These Abandoned Places In Michigan Are Disturbing Yet Somehow Beautiful
By Serena Maria Daniels|Updated on September 21, 2023(Originally published September 02, 2022)
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Serena Maria Daniels
Author
Serena Maria Daniels is an award-winning freelance journalist in Detroit, by way of Chicago, by way of the West Coast. She writes about Michigan for OIYS. Serena enjoys learning about language and culture and taking road trips with her beagle Ralph.
When it comes to abandoned places in Michigan, it’s no surprise that Detroit takes the trophy. After all, the challenging history of the Motor City means that some 70,000 properties are vacant and in various states of decay throughout the area. The crumbling, burnt-out buildings intrigue artists and draw in photographers worldwide who wish to venture into these gutted landmarks. But while Detroit might have the most creepy, abandoned places in Michigan, it’s certainly not alone – and ruins are not confined only to the big city. They can be found in abandoned mining towns, rural areas, historic bridges, and elsewhere. In fact, their stories are not all tragic. Here’s a rundown of abandoned places in Michigan that are slowly returning to nature.
Please note that many of these abandoned places are off-limits to visitors. We do not encourage trespassing to see these sites for yourself, so please appreciate these unique views via photographs and official documentation efforts.
Just chunks of the derelict Bay Shore Road Bridge, built in 1911, remain in the Escanaba River, but its presence is still breathtaking. Spanning the water in Michigan's Delta County, the bridge was 840 feet long in its heyday. Despite its state of ruin, the Bay Shore Road Bridge still manages to impress those who stop by to snap photographs and wonder at its crumbling state.
2. Michigan Central Station - Detroit
Michigan Central Station, 15th Street, Detroit, MI, USA
Michigan Central Station in Detroit is perhaps the state’s most iconic symbol of urban decay. While it once served as a transportation hub for Detroit and surrounding communities, it ultimately fell into disrepair and has been the subject of multiple failed revival efforts over the years. As of 2022, though, the building has been purchased by Ford and is undergoing renovations -- so its future might be brighter than Detroiters ever imagined.
Hidden underneath a thick layer of vegetation sit what’s left of the Belle Isle Zoo. The wooden walkways are badly weathered and parts are only accessible by drone. Still, it’s hard not to imagine what this place once was and the creatures who drew in visitors of all ages for a day of family fun.
The 1890s-era Keystone Bridge in the Michigan mining town of Ramsay has since become enveloped under lush greenery, but its stone arch remains remarkably intact. While the bridge is not quite entirely "abandoned" (its structure is more sound than other abandoned bridges), it stands as a reminder of the area's history and has certainly become overgrown throughout the generations.
When the Northville Psychiatric Hospital closed for good in 2003, it left behind a wonderland of ruinous delight. A graffiti-covered, empty swimming pool, a warped gymnasium floor, and rooms with desks still lined up in perfect order, as if the former occupants just got up and left one day with every intention of returning. While the building was demolished in 2018, we couldn't help but include it on our list of the most fascinating abandoned places in Michigan. After all, it might soon be forgotten in history entirely.
Prehistoric Forest was built in the Irish Hills during Cold War-era 1960s. The park offered visitors train tours that featured life-sized, fiberglass dinosaurs and other prehistoric critters. The tourist trap became abandoned sometime between the late 1990s and early aughts and has since become a spooky place where the dinosaurs are now surrounded by moss and such and are visited by the occasional trespasser. Did you have an opportunity to explore the Prehistoric Forest during its years of operation as a favorite family roadside stop?
The long-abandoned Upper Peninsula former mining town of Fayette was an iron-smelting powerhouse following the Civil War, right up until 1891. During its years of operation, the site had many reincarnations, including a fishing village, a resort, and the Escanaba Paper Company, until settling into its current role as a state park. Today, visitors can marvel at the still-standing 1890s buildings and explore nearby beaches and campsites. There are few better places to experience Michigan's history in the flesh.
8. Packard Automotive Plant - Detroit
Packard Automotive Plant, 1580 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48211, USA
When the massively sprawling, 3.5 million-square-foot Packard Automotive Plant, designed by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn, opened in 1903, it was considered a modern wonder of 20th-century industry. Today, it's home to squatters, "urban explorers," and a canopy of leafy trees and bushes that shadow the piles upon piles of discarded concrete, twisted metal, and broken glass. For those who appreciate the history of Detroit's auto industry, the sight of the abandoned Packard Plant undoubtedly brings up a sense of sadness.
One of the most recognized abandoned churches in Detroit, St. Agnes Catholic Church was built in the 1920s but has sat vacant and deteriorating since 2006. Whether you saw the church during its operational years or not, there's something eerie about its crumbling exterior and "No Trespassing" signs.
10. The United Artists Theatre Building - Detroit
United Artists Theater Building, 150 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48226, USA
The United Artists Theatre Building in downtown Detroit is a favorite ruin among fans of abandoned buildings in all their dark glory. Built in 1928, the theater sits inside a renaissance revival architectural style building (designed by C. Howard Crane) and played films until the mid-1970s. The building closed its doors for good in 1984, gradually falling into disrepair. To this day, renovation efforts and announcements have gone unfulfilled for this once-stunning structure.
See more of this stunning structure in this YouTube video from Abandoned Central:
Now that you’ve checked out some of the most fascinating abandoned places in Michigan, we’d like to hear from you: are there any spooky or abandoned spots in your neck of the woods? Share your own local legends with us by leaving a Facebook comment or recommend another historic place in Michigan to feature by completing our official nomination form.
