Varosha, Cyprus, has what may be the greatest example of abandoned hotels in the world.

After their little civil war, in the '70s the "Green Line" between Greek and Turkish areas was drawn down the middle of the island based on where forces of each side happened to be at the time.

A newly constructed luxury resort area belonging to Greeks ended up on the Turkish side of the line. Rather than bulldoze it, the Turks decided to leave the area abandoned on the expectation that this tourist area would be so valuable to the Greek side that they'd be able to trade it for some concessions.

30+ years later that never happened, but the area has remained fenced off, uninhabited, and unrazed.

It's a pretty interesting story, a full chapter in The World Without Us talks about it since it provides a great real-world example of how urban areas decay in the sudden absence of humans.

When I was a kid, which was when the hotel was in its heyday, we used to stay at the Coco Palms. I loved the pool as much as the beach, it was so beautiful. I was always fascinated with the ceremonial torch lighting in the evening. After Hurricane Iniki in 1992, the hotel was abandoned and all plans to redevelop the property have failed.

Where did you ever find that link?

This one really clever guy I know sent it to me.

If you look through the windows in a couple of the pictures, you can see broken down trains/train cars.



Kansas City's Train Station (still in use as an Amtrack station but came very close to being abandoned)


Inside:


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/25/61...d55aa715_m.jpg

Cool site, BTW.

I've been meaning to post these photos I took of some local abandoned places, but kept forgetting to do it. Recently I passed by a couple of the sites and found that one had been completely demolished, and the other was missing its giant sign. Which reminded me to post the photos.


Victor Meats -- Lodi, CA



The meat packing company closed in 1991, but until late 2009 the sign was still there. I don't know when it was removed, but I'm glad I took pictures when I did. I think it's a cool sign, I wish I could have seen it lit. Love old neon signs.

I found this photo of the top of the sign, after it was down. When I took my pics, the Viking was covered by a blue tarp advertising the property for sale.

Pollardville/Chicken Kitchen, Ghost Town and Showboat
Hwy 99 in Stockton



Pollardville was demolished on my birthday this year, here is the article with history of the site.


Greenwood School, Lockeford







Link to all the photos.

Cool - thanks for sharing!