#AbandonedPlaces

A hashtag dedicated to documenting and sharing photographs of forsaken structures, empty buildings, and forgotten locations that nature is reclaiming.

Quick Facts

Origin Story

#AbandonedPlaces emerged shortly after Instagram’s launch in October 2010, representing a more accessible and descriptive alternative to the insider term #Urbex. While urban explorers had been documenting abandoned locations on Flickr and forums for years, Instagram’s mobile-first approach and hashtag system made abandoned photography accessible to casual photographers and tourists.

The hashtag appealed to a broader audience than urbex terminology. You didn’t need to identify as an “urban explorer” to appreciate the haunting beauty of an abandoned building. This inclusive framing helped the hashtag grow rapidly, encompassing everything from derelict mansions to rusting cars in fields, abandoned amusement parks to ghost towns.

Early #AbandonedPlaces posts often featured heavily filtered, moody images—perfectly suited to Instagram’s early aesthetic of vintage filters and artistic photography. The melancholic beauty of decay resonated with Instagram’s visual culture, and the hashtag became one of the platform’s most popular photography categories.

Timeline

2010-2012

• Instagram launch (October 2010)
• Early #AbandonedPlaces posts appear within first weeks
• Hashtag gains traction among travel and photography accounts
• Cross-over with vintage/filter aesthetic trends

2013-2015

• Exponential growth as Instagram expands globally
• Travel bloggers incorporate abandoned sites into itineraries
• Pinterest drives additional discovery and inspiration
• Reaches 5 million posts on Instagram

2016-2018

• Peak mainstream popularity
• Influencers create curated abandoned location content
• “Abandoned places to visit” listicles go viral
• Concerns about site damage from overtourism emerge

2019-2020

• Hashtag surpasses 20 million Instagram posts
• COVID-19 lockdowns create newly “abandoned” urban spaces
• Temporary pandemic-era abandonment becomes subgenre
• Documentary content on YouTube increases

2021-2023

• TikTok #AbandonedPlaces videos gain massive engagement
• Short-form video tours supplement photo content
• Drone footage becomes standard format
• Heritage preservation organizations leverage hashtag awareness

2024-Present

• Over 45 million Instagram posts
• AI-enhanced and AI-generated abandoned places spark debate
• Virtual reality tours of famous abandoned sites emerge
• Community increasingly emphasizes responsible exploration

Cultural Impact

#AbandonedPlaces made exploring forgotten spaces culturally mainstream. It transformed abandoned buildings from symbols of failure or danger into subjects of fascination and artistic beauty. The hashtag helped establish “ruin photography” as a legitimate artistic genre.

The popularity of #AbandonedPlaces influenced tourism and economic development. Some communities began marketing their abandoned sites as attractions, while others sought funding for preservation after viral posts brought attention. The Hashima Island (Gunkanjima) in Japan, for example, became a major tourist destination partly due to its popularity on Instagram under this hashtag.

The aesthetic of abandonment permeated popular culture. Fashion shoots in abandoned locations became common, music videos adopted the moody, decayed backdrop, and video games increasingly featured realistic abandoned environments inspired by real locations documented under this hashtag.

However, the hashtag also raised awareness about urban decay as a symptom of broader social and economic issues. Posts from Detroit, Chernobyl, and other regions forced viewers to confront questions about capitalism, environmental disaster, and social inequality.

Notable Moments

• Pripyat tourism boom: Photos of abandoned Chernobyl attracted global tourism interest
• Six Flags Jazzland: Hurricane Katrina’s abandoned amusement park became one of most-photographed sites
• Celebrity posts: Various influencers posting from abandoned locations drove massive engagement
• “Abandoned Disney” series: Viral posts claiming to show abandoned Disney parks (often inaccurate)
• Centralia, Pennsylvania: The burning ghost town gained renewed interest through hashtag documentation

Controversies

“Ruin porn” criticism: The term “ruin porn” emerged to criticize the aestheticization of decay without acknowledging the human stories and economic tragedy behind abandonment. Detroit residents were particularly vocal about outsiders treating their city’s struggles as aesthetic backdrops.

Misinformation and staged photos: Many viral “abandoned” photos were actually from movie sets, deliberately aged buildings, or digitally manipulated images. Some photographers were caught trespassing on private property or even staging props in locations.

Overtourism and destruction: Popular abandoned sites suffered from increased visitors who left graffiti, stole artifacts, caused structural damage, or injured themselves. Sites featured in viral posts often had to increase security or close access entirely.

Dangerous behavior: The pursuit of dramatic content led to risky behavior—climbing unstable structures, entering hazardous environments, or exploring without proper safety equipment. Several deaths were attributed to people seeking #AbandonedPlaces content.

Privacy violations: Some posts featured recently abandoned homes with personal belongings still inside, raising ethical questions about exploiting others’ misfortune for content.

Variations & Related Tags

• #Abandoned - Shortened version
• #AbandonedWorld - Community-focused variation
• #AbandonedBuildings - Structure-specific
• #AbandonedHouses - Residential focus
• #AbandonedFactory - Industrial sites
• #AbandonedAsylum - Psychiatric hospitals (very popular)
• #AbandonedCars - Vehicle-specific
• #AbandonedBeauty - Aesthetic emphasis
• #ForgottenPlaces - Synonymous alternative
• #DerelictBuildings - UK-favored term

By The Numbers

• Instagram posts: ~45M+
• Pinterest pins: ~10M+ (estimated)
• TikTok views: ~5B+ (cumulative)
• Average engagement rate: 3.2% (above Instagram average)
• Most popular subjects: Asylums (30%), houses (25%), amusement parks (15%), industrial (15%), other (15%)
• Peak posting times: Autumn months (September-November)
• Geographic distribution: USA (40%), Europe (35%), Asia (15%), Other (10%)

References

• Urban Exploration - Wikipedia
• The Allure of Decay - The Atlantic
• Dark Tourism and Abandoned Places - Psychology Today
• Ruin Porn and the Aesthetics of Decay - The Guardian

Last updated: February 2026