Urbex, Urban Art, Abandoned Places, Weird Houses, Industrial Buildings

“An Extraordinary Dimension”: Dennis Maher Uses Destroyed Buildings to Create Recycled Art

November 9th, 2011, Art, Featured, Urban Exploration, by Sarah

Dennis Maher’s urban art installations, taken from the least profitable parts of demolished buildings in Buffalo, evoke creation and destruction and reflect how the waste of abandoned buildings impacts negatively on the environment.

Elmer Long’s Weird and Wonderful Bottle Tree Ranch, Barstow, California

November 4th, 2011, Architecture, Art, Featured, by Tom

One of the more weird and wonderful attractions along historic Route 66 near Barstow, California is Elmer Long’s Bottle Tree Ranch, made from hundreds of empty bottles mounted on recycled scrap metal poles.

Artist Nick Sayers Creates Geodesic Domes from Recycled & Re-purposed Materials

November 4th, 2011, Art, Featured, by Tom

These wonderfully creative geodesic domes are the work of British graphic designer Nick Sayers, who began creating spherical sculptures and shelters from re-purposed materials around 1992.

Diving the Spectacular Japanese Ship Graveyard of Truk Lagoon, Micronesia

November 3rd, 2011, Travel, Urban Exploration, by Tom

Truk Lagoon in Micronesia became home to a spectacular sunken ship graveyard after Operation Hailstone, a massive US Navy assault launched against the Japanese fleet in 1944. Among them is the San Francisco Maru, known as the Million Dollar Wreck.

Quilted Gas Station Project Highlights Concern Over Global Oil Dependence

November 2nd, 2011, Art, Featured, Urban Exploration, by Sarah

The Quilted Gas Station Project, which transformed an abandoned filling station in Syracuse, New York, promotes sustainable living through recycled art while expressing concern about our global dependence on oil.

Phantom Settlements: 4 Towns and Villages that Never Existed

November 2nd, 2011, Featured, Travel, by Tom

They sound like the ghosts of abandoned cities, but in reality phantom settlements never existed at all. Ironically, some have gained a cult following and boast online “residents”, while others have even come to exist in the real world.

28 Creepy Tales, Objects and Places to Summon Your Halloween Spirits

October 31st, 2011, Featured, Travel, Urban Exploration, by Tom

Rather than just another Halloween article, we thought it would be fun to offer a whole selection of spooky tales drawn from the Urban Ghosts archives, from Jack O’Lantern carvings to haunted hotels and creepy urban legends. Happy Halloween!

Spooky London Legend: Whitechapel’s Dead Body Train

October 30th, 2011, Travel, by Tom

In the spirit of Halloween, it seemed appropriate to discuss an eerie London tale that may or may not be an urban legend – the Dead Body Train, which some say ran between Whitechapel Tube station and the Royal London Hospital.

Wreck of Harrier GR3 XZ988 Near Goose Green, Falkland Islands

October 27th, 2011, Military, Urban Exploration, by Tom

There may not be much left, but its distinctive tail section and grey-green camouflage scheme identify this downed British aircraft as an RAF Harrier GR3, destroyed during the Falklands War in a raid on Goose Green.

Futuro House: Abandoned Home Resembles Crashed Flying Saucer

October 26th, 2011, Architecture, Urban Exploration, by Tom

It looks like a crashed flying saucer, but this abandoned retro-futuristic home is a Futuro House, designed by Matti Suuronen during the late 1960s. Only about 100 were built, of which perhaps 50 still exist across the globe.

50 Incredible Ghost Towns and Abandoned Cities of the World

October 25th, 2011, Travel, Urban Exploration, by Tom

The world boasts numerous abandoned towns and ghost cities that span modernity. Some are largely untouched due to their remoteness, while others lure countless tourists. This article explores 50 of the world’s most impressive deserted settlements, covering every continent.

Buried MiG-25 Foxbat Jet Uncovered in Iraqi Desert, Now Preserved in US

October 24th, 2011, Military, Urban Exploration, by Tom

This MiG-25 Foxbat fighter jet was uncovered from the sands of Al-Taqqadum airbase in Iraq by US-led forces in 2003. Missing its wings, the dusty interceptor was dragged out and ultimately transported to America for preservation.

Abandoned Caboose Near Rhyolite Ghost Town, Death Valley

October 24th, 2011, Featured, Urban Exploration, by Tom

This abandoned Union Pacific caboose near Rhyolite ghost town in Death Valley is one of many to be found across America’s Old West. But urban explorers should be mindful of rattlesnakes while taking a closer look.