Vacant 2022 11 Of America's Most Eerie And Fascinating Abandoned Locations

Wilkesboro Speedway

nORTH cAROLINA

Washaway Beach

Washington

Two Guns Ghost Town

Arizona

Sherwood Forest Renaissance Faire

Virginia

Salton Sea

California

Pullman Train Yards

Georgia

Michigan

Packard Plant

Atlas Hovercrafts

Florida

Pennsylvania

Cresson State Prison

50s Themed Diner

Indiana

First opened in 1947 as a 0.625-mile dirt track, the Wilkesboro Speedway held up to 18,000 excited NASCAR fans at a time -- just imagine the excitement in the air when a race was sold out. The speedway was shut down for the first time in 1996, then opened again in 2010 for less than a year to host races from the now-defunct ASA Late-Model Series. Left to decay for another decade, the Wilkesboro Speedway is getting a new lease on life and will hold an All-Star NASCAR race in May 2023.

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One of the fastest eroding places on the West Coast, Washaway Beach – once known as Cape Shoalwater – experiences an average loss of 150 feet each year. During a bad winter, it can be much worse. This two-mile stretch of shoreline was once home to a lighthouse, Coast Guard Station, a clam cannery, and several brick buildings, all of which the sea has since claimed. The long-abandoned structures clinging to the quickly eroding land are a potent reminder of the power of the sea and Mother Nature.

Widely considered one of the eeriest abandoned places in Arizona, Two Guns was once a rough-and-tumble Wild West town that catered to Route 66 travelers. Its story is one of tragedy, conflict, hope, and the mindset of endless possibility that swept through America during the early 1900s. After one of the service stations caught fire in the 1970s, Two Guns was left to decay in the harsh desert. Eerily desolate and devoid of life, the property sends chills down the spine of all who dare to visit.

In the 1950s and ’60s, the Salton Sea was a paradise in the surrounding desert – home to rich agricultural farmland, a wildlife refuge, and a resort that drew acts like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Unfortunately, contaminants were introduced and the salt content concentrated over the years, turning this desert oasis into a lakeside ghost town. Twenty-five percent saltier than the ocean, today the Salton Sea is home to radical artistry and resembles a haunting scene from a post-apocalyptic movie.

In its heyday, upwards of 40,000 Detroiters and other workers were employed at the Packard Automotive Plant. At its height, this sprawling Motor City factory featured a whopping 3.5 million square feet, producing all sorts of beautiful luxury cars and other vehicles, including war planes during World War II. The Packard Plant closed its doors for good in 1958, and today is considered the largest abandoned industrial facility in the world, a mere shell of the manufacturing powerhouse it once was.

Purchased for just $1 in 1911, this 500-acre plot was originally used as a sanatorium to care for tuberculosis patients, complete with an elementary school, dining, housing, and administration buildings. The facility was later home to the Allegheny State Hospital as well as a medium-security correctional facility. Abandoned since 2013, more than 40,000 people allegedly perished at Cresson Sanatorium and the prison housed some notorious inmates, including serial killer Joseph Kallinger.

Built in the 1990s in Fredericksburg for approximately five million dollars, the Virginia Renaissance Faire transported guests back in time to a medieval era. Locally known as "Sherwood Forest," the property of the once-popular Virginia Renaissance Faire was operational for only a few years before shutting down in 1999 due to its swampy location, horrible weather, and declining ticket sales. The entire faire, including a replica sailing ship on a pond, now sits rotting and abandoned.

This 27-acre plot has had several different roles throughout its life, serving as a sugar and fertilizing processing plant, a munitions manufacturer during World War I, and a repair site for damaged Pullman railroad cars. As air travel became more prevalent and the interstate system expanded, the Pullman Train Yard was shut down and abandoned in the 1950s. The site was featured in films like Divergent and The Hunger Games, and today is the home of an arts and entertainment complex.

Poised to become the largest hovercraft design and manufacturing company in the world, Atlas Hovercraft, Inc. intended to use hovercraft to transport passengers across the Saint Johns River and other waterways in Florida. The money to build this ten-million-dollar vessel ran out, and with other unexpected issues, the project was ditched and the business was shuttered. Today, the abandoned hovercraft lies forgotten at the old Lee Field military base, without ever transporting a single passenger.

A little slice of old-school America, this pre-fab diner was once the ultimate watering hole for small-town Hoosiers. Built in the early 1950s and brought to its photographed location by rail in 1952, this diner saw many names and owners throughout the years. Its final iteration saw it named Flo's Roadside Diner, though it now stands quiet and nameless. Closed for the final time in 2010, it has since been moved to a new location for preservation until a decision is made on what to do with it.

Ohio

Woodcliff Neighborhood

In the 1950s, the neighborhood of Woodcliff was established as a desirable place to live and work, with nearly 100 homes. The once-thriving neighborhood fell victim to neglect, and in 2007, a health complaint was filed against the condo association, followed by issues such as sewer back-ups, mold, and structural damage. The 36-acre site has been completely abandoned since 2019. Demolition of the neighborhood has slowly begun, and according to the city, redevelopment won't be finished until 2030.

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Inside 11 of America's Most Eerie and Fascinating Abandoned Locations

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When people move on and industry crumbles, the remains are often abandoned amid the landscapes of America. Showcasing the work of Cleveland photographer Johnny Joo, Vacant highlights fascinating man-made structures, from factories to prisons, being reclaimed by nature.

Image Credits Special thanks to Cleveland photographer Johnny Joo for all of the images featured in this special OnlyInYourState series. Door Images from Left to Right Door 1: DrewBuzz / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images | Door 2: SEAN GLADWELL / Moment Collection via Getty Images | Door 3: Naomi Rahim / Moment Collection via Getty Images | Door 4: Simon McGill / Moment Collection via Getty Images | Door 5: André Dias Duarte / Moment Collection via Getty Images | Door 6: rob dob / Moment Collection via Getty Images | Door 7: Oskar Nijs / 500px Collection via Getty Images | Door 8: BorisRabtsevich / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images | Door 9: Chanchai Thammaniyom / EyeEm Collection via Getty Images | Door 10: Naomi Rahim / Moment Collection via Getty Images | Door 11 - DrewBuzz / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images Other Images Doors Background - holwichaikawee / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images | Other Background - Miodrag Kitanovic / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images | Fog overlays - draganab / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images | Rusty White Sign - LordRunar / E+ Collection via Getty Images | Polaroid Frame - Fosin2 / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images

Inside 11 of America's Most Eerie and Fascinating Abandoned Locations

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