Alex Carson
Abandoned Places
There are places all over the world that have been abandoned. Some are picturesque, and some have a great deal of history. When times change, and people change, these spots are abandoned, left behind, and forgotten. When these places are forgotten, there are often things that get left behind. Some of them might shock you. Here are 28 strangest things found in the middle of nowhere.
An Abandoned TU-144 Super-Sonic Passenger Jet
When you think about places you would find a passenger jet, you think of airports. If you visit the outskirts of Kazan City, you can find one sitting right in someone’s backyard. The plane was first discovered by a few people walking by. When word spread, more and more people were walking by, trying to catch a glimpse of the jet. Many took photos, and some sent drones up to take pictures. How someone got it in such a tight space is unknown. The fact that some of the moving parts still partially work is incredible.
Devil’s Bridge
Devil’s Bridge is located in Rakotzbrucke in Autumn, Germany. The bridge was built by a man in the 19th century, and it is incredible. When the bridge reflects on the water, it creates an illusion of a complete circle. The way that the bridge was built is so challenging that it is believed that the devil would have had to help with the construction. The legend says that the devil helped to build the bridge in exchange for the soul of the first person who crossed the bridge, which is where it got its name. To preserve the incredible structure, it is illegal for anyone to cross the abandoned bridge. This hasn’t stopped people from photographing it and even creating incredible paintings.
An Abandoned Store In Fukushima
The Fukushima catastrophe in 2011 is one of the greatest disasters in Japanese history. When an earthquake and a tsunami hit the region in March 2011, over 300,000 people had to be evacuated. The earthquake caused damage to a nuclear power plant, and the leak forced everyone in Fukushima to remain in their evacuated location. This is a photo of a store that had been completely abandoned. Inside was over $135,000 worth of gaming consoles and other good. The cash register is still full of money, and the vending machines stocked. Today, it looks like an eerie ghost town.
McDermott’s Castle In Ireland
This abandoned castle is located on an island on Lake Lugh Key, in Roscommon, Ireland. It was built during the 12th century, and in 1184, a fire broke out. Most of the people in the castle either burned to death or they drowned. There were a few survivors, including Conchobar mac Diarmata and some of his people. A few years later, a new castle was built. This new castle wasn’t home to anyone for very long, because in 1586, the McDermott’s lost control of the island, and it was abandoned. Soon, it became damaged by the ivy that covers its walls.
The castle remains abandoned today, and in 2014, it was used in a show called Moone Boy. In 2016, Bob Geldof visited the castle for a BBC documentary on Yeats, who loved the castle and its folklore. Bob hoped to turn the castle into a piece of Irish culture and heritage by restoring it, but it still remains abandoned and in ruins today.
Strangest Things: Christ of the Abyss In Italy
There are plenty of things hidden under the sea. One impressive hidden gem is a bronze statue, located over 49-feet under the water. It is a statue of Jesus Christ, which was created by sculptor Guido Galletti. The statue is supposed to look like Jesus Christ, looking up toward Heaven, offering peace. There were originally three statutes like this one placed in the water. The statue was the first built, and it was placed in the spot where the first Italian scuba diver, Dario Gonzatti, died. The statue was removed in 2003 so that it could be repaired. It corroded a lot over time. In July 2004, it was returned to the sea.
An Abandoned Ferris Wheel in Japan
The Kejonuma Leisure Land was first opened in 1979, and every year, 200,000 people visited every year. The amusement park not only had fun rides, but it also had accommodations allowing you to stay in the park. If visitors enjoyed camping, they could stay at campsites or in small huts. If not, they could stay at a hotel in the park. The park closed for good in 2000, but the owner didn’t abandon the park entirely. He remained there so he could drill for hot water, and he left the Ferris wheel intact. It still stands there today, and it doesn’t work.
The Swinger’s Tiki Palace in Chattanooga, Tennessee
The Swinger’s Tiki Palace is located in the Smokey Mountains in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The home was originally the dream house of Billy Hull, a strip club owner. He had the house built during the ’70s. The house had three bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, a Playboy Bunny pool, and a Jacuzzi and sauna for 12 people. He installed mirrors all over the house, and there is a TV in every room, along with an intercom system. When Billy hired someone to shoot his wife’s boyfriend, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 20-years in prison. The house was listed for sale in 2014 and left abandoned. By 2015, it had been severely vandalized and went into foreclosure. The city seized the property for unpaid taxes, and it was demolished on September 7, 2017.
The Chatillon Car Graveyard in Belgium
In Chatillon, a small village in Belgium, there lies an abandoned car graveyard. Each of the cars once belonged to US soldiers. During World War II, the soldiers were in Belgium, and they were able to obtain cars. When the war ended, the soldiers returned home and left their cars behind because they didn’t want to pay the cost of shipping. Instead, they drove their cars to the countryside and parked their vehicles at the top of a hill where nobody could see them. Over time, nature has taken over, and the cars were covered in moss. Most of the vehicles have been removed, and thieves stole some.
Strangest Things: A Village in Karo, Indonesia
Mount Sinabung is a volcano that remained inactive for years. People built homes and even a church at the base of the volcano. In 2010, for the first time in 400 years, the volcano erupted. It has remained active ever since, and in 2015, thousands of residents had to abandon their homes and move to refugee camps. The area is very dangerous, and many residents have chosen to move on. A few brave souls have returned to the villages to go back to their old lives.
The Selma Plantation Estate in Virginia
The Selma plantation estate was once a popular and busy place. When the owners died, the estate changed hands several times. A fire destroyed the home, and the new owner chose to restore it. When this owner was forced to abandon the estate, nature took over. Birds moved inside, and weeds took over. In 2016, a London-based entrepreneur, Sharon Virts, bought the estate with her husband, Scott Miller. The couple started to make plans to preserve a piece of history and make the estate their family home.
Strangest Things: Mar Sem Fin an Antarctic Shipwreck
Under the surface of the water in the Antarctic is a 76-foot long Mar Sem Fin Brazilian research vessel. The ship was forced to battle winds of 60-miles per hour, leaving the boat trapped in ice in Maxwell Bay, King George Island. It is located 745 miles south of the tip of South America. The incident took place in April 2012, and although the ship sank, the crew managed to evacuate just in time. It still lies under the water today.
Strangest Things: An Abandoned Fishing Hut in Germany
This abandoned hut is located in the Berchtesgaden National Park. It was built on Obersee Lake and was abandoned. Today, it is falling apart. Nobody knows who the hut belonged to, and many assume that the owner died, and the cabin was forgotten.
A Yellow House in Nova Scotia
This yellow house was once beautiful, and it is surrounded by dandelions. Today, it is abandoned, and it now looks like something from a horror movie. Nobody knows who owned the house, but the reason it was abandoned is due to the economy. This area of Nova Scotia lacked the opportunity for growth, and there were no jobs. When the kids who lived in the area grew up, they moved away, leaving their parents and their homes. When the parents passed away, many houses were left abandoned like this one.
The Last House On Holland Island In the United States
In 1910, 360 people were living on Holland Island. Back then, it was the most populated island on the Chesapeake Bay. There were many luxurious homes like this one, along with shops, a church, and a school. Over time, erosion began to cause significant damage to the island. In 1914, the resident had to have stones shipped in to stop the erosion. They even sunk ships to slow the erosion process down. Unfortunately, nothing worked, and many residents were forced to tear their homes down and relocate.
In 1918, a tropical storm hit and damaged the church. The last residents left the island in 1922. In 1995, Stephen White, a Methodist minister, bought the land for $70,000. He hoped to preserve its legacy and called it the Holland Island Preservation Foundation. Sadly, he couldn’t stop the erosion, and the island shrank by 20 acres during the 15 years that he owned it. This house was built in 1888, and it is the last home standing. It has been abandoned for years.
