I'm sure you've wondered what lies in the old, dark buildings that seem so out of place in an otherwise normal neighborhood.
They might be perfect for a scary date or if you want to do something adventurous with your friends, but I'll let you in on a little secret.
There's more to those places than meets the eye, or should I say ear?
You see, if you really want to get scared this Halloween, forget about haunted houses and head out to one of these spooky places instead.
Some of them are so "spooky" they've actually closed down due to supernatural activity!
Ghost Towns in China
| Getty Images |
However, China actually has over 200 completely abandoned cities and towns!
These places were once booming with life and activity, but due to economic changes, they became obsolete overnight.
Some factories were shut down due to environmental regulations, other towns lost their purpose when people started moving elsewhere.
During the 1960s and '70s China suffered from one of the worst droughts in history, that almost halted agricultural activity completely.
Hundreds of villages were deserted because farmers had to leave to find work elsewhere.
When the government realized what was happening they started re-settling people in other places, but this was easier said than done.
Many of these abandoned towns were located deep in the mountains or in remote areas, so many people simply refused to move because they had already established their lives there.
This resulted in ghost towns with no living souls for miles around.
Nowadays most of these places are used as movie sets, but some are still accessible to tourists.
You might have seen pictures of the Japanese "Forest Bathing" retreats in abandoned towns next to cemeteries or near dilapidated shrines.
While these places are indeed spooky at night time, be warned that you will run into real ghosts if you're not careful.
The Chinese government actually acknowledged that supernatural activity happens in these places, so you'll need a special permit to explore them after dark.
This might sound far-fetched, but during the 1990s there were over 3,000 reports of paranormal activity coming from haunted towns in China!
Hotel Del Salto in Columbia
zim2flick on flickr |
Tequendama falls is known as the "Salto del Tequendama" (Tequendama Falls) in Spanish, named after the nearby town of Tequendama.
Julio Cortázar's short story La Noche Boca Arriba ("Night Face Up") gives a fictional account of a suicide from the hotel.
One of his major inspirations was the hotel itself and the falls, which he himself visited in his childhood.
Tequendama was once a very flourishing and famous area because of the beauty of its waterfalls that were formed by the Bogota river which flows through this city.
Tequendama Falls has an impressive height of over 168m and it used to be a place where people would go to do sports like rappel, bungee jumping, or rafting.
Because the water level has been reduced significantly due to numerous dam projects in Colombia, it doesn't offer such activities anymore.
The hotel was abandoned in the '90s, but it's now famous for being haunted by suicide victims!
Deadly ghost hunters have even captured orbs of light on camera inside this famous hotel.
Authorities are trying to renovate the place so that more people will visit and spend money in the city.
Tequendama Falls is close to Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, so was a very popular tourist attraction for both Colombians and foreigners alike who want to get away from the city.
Some of the famous people who have visited Tequendama Falls are: Julio Cortázar, Nicolas Bouvier, Vladimir Nabokov and Salma Hayek.
Today, Tequendama mostly remains as an abandoned place with a dark and eerie aura.
Fukushima, Japan
| Internet photo |
On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Japanese region of Fukushima, triggering a nuclear accident at a power plant there.
It also created a devastating tsunami, killing 18,000 people and demolishing numerous communities in its wake.
Over 500,000 people were forced to flee their homes and workplaces, some never to return.
This abandoned and ruined business is one of many examples that remain from that tragic day.
The resulting debris is obvious, with abandoned goods, shopping trolleys, and spooky cobwebs strewn throughout the aisles and ceiling.
This serves to heighten the post-disaster ghost-town atmosphere.
Woodland Cottage in Stradbally Island, Ireland
| kylacurtis.com |
The abandoned cottage resembles Little Red Riding Hood's house in the Dark Forest, where she resided with her family.
However, for us, the comparison ends here because there is no actual danger in this picture.
This area's main appeal is its unusual architecture and color palette.
The home's unique blue roof adds a splash of color to an otherwise dark, foreboding environment. Imagine expanding your DIY abilities here and turning it into a lovely vacation house.
Hiding from the crowds in this adorable blue-roof bolt hole is a great idea.
It's the ideal location for practicing how to be a hermit...or perhaps learning how to be a writer. It would make an excellent weekend trip, regardless!
Ghost Towns in New Zealand
| nzonscreen.com |
Not many people realize this, but New Zealand has over 30 ghost towns!
Some of them are incredibly hard to reach because they are located in the middle of nowhere or on private property.
However, there are several abandoned mining towns that can be visited if you have a 4x4 vehicle.
It might sound easy, but don't underestimate the dangers of getting lost in the wilderness in the middle of the night.
Don't expect to find any houses or buildings still intact either, most of them were destroyed by nature decades ago.
If you want the full ghost town experience then you'll need to bring torches and items that can be used as shelter if something goes wrong.
If you visit New Zealand during winter, don't forget to bring a sleeping bag or at least a blanket because you could be stuck there for several days if anything goes wrong!
Deserted Wooden House in Nebraska, USA
Nebraska has witnessed a lot of changes to the landscape over the years, and this abandoned house is one such casualty.
The state has experienced periods of massive land cultivation by farming communities.
This has led to widespread deforestation and crop destruction, causing houses like this one to be left abandoned as people move on to other locations.
These desolate buildings are now being overtaken by nature after decades of being left to the elements.
Nature is attempting to reclaim this house, but so far it has been unsuccessful in pulling down this structure.
In fact, time seems to have stood still for this lonely old building with its peeling paint and boarded-up windows. It looks more like a set from a horror movie than a simple farmhouse.
Helensburch tunnel in New South Wales, Australia.
| visitsydneyaustralia.com.au |
As you can see, it's not hard to tell...
Helensburch tunnel was once an important part of the Sydney rail network, but now it has been closed off since 2003.
These days, it serves as a popular attraction for hikers and curious explorers who want to get up close and personal with this unusual landmark.
The tunnel was one of six that allowed passengers to be moved across the hills between Otford and Waterfall during its existence.
The tunnel, which was built in the 1880s and had a brief lifetime because of smoke and soot accumulating in it.
It was shut in 1915 after people and train crew members were put at risk by its hazardous nature.
The tunnel is now a tourist attraction, with glow worms making the ceiling of the tunnel their home, bathing it in a gentle blue-green light. When it rains, individuals wade or canoe their way through the water.
Abandoned C-121 Plane in Antarctica
| Atlas Obscura |
This photo shows the remains of a U.S. Navy C-121 Constellation aircraft that crashed and was abandoned in Antarctica in 1970.
The aircraft was part of Operation Deep Freeze, and it had taken off from Williams Field on McMurdo Sound to make what should have been a 45-minute refueling stop at Christchurch International airport in New Zealand.
However, the plane was forced to make an emergency landing on the Ross Ice Shelf after all three engines failed due to lack of fuel.
Fortunately, all 80 persons aboard survived the accident.
After several attempts at landing and rescuing the passengers and crew, they were finally rescued by an Australian ski-plane.
The plane was abandoned in the place where it remains today under a 15-foot layer of snow and ice.
However, it hasn't prevented people from taking pictures or writing their names on the plane.
Abandoned House in Ontario, Canada
| explorationproject.org |
This photograph of an abandoned former farmhouse was taken in Ontario, Canada.
It captures the tale of how farmland might be abandoned or sold to property developers in order for them to make a profit from constructing new houses and selling them.
However, the thick trees and charcoal gray sky only enhance the dark mood of the location.
On the brighter side, the gleaming green lawn compared to the decaying and mysterious-looking house behind it is in excellent condition.
The area surrounding the home appears to be magnificent as well!
Wreck of the SS America
| Flickriver |
It has a long and illustrious history, having been utilized as both a passenger ship and a warship during World War II.
In the United States, two crew members were discovered to be Nazi spies and convicted in one of the largest espionage convictions.
Today, the wreck has decayed and sunk into the sea, and it can no longer be seen above water. It has instead become an artificial reef for fish in the region.
