This Pennsylvania Relic Was Named the Most Popular Abandoned Building in the World — How to Visit

Want to really get away from it all? I mean, everything and everyone, even if it’s just for a day? Then, it’s time to hit up one of the world’s most famous abandoned buildings.  

In October, the unoccupied house insurance experts at Alan Boswell Group released its list of the most famous abandoned buildings across the world. And luckily, they weren’t too hard to find. That’s because the team analyzed the 916,000 social media posts mentioning #abandonedbuilding and cross-referenced it with the most popularly tagged and mentioned individual buildings. 

After looking at all the data, it named the Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania the most popular abandoned building, with 204,000 social mentions. 

“Described as America’s most historic prison, the most popular abandoned building to visit is the Eastern State Penitentiary,” the team explained in the findings it provided to Travel + Leisure. “The prison, which closed in the 1970s, was considered unique in its treatment of inmates that were subjected to confinement in solitude with labor.” It noted that tourists can now experience life inside through guided or audio tours, including getting to know more about the notorious inmates, including Al Capone.

Next on the list is Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital in Germany, which clocked in with 54,000 posts.

“A large hospital complex in Germany, Beelitz Military Hospital is now an abandoned property after multiple failed attempts of privatization,” the team explained of the hospital that dates back to 1898 when it was designed to be a sanatorium but was transformed into a hospital at the beginning of World War I. 

And in the third spot is one more U.S. location, the Ohio State Reformatory, with 47,000 posts. 

“Built in 1886, the Reformatory remained in full operation until December 1990, when it was closed via federal court order. This was a result of a prisoners’ class action suit citing overcrowding and inhumane conditions,” the team noted. “If walls could talk, these would have a lot to say. 

Other popular abandoned destinations include Villers Abbey in Belgium in the fourth spot, followed by Kings Park Psychiatric Center in the U.S., Gereja Ayam, aka “Chicken Church,” in Indonesia, the Old Idaho State Penitentiary in the U.S., the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Brazil, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in the U.S., and the Buzludzha Monument on Bulgaria rounding out the top 10.

Go ahead and plan a visit … if you dare.