There’s just something so fascinating about places that once were. There’s something about wandering the halls of a dilapidated and decaying structure and imagining the days in which the place was once alive that has strange but beautiful magic to it. The Hoosier State is no stranger to interesting abandoned places, and there’s one town that gets a lot of flak it doesn’t necessarily deserve. Gary, Indiana, is a mostly abandoned little place that tops almost anywhere else when it comes to urban exploration. Although Gary is still inhabited, it’s home to so many abandoned structures that it still has an eerie ghost town feel about it. With more than 13,000 abandoned buildings and structures, Gary is among the most abandoned places in Indiana – if not the world.

Once upon a time, Gary was a bustling town with a booming economy - but the good times didn’t last.

Brook Ward/Flickr

Today, it’s not quite “abandoned” - folks still call it home, and efforts have been underway to try and revamp the area - but 1/3 of the town is effectively deserted.

Brook Ward/Flickr Most people speak of Gary as if it’s something of a dirty secret. Hoosiers aren’t proud of it, but perhaps they should be - albeit for totally different reasons than, say, an excellent tourist economy. But there’s beauty and value to be had in an abandoned space and the way it develops into a new use.

For the artists, the photographers, and the wanderers, Gary is a kind of mecca; it’s a sacred holy grail in the Midwest for urban explorers and those with roaming hearts.

Brook Ward/Flickr Urban exploration is the art of combing through long-forgotten buildings and taking photos, taking videos, or simply taking it all in. It’s an entire subculture of people who find beauty in urban decay - and trust us, there’s most certainly an enchanting beauty to the decay of Gary, Indiana. Walking through these structures and seeing the vibrant graffiti and public art in them is like exploring a brand new kind of urban museum.

You’d be amazed at the buildings you can find, and what some of them contain.

Ashley Diener/Flickr There’s an old school with furniture and books and desks still scattered about (pictured above is the library of the abandoned Gary Elementary School). There’s a stunning apartment complex (or two… or ten) whose walls once held families and lively residents but are now quietly decomposing, taken over once more by nature and the occasional graffiti artist. In some cases it feels like time has stopped completely in these spaces, like the whole population just up and left one day and this is what remains.

We don’t recommend entering any of the buildings; urban exploration can be risky, even dangerous, if you’re new to it (or if you make a simple miscalculation in terms of, say, if a rotting floor can hold your weight).

Timothy Neesam/Flickr Luckily for those who prefer to admire from afar, there’s plenty of that to be done in Gary, too. Every old building seems to ask you to come closer so it can whisper in your ear, and they’re intriguing from the outside in. Luckily, we have all these stunning images from brave and well trained urban explorers to give us a sense of what lays inside these buildings.

Pictured below is the old Ambassador Apartment complex, which was built in the 1920s and abandoned entirely by the mid-1980s.

Jonathan Haeber/Flickr It’s easy to imagine what this living space was like in its heyday, packed with people and flourishing with the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

In many places, old furniture still sits - not untouched by any means, but certainly forgotten by those who once cared for it.

Nitram242/Flickr It’s strange to think that every one of these places was once a living, breathing part of a town - a town that, slowly but steadily, is becoming more and more extinct year by year.

One thing is for sure, though: despite the poor reputation Gary has earned over the years for varied (and valid) reasons, those who appreciate the beautiful sense of longing that comes with exploring abandoned places will find plenty to appreciate about it.

Brook Ward/Flickr And hopefully, as the town begins to be revitalized, some of the beautiful elements of these buildings (like the graffiti and public artwork) are maintained.

What are your favorite abandoned places in Indiana? Tell us about them and you might see them featured someday! And remember: at Only In Your State, we encourage exploration, but we don’t encourage folks to enter old, dilapidated buildings where an injury is very possible should something go wrong (and it easily could – remember that many of these buildings haven’t been kept up in decades), nor do we endorse trespassing of any kind. It’s best to admire these places – and the other 13,000 places throughout Gary – from afar.

Brook Ward/Flickr

Most people speak of Gary as if it’s something of a dirty secret. Hoosiers aren’t proud of it, but perhaps they should be - albeit for totally different reasons than, say, an excellent tourist economy. But there’s beauty and value to be had in an abandoned space and the way it develops into a new use.

Urban exploration is the art of combing through long-forgotten buildings and taking photos, taking videos, or simply taking it all in. It’s an entire subculture of people who find beauty in urban decay - and trust us, there’s most certainly an enchanting beauty to the decay of Gary, Indiana. Walking through these structures and seeing the vibrant graffiti and public art in them is like exploring a brand new kind of urban museum.

Ashley Diener/Flickr

There’s an old school with furniture and books and desks still scattered about (pictured above is the library of the abandoned Gary Elementary School). There’s a stunning apartment complex (or two… or ten) whose walls once held families and lively residents but are now quietly decomposing, taken over once more by nature and the occasional graffiti artist. In some cases it feels like time has stopped completely in these spaces, like the whole population just up and left one day and this is what remains.

Timothy Neesam/Flickr

Luckily for those who prefer to admire from afar, there’s plenty of that to be done in Gary, too. Every old building seems to ask you to come closer so it can whisper in your ear, and they’re intriguing from the outside in. Luckily, we have all these stunning images from brave and well trained urban explorers to give us a sense of what lays inside these buildings.

Jonathan Haeber/Flickr

It’s easy to imagine what this living space was like in its heyday, packed with people and flourishing with the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Nitram242/Flickr

It’s strange to think that every one of these places was once a living, breathing part of a town - a town that, slowly but steadily, is becoming more and more extinct year by year.

And hopefully, as the town begins to be revitalized, some of the beautiful elements of these buildings (like the graffiti and public artwork) are maintained.

Interested in an Indiana ghost town road trip? Take a look at our itinerary for just such a thing.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Gary, IN, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Abandoned Places In Indiana January 31, 2023 CC Where are there abandoned places in Indiana? If you were inspired by abandoned Gary, consider checking out these other beautiful abandoned places in IN. There’s so much beauty and interest to be found in ghost towns in IN.

Bush Stadium – Indianapolis Muscatatuck State Developmental Center – Butlerville Hindostan Falls Elkinsville Butlerville High School – Butlerville Old Reid Hospital – Richmond Granville Mudlavia Springs Hotel – Kramer Corwin

  Where are there haunted places in Indiana? If you’re feeling extra gutsy, check out these haunted places in Indiana while you’re at it.

Highland Lawn Cemetery Hannah House Barbee Hotel - Warsaw Stepp Cemetery Hotel Mudlavia - Kramer Old Blackford County Jail Holiday Inn City Center - South Bend Whispers Estate The Canyon Inn - Spencer Elizabethtown Cemetery Central State Hospital Story Inn – Nashville Hotel Attica - Attica

The OIYS Visitor Center

Abandoned Places In Indiana

January 31, 2023

CC

Where are there abandoned places in Indiana? If you were inspired by abandoned Gary, consider checking out these other beautiful abandoned places in IN. There’s so much beauty and interest to be found in ghost towns in IN.

Bush Stadium – Indianapolis Muscatatuck State Developmental Center – Butlerville Hindostan Falls Elkinsville Butlerville High School – Butlerville Old Reid Hospital – Richmond Granville Mudlavia Springs Hotel – Kramer Corwin

  Where are there haunted places in Indiana? If you’re feeling extra gutsy, check out these haunted places in Indiana while you’re at it.

Highland Lawn Cemetery Hannah House Barbee Hotel - Warsaw Stepp Cemetery Hotel Mudlavia - Kramer Old Blackford County Jail Holiday Inn City Center - South Bend Whispers Estate The Canyon Inn - Spencer Elizabethtown Cemetery Central State Hospital Story Inn – Nashville Hotel Attica - Attica

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

If you were inspired by abandoned Gary, consider checking out these other beautiful abandoned places in IN. There’s so much beauty and interest to be found in ghost towns in IN.

  • Bush Stadium – Indianapolis
  • Muscatatuck State Developmental Center – Butlerville
  • Hindostan Falls
  • Elkinsville
  • Butlerville High School – Butlerville
  • Old Reid Hospital – Richmond
  • Granville
  • Mudlavia Springs Hotel – Kramer
  • Corwin

 

Where are there haunted places in Indiana?

If you’re feeling extra gutsy, check out these haunted places in Indiana while you’re at it.

  • Highland Lawn Cemetery
  • Hannah House
  • Barbee Hotel - Warsaw
  • Stepp Cemetery
  • Hotel Mudlavia - Kramer
  • Old Blackford County Jail
  • Holiday Inn City Center - South Bend
  • Whispers Estate
  • The Canyon Inn - Spencer
  • Elizabethtown Cemetery
  • Central State Hospital
  • Story Inn – Nashville
  • Hotel Attica - Attica