Mother Nature always wins in the end, and these ten abandoned places in Massachusetts are proof. These places were all once important or luxurious, but they're now decaying in the most fascinating ways. Take a look at these abandoned spots across the state with incredible histories.
Please note: some of these places are off-limits to the public. Please obey all trespassing laws and be respectful of others' property.
1. Taunton State Hospital, Taunton
Editors Note: In 2009 part of this building was demolished but some of it still stands to this day.
Taunton State Hospital was a psychiatric hospital that opened in 1854. It was notorious for its overcrowded conditions and criminally insane patients, including some serial killers. The main part of the hospital closed in 1975, and there are rumors that ghosts now roam the halls. Most of the original buildings were demolished in 2009. However, many of the newer buildings remain standing and abandoned. The images above were taken in 2006.
2. Clinton Railroad Tunnel, Clinton
This abandoned Massachusetts train tunnel is hidden in the forest bordering the Wachusett Dam. It was originally constructed in the late 1800s, and abandoned in the early 20th century. Over 4,000 bodies from a local graveyard had to be moved to make room for the tunnel and the dam, leading many to suspect that the abandoned tunnel is haunted. It's open to the public for exploration.
3. Belchertown State School for the Care and Custody of Feeble Minded Persons, Belchertown
This school was built in 1922 for the purpose of sheltering and teaching those with severe mental disabilities or psychological conditions. By the 1970s, it was severely overpopulated and conditions were hellish. Patients were often left strapped to stretchers for days, and vermin were reported to crawl all over residents while they sat or ate. Closed in the mid-1970s, this school now sits abandoned. In fact, you can watch this video from the inside of this eerie place.
4. The Walter E. Fernald School, Waltham
In the 1920s, this school for the developmentally disabled was the poster child for the American eugenics movement. The patients, mostly children, were experimented on without their consent. In one study, children were fed radioactive breakfast cereal in an experiment funded by Quaker Oats. Today, the school is closed and decaying, but its dark legacy lives on. Learn more about this dark story of the Walter E. Fernald School, but we warn you it is disturbing.
5. The Franklin Park Zoo Bear Cages, Boston
Featured in the 2003 film Mystic River, these abandoned bear cages are hidden away from the main portion of the Franklin Park Zoo. Built in 1912, they were a popular attraction with early 20th-century crowds. Families would come to watch live bears roam around the beautiful stone enclosure, much of which survives to this day. This happens to be one of the most eerily fascinating abandoned places in Boston.
6. Hotel Alexandra, Boston
In the early 20th century, this place was once one of the most luxurious hotels in Boston. The South End jewel fell on hard times and was eventually purchased by the Church of Scientology in 2008. There are plans in the works to turn it into a multi-use building while keeping the original facade.
7. Becket Land Trust Historic Quarry and Forest, Becket
This park is filled with the abandoned remnants of 20th-century mining equipment and vehicles. Visitors are permitted to explore the old cars, trucks, and other relics that dot the forest. Hiking in this area is truly like taking a stroll back in time. If you want to learn more about this very odd but intriguing walk in the woods, then check out this article about the Becket Land Trust Historic Quarry and Forest.
8. Steinert Hall, Boston
There's a secret theater buried beneath the streets of Boston, and almost no one knows it exists. Situated beneath the Steinert Building in Boston, the oldest music store in the United States, Steinert Hall was once one of the most sought-after concert halls in the world. Built in 1896, it was abandoned in 1942 due to new fire codes. However, almost everything inside the theater has remained intact. Watch the video above by The Boston Globe for a rare glimpse into this buried treasure.
9. Rocking Horse Graveyard, Lincoln
Also called "Ponyhenge," this bizarre arrangement of broken-down rocking horses, horse figurines, and hobby horses is one of the strangest roadside attractions in the state. The horses first started appearing in 2010, and no one knows who is leaving them or why. They often change formation, and the herd is growing all the time. Take a look at this video from the YouTube channel "Exploring With John" to see more of the mysterious site.
10. Truro Air Force Base, Truro
This abandoned Air Force base includes over 50 deserted homes and buildings. Built-in 1994, this place operated during the Cold War to scan the airwaves around Cape Cod to detect Soviet bombers. It features an abandoned bowling alley, a dining hall, and plenty of family residences. Check out the video above from the YouTube channel "Exploring With Josh" to look inside this site, one of the most fascinating abandoned places in New England. Today, this Air Force base is fenced-in and no trespassing is allowed.
Have you ever been to any of these abandoned places in Massachusetts? let us know in the comments below what is your favorite one.
Looking for more unique sites in Massachusetts? Check out these nine bizarre roadside attractions that will make you do a double-take. And if you plan on taking a road trip to see them, make sure you check out our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for everything you need.
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