its former self.
10. Château Miranda, Belgium
The beautiful Château Miranda was built in the 19th century as a home for a wealthy family in Belgium. It was later claimed by the Nazis in World War II, and after the war, the castle was used as an orphanage for many years. The castle was eventually abandoned in 1991 when the facility was shut down due to concerns about safety issues. Today, the beautiful castle is in ruins, and the vines and ivy growing across its walls make the place look even spookier.
Conclusion
There you have it, ten abandoned places from all around the world that will leave you with a shiver down your spine. These sites of varying sizes and locations are all unique in their eerie histories that were abandoned for a myriad of reasons. If you’re planning on exploring any or all of these abandoned sites, just make sure you do so safely as they can be hazardous and dangerous to navigate. So, which one of these abandoned places is going on your list to visit next?