6 Abandoned Places In New York That Are Eerily Beautiful
New York City hides a secret world beneath its bustling streets and towering skyscrapers – abandoned places frozen in time.
I’ve always been fascinated by these forgotten spaces where nature slowly reclaims what humans left behind.
During my urban exploration phase in college, I discovered these haunting locations that tell stories of New York’s past while showcasing an unexpected beauty in their decay.
Ready to explore the eerie side of the Big Apple with me?
1. Renwick Smallpox Hospital: The Gothic Masterpiece
The first time I stumbled upon Renwick’s ruins on Roosevelt Island, I literally gasped. This crumbling Gothic structure, once a quarantine facility for smallpox patients in the 1850s, now stands as a hauntingly beautiful skeleton against the Manhattan skyline.
What makes this place extra spine-tingling? At night, strategic lighting illuminates the stone façade, creating an otherworldly glow that photographers go nuts for. I’ve visited three times and still notice new architectural details with each trip.
Fun fact: Locals nicknamed it “The Ruins” long before its official landmark status in 1976, making it the only ruin with landmark protection in New York. Even in decay, its pointed arches and detailed stonework showcase the architectural brilliance of James Renwick Jr., who also designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
2. Red Hook Grain Terminal: Industrial Decay By The Bay
Looming over the Brooklyn waterfront like a concrete giant, the Red Hook Grain Terminal has become my favorite spot for contemplative walks. Built in 1922 to process grain from the Erie Canal, this massive structure now sits silent, its 54 concrete silos creating a strangely rhythmic silhouette against the sky.
My photographer friend calls it “industrial cathedral” – and honestly, that’s spot-on. The weathered concrete has taken on incredible textures, with rust stains creating accidental artwork down its sides.
When I visited last spring, I watched a family of peregrine falcons nesting in its upper levels. Nature always finds a way! Despite numerous redevelopment proposals over the years, the terminal remains untouched, too expensive to demolish and too specialized to repurpose – a magnificent monument to Brooklyn’s industrial past.
3. North Brother Island: Nature’s Comeback Kid
“You can’t actually go there!” my tour guide friend warned when I mentioned North Brother Island. Challenge accepted! This 20-acre island between the Bronx and Rikers Island housed Riverside Hospital, most famously home to “Typhoid Mary” Mallon, who spent nearly three decades in quarantine here.
After closing in 1963, something magical happened – nature staged a complete takeover. Buildings crumble beneath strangling vines while trees burst through rooftops. The island feels like something from a post-apocalyptic movie.
During my (totally authorized, I promise) visit, I spotted a black-crowned night heron rookery – the island is now a protected bird sanctuary. The juxtaposition of medical equipment rusting beneath lush greenery creates an atmosphere that’s both unsettling and oddly peaceful. It’s like watching the earth heal itself after humans have gone.
4. Ellis Island Hospital Complex: Gateway To Ghosts
“My grandmother passed through here in 1923,” I whispered to myself while wandering the Ellis Island Hospital’s abandoned corridors. While millions visit Ellis Island’s restored main building yearly, few realize that 22 additional structures sit in various states of decay on the south side.
The hospital complex processed immigrants with suspected contagious diseases or mental illness. Walking through its peeling hallways during a hard-hat tour, I couldn’t help but feel the emotional weight of countless immigrant stories.
Sunlight streams through broken windows, creating dramatic light patterns across the dusty floors. The morgue remains particularly chilling – cold metal tables still in place. Artist JR enhanced the experience by installing historical photographs on windows and walls, bringing ghostly images of former patients back to their rooms. The effect is powerful – these weren’t just buildings but gateways that determined thousands of American dreams.
5. Fort Tilden: Military Ruins By The Beach
Who needs a regular beach day when you can explore abandoned military bunkers AND get a tan? Fort Tilden, once a crucial coastal defense installation during World Wars I and II, now sits abandoned on the Rockaway Peninsula, creating the weirdest beach experience I’ve ever had.
The concrete battery stations, designed to house massive artillery guns, now serve as massive concrete canvases for graffiti artists. Some of the most incredible street art I’ve seen in NYC hides here! My favorite discovery was climbing to the top of Battery Harris East for panoramic views of Jamaica Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Manhattan skyline in the distance.
Nature’s slow takeover adds to the surreal vibe – sand dunes partially bury some structures while others sprout wildflowers from cracks. Unlike most military installations, Fort Tilden feels strangely peaceful now, the sounds of war replaced by crashing waves.
6. Bannerman Castle: The Hudson’s Fairytale Ruin
“Is that… a castle?” I blurted out during my first Hudson River kayaking trip. Rising dramatically from Pollepel Island stands Bannerman Castle, possibly the most fairy-tale-like ruin in New York State. Built by Scottish ammunition dealer Francis Bannerman VI in 1901 as both a residence and storage facility for his military surplus business.
A massive explosion in 1920 destroyed much of the arsenal, and a fire in 1969 left the castle a gorgeous shell of its former self. The partially collapsed walls and empty window frames create a silhouette that seems ripped from a medieval European landscape – not something you expect 50 miles north of NYC!
Unlike other abandoned places, Bannerman Castle Trust offers seasonal tours. My favorite memory? Watching an outdoor movie projected against the castle ruins last summer. The trust’s preservation efforts have stabilized the remaining structures, striking a perfect balance between safety and maintaining that delicious sense of romantic decay.