We’ve seen how the effects of construction and destruction, or even war or climate change have impacted some of the world’s most iconic sites. Once marvelous attractions flooded by tourists and adventurers, now they’re just abandoned lots of land or dilapidated buildings. Here are more spectacular vacation spots that longer exist.
Hashima Island (Gunkanjima)
This island in Japan is known as Gunkanjima or Battleship Island. It was used as a coal mining center throughout the 1890s through the 1970s. Concrete buildings to house miners were erected all over Hashima, and then as more people took interest in it, additions like a cinema and school were built, as well. The island’s mine was open until 1974 when it was shut down and residents started to move away.
Now, the only sign of life in the area is when tours come to take a look around the ghost town. There have been reports that developers are planning to resurrect some life into the area, but nothing has been confirmed yet and most of the island is still closed off.
Buck Hill Inn, Poconos Mountains
The Inn at Buck Hill Falls was built in 1901 and thrived as the premiere vacation spot of the Poconos for several decades. Aside from the Inn itself, more than 125 cottages were built surrounding the resort community.
The ski area, along with events hosted at the hotel, attracted wealthy individuals from all over the world, including Walt Disney. But the oil crisis in the 1970s meant fewer and fewer people were willing to make the drive out the resort, and the owners were forced to sell. It operated for a while under new ownership until it finally closed for good in 1990 and was left to decay in its spot in the mountains.
