Motor City is well known for its urban blight, and the numerous buildings in abandoned Detroit can make areas feel like a ghost town. Some of these Detroit abandoned neighborhoods that have been shunned and vacated can seem haunting, to say the least, but we can’t forget that many of them also hold significant history. So take a look at these 9 abandoned places in Detroit that remind us of our city’s past and the eerie feelings they leave us with.

1. Packard Automotive Plant
Packard Automotive Plant, 1580 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48211, USA
Rain0975/Flickr
Opened in 1903 and designed by well-known architect Albert Kahn, the Packard Automotive Plant was considered a modern wonder of industry in the 20th century. Today, the 3.5 million square foot plant is a photographer’s paradise.

Editor's Note: As of April 2022, the plant is scheduled for demolition.
2. Belle Isle Zoo
Belle Isle, Detroit, MI, USA
Flickr/Raphaël Vandon
The Belle Isle Zoo was opened in 1895 and once had about 150 different animals, including polar bears, kangaroos and elephants. It was closed in 2002 when then-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick decided to save some cash and shut it down. Now the area is quiet, left totally abandoned and feels like an ancient jungle in a Detroit ghost town.

You can learn more about the Belle Isle Zoo in this YouTube video from Uncharted Travel:

3. Fisher Body Plant 21
Fisher Body Plant 21, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Mike Boening Photography/Flickr
The Fisher Body Plant 21 is just one of the many abandoned automobile plants in Detroit. The glass and concrete building was built in 1919 by Albert Kahn and shut down in 1984. Now it sits vacant with windows smashed and graffiti sprawled all along the structure, making it seem super spooky.

Editor's Note: As of March 2022, there is talk of transforming the plant into a housing and retail complex.
4. Michigan Central Station
2001 15th St, Detroit, MI 48216, USA
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
Michigan Central Station is among the most famous abandoned buildings in Detroit. The old train station has been beat up and has fell victim to vandals, with windows smashed and spray-painted walls. The station's future is still uncertain, but it has seen some renovations and what once was a symbol of Detroit's decline has become a glowing reflection of its regrowth.

Editor's Note: As of May 2022, the station is undergoing further renovations.

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5. Michigan Theatre
The Michigan Building, 220 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48226, USA
Google/Manfred S
This historic movie palace is attached to the Michigan Building. In its heyday it hosted legends like Frank Sinatra and the Marx Brothers. Unlike other buildings in Detroit that have been left vacant, the once beautiful theatre has become a parking lot. There are plans to renovate the space, but it's unsure what it will become.
6. St. Agnes Catholic Church
St. Agnes Catholic Church, 829 Ruiz St, San Antonio, TX 78207, USA
Mike Boening Photography/Flickr
This grand church in Detroit closed its doors in 2006 due to financial troubles and is considered one of the most well known abandoned churches in the city. It is hauntingly beautiful to say the least.
7. Vanity Ballroom
1024 Newport St, Detroit, MI 48215, USA
Timothy Neesam/Flickr
This Art Deco structure was once a popular place for Detroiters to dance the night away. However, after trying to resurrect it multiple times, it closed for good and remains the last intact ballroom of Detroit's great dance halls of the big band era of the 30s and 40s. While it continues to crumble, its unique Aztec features are still intact.
8. Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church
Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church, 44 W Philadelphia St, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Timothy Neesam/Flickr
This stunning church is one of Detroit's most architecturally significant buildings, but sadly it remains hauntingly abandoned. Architect Sidney Badgley built it in 1911 in the Gothic revival style. Today, the church is a beauty to look at, but it's interior is crumbling.
9. Abandoned House on Eliot St. near Brush St. in Detroit.
Eliot Street, Eliot St, Detroit, MI, USA
Groovnick/Flickr
There are a number of homes in Detroit abandoned and left to decay. This one, like many others, can give anyone the chills. Now that Detroit is making a comeback, we'll start seeing many of these haunting homes brought back to life again.

Are there any other buildings in abandoned Detroit worthy of a mention? Let us know in the comment section below! If you’re interested in reading up on the subject, there are many books available that discuss abandoned Detroit and the decline of the Motor City.

If you’re interested in more spooky things in Detroit, than you must read about this cemetery in Detroit that is only opened twice a year!

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More to Explore

Haunted Places in Detroit

Katie Lawrence | September 07, 2022

Are there any haunted restaurants or bars in Detroit?

The abandoned places listed above aren't the only spooky spots in Detroit. Motor City is home to its fair share of haunted locations, as well. One of the most haunted restaurants in Detroit is Cadieux Cafe, located on Cadieux Road. This long-running, family-owned eatery is housed in a former speakeasy, and it's known for excellent mussels and beer as well as feather bowling and live music. What some people don't know about Cadieux Cafe, however, is that it's rumored to be haunted. Both patrons and employees have experienced things with no logical explanations, such as objects moving of their own accord. People have also spotted apparitions, including that of the owner's deceased mother.

What haunted hiking trails can I take in Detroit?

Did you know there is a haunted hike near Detroit? Just an hour from the city proper, Ghostly Grove is a 3/4-mile forest trail that will send you running for the hills. The trail is located on the grounds of the on the Schnell Family Farm Orchard, and it leads through the abandoned woods on the edge of the property. Legend has it, the trail is haunted by Johnny Appleseed's twin sister, Abigail. Evil lurks around every corner, just waiting to pop out and send your heart leaping into your throat. Ghostly Grove is only open during the Halloween season, and it's so worth marking the calendar for!

What are the most haunted places in Detroit?

There are plenty of haunted places in Detroit that are sure to make your hair stand on end. One of them is The Whitney, the 1894 home of lumber baron, David Whitney Jr., who was the wealthiest man in Detroit at the time. The mansion is now a restaurant, and it has its fair share of ghost stories. Widely considered to be one of the most haunted buildings in the city, The Whitney is home to apparitions, strange shadows, and other ghostly occurrences, both of which have been spotted by visitors and staff members alike.

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