Abandoned homes are fascinating attractions that often leave curious people with a lot of questions and are often located in some of the creepiest places in the world. For some, it really is unbelievable that some houses are left abandoned when there are many people around the world who are literally homeless. Well, some of these homes may be abandoned, but they are not really great for habitation anymore. This is because some of them come with terrifying stories and a good few ghost hauntings that will make a night spent within them feel unbelievably frightening.
Besides the scary stories that some of them come with, the looks of these places are also just incredibly unnerving (although, do they quite reach the level of chills as the world's most haunted cities? Many would say yes). While they may not be inhabitable, the good news is that they can be visited - by the brave. So without further ado, get those torches and flares ready and feast those eyes on the best abandoned homes around the world.
Now, be careful because these eerie homes could be haunted and crawling with creepy creatures. Caution is advised, and it is not recommended to actually go inside these places or enter their premises, especially due to potential structural damage; some of these buildings could be on the verge of collapsing and might thus be unsafe. Also, some of these spots may not be open to the public and could be private property; as such, please do not trespass in any case.
10 Wyndclyffe Mansion, US
The Wndclyffe Mansion was built by Elizabeth Schermerhorn in the woods of the Hudson Valley River, New York. Until her demise, it served as her summer residence for several decades and was even the inspiration for several other mansions built in the area. After her demise, the mansion was also used by later owners until the 1950s, when the woes of the Great Depression caused it to be abandoned completely.
More than 70 years later, the mansion is now gradually being overwhelmed by the forest of the Hudson Valley River where it stands. Surprisingly, there are not any ghost stories associated with this abandoned home. It’s just the creepy sight one has to worry about.
When in this area, be sure to check out some of the must-see attractions along the Hudson River.
9 Dunnellen Hall, US
The Dunnellen Hall, also known as the Cursed Millionaire mansion in Greenwich, is one of the creepiest abandoned houses in the world. It was the summer home of the wealthy Leona Helmsley, who was also referred to as the Queen of Mean. She was considered a woman with a tyrannical personality, and she inhabited the castle until her death in 2007 from Cardiovascular disease.
What makes this mansion fascinating is the rumors of a curse that lingers on it. Several people have owned the mansion since it was first built in 1918, and every single owner of the mansion encountered legal and health problems that led to their sudden demise.
Several years after the death of Leona Helmsley, the mansion was renovated and again listed for sale. The stories are terrifying, which is why despite the price being slashed from $65 million to $16.5 million, the mansion remains unsold to date. The real estate company, however, still remains optimistic that somebody out there would be brave enough to buy this house with a lot of history.
8 Villa De Vecchi, Italy
Often considered Italy’s most haunted house, Villa De Vecchi is a mansion located in a forest area east of Lake Como. Also known as the Red House, this mansion was built in the mid-19th century to serve as the summer residence of Count Felix De Vecchi. Before it was even completed, the architect had already passed away. A few years after living in the home, the Count came home to meet his wife slain and his daughter missing. Perhaps due to the pain of the loss, Count Felix eventually committed suicide the same year.
The villa was then inhabited by several people, including the brother of Count Felix, until it was completely abandoned in the 1960s. Since it was abandoned, several rumors have been circulated about the house, including one of a piano being played at night by a ghost and being a gathering place of witches. Today, the castle still stands, but it is at the mercy of nature and humans who have covered the house in graffiti and destroyed several things within the house, including the Grand piano and the doors.
7 Chateau De La Mothe, Chandeniers, France
Chateau de La Mothe is a historic castle that dates to the 13th century and has been subject to takeover by external powers, including the English. It was inhabited for many years until 1932, when a fire destroyed parts of the building. In 2007, a crowdfunding donation was organized for the sake of purchasing and preserving the castle.
Several thousand people contributed to this cause, which inevitably means that the castle is owned by thousands of people around the world. Today, the abandoned castle that stands in front of a waterbody has become a popular site for lovers of castles and impressive architecture.
6 Winchester Mystery House, US
Arguably one of the most popular attractions in the US, the Winchester Mystery House has remained a subject of curiosity for many. Owned by Sarah Winchester, the mansion has remained one of the most bizarrely-built structures in the world. Ms. Winchester claimed she was being haunted by the ghosts of people who had lost their lives to the rifles made by the company of her late husband. Apparently, she decided that the best way to appease or tackle the ghosts was to build a house without a plan and make sure the construction continued for decades until she passed away in 1922.
The result of the seemingly endless construction was hundreds of doors opening to nowhere, staircases leading to ceilings, and dozens of secret passages, some of which the builders would even forget they ever built. The mansion still sits majestically today in San Jose, California, waiting to be visited and explored by curious adventurers. Rumors have it that the ghost of the mansion owner still lurks around playing the pipe organ at night and scaring those who dare to be at the house at odd hours. Indeed, many believe it to be one of the most haunted houses in the US (though there are plenty more).
5 Cape Romano Dome House, US
The abandoned Cape Romano Dome House is one of the finest examples of Dome houses, but unlike other abandoned houses on this list, it is underwater and can only be explored by diving. Located in the Ten Thousand Islands in Florida, Cape Romano Dome House was built in 1981 by an oil businessman named Bob Lee to serve as a vacation home. Throughout its use as a home, the home withstood several hurricanes until it finally got completely submerged by Hurricane Lan in 2022.
Before it finally got submerged, the Cape Romano Dome Homes had already been abandoned as far back as 1992. Today, only the top of the dome homes can be seen, but one can see the remaining parts by diving underwater.
4 Peter Grant Mansion, Canada
Covering a 67,000-square-foot area, Peter Grant Mansion is considered to be the largest abandoned mansion in Canada and one of the most interesting abandoned properties in the world. The mansion was being built by Peter Grant - the owner of Grant Forest Corporation, as a dream home. Upon completion, the mansion was intended to have two pools, a waterfall, a small golf course, and an indoor boat garage. Peter Grant had started this project as early as 2005, and his intention was for it to serve as his corporate office and personal home.
However, when the woes of the 2008 financial crisis hit, Peter Grant was financially crippled, and the project was stopped and became abandoned. Currently, the mansion sits abandoned and is even been tagged by many to be one of the most extravagant wastes of resources in the country. Some people, however, just wish Peter Grant would be able to buy back this mansion and fulfill his dream someday.
3 Witley Court & Gardens, England
Due to its long history, the UK is filled with plenty of abandoned homes, one of which is the Witley Court and Gardens. Also known as the ruined mansion, this building is among the most beautiful abandoned mansions in the world. It was built in the 17th century and then remodeled in the 19th century when it got a new owner. Throughout its use, the mansion was inhabited by high-ranking families in English society and even hosted several English dignitaries when the mansion hosted lavish house parties.
Although the mansion had a long reign, its end came when a fire left the building in ruins in 1937. The mansion became abandoned after that, but it is now open for tours, and visitors to the attraction will be met with gorgeous gardens and golf courses, as well as the impressive sights of the abandoned structure.
2 Clown House, Catskill, US
Secrets and unusually vibrant colors overwhelm the abandoned house in the Catskill Mountains of New York (which is one of the most popular US vacation destinations). This makes it eerily colorful and is why it has been nicknamed the Catskill Clown House. The Circus Mansion was built in the 1920s, and much is not known about it or why the residents abandoned it, never to return again.
What’s known is that the mansion now sits in the Catskill Mountains, where it has been left to the mercies of crawling vegetation and the cruel hands of decay. Given its theme, it's easily one of the scariest abandoned sites in the world.
1 Tatoi Palace, Greece
The abandoned Tatoi Palace is what is left of the once-bubbling summer residence of the Greek royalties. After a long period of political unrest and war, the house became abandoned by the royals and now sits in the midst of the forests, gradually giving in to the hands of nature.
The home is set on a 10,000-acre area, and a well-marked pathway leads to it. People often come here by biking, riding a car, or even by walking, and the journey to the abandoned home itself is gorgeous as the road has beautiful trees on both sides.