12 Abandoned Places In New York That Nature Is Reclaiming

Whether it's the taste of nostalgia or the unusual sight of seeing structures swallowed up by Mother Nature, there's something intriguing about visiting abandoned sites in New York. All around the state, urban explorers can visit a variety of neglected locations that have been left to do nothing but crumble away with time. The Empire State is usually quick to demolish decrepit structures, but somehow these 12 abandoned places in New York state still remain and have been reclaimed by nature.

1. Abandoned Girl Scout Camp - Beechwood State Park

A spot many of our residents aren't aware of, hiding in the village of Sodus out near Lake Ontario there's an abandoned Girl Scout camp within Beechwood State Park. Abandoned since the mid-1990s, the abandoned amenities of this camp have been left to rot away with time. From an Olympic-size swimming pool that's covered in graffiti to empty cabins, there's much to be explored inside this state park of Western New York.

Explore the Abandoned Girl Scout Camp in Beechwood State Park in this video from Unearthly Upstate:

2. Abandoned Ghost Town of Tahawus - Newcomb

What originally was located in the village of Tahawus can now technically be found in the town of Newcomb. A town that would be abandoned not once but twice, the town of Tahawus was moved to Newcomb back in the early 1960s. Today, the old mining town has rapidly withered away with time, with only certain structures and equipment left remaining today.

3. Overlook Mountain - Woodstock

Enjoy a hike down in the Catskills to explore the ruins of an old hotel on Overlook Mountain, one of the creepiest abandoned places in upstate New York. Halfway through this 5-mile out-and-back hike, you'll discover the abandoned ruins of what was once a popular hotel. After suffering from several fires (talk about bad luck), the hotel has remained abandoned since the early 1920s. While the DEC advises explorers to not actually go inside the unstable ruins, you can still enjoy the incredible view of this abandoned place from the trail.

4. Muttontown Preserve - Syosset

As far as abandoned places on Long Island, there's a small area in Nassau County out on Long Island, Syosset, which is home to the magical Muttontown Preserve. While many of the abandoned places on this list have a very creepy and eerie vibe to them, the ruins of this New York preserve are actually quite beautiful and much less haunting. A nearly three-mile-long hike within the large preserve will take you right to the ruins of King Zog's castle where you can explore what was once meant to be the home of an Albanian king.

5. Renwick Smallpox Hospital - Roosevelt Island

One of the most popular places to visit when people take the time to explore Roosevelt Island is the ruins of this Smallpox Hospital. The hospital opened back in 1856 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Located on the southern end of the island, most people now simply refer to this location as the Renwick Ruins. No matter what you call it, it's one of the most hauntingly beautiful abandoned places in New York, and worth a visit.

6. Bennett School for Girls - Millbrook

Closing its doors back in 1978, the women's college originally opened up back in 1890. Sitting on over twenty acres of land, the school eventually closed once it could no longer compete with coeducation schools throughout New York. Today the main building called Halcyon Hall can be found decaying away, covered in greenery.

In 2022, the abandoned Halcyon Hall of the Bennett School for Girls in Millbrook was demolished. Watch this rather sad moment in history as a once grand establishment returns to dust in this video from Antiquity Echoes:

7. Bannerman Castle - Pollepel Island

On the Hudson River down near New York City, Pollepel Island is home to some of New York's most beautiful ruins. Looking like a place that was once fit to house a Disney princess, the castle used to serve as a military surplus warehouse. Strange, huh? Built in 1901, the island suffered a great deal of damage to its structures after a fire took place in the summer of 1969. Today when the weather's warm enough you can Bannerman Castle to the island to see this abandoned place in New York.

8. Rockland Psychiatric Center - Orangeburg

Calling all Orange Is The New Black fans, this is the abandoned location in New York where the series originally began filming. Buildings on the property that are from the 1930s have been left abandoned, many of which our residents will tell you are supposedly haunted. Off-limits to visitors, Rockland Psychiatric Center is just one of the many abandoned mental hospitals you can find in New York.

9. Fort Tilden - Breezy Point

Fort Tilden is one of our most interesting ruins to explore in New York, mainly because of its unique location. Most of the ruins we find ourselves exploring end up being tucked away within the forest or have quite the opposite scenery and can be found in more urban settings. But Fort Tilden is located out on the western end of the Rockaway peninsula, surrounding you with the ocean and beach scenery where you wouldn't expect to discover ruins like this. What was once a military post is now one of the most visited abandoned places in New York, and it's also be found on the National Register of Historic Places.

10. Abandoned Subway - Rochester

Abandoned since the mid-1950s, the Rochester Subway is a fascinating location within the Downtown area. The city of Rochester has long been conflicted over what exactly should happen to the property now that it is abandoned and with no actual solutions ever coming to a head, the location has continued to rot away. Today, the subway tunnels have become a popular place for urban explorers to check out as well as graffiti artists.

11. The Castle On The Hill - Dansville

Out in Western New York in the small village of Dansville, there's an old castle on the hill that we're sad to see abandoned. Having several different names and owners over the course of its history, the building most famously served as a hotel and hospital during the Great Depression. There have long been rumors of the beautiful structure being restored, but so far nothing has been decided, so it sits alongside the many abandoned places in Western New York. We think this is one of the most intriguing abandoned places in NY.

12. North Brother Island - New York City

Located on the East River between the Bronx and Riker's Island, North Brother Island is where you can find the ruins of the old Riverside Hospital. A place that once treated quarantinable diseases, the hospital would also go on to serve as a treatment facility for young drug addicts. The island has an overall dark and eerie history. If you're familiar with the story of Typhoid Mary then you already know that this is the island where she would eventually die in 1938.

Learn more about North Brother Island in New York City in this video from

Kenopsia Explorers:

Have you ever visited any of these abandoned places in New York state? For more creepy things, see if you're brave enough to read about this house that's so terrifying it was legally declared haunted by New York State! Or, if you are up for a tour of New York's creepiest spots, try this haunted places road trip through New York. Pack your bags, rent an RV from RVShare, and go on a spooky adventure to some abandoned places near you in NY.