Traveling is an awesome thing to do. But instead of seeking out beautiful, exotic and sunny sights, let’s explore the eerie places in the world whose histories will make you cringe… although there’s no way you can stop reading!
These abandoned towns are fascinating and sure to give you a dose of perspective.
Hamisha Island, Japan
via wikipedia
Hashima Island, nicknamed “Ghost Island,” lies just 6 miles from Nagasaki and is one of the 505 uninhibited islands in the Nagasaki Prefecture.
via wikipedia
Believe it or not, this island, covered in concrete ruins, was once a highly-functioning coal mining facility from 1887 to 1974 and hosted over 5,259 inhabitant at its peak in 1959. At that time, Mitsubishi owned the island and the company’s objective was to extract coal from undersea mines.
via wikipedia
Another interesting tidbit: Japan’s first large concrete building (9 stories high) was built on the island mainly for the purpose of defending against typhoons. But sadly, nothing lasts forever. The fast-growing petroleum industry left coal a thing of the past and the island was closed in 1974. But don’t fret! Ghost Island was reopened 35 years later (April 22, 2009) so you can visit the island to see for yourself…or you could just check it out with a virtual tour on Google Maps!
via wikipedia
Kolmanskop, Namibia
via wikimedia
Located in the Namib Desert in southern Namibia, this formerly small yet rich mining village is now a one of a kind ghost town. German miners built the town in 1908 when Zacharias Lewala found a single diamond in the area while working, which revealed the abundance of richness waiting to be exploited.
“Driven by the enormous wealth of the first diamond miners, the residents built the village in the architectural style of a German town, with amenities and institutions including a hospital, ballroom, power station, school, skittle-alley, theatre and sport-hall, casino, ice factory and the first x-ray-station in the southern hemisphere, as well as the first tram in Africa.” [source]
Former manager’s house, via: wikipedia
But what’s so special now about the cluster of abandoned houses wasting away in the desert? See for yourself:
via wikipedia
Each house is floored with its very own ‘indoor sand dune.’
via flickr
via flickr
You can take a guided tour of the sandbox houses or just wander around by yourself, building sandcastles and making sand angels. I wouldn’t mind having a beach in my bedroom…
Wonderland Amusement Park, China
source: wikipedia
Travel 20 miles outside of Beijing and you’ll happen across what would have been the largest amusement park in Asia (covering about 120 acres). Unfortunately, during early construction in 1998, a financial problem with the local officials halted construction. So sad.
Sanzhi Pod City, Taiwan
via wikipedia
Who wouldn’t want to live in one of these Futuro-esque “UFO houses”? Appropriately named the “ruins of the future,” this minor tourist attraction in New Taipei City has been featured in numerous movies and gotten a lot of attention from photographers and online discussion boards.
via failedarchitecture.com
These other world structures were meant to serve as vacation spot for U.S. military officers returning from their East Asia posts. Unfortunately, the project was abandoned in 1980 due to lack of funding, several car accident deaths and suicides during construction.
While that’s not the most pleasant atmosphere to walk into, I still think it’d be an awesome place to take residence.
via failedarchitecture.com
Sadly, these pictures are all that’s left of the UFO houses as they were all demolished by 2010.
via wikipedia
Dome Houses, Florida
via wearejuxt.com
The Domes houses lie just off the southern tip of Marco Island in Cape Romano, Florida. For years, rumors floated concerning the origin of the strange and isolated buildings, ranging from headquarters of a secret cult to remnants from an alien visit.
But the truth has finally been discovered. The houses were built in 1980 by retired oil producer Bob Lee to be used as a holiday home for he and his family.
via messynessychic.com
The home was officially abandoned by its new owner, John Tosto, who bought the house in 2005. Because of damage caused by Hurricane Wilma and some roadblocks from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Collier Country Code Enforcement Board, Tosto was forced to give up on his renovation plans and surrender the homes to the sea.
via wearejuxt.com
You can still visit the lonely and withered houses from land, but sadly there’s not much left to see.
via assets.inhabitats.com
Share these eerily awesome abandoned places with your friends today.
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