If you’re looking for the spookiest abandoned places in New York, keep reading!
If you’re someone with a curiousity for abandoned places, then you’re going to find some real interesting locations on our list of abandoned places in New York.
There are some truly fascinating abandoned places in New York, and we’ll talk about them in the list below!
As always, when it comes to abandoned places in New York, make sure you do lots of research before visiting (if that’s your plan). All abandoned places come with risks, so it’s important to check the most up to date advice from the venue, or local council, for whether or not it’s safe to visit.
World’s Fair Grounds
To start our list of spooky abandoned places in New York, we have the World’s Fair Grounds in Queens.
This spot was originally built in 1962 to represent the prosperity and excitement of the future at the World’s Fair.
Sadly, the pavilions here quickly became abandoned places in New York and still lay completely barren to this day.
They offer an interesting look into the past, and you can check out the columns, structures, and statues that were built specifically for the World’s Fair.
Although it doesn’t look overly impressive these days, it’s surprisingly relaxing to walk through this area after a day in Queens.
Renwick Smallpox Hospital
Next on our list of abandoned places in New York is the Renwick Smallpox Hospital.
Okay, so if you’re thinking that this place sounds grim from the get-go – you’d be right.
This place is tucked away on Roosevelt Island, and the hospital used to house criminals, mentally ill individuals, and the homeless in its heyday. It was completed back in 1856 and built entirely with the help of patients from the lunatic asylum that was right around the corner.
It treated around 7,000 smallpox patients during its years of operation, but it closed in 1875 when the facilities became too overcrowded to function properly.
Although it was landmarked in 1976, it remains one of the abandoned places in New York that lies derelict.
The Long Island Railroad
If you’re on the hunt for abandoned places in New York with an interesting history, then you’ll appreciate The Long Island Railroad.
This was one of New York’s most successful rail lines back when it opened in 1877. It served the Rockaway Beach area and was usually packed with travelers and locals.
However, the company that owned the line went bankrupt in the latter half of the twentieth century and completely abandoned the line.
These days, it lies reclaimed by nature and is covered with trees, thick vines, and fallen leaves.
Despite being on the spooky side, it’s one of the more relaxing abandoned places in New York that’s worth hiking through if you have a spare afternoon!
Old City Hall Subway Station
We couldn’t create a list of abandoned places in New York without mentioning Old City Hall Subway Station.
As abandoned places in New York go, this place is beautiful. I get that we’re meant to be talking about spooky abandoned places in New York, but you’ll be happy we included this hidden gem – we promise!
It’s located just past Brooklyn Bridge and was NYC’s very first subway station.
Although you might catch sight of it if you’re riding the 6 train, we recommend exploring it properly by heading out with the New York Transit Museum.
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The Seaview Hospital
The next place on our list of abandoned places in New York? It’s The Seaview Hospital.
Located on Staten Island, this spot is on the U.S National Register of Historic Places as it was once the largest tuberculosis treatment center in the country.
This place was fully operational in the early 1900s, but this is one of the abandoned places in New York that gradually fell into disrepair.
There’s no official statement on why it was abandoned, so the entire place has a spooky and strange vibe that’s bound to make you feel slightly uncomfortable.
If you’re looking to plug this place into Google Maps, you’ll want to look for the New York Farm Colony. This is one of the abandoned places in New York that isn’t technically accessible, but you can meander around the outside section freely.
Floyd Bennett Field
If you have even a remote interest in the history of aviation, then you’ll want to add Floyd Bennett Field to your list of abandoned places in New York to visit.
Believe it or not, this field was New York’s first municipal airport, and it remains completely desolate.
If you walk through this field in southeast Brooklyn, you’ll spot everything from scrapped airplane parts, derelict warehouses, and junk piles.
It’s one of the weirder abandoned places in New York, but it’s a great opportunity to check out old hangars and delve into New York’s fascinating history.
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Buffalo State Hospital
If you’re on the hunt for spooky abandoned places in New York, look no further than Buffalo State Hospital.
There’s always something eerie about desolate medical settings, and this place has been creeping out locals and visitors alike since opening its doors in 1880.
It was once known as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane and was built in an imposing Richardson Romanesque style that makes the entire building look gothic.
This backstory is why it’s one of the abandoned places in New York that gives most people the heebie-jeebies!
You can spend time exploring the various rooms and the 10 wards that are tucked away down menacing corridors.
Although the staff here tried hard to keep the place livable and pleasant, the hospital was completely overrun with patients from its inception. As a result, it became one of the many abandoned places in New York just after 1974 and remains in disrepair.
There’s been an effort by the Preservation Coalition of Erie County to rehabilitate the place, but it’s a long process and could take years to complete.
So, it remains on our list of abandoned places in New York – for now!
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Fort Tilden
Fort Tilden is tucked away in the Rockaways, and it’s one of the abandoned places in New York that was super-important during WWII.
It was said to hold nuclear weapons during the way, but it’s been among the abandoned places in New York since 1945.
It’s an interesting place to visit, as many artists have reclaimed the area with graffiti. If you trawl around the area, you’ll be able to see the various marks of local artists on many of the abandoned buildings here.
However, what makes this one of our favorite abandoned places in New York are the views. If you head to Battery Harris East, you’ll get seriously impressive panoramas over NYC and the Atlantic Ocean.
For this reason alone, it’s well worth adding Fort Tilden to your list of abandoned places in New York to check out.
Hey, it’s way less creepy than the other abandoned places in New York, so it’s great for kids!
The Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital
The next place on our list of abandoned places in New York is the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital.
This place was once a US Public Health Service Hospital that operated between 1902 and 1951, but it now lies abandoned on Ellis Island.
This is one of the abandoned places in New York with a fascinating history. You probably already know that thousands of immigrants passed through Ellis Island each day in the early 1900s (up to 6000, just FYI!).
When they arrived, each one would need to be inspected for any health issues. It was said that each person that may have had a health problem was marked with chalk on their chest and sent back to their country of origin – it was brutal.
These days, this is one of the abandoned places in New York that looks completely derelict. The floors and walls are peeling, but you can still get a decent idea of what this spooky spot once looked like.
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Neponsit Beach Hospital
If you’re planning to be near Rockaway Beach anytime soon, then you’ll want to check out the next place on our list of abandoned places in New York.
Neponsit Beach Hospital was first opened in 1915 when it was created to treat children with tuberculosis – grim, we know. After this period, it cared for everyone from WWII veterans to active soldiers.
So, this is one of the abandoned places in New York with a colorful past!
Although the hospital closed in 1955, it later opened as a nursing home. However, it closed at the end of the century as the treatment of patients was supposedly less-than-impressive.
As this is one of the abandoned places in New York that’s not doing well when it comes to structural integrity, you won’t be able to walk through the halls.
But this is among the abandoned places in New York that’s worth seeing from afar!
