10 abandoned mansions around the world that likely used to be worth millions

Advertisement
10 abandoned mansions around the world that likely used to be worth millions
10 abandoned mansions around the world that likely used to be worth millions

Andrea M. Parisi

This mansion has been sitting empty for 70 years.


Advertisement
Advertisement
  • Even the most expensive, extravagant homes can fall into disrepair without proper care.
  • These mansions were likely worth the equivalent of millions of dollars when they were built.
  • Years later, they sit abandoned in varying states of deterioration.

Advertisement

When they were built, these lavish homes were likely worth today's equivalent of millions of dollars. Now, they're falling apart.

From a villa that's been sitting empty for 70 years on an island in upstate New York to a Gothic manor in Scotland, here are 10 abandoned mansions around the world that were once worth millions of dollars.

{{}}

The Carleton Island Villa, a dilapidated mansion that sits on an island in Cape Vincent, New York, hasn't been inhabited for 70 years.

The Carleton Island Villa, a dilapidated mansion that sits on an island in Cape Vincent, New York, hasn't been inhabited for 70 years.

Source: Realtor.com

The 11-bedroom mansion was constructed around 1895 for William O. Wyckoff, who made his fortune from the Remington firearm and typewriter company. Around the World War II Era, contractors went in and removed the interior and doors and windows.

The 11-bedroom mansion was constructed around 1895 for William O. Wyckoff, who made his fortune from the Remington firearm and typewriter company. Around the World War II Era, contractors went in and removed the interior and doors and windows.

Source: Realtor.com, Curbed

Advertisement

The mansion is now for sale for $495,000 — but whoever buys it will certainly need to spend much more than that on repairs and restoration.

The mansion is now for sale for $495,000 — but whoever buys it will certainly need to spend much more than that on repairs and restoration.

Source: Realtor.com

Halcyon Hall in Millbrook, New York was built as a luxury hotel in 1893 and became part of Bennett College in 1907. The women's college closed down in 1978.

Halcyon Hall in Millbrook, New York was built as a luxury hotel in 1893 and became part of Bennett College in 1907. The women's college closed down in 1978.

Source: Untapped Cities

Advertisement

The now-decrepit mansion was purchased in 2014 with plans to demolish it and replace it with a park.

The now-decrepit mansion was purchased in 2014 with plans to demolish it and replace it with a park.

Source: Poughkeepsie Journal

But in August 2016, the owners reported that the mansion would stay standing for "a few years" while they untangled property rights issues.

But in August 2016, the owners reported that the mansion would stay standing for "a few years" while they untangled property rights issues.

Source: The Millbrook Independent

Advertisement

The Swannanoa mansion in Lyndhurst, Virginia, was built in 1912 by railroad millionaire James H. Dooley, who reportedly built it for his wife.

The Swannanoa mansion in Lyndhurst, Virginia, was built in 1912 by railroad millionaire James H. Dooley, who reportedly built it for his wife.

Source: Atlas Obscura

When the couple passed away, the 52-room house was used as a country club for a time. Then, a scientist couple leased the mansion and turned it into a museum while continuing to live there until their deaths. Nobody has lived in the house since 1988.

When the couple passed away, the 52-room house was used as a country club for a time. Then, a scientist couple leased the mansion and turned it into a museum while continuing to live there until their deaths. Nobody has lived in the house since 1988.

Source: Atlas Obscura

Advertisement

The mansion is occasionally still open to the public for weddings and other events, but local residents have complained that the estate has been mismanaged and that its condition is deteriorating.

The mansion is occasionally still open to the public for weddings and other events, but local residents have complained that the estate has been mismanaged and that its condition is deteriorating.

Source: News Leader

The Cambusnethan House in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, is one of the last remaining Gothic mansions in the country.

The Cambusnethan House in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, is one of the last remaining Gothic mansions in the country.

Source: Register for Scotland

Advertisement

The mansion was built in 1819 to replace an early 17th-century house that burned down in 1810. In the 1970s, the house was used for mock medieval banquets, but it was further damaged by fire in the 1980s.

The mansion was built in 1819 to replace an early 17th-century house that burned down in 1810. In the 1970s, the house was used for mock medieval banquets, but it was further damaged by fire in the 1980s.

Source: Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland

Cambusnethan House is on Scotland's Buildings at Risk Register at a "critical" risk level. A group called "Friends of Cambusnethan Priory" was established in 2014 to try to save the building from any further deterioration.

Cambusnethan House is on Scotland's Buildings at Risk Register at a "critical" risk level. A group called "Friends of Cambusnethan Priory" was established in 2014 to try to save the building from any further deterioration.

Source: Canmore National Record of the Historic Environment, Friends of Cambusnethan Priory

Advertisement

Lynnewood Hall, a 110-room, century-old Gilded Age palace just outside of Philadelphia, was designed by Horace Trumbauer in the late 1890s.

Lynnewood Hall, a 110-room, century-old Gilded Age palace just outside of Philadelphia, was designed by Horace Trumbauer in the late 1890s.

Source: Curbed

It cost an estimated $200 million to build in today's dollars. Although it's still in relatively good condition, it could cost up to $40 million to restore the hall and its grounds to their former glory, according to David B. Rowland, president of the Old York Road Historical Society.

It cost an estimated $200 million to build in today's dollars. Although it's still in relatively good condition, it could cost up to $40 million to restore the hall and its grounds to their former glory, according to David B. Rowland, president of the Old York Road Historical Society.

Source: Terrain.org

Advertisement

Despite its state of disrepair, Lynnewood Hall is actually still worth millions — it's on the market for $15.5 million.

Despite its state of disrepair, Lynnewood Hall is actually still worth millions — it's on the market for $15.5 million.

Source: Fox & Roach Realtors

Pidhirtsi Castle in the Lviv region of Ukraine was built as a leisure home for a high-ranking Polish military commander between 1635 and 1640 by Italian architect Andrea dell'Aqua.

Pidhirtsi Castle in the Lviv region of Ukraine was built as a leisure home for a high-ranking Polish military commander between 1635 and 1640 by Italian architect Andrea dell'Aqua.

Source: World Monuments Fund

Advertisement

The mansion prospered for years, but in the 19th century, new owners took over and neglected the castle, so that by the end of World War II, it had massively deteriorated.

The mansion prospered for years, but in the 19th century, new owners took over and neglected the castle, so that by the end of World War II, it had massively deteriorated.

Source: World Monuments Fund

Pidhirtsi Castle has been damaged by fire and flooding over the years. The Lviv Art Gallery foundation aims to restore the mansion, but a lack of funds seems to have hampered progress. The foundation is calling for investors to help with the restoration while local students volunteer their time to try to repair the estate.

Pidhirtsi Castle has been damaged by fire and flooding over the years. The Lviv Art Gallery foundation aims to restore the mansion, but a lack of funds seems to have hampered progress. The foundation is calling for investors to help with the restoration while local students volunteer their time to try to repair the estate.

Source: The Vintage News

Advertisement

The McNeal mansion, which sits along the Delaware River in New Jersey, was built by industrialist Andrew McNeal in 1890 after he founded a pipe plant and foundry.

The McNeal mansion, which sits along the Delaware River in New Jersey, was built by industrialist Andrew McNeal in 1890 after he founded a pipe plant and foundry.

Source: Burlington County Times

U.S. Pipe bought property in 1899 and used it as its headquarters until 1953, after which it was abandoned.

U.S. Pipe bought property in 1899 and used it as its headquarters until 1953, after which it was abandoned.

Source: Burlington County Times

Advertisement

In 2016, the city bought the property and approved a redevelopment plan for the mansion that might include a restoration of the Victorian home, but the plan has since stalled and the home continues to sit empty.

In 2016, the city bought the property and approved a redevelopment plan for the mansion that might include a restoration of the Victorian home, but the plan has since stalled and the home continues to sit empty.

Source: Burlington County Times

This "Swingers Tiki Palace," as it was dubbed by one photographer, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was built in 1972 by strip-club tycoon Billy Hull to be the ultimate party palace.

This "Swingers Tiki Palace," as it was dubbed by one photographer, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was built in 1972 by strip-club tycoon Billy Hull to be the ultimate party palace.

Source: The New York Post, Abandoned Southeast

Advertisement

The unique structure felt into decay after Hull was arrested for tax evasion. The now-abandoned mansion is known for its Playboy bunny pool and its dramatic history.

The unique structure felt into decay after Hull was arrested for tax evasion. The now-abandoned mansion is known for its Playboy bunny pool and its dramatic history.

Source: Abandoned Southeast

The owner got 20 years in prison, and the mansion, including an empty pool, is also now home to graffiti.

The owner got 20 years in prison, and the mansion, including an empty pool, is also now home to graffiti.

Source: The New York Post

Advertisement

The Villa de Vecchi, known as the "Ghost Mansion" of Italy, was built between 1854 and 1857, meant to be the summer home of a Count named Felix De Vecchi, who was head of the Italian National Guard. The home had all the modern amenities of the time, including indoor heating pipes and a large pressurized fountain.

The Villa de Vecchi, known as the "Ghost Mansion" of Italy, was built between 1854 and 1857, meant to be the summer home of a Count named Felix De Vecchi, who was head of the Italian National Guard. The home had all the modern amenities of the time, including indoor heating pipes and a large pressurized fountain.

Source: Atlas Obscura

But it was home to a mysterious family tragedy. In 1862, the Count killed himself after he came home and found his wife murdered and his daughter missing. Relatives continued to live at the mansion until World War II, but the mansion was left uninhabited by the 1960s. The home's grand piano is said to be played at night by "a ghostly entity."

But it was home to a mysterious family tragedy. In 1862, the Count killed himself after he came home and found his wife murdered and his daughter missing. Relatives continued to live at the mansion until World War II, but the mansion was left uninhabited by the 1960s. The home's grand piano is said to be played at night by "a ghostly entity."

Source: Atlas Obscura

Advertisement

A 2002 avalanche destroyed nearby homes, but the once-lavish and now battered "Ghost Mansion" remains standing.

A 2002 avalanche destroyed nearby homes, but the once-lavish and now battered "Ghost Mansion" remains standing.

Source: Atlas Obscura

These ruins that resemble an ancient European castle actually sit just outside of Kansas City, Missouri, and are the results of a dream of businessman Robert Snyder, who wanted to build a European-style castle in Missouri.

These ruins that resemble an ancient European castle actually sit just outside of Kansas City, Missouri, and are the results of a dream of businessman Robert Snyder, who wanted to build a European-style castle in Missouri.

Source: Atlas Obscura

Advertisement

Snyder started building in 1905, but the next year he was killed in a car accident and never saw it finished. His sons took over construction and lived there until the family ran out of money because of several lands rights lawsuits surrounding the castle’s property.

Snyder started building in 1905, but the next year he was killed in a car accident and never saw it finished. His sons took over construction and lived there until the family ran out of money because of several lands rights lawsuits surrounding the castle’s property.

Source: Atlas Obscura

After the youngest brother was forced to leave the home in poverty, it was turned into a hotel until 1942, when it was destroyed by a fire. In the 1970s, the state of Missouri bought the property and did some restoration work, but the former mansion remains largely in ruins.

After the youngest brother was forced to leave the home in poverty, it was turned into a hotel until 1942, when it was destroyed by a fire. In the 1970s, the state of Missouri bought the property and did some restoration work, but the former mansion remains largely in ruins.
Advertisement
Next StorySmileDirectClub's $79 LED whitening kit worked exceptionally well - and it didn't cause me any teeth sensitivity