If you love exploring abandoned buildings, you will love this road trip. It highlights some of the best abandoned places in Connecticut and offers the opportunity to look into the past like never before. But beware, because some of these places are rumored to be haunted. If you venture out to these locations, remember to respect any no trespassing signs; bring a flashlight, and wear protective footwear. You can find the map for this epic, spooky adventure on Google Maps.
Get ready for a wild ride!
At 127 miles long, this trip should take just under three hours, which means there will be plenty of time to explore each location.
1. Hearthstone Castle (Danbury)
Located inside of Danbury's scenic Tarrywile Park, this slowly disappearing castle is still a stone wonder. More than 120 years old, the castle hasn't been inhabited for four decades now. However, the three-story, 17-room structure is still quite impressive. There was a secret passage from the kitchen to the study, and despite all of the stone being from local sources, the wood details on the inside were all imported from Italy. So prepare to gaze upon this masterpiece, because it will leave you mystified. This is easily one of the absolute coolest abandoned places in Connecticut.
2. Holy Land USA (Waterbury)
Forget about churches and chapels. This ode to bible stories is truly unique. If you've ever noticed the giant cross atop a hill in Waterbury, you might wonder about the story behind it. Well, it's actually a remnant of the once bustling abandoned amusement park in CT, Holy Land USA. In the mid- 1960s, 40,000 annual visitors attended this religion-themed park to explore the city of Jerusalem. You'll find hundreds of unique structures here, along with bible quotes, stone archways, and myriad of crosses. This place is definitely strange, but it's also pretty cool.
3. Shade Swamp Sanctuary (Farmington)
You can find plenty of stuff hiding in the depths of our forests, but did you know one of them is an abandoned zoo in CT? Originally created to be a roadside wildlife attraction, the zoo was once used by a wildlife management group as a place to care for injured birds. It expanded to include the breeding of raccoons and a small collection of rare and endangered animals. Some breeding experiments took place here. The experiments ended in 1930, with the closing of the sanctuary following soon after in 1960. Among the old structures are cages and stone dens.
4. Mansfield Training School (Mansfield)
Now considered part of the University of Connecticut's Depot Campus, the remnants of several of the training school buildings still remain untouched. They most likely stand undisturbed because of the haunting stories of those passing by, who claim to have heard children running. Once a mental hospital, its isolated location made it perfect for treating the afflicted. Unfortunately, rumors about abuse started circulating, and the hospital eventually closed. Many groups have investigated the building for paranormal activity, but it is mostly covered in ivy now. This amazing old historic school in Connecticut is a sight to behold for sure.
5. Gungywamp (Groton)
This may be one of the weirdest places in America. Dating back to nearly 2,000 B.C., this ancient site has unknown origins. Likely utilized by many groups over time, there is a ton of stuff to discover here. Arrowheads and pottery fragments are just the beginning. There are a number of stone chambers, walls, and circles. There's also a rock ledge, known as the Cliff of Tears, where visitors report feeling overwhelming sensations of sadness. Gungywamp is both beautiful and eerie, and we find ourselves drawn to it.
Don't forget to share your photos of abandoned places in Connecticut with @onlyinconnecticut on Instagram when you go. You can also turn your urban exploration up a notch and drive down this haunted street in Connecticut for even more fun.
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