23 Abandoned Places in NEW YORK (Eerie, Silent, & Deserted)
Buildings, structures, towns, and other areas abandoned or left unoccupied for a considerable time are abandoned locations.
Due to their forgotten histories or they have been taken over by nature or allowed to deteriorate, these abandoned places exude a sense of enigma and suspense.
They can range from empty homes and factories to deserted villages.
In New York, there are several interesting abandoned places.
Due to the possibility of danger or prohibited areas, it is imperative to perform adequate research and follow all safety precautions when visiting abandoned locations in New York.
Find out about fascinating New York’s abandoned locations.
And by the way, you may also want to check out the best Ghost Towns in New York.
Abandoned Places in Albany, New York
1. Albany Cold Storage
In the South End section of Albany, New York, there is an abandoned place known as Albany Cold Storage.
It was formerly a cold storage facility that offered produce, food, meat, milk, and other dairy products under refrigeration.
Urban explorers enjoy visiting the building because it has been vacant since the 1990s and has degraded.
Like any abandoned location, Albany Central Warehouse is the subject of rumors.
There are rumors, including those that “people chained up in the basement” exist and that satanic practices.
However, the truth is that the warehouse only experiences vandalism, underage drinking, drug transactions, squatters, and the presence of homeless poor.
Although Albany Cold Storage is vacant, there are to rehabilitate the site and give this historic structure a fresh start.
Address: 1130 Seminole Ln, Albany, New York.
2. St. Joseph’s Church
St. Joseph’s Church in Albany, New York, is one of the most beautiful and peaceful abandoned places.
The area functioned as a place of worship for more than 140 years.
St. Joseph’s Chapel was an older Catholic chapel.
But declining attendance and financial problems were the reasons for the church’s closure in 1993 and later abandonment.
The church’s imposing steeple and intricate stonework are examples of Gothic Revival design.
As more historic structures nearby have been left vacant and allowed to decay, the church has come to represent the decline of Albany’s inner-city neighborhoods.
The building is now a popular spot for photographers and urban adventurers because it retains much of its beauty despite being abandoned.
Plans exist to renovate and rehabilitate this place for future use.
Address: 38 Ten Broeck St, Albany, NY 12210, USA.
3. Tobin First Prize Plant
The Tobin First Prize cattle packing factory plant was a sizable cattle processing facility in Albany, New York.
Tobin First Prize, founded in 1895, was formerly a local employer.
Due to the centralized nature of the meat industry, the plant experienced money issues.
It stopped operating in 1981, leaving an abandoned structure in its aftermath.
Currently, the Tobin First Prize Meat Packing Plant is a vacant site.
This plant is closed to the general public by fences.
Typically, people adore taking photos of old structures and buildings.
The building’s state of disrepair has drawn notice from passersby.
In addition to being the focus of urban study, the area has appeared in movies and other media.
The Tobin First Prize Meat Packing Plant is an abandoned remnant of Albany’s former industrial landscape.
Address: 68 Exchange Street, in Colonie, Albany, New York.
Also see our article on Haunted Houses in New York.
Abandoned Places in Brooklyn, New York
1. Admiral’s Row
Admiral’s Rows are one of the historic abandoned sites in Brooklyn.
Ten deteriorating structures that once housed senior Navy officials and their families made up the rows.
The structures ultimately became dilapidated and were abandoned.
Industrialists built these buildings between the 1860s and 1901.
The National Guard announced intentions to tear down the in 2008.
However, community activists and preservationists battled to keep the structure standing.
Now only four buildings are abandoned.
Examples of the site’s rich historical importance include many of the earliest toilet tiles, lamps, and majestic walkways.
The renovated structures now serve as the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation’s new offices and the tenants’ manufacturing facility.
A community garden, a new Wegman grocery, and a public plaza are also on the property.
Address: 1 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205, United States.
2. Jumping Jack Power Plant
“Jumping Jack” is an abandoned power plant in Brooklyn, New York City.
It is also known as the Brooklyn Union Gas Company Building.
First, it served as a gas-producing factory but later as a power plant.
It came into function in the early 20th century.
Despite being abandoned since the 1990s, it is a popular location for urban travel and photographs.
The “jumping jack” device, used to compress natural gas, was the power plant’s moniker.
Although going inside the structure is considered trespassing, people do it anyway to check out the unusual design and take pictures of the interior.
The structure is distinctive for its large, arched windows and noticeable smokestack.
However, it is crucial to remember that the structure needs maintenance and is potentially hazardous, so going inside is not advised.
Address: 4110 1st Ave, Brooklyn, NY, United States, New York.
3. McGovern-Weir Greenhouse
McGovern-Weir Greenhouse is an abandoned building in Brooklyn’s botanical garden.
The greenhouse was a well-liked tourist destination and used to display a range of plants.
James McGovern, a former Brooklyn parks commissioner, and John J. Weir, a landscape planner, were honored by having their names included in the greenhouse’s design by Lord & Burnham architects in 1915.
The greenhouse is still largely charming and beautiful, having elaborate metal construction.
This greenhouse is now closed to the public because the structure has deteriorated.
The greenhouse has its interior exposed to the weather, its windows broken, and its walls covered in vegetation.
Plans by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to restore the greenhouse to its former splendor have encountered several roadblocks because of financing problems.
The McGovern-Weir Greenhouse is an abandoned location with a colorful past.
Address: 750 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232, United States.
4. Red Hook Grain Terminal
The Red Hook Grain Terminal is an outdated grain elevator in Brooklyn, New York City’s Red Hook neighborhood.
For almost 50 years, the terminal remained open to the public and various other activities.
The terminal, constructed in 1922, served as a storage facility for grain that transferred from ships to trains and vehicles.
These days, the Red Hook Grain Terminal is a popular destination for urban adventurers and photographers.
An unsettling reminder of Brooklyn’s industrial past, the enormous concrete structure is over 12 stories high and offers breathtaking views of the surroundings.
Despite being a popular spot for urban exploration, the Red Hook Grain Terminal is hazardous and off-limits to visitors.
You can get hurt or injured if you try to explore the dilapidated terminal illegally.
Address: 685 Columbia Street, Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, 11231, USA.
5. Gowanus Batcave
There is a classic Brooklyn structure called the Gowanus Batcave.
The bat colony that resided there and frequently flew inside and outside the building at night gave it its moniker.
It is now an abandoned building.
The Batcave served as the setting for several movies and television shows.
But because of its unsafe condition, potential threats like asbestos, and collapsing structures, the Batcave is unavailable to the general public and is thought to be dangerous.
The Batcave was well-documented in books and pictures.
It attracted the photographers and adventurers of Brooklyn.
The structure cleaned up the excess accumulation of books, mattresses, and plush toys.
However, most of the writing on the wall is still there.
There are plans to transform the building into an art center and bicycle velodrome.
Address: 153 2nd Street · Brooklyn, New York, United States.
Also see our article on Small Towns in New York.
Abandoned places in Queens, New York
1. Rockaway Beach Branch Train Line
In Queens, New York City, there once was a train line called the Rockaway Beach Branch Train Line.
The Long Island Railroad controls the rail line and its right-of-way.
It was part of the Long Island Railroad.
The line, which offered a direct route from Manhattan to the beaches of the Rockaways, was mainly used for passenger service.
Since then, several plans to revive the Rockaway Beach Branch Rail Line for travelers, including one to extend the A line of the New York City Metro.
The train line is currently idle, though some of it is putting to other uses, like the Queensway task, which hopes to turn a section of it into a park for the public and an area for pedestrians and cyclists.
Address: Rockaway Avenue & Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11233.
2. RKO Keith’s Theater
The RKO Keith’s Theater is a famous abandoned theatre in Queens, New York City.
This theater was created as a vaudeville and movie palace and opened in 1928.
It then converted into a discotheque and shut down in the 1980s.
The structure was neglected and vandalized during this period.
Urban adventurers and photographers frequented the deserted theatre to capture images of the interior’s deterioration.
The RKO Keith’s Theater underwent renovation and development in the early 2000s.
Management conflicts and funding problems muddled these attempts, so the building remained unoccupied.
Its state kept getting worse, and there were worries about the building’s stability.
The RKO Keith’s Theater is undergoing restoration, so the location is not accessible to the general public.
Invading the property is also risky due to the hazardous elements.
Address: 129-43 Northern Blvd., Flushing Queens, New York.
3. Creedmoor Psychiatric Center
The vast, abandoned Creedmoor Psychiatric Center is a mental health facility in New York City’s Queens Village neighborhood.
Creedmoor Psychiatric Center housed over 7,000 patients at its height, and more than 3,000 people worked there, making it a significant employer and driving factor in the neighborhood’s economy.
The facility was well-known for its creative treatment plans and research projects.
It contributed to the advancement of contemporary methods of mental health treatment.
The center faced overcrowding, inadequate funding, and a lack of employees.
Many of the structures and facilities deteriorated, creating uncomfortable conditions.
The grounds and structures have developed a verdant overgrowth and extensive graffiti.
Urban explorers and photographers continue to frequent the location in defiance of its disrepair because of the unsettling beauty of the abandoned buildings and the eerie ambiance of the deserted campus.
Address: 79-25 Winchester Blvd, Queens, NY 11427, USA.
4. Fort Tilden
There is a unique and fascinating former military installation called Fort Tilden.
The fort was crucial to America’s coastal defense system throughout World Wars I and II.
It was to guard against potential invasions by hostile forces.
Fort Tilden is partly overgrown and abandoned, providing a distinctive glimpse into American military history.
The gun emplacements and concrete bunkers are still there.
Numerous species call the nearby dunes, beaches, and marshes home.
The deserted administrative buildings, mess halls, and barracks offer a window into the lives of the troops who formerly occupied the fort and worked there.
Hikers and environmental enthusiasts frequent the location.
Some of Fort Tilden’s historic buildings have recently undergone preservation and restoration work.
It is a component of the Gateway National Recreation Area.
Visitors can wander through the nearby natural areas.
Address: Center Rd, Queens, NY 11697, United States.
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Abandoned places in Rochester, New York
1. Rochester Subway
From 1927 to 1956, Rochester had a working underground train system known as the Rochester Industrial and Rapid Transit train.
Rochester Subway was six miles long beneath Rochester’s streets.
Several stations, each with a distinct style and architecture, were used to build the system.
The stations had intricate ironwork, decorative tiles, and vaulted ceilings.
Both locals and tourists frequently traveled to and from destinations using the tube.
However, the use of the underground decreased as the prevalence of cars increased in the middle of the twentieth century.
This line was formally abandoned on June 30, 1956, after the last train had run.
The Rochester tube served many other uses.
There are storage spaces and storm shelters in the different tunnel segments.
But urban adventurers and artists also like to visit the tunnels.
Address: 1600 West Ridge Rd. Suite 1. Rochester, NY 14615.
2. Rochester Psychiatric Center
The Rochester Psychiatric Center is present in Rochester, New York.
This facility opened in 1872.
It was known as the Monroe County Insane Asylum.
The Rochester Psychiatric Center once gained fame and became the best mental health complex in the nation.
It was one of the earliest mental hospitals for mental health treatments.
The facility was renowned for its treatment and study methods, which included ground-breaking work on the application of insulin shock therapy and electroconvulsive therapy.
There was an increase in the mistreatment and abuse reports by the patients.
These abandoned structures are a location for urban adventurers and photographers.
However, because the buildings are vulnerable and could collapse at any moment, entering them is against the law and dangerous.
There have been many sightings of supernatural behavior in and around the complex.
Address: 1111 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14620, USA.
3. Genesee Hospital
Genesee Hospital in Rochester, New York, was a thriving medical facility that serviced the neighborhood for a century.
However, financial and management difficulties ultimately led to the hospital’s closure.
The building is a large, empty structure that has fallen into disrepair and neglect.
As a reminder of its former splendor, the hospital remains deserted today.
The once-state-of-the-art medical apparatus is in rusted ruins inside, covered in debris.
Beautiful pictures of the hospital’s deteriorating beauty have been taken by many, and some people have even reported seeing ghosts within its confines.
The abandoned Genesee Hospital has a sought-after location for urban adventurers and photographers.
Despite being a disregarded remnant of the past, the Genesee Hospital still captures the curiosity of those who enter its deteriorating hallways.
Address: THE GENESEE HOSPITAL 224 ALEXANDER ST ROCHESTER, NY 14607.
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Abandoned places in Bronx, New York
1. Old Bronx Borough Courthouse
The Beaux-Arts courtroom served as the hub of the Bronx’s legal system.
There is a historic courthouse called the Old Bronx Borough Courthouse in the Bronx.
The courthouse has an impressive entrance with a sizable domed rotunda and a central courtyard encircled by four stories of courtrooms and offices.
It also has extensive embellishments, including friezes, mosaics, and magnificent sculptures.
However, the courthouse closed for a period which caused deterioration.
It has experienced neglect, vandalism, and water damage.
The Old Bronx Borough Courthouse is an architectural site in the Bronx.
Due to a lack of funding and political support, recent initiatives to rehabilitate the courtroom and transform it into a cultural center or community space failed.
The structure is still a significant part of the Bronx’s history and culture.
Address: 513 E 161 St, Bronx, NY 10451, USA.
2. Spofford Juvenile Detention Center
There is a juvenile correctional facility called Spofford in the Bronx, New York.
It housed young people accused of committing crimes.
Due to its reputation for severe conditions, it has been the subject of lawsuits and complaints.
After several years of debate and diminishing utilization, the facility shut down.
The structures have remained vacant and in need of maintenance ever since.
Many individuals now visit the location to record the buildings’ deterioration and urban exploration to create graffiti art.
Exploring abandoned places like the Spofford Juvenile Detention Center is thrilling and adventurous.
However, visiting such places can be dangerous.
The structures could have weak structural integrity and dangerous elements like lead or asbestos.
It is necessary to exercise caution, show respect, and prioritize your safety when visiting abandoned places.
Address: 1221 Spofford Ave, Bronx, NY 10474, United States.
3. Kingsbridge Armory
The Bronx is home to the famous Kingsbridge Armory.
It was initially constructed as a place for military training and worked as a National Guard armory for a considerable period.
Pilcher and Tachau created this structure.
The Kingsbridge Armory is a gigantic structure.
It has Beaux-Arts architectural style, which gained popularity distinguished by elaborate ornamentation and classical themes.
But the armory is now an abandoned place.
Controversies and debates are present to turn the building into something useful.
Different plans are present for its rehabilitation, but none of these came into practice.
The Kingsbridge Armory is still a well-liked spot for urban exploration and photography.
Numerous individuals take pleasure in wandering the abandoned corridors and rooms, while photographers find the building’s grandeur and elaborate decorations to be fascinating subjects.
Address: W Kingsbridge Rd, Bronx, NY 10468, USA.
4. Cass Gilbert’s Westchester Avenue Station
Because of its historical significance and exquisite architectural design, Cass Gilbert’s Westchester Avenue Station is a distinctive abandoned location.
The building has ornate embellishments and classical motifs in the Beaux-Arts design.
Renowned architect Cass Gilbert created this station.
The structure housed an IRT Third Avenue Line subway stop.
Its distinctive architecture and history make it a sought-after location for urban explorers and photographers even after it has been closed and abandoned.
The building’s interior is poor, and graffiti is on the walls.
Different controversies and debates are present to convert the building into spots.
The station is still closed and unavailable to the general public, nevertheless.
When investigating abandoned locations, it’s crucial to use caution and respect and to put your safety first.
Address: Westchester Ave, Bronx, NY 10459, USA.
Also see our article on Escape Rooms in New York.
Abandoned places in Buffalo, New York
1. Buffalo Central Terminal
Buffalo Central Terminal is an opulent train station designed in the Art Deco style that functioned as the city of Buffalo, New York’s primary passenger station.
It had a giant tall tower.
The architects Fellheimer & Wagner designed this terminal.
Efforts to restore this building remained unsuccessful.
The terminal operated as a hub for train traffic.
This terminal’s historical significance led to its utilization in numerous movies and television shows.
The structure suffered severe vandalism and fell into disrepair after being abandoned.
However, there are still ideas to make the terminal effective again.
The structure has been named a Buffalo landmark.
It is nevertheless a favorite location for urban explorers and photographers.
The structure is an intriguing place to explore due to its construction and imposing presence.
Address: 495 Paderewski Dr, Buffalo, NY 14212, USA.
2. Richardson Olmsted Campus
The Richardson Olmsted Campus is a former mental health facility.
It is also known as Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
Frederick Law Olmsted, a landscape architect, worked with renowned American architect H.H. Richardson to create the complex of buildings.
It has multiple abandoned buildings, including a tall clock tower.
The Richardson Olmsted Campus, a nonprofit organization that claims to preserve and utilize historic buildings, was established as part of efforts to protect the Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
It is now an abandoned and empty structure.
The complex has currently undergone substantial renovations.
Urban explorers and photographers enjoy visiting the complex.
The Buffalo Psychiatric Center is well-known for its spooky ambiance to its architectural and historical significance.
Different explorers have reported ghost stories and paranormal activities in these abandoned buildings.
Address: 444 Forest Ave, Buffalo, NY 14213, USA.
3. Larkin Administration Building
Buffalo is home to the historic Larkin Administration Building.
The structure is a one-of-a-kind and fascinating location with a rich history and numerous distinguishing features, despite its state of ruin.
It was one of the biggest producers of soap goods.
The structure has since deteriorated, with its original characteristics lost to time and abuse.
Larkin Soap Company filed into bankruptcy.
The structure is an intriguing area to explore in its current state.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Larkin Administration building.
The architecture of the Larkin Administration Building is one of its most distinctive aspects.
Many of the building characteristics are still novel today since Wright’s design was ahead of its time.
The building has a stunning red brick facade and extensive decorations.
Address: 680 Seneca St, Buffalo, NY 14210, USA.
4. Buffalo Grain Elevator
In Buffalo, New York, is a massive row of concrete silos known as the Buffalo Grain Elevator.
The silos, however, have been vacant for many years, and the location has developed into an unusual spot to visit.
Grain storage was a business for the city’s economy at that time.
Its sheer enormity is among its most noticeable aspects.
The silos, which may reach 120 feet, loom over the surroundings and offer breathtaking views of the Buffalo skyline.
Its current state of disuse is another distinctive feature.
The silos are also a reminder of Buffalo’s industrial past.
Street painters and graffiti writers use the location as a blank canvas, and their work gives the otherwise harsh and functional building a touch of beauty.
Address: 250 Ganson Street, Buffalo, New York, United States.
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