One of the hardest challenges any city faces is what to do when properties are abandoned. St. Louis, like many major cities, is trying to find a good answer to this problem, but it is not an easy task. Property owners are often hard to find and there is never enough money for what always seems to be a costly clean-up. While the city waits on the next steps, these abandoned places in St. Louis are slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature.

Note: Many of these abandoned places are located on private property and are not open or accessible to the public. Trespassing is a crime and the deteriorated state of these buildings makes them unstable and dangerous. Use your noggin, and do not attempt to enter – explore them vicariously through these photos instead!

Many of these abandoned places become home bases for criminal activities and vandalism.
Paul Sableman - Flickr
The redevelopment of school buildings, like the old Carr School, is often a very hard fit.
Nitram242 - Flickr
There are not that many other options that a former school building can be turned into, after all.
Even places of worship are not saved from lack of care and complete abandonment.
Paul Sableman - Flickr
What was once affordable apartment housing is now an empty unkempt space.
Paul Sableman - Flickr
Deserted locations often become dumping grounds for trash.
Paul Sableman - Flickr
Thomas Hawk - Flickr
Many abandoned buildings in St. Louis are left untouched and are full of items that add to the cleanup cost.
Jonathan Haeber - Flickr
These long-forgotten abandoned places nestled among our communities can create unsafe environments in neighborhoods.
Paul Sableman - Flickr
This once-grand theater space on our Illinois side sits weathering to decay.
The Shared Experience - Flickr
Sometimes the problem goes beyond money and redefining a space, as was the case with Carter Carburetor Corporation.
Julian Long - Flickr
This abandoned St. Louis site required special federal intervention once it was declared an EPA Superfund site. Cleanup of hazardous Superfund sites can add years to the renovation process.
velo_city - Flickr
An old stately home now sits as an eyesore in its neighborhood.
Yuefeng D - Flickr
These properties will eventually just fall apart if left uncared for long enough.
velo_city - Flickr
When properties are abandoned, the biggest problem often isn't money - it's time. Every day that a home or business sits untended it becomes a little less usable. Quicker action in choosing whether to save or demolish a structure could help with the unseemly blight caused by deserted properties.
Luckily, not all abandoned buildings in St. Louis have fallen into this state.
St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, 1820 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
Timothy K. Hamilton - Flickr
Two great examples of saving both St. Louis's history and buildings of high-quality architecture are the Wainwright Building and Union Station (pictured above). Both of these buildings could easily have been lost if not for the time, money, and - most importantly - community support as they were remodeled for a new century.

Take a look at more abandoned areas of St. Louis:

Have you explored any of these abandoned places in St. Louis? Let us know what they were like in the comments. If you haven’t yet seen them, book a trip to St. Louis and see them for yourself, with permission and from a safe distance, of course. For a more upbeat side of St. Louis life, check out these photos that highlight the positive changes our city has experienced over the years.

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More to Explore

Abandoned Places In St. Louis

Jackie Ann | September 09, 2022

Can I visit any abandoned places in St. Louis?

An abandoned place in St. Louis that you can visit is the Lost Valley loop trail ruins.

We know we just spent a good chunk of time reminding you not to venture into abandoned places, but there are a few abandoned places in Missouri that you are allowed to visit, both safely and legally. About 30 minutes outside of St. Louis you’ll find the Lost Valley loop trail, a 7-mile loop trail in St. Charles that will take you along an abandoned road, a tunnel, and the remains of an abandoned town. 

Are there any haunted hotels in St. Louis?

A haunted hotel in St. Louis is the Morse Mill Hotel.

Located in Hillsboro, the Morse Mill Hotel is considered one of the most haunted hotels in the St. Louis Area. The hotel opened in 1856, and over the 150+ years, it has been in operation, both guests and staff have reported strange experiences ranging from disembodied voices to specific cooking smells coming from the kitchen when no one has been cooking. 

What are the most haunted places in St. Louis?

The most haunted places in St. Louis include:

  • The Missouri State Penitentiary
  • Zombie Road

It doesn’t get much creepier than a haunted prison. The Missouri State Penitentiary was open from 1836-2004, but there are many people who believe that the prison is haunted by former prisoners who can’t move on. If a haunted prison is just a little too much, you can always go ghost hunting on Zombie Road, one of the most haunted streets in Missouri. Located near St. Louis in Wildwood, this road was one of the main routes used during the Civil War, and although it may look inviting during the day, at night this haunted street is a known hotspot for paranormal activity.

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