The complex of about 60 buildings was initially designed to be a sanitorium but became a military hospital during World War 1. Adolf Hitler was in fact treated here for an injury to his leg which he received fighting in the Somme. In 1945 it was taken over by Red Army and remained as a military hospital until 1995 under the Soviets.
When the Soviets finally withdrew, sometime after reunification, there were attempts to privatize the hospital. Some were successful, and there is now a neurological rehabilitation center on the grounds and a center for the care of those with Parkinson’s disease. Other buildings including the psychiatric ward or surgery were successfully taken over and had been left abandoned since 1994 and unsecured giving rise to graffiti and a feeling of a ghost town.
Red Sands Sea Forts – Sealand, United Kingdom
The micronation of Sealand, which is located off the coast of Suffolk, England has claimed ownership of these derelict structures. They were originally installed during the Second World War to help protect the River Thames and the route to London.
The forts were never dismantled after the War and were never maintained, giving them a rusted and creepy appearance.
Dadipark – Dadizel, Belgium
The Dadipark which opened during the 1980s was primarily a giant playground, with structures such as giant slides and swings for visitors to enjoy. Unfortunately, as more advanced theme parks have come into the mix, the original excitement for this kind of experience lost its sparkle, and the park decided to close in 2002.
What is it about abandoned parks and playgrounds that feel so creepy?
Częstochowa Train Depot – Poland
Częstochowa was once a thriving town, nestled between Russia and Poland. This was mainly thanks to the Warsaw-Vienna Railway which after it was built in 1846 went through the city and allowed its train station to become a hub, linking it to both cities as well as the rest of Europe.
The station was eventually closed, and now, the depot sits abandoned with its trains. This train graveyard still attracts thousands of rail enthusiasts a year to come and see the trains in a state of disrepair. It might be a sad sight for them to see, but they can’t seem to stay away.
Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Opened in 1829, the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia was one of the USA’s first modern prisons and remained open until 1971. It was the first of its kind to be built using a wagon wheel design, which at the time seemed revolutionary but is now the commonly accepted design for prisons.
Eastern State Penitentiary was home to some of the United State’s most famous and dangerous criminals, including Al Capone and Willie Sutton. Thinking of the types of people who used to walk the halls in a building like this gives it a creepy feel, and now as an abandoned building, you get that feeling twice as much.