Another installment in our series on abandoned places in the world.
1. Abandoned Keane Wonder Mine at Death Valley National Park, California, United States
The Keane Wonder Mine, located within Death Valley National Park in Inyo County, was one of the two largest producing gold mines in the area. Discovered by Jack Keane and Domingo Etcharren in the early 1900s, the mine was tapped out and abandoned by 1912. Due to the instability of the mine and the land surrounding it, the National Park Service has closed the area to visitors. Many thanks to Delta Sierra for this suggestion.
2. Glass Works Factory, Fåglavik, Sweden
This once glass-blowing factory had an upward of 350 workers. Founded in 1874 in Fåglavik (Southwestern Sweden), the mid-size glass producer closed in 1978 due to an increase in international competition.
3. Nicosia International Airport, Nicosia, Cyprus
Originally constructed as a Royal Air Force in the 1930s, the Nicosia International Airport served as the principal airport of Cyprus. Abandoned as a result of the Turkish invasion of 1974, the airport has since been declared a United Nations Protected Area and lies within a UN-controlled buffer zone between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
4. Hamlet of Courbefy, France
The hamlet of Courbefy, located in the Haute-Vienne region of France, could have been yours for the taking this February for approximately €330,000 (US$440,000). Uninhabited since the 1970s due to a rural-urban migration, the hamlet comprises of 19 buildings on several acres of land. Many thanks to DaisyWalker for this suggestion.
5. Scranton Lace Company, Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
Ceasing production in 2002, the Scranton Lace Company was established by the Scranton Board of Trade in 1890. Employing over 1,400 people, it was the first and largest known producer of Nottingham Lace in the United States. The site, which once featured a gymnasium, bowling alleys, and a theatre, will now be home to a mixed-use space with residential, art, commercial and health facilities.
For previous entries, please click here.
