Chateau Nottebohm

Chateau Nottebohm, municipality of Brecht, province of Antwerp, Belgium (Vince)

"This abandoned home belonged to a Mr. Nottebohm and dates back to the early 20th century. There are postcards which feature this home that were published in 1908. There are rumors and tales that at one time the wealthy German family lived in this grandiose Belgian manor but left sometime during the second World war. After the war, Mr. Nottebohm never returned and the eccentrically styled house has been abandoned ever since.

Much of the interior is destroyed with access to the upper floors either difficult or impossible. Suggestions indicate that stability of the stately home is very bad and seems ready to collapse at any moment. The manor was thought to be haunted as well and the LPI – International (League of Paranormal Investigators) even did a case on the Nottebohm Mansion but it proved inconclusive.” (abandoned playgrounds)

Abandoned Mansion

Abandoned Mansion by Pete Wilson Photos on Flickr.

The Enchanted Forest

 

The Enchanted Forest 
Hope Valley, Rhode Island
1971-2005
The Enchanted Forest was a fairy tail-themed amusement park for children. The amusement park contained rides such as bumper cards, a merry go round, a kid roller coaster, and a petting zoo. Additionally, the park contained Fairy Tale like sculptures. In 2005, the park shut down due to financial issues.

Sugar Factory

Abandoned sugar factory by Bart de Visser

Clinic Building at Greystone Park State Hospital

It is truly a strange thing when a steam pipe bursts under an abandoned building in the dead of winter, but that’s exactly what happened under the Clinic Building at Greystone Park State Hospital in 2007, a month before the building was unceremoniously knocked down.  The steam congregated near the ceiling of the abandoned asylum infirmary, condensing on the pipes and dripping down in regular patterns - and creating these ice stalagmites. 

The Wicker House

The Wicker House - Locals told me this house was used for witchcraft and satanic rituals. The seven women who owned the house vanished in 1964 and were unidentified, soon after the house was left abandoned and fell to decay. Hauntings and supernatural experiences were reported soon after. Small dim lights were seen from the windows at night, sort sounding wailing and voices talking were constantly heard. From my visit I heard nothing but I suffered a small headache while looking at the house and a rough smell of dampness and rotten flesh was everywhere. it was demolished this year after locals believed it was blackening the grass and forestry. No matter what you believe, this house had some sort of evil inside of it.  

Photographer - https://www.flickr.com/photos/heartfullofpoison

St Johns Hospital: UK

St Johns Hospital: UK Decemner 2012

The Lincolnshire Couty Lunatic Asylum was built in 1852 in a grand Italian style. set in 120 acres comprising gardens, farmland and a burial ground.

Originally there was space for 250 patients but over the years the hospital was expanded, in keeping with the original style designed by the acrhitects Hamilton and Thomas Percy. At Its peak the capacity was over 900 patients.

During this period conditions such as depression and post natal depression were classed as a mental illness and the patients were treated the same as someone with schizophrenia. Brain surgery was believed to cure mental illness and was commonly used in asylums such as this. Also as shocking as it may sound elctro shock therapy was of popular use.

One feature that stands out throughout the building is the honeycomb vaulted ceiling. It is of common belief that the honeycomb pattern is a form of sound proofing, to stop the sound of inmates screaming down the long corridors. These hospitals were nowhere near as horrific as people imagine. The honeycomb style ceiling was a type of fireproofing incorporated into the buildings construction.

During WWII the patients were transferred to other nearby establishments as the site was turned into an emergency hospital.

Administration of the hospital passed to the National Health Service in 1948. By the early 1960s it was known by its final name of St John’s Hospital.

St John’s Hospital itself was closed in December 1989 with the remaining patients transferred to other establishments.

The site is Grade III listed other than the water tower which was brought down in July 2014. The site has mostly remained empty since. Work has been ongoing on the site for a few years now and some of the buildings have been converted into flats. It seemed to pause for a while but I believe it is in full swing again as I write this.
- See more at: http://www.darbiansphotography.com/st-johns-asylum-urbex/yzrm90va9hfsx930ddz1xosjz37i7f#sthash.s9gaCbRw.dpuf

New Zealand

Abandoned when the owner died; Slowly being overgrown. Wellington, New Zealand

Railyard - New Mexico

Albuquerque abandoned railyard, New Mexico

Keith’s Theatre in Queens

This is the mezzanine level of the RKO Keith’s Theatre in Queens.  Sadly, the seats were removed a very long time ago, and the grand old movie palace is in an advanced state of disrepair.  Last I heard, only a small portion of the historic lobby will be saved - all this will be torn down, probably to build some ugly condos.

Quiet Mall

Abandoned Shopping Mall - Location Unknown

Salmon Building

At the dawn of the 20th century, Connecticut decided to build a new asylum in the town of Preston, just down the river from Norwich.  Dubbed Norwich State Hospital, the campus would expand to over 30 buildings at its peak, before deinstitutionalization closed it down.  Perhaps the most fascinating structure on the campus was the Salmon building, one of the first constructed on the grounds in 1905.  Salmon was a maximum-security forensic (not guilty by reason of insanity) & violent ward for male patients, with heavy iron bars built into the foot-thick brick walls; there would be no escape, with airlock-style doors throughout the hallways to ensure many layers of security.  Pictured here are some of the secure doors at sunset - a typical patient room at left, and a seclusion room at right.  Sadly, in 2012, the Salmon building was unceremoniously demolished along with Awl (the female equivalent), the Theatre, and the Powerhouse.  Read more about the Salmon Building here.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Weston, West Virginia

No Service

Jim’s Service Station Megargel, Texas
Source: busydane (reddit)

The Armour & Swift Meat Packing Plant

The Armour & Swift Meat Packing Plant by poesoul23 on Flickr.