These 13 Abandoned Places In St. Louis Are Absolutely Haunting
One of the hardest challenges any city faces is what do when properties are abandoned. St. Louis, like many major cities, is trying to find a good answer to this problem, but it is not an easy task. Property owners are often hard to find and there is never enough money for what is always seems to be a costly clean-up.
Note: Many of these abandoned places are located on private property and are not open or accessible to the public. Trespassing is a crime and the deteriorated state of these buildings makes them unstable and dangerous. Use your noggin and do not attempt to enter – explore them vicariously through these photos instead!
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/
Many of these abandoned places become refuge for criminal activities and vandalism.
This site required special federal intervention once it was declared an EPA Superfund site. Cleanup of hazardous Superfund sites can add years to the renovation process.
When properties are abandoned, the biggest problem often isn't money - it's time. Every day a home or business sits untended it becomes a little less usable. Quicker action in choosing whether to save or demolish a structure could help with the unseemly blight caused by deserted properties.
Luckily, not all abandoned buildings have fallen into this state.
Two great examples of saving both St. Louis history and buildings of high-quality architecture are the Wainwright Building and Union Station (pictured above). Both of these buildings could easily have been lost if not for the time, money, and - most importantly - community support as they were remodeled for a new century.
