Johann Hunt
Urban exploration involves investigating man-made structures, usually abandoned or hidden from the public eye. These structures may be abandoned prisons, amusement parks, or ghost towns. Here are some intriguing sites in the United States where visitors can peek into history, enjoy adventure, and take lovely pictures.
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA
This former American prison operated from 1829 to 1971 and held notorious criminals, including Al Capone and Wille Sutton, the bank robber. It was once the USA’s most expensive and largest public structure. Today, it is in ruins and serves as a museum open six days a week.
City Hall Station, New York, NY
Under the City Hall Park is the City Hall Loop station. After opening up late in 1904, it ran for over 40 years until it was closed because of how near it was to the Brooklyn Bridge station. The station is now primarily accessible through the New York Transit Museum, which offers limited tours.
Bombay Beach, CA
The Salton Sea was created by mistake when the California government attempted to divert water to the Salton Sink and other desert communities. Agricultural runoff polluted the lake, and the increase in the water’s salinity killed most of its fish. Bombay Beach, a town by the lake, has a lot of abandoned buildings.
Six Flags New Orleans, LA
It opened as Jazzland in 2000 and reopened as Six Flags New Orleans in 2002. When Hurricane Katrina caused huge damage, it was closed for repairs, but Six Flags seemed to give up on it the next year. There are still plans to redevelop the site.
Packard Automotive Plant, Detroit, MI
This factory has had a series of demolitions, and today is an empty, partially demolished site, with plans to finish demolition soon. The active demolition makes it extremely risky. Many movies and TV shows have used it as a filming location.
Bodie, CA
The town of Bodie experienced a boom in 1876 after a vein of gold was discovered. A few years later, its population hit 8,000. Less than 40 years after its boom, it became a ghost town. It has since been established as a historic park and receives about 200,000 visitors annually.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, WV
Once a psychiatric hospital, it served patients from late 1964 to mid-1994. It then reopened in March 2008 as a tourist location. There are guided tours, where the guides wear 19th century-ish nurse outfits. Historical tours allow visitors to see the four floors of the main building, and paranormal tours happen at sunset and overnight.
Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, OH
In 1990, a Federal Court ruling ordered the closure of this prison, and four years later, it became famous, thanks to the 1994 movie Shawshank Redemption, which had most of its scenes filmed there. The reformatory receives tourists all week from April to October and four days a week in other months.
Yonkers Power Station, Yonkers, NY
Yonkers power station was constructed in 1907 to electrify the New York Central Railroad. The massive building stands unused today. It was named among the state’s seven most endangered sites, and even though efforts to renovate it began in 2013, it will take a long time before it’s over.
Grossinger’s Catskill Resort Hotel, Liberty, NY
The Town of Liberty is home to Grossinger’s Catskill Resort Hotel, a resort that saw notable guests until 1986, when it closed. By 2018, most of its buildings had faced demolition. A few weak ones were still around, but a fire destroyed them in 2022.
Anaconda Copper Mine, NV
In Lyon County, you’ll find this abandoned copper mine that used to be owned by the Anaconda Mining Company. Most of their activities happened between 1953 and 1978. Since its mining operations ceased, it’s been passed down from owner to owner, and today, it remains a haven for urban explorers.
Cincinnati Subway, Cincinnati, OH
Construction began early in the 1900s on this tunnel to upgrade the streetcar system in Cincinnati. Several factors contributed to its abandonment, like the Great Depression and escalating costs. Construction was canceled indefinitely in 1928, and urban explorers still visit the uncompleted subway tunnels and stations.
Helltown, OH
Unlike several ghost towns you may know about, Helltown doesn’t look very old. Even the “NO TRESPASSING” signs there look modern. You won’t find anyone there, but you’ll see proof of previous life in the town. Once you investigate, you will find several interesting and scary stories about places and things in the town.
Carrie Furnaces, Rankin, PA
This former blast furnace, which formed part of the Homestead Steel Works, was built in 1884 and operated until 1982. Only two of the furnaces and the hot metal bridge are left. A nonprofit called Rivers of Steel Heritage manages the sites.
Rhyolite, NV
The town began in 1905 as a result of a gold rush. Gold seekers, miners, developers, and service providers poured into the area and its surroundings. After ores were no longer found there, Rhyolite began to decline. In 1920, only 14 people were there, and four years later, there was only one person.
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