From Abandoned hotels to entire deserted villages, there is something strangely frightening about the following abandoned tourist attractions.

1. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, United States

We have the perfect solution for future ghost hunters who are wondering where to go for Halloween. The Eastern State Penitentiary was once one of the largest prisons in the United States and housed some of the world’s most dangerous criminals between 1829 and 1971. Conditions were harsh and escape attempts were common. . During renovations carried out in the 1930s, 30 incomplete tunnels were discovered. Today it is possible to visit the prison, although large parts are off-limits for security reasons; years of neglect have filled many cells with crumbling walls and other debris. Unsurprisingly, the prison is said to be one of the most haunted places in America, with distorted, growling faces being some of the most frequently reported sightings. Do you like exploring alternative attractions? Find inspiration for your next trip with our guide to the top 10 tourist spots you haven’t visited yet.

2. Spreepark, Berlin, Germany

In 1969, Kulturpark Plänterwald opened in the German capital, and there were high hopes for the thrill-filled theme Park, which was a huge initial success and was one of Berlin’s biggest attractions. . In 2002, the family that owned the park (then renamed Spreepark) moved six of their biggest attractions to Lima, Peru, where they were attempting to create another theme park. Berlin’s park eventually fell into disrepair and was closed, although strangely enough it was still possible to sign up for tours of the abandoned site. These were stopped after the city of Berlin bought the land in 2014, but that hasn’t stopped local photographers, who come to photograph the crumbling buildings and rusty roller coaster skeletons.

Hurricane Katrina was largely responsible for the fate of Six Flags New Orleans, which had a rather short lifespan, opening in 2000 and closing when the storm hit in 2005. Katrina devastated the area, flooding many sections of this Cajun theme park. It was hoped that entertainment giant Nickelodeon would turn it into one of the biggest theme parks in the world, but sadly that deal never came to fruition. It is now owned by the city of New Orleans, but authorities have yet to decide what to do with the land.

Many moons ago, Craco, in the southern province of Matera, Italy, was not only a bustling town, but also a major tourist attraction. People came from far and wide to wander its winding streets and pay homage to St. Nicholas Church. Surprisingly, the town dates back to 1060, when the surrounding area was owned by a local archbishop. A university had been established in the 13th century, and by 1815 Craco was large enough to be divided into two districts: Torrevecchia and the della Chiesa Madre district. At the end of the 19th century, poor agricultural conditions prompted many residents to leave, and in 1963 the majority of the remaining residents were evacuated due to a landslide. A handful caught on, but the city became completely abandoned after an earthquake in 1980. It was used as the setting for several films, including The Passion of the Christ, starring Mel Gibson. Today it is also a popular stopover for photographers and has recently been added to the World Monuments Fund’s watchlist. One part of Italy that has certainly not been abandoned is its spectacular coastline. Discover the beaches to visit with our guide to the 10 most beautiful beaches in Italy.

5. Heritage United States, Fort Mills, South Carolina

A religious theme park may not seem as fun as Universal Orlando or Disneyland, but when popular TV evangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker opened Heritage USA in the 1980s, it quickly became one of the top attractions. most popular in South Carolina. Their business had all the attributes of a traditional theme park, including a water park, budget hotels, and even a TV production studio. So what caused the park to close? The not-so-holy trinity of a high-profile case for Jim, problems with the IRS and finally, the near-biblical damage from Hurricane Hugo of 1989. Some of the park’s 2,300 acres were used for new projects, but the castle you see below remains.

6. Kingdom of Gulliver, Kamikushiki, Japan

Japan has more than its fair share of abandoned attractions. This particular example, based on the classic Jonathan Swift novel, is perhaps one of the scariest Japanese theme parks. At its peak, the park had everything you could expect from a Lilliputian-themed tourist attraction, except for one thing: visitors. One of the strangest sights is the 45-meter version of Lemuel Gulliver, strapped to the ground at the foot of Mount Fuji. Perhaps the failure of the park could be attributed to its location; Aokigahara, also known as the Suicide Forest, builds on this abandoned attraction. Either way, we think it definitely ranks among the scariest attractions in the world.

Credit: Old climbing plant

Want to increase the fear factor? Check out the following nightmarish roundups:

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