10 Abandoned Places In Massachusetts That Nature Is Reclaiming
Mother Nature always wins in the end, and these ten abandoned sites across 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.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Taunton State Hospital was a psychiatric hospital 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 2013.
This abandoned 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 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.
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.
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. They haven't done anything with it, so it continues to decay.
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.
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 Steinhert Building in Boston, the oldest music store in the United States, Steinhert 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. The often change formation, and the herd is growing all the time. Take a look at this video from 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, dining hall and plenty of family residences. Check out the video above from YouTube channel “Exploring With Josh” to look inside this abandoned site.
