Bruno Pugh
In the past, certain neighborhoods were highly desirable for the wealthy. These areas were popular spots for people to socialize and enjoy the high life. However, over time, many of these once-thriving neighborhoods have been abandoned by the elite in favor of newer destinations. Here’s a list of 11 neighborhoods that used to be bustling with the wealthy but are now eerily empty.
Brush Park, Detroit
Brush Park wasn’t just another neighborhood in Detroit—it was the heart of the city’s wealthiest class in the late 1800s. Lavish Victorian mansions, often called “painted ladies,” lined its streets. As Detroit’s economy collapsed and crime skyrocketed, affluent residents abandoned their grand homes for safer suburbs.
Palm Springs
The 1950s and 1960s saw Hollywood’s elite escape to Palm Springs. Stars like Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe made it their retreat. As travel trends evolved and exotic international destinations became more accessible, Palm Springs saw a decline in its exclusive allure.
Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills used to be synonymous with luxury. However, the allure of older homes and proximity to the city started to wear off as newer, more exclusive enclaves in LA’s hills emerged. The tech boom shifted wealth north to Silicon Valley, leaving many properties in Beverly Hills either unsold or slated for redevelopment.
Pripyat
In Pripyat, Ukraine, the Soviet elite lived in an idyllic, modern town built for Chernobyl workers. It wasn’t slow economic decay that emptied Pripyat—it was the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. After the 1986 meltdown, the entire city was evacuated, leaving behind a horror town frozen in time.
Golden Gate Estates
Developed for the ultra-wealthy, Golden Gate Estates in Naples, Florida, was marketed as a grand development. However, as construction expanded into the swampy terrain, it quickly became apparent that the land wasn’t suited for large-scale housing. Basic infrastructure like water and electricity became scarce, and the dream fizzled.
Gary’s West Side
Gary, Indiana’s West Side, was home to the wealthiest residents during the heyday of the steel industry. Large homes and well-manicured lawns symbolized the area’s success. However, when the steel industry collapsed in the 1970s, so did the city. Today, it has been revitalized with more than 60,000 people.
Ciudad Real Central
Originally, Ciudad Real Central Airport was supposed to be a luxury travel hub surrounded by high-end neighborhoods. The project had bold visions, but when Spain’s economy crashed, so did those dreams. The airport, along with its surroundings, now stands as a vacant monument to poor planning.
Fukushima Exclusion Zone
As soon as Fukushima’s nuclear disaster hit in 2011, the affluent neighborhoods were evacuated. Like Pripyat, radiation from the nearby Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant forced the evacuation of residents. Once beautiful homes now stand empty, with no signs of life returning anytime soon.
Eagle Mountain
With its well-built homes catering to Kaiser Steel Corporation workers and executives, Eagle Mountain prospered as a steel town. But when steel demand plummeted in the 1980s, Eagle Mountain became redundant. The town was slowly abandoned, leaving behind a relic of post-industrial America in the harsh desert heat.
Lehigh Acres
In the 1950s, Lehigh Acres was envisioned as the ultimate suburban retreat. It attracted wealthy retirees and middle-class families alike, looking for spacious lots and quiet living. However, overdevelopment without a matching demand left the area full of empty homes and unfinished lots. Some areas are recovering, but others remain eerily empty.
Bannack
Bannack rose to fame during the Montana gold rush in the 1860s, with prospectors and miners striking it rich. Wealthy residents built large homes, hoping to capitalize on the booming town. But when the gold ran out, so did the people. Bannack’s grand houses now stand as ghostly reminders of a boom that went wrong.