Scariest Abandoned Places in the US

Adventure, the thrill of the unknown, and a touch of eeriness, all these emotions seem to surge within us when we think about exploring abandoned places. The United States, with its deep historical roots and expansive geography, offers countless abandoned places that will raise the hair on the back of your neck. If you want to explore more, you can read more on tailrank.com. The website also features a fantastic list of more unusual places everyone should visit, adding a unique touch to your adventure.

1. The Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania

Eastern State Penitentiary, with its formidable gothic architecture and haunting aura, is often called America’s most haunted place. Constructed in 1829, the facility was known for its harsh solitary confinement policy, pushing many prisoners into insanity. Now a museum, it’s open for tours, where you might hear whispers, footsteps, or even witness shadowy figures.

2. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia

Once the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is a monument to the darker side of psychiatric care. Operating from 1864 to 1994, it was known for its inhumane treatments, including lobotomies. Today, its vast, empty corridors echo with an eerie silence, and it’s believed to be haunted by the tormented souls of its former patients.

3. Bodie Ghost Town, California

Bodie, a gold-mining town that boomed in the late 1800s, was once a thriving place with saloons, a red-light district, and even a Chinatown. Today, it stands frozen in time, a true ghost town maintained in a state of ‘arrested decay’. The interiors of its buildings remain as they were left, complete with goods on shelves and dinner tables set, adding an uncanny element to the desolation.

4. Byberry Mental Hospital, Philadelphia

Originally the Philadelphia State Hospital, Byberry Mental Hospital is infamous for its disturbing history of patient abuse and the horrific living conditions. The hospital was closed in 1990 after a series of exposés. All that remains are the decaying ruins and the chilling tales of paranormal activity.

5. The Villisca Ax Murder House, Iowa

This unassuming white farmhouse witnessed a horrific crime in 1912, where eight people, including six children, were brutally murdered with an ax. The crime remains unsolved to this day. Many visitors and paranormal investigators have reported strange occurrences, like children’s voices, footsteps, and visions of a man with an ax.

6. Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Kentucky

Opened in 1910 as a tuberculosis hospital, Waverly Hills Sanatorium is infamous for its high death rate. It’s estimated that tens of thousands died here, and the chilling ‘body chute’ was used to discreetly remove corpses from the hospital. Ghost hunters and thrill-seekers regularly visit the sanatorium, reporting sightings of ghostly apparitions and unexplained phenomena.

7. St. Louis Ghost Town, Michigan

St. Louis was once a vibrant copper mining town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. However, when the mines dried up, so did the town. Today, St. Louis stands abandoned, with many of its original structures still intact, making it a perfect location for an erie exploration.

8. Danvers State Hospital, Massachusetts

Also known as the ‘birthplace of the pre-frontal lobotomy,’ Danvers State Hospital was designed to provide a peaceful setting for its patients. Instead, it quickly devolved into a site of malpractice and neglect. The towering gothic structure, now partially demolished, still carries the heavy burden of its past.

9. Bannack Ghost Town, Montana

Founded in 1862 when gold was discovered nearby, Bannack quickly flourished and became the capital of Montana Territory. However, when the gold ran out, so did its inhabitants. Today, over sixty structures remain standing in their original locations, untouched by time and presenting an eerie snapshot of life in the Wild West.

10. The Amargosa Opera House and Hotel, California

Located in Death Valley, the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel is a testament to one woman’s perseverance. Marta Becket, a dancer and artist, refurbished the run-down building in the 1960s, performing one-woman shows for decades. Today, her painted murals adorn the walls, and it’s said that her spirit continues to perform, bringing an uncanny presence to the silent stage.

These places serve as portals into our nation’s past, illustrating the range of human experience, from prosperity and innovation to downfall and neglect. They remind us that every place has a story, often filled with both wonder and tragedy. If you’re up for the thrill and curiosity these abandoned places spark, remember, adventure awaits in the most unlikely corners.