If there’s anything we here at Only In Your State have a bit of a strange obsession with, it’s abandoned places – especially when said places are being slowly and quietly reclaimed by the natural world around them. Indiana just so happens to be a state where there’s plenty of this kind of thing to go around, and we couldn’t be happier about it. There’s something just so oddly intriguing about watching the natural decay of man’s unnatural structures. Here are a few examples of some truly captivating abandoned places in Indiana that are being taken back by the planet:

These buildings in River Ridge are on their way out courtesy of Mama Nature.

Logan LeGrand/Flickr Just about everything in town, including the streets, are being overgrown day by day (and this has been going on for years).

River Ridge is an entire abandoned neighborhood in Indiana that’s undergoing a natural death after being abandoned for unnatural circumstances.

Logan LeGrand/Flickr It’s beautiful, though, and we’re eternally grateful to the photographers whose passion is recording places like these.

The Starlite Drive-In, in Tell City, is no more.

Brent Moore/Flickr The only proof it was ever there to begin with is its original sign, which is being crept upon by vegetation and flora. Still, it looks wicked cool, though.

Gary, Indiana, gets a bad rap, but it’s not all bad… especially if you happen to like the look of urban decay and choose to just make the most of it.

craigfinlay/Flickr There is something weirdly serene about it, like this school in town with a couple feet of snow inside.

There’s also the Gary Heat, Light, & Water Company Warehouse, whose windows are broken and shattered - but the plants don’t mind.

Indiana Landmarks/Flickr Depending on what angle you get this one at, you’ll find trees and bushes encroaching on and inside the building. It’s pretty cool to see - very post-apocalypse chic.

Okay, okay, maybe having Gary in this article is cheating in some way, but come on.

mike brown/Flickr The abandoned motels in Gary are intriguing, as are the abandoned homes, apartments, businesses, churches, and SO much more.

They say that there are more than 13,000 abandoned structures in Gary alone, making it a playground for those of us who are a little on the offbeat side.

Vail Marston/Flickr Another stunning example of nature taking over Gary is the above-pictured City Methodist Church, which is such a popular destination for urban explorers that the city requires you to get a permit to explore it. At least we can explore it!

The town of Bedford is home to an abandoned playground, where this spooky little swing set sits nearly forgotten.

Sean Benham/Flickr …we don’t know about you, but a little grass isn’t gonna stop us from trying to play on those anyway.

If you find yourself just as intrigued by abandoned Indiana as we are, we feel that! You might want to check out some of our feature articles about the town of Gary, Indiana, and all the trouble with it.

Logan LeGrand/Flickr

Just about everything in town, including the streets, are being overgrown day by day (and this has been going on for years).

It’s beautiful, though, and we’re eternally grateful to the photographers whose passion is recording places like these.

Brent Moore/Flickr

The only proof it was ever there to begin with is its original sign, which is being crept upon by vegetation and flora. Still, it looks wicked cool, though.

craigfinlay/Flickr

There is something weirdly serene about it, like this school in town with a couple feet of snow inside.

Indiana Landmarks/Flickr

Depending on what angle you get this one at, you’ll find trees and bushes encroaching on and inside the building. It’s pretty cool to see - very post-apocalypse chic.

mike brown/Flickr

The abandoned motels in Gary are intriguing, as are the abandoned homes, apartments, businesses, churches, and SO much more.

Vail Marston/Flickr

Another stunning example of nature taking over Gary is the above-pictured City Methodist Church, which is such a popular destination for urban explorers that the city requires you to get a permit to explore it. At least we can explore it!

Sean Benham/Flickr

…we don’t know about you, but a little grass isn’t gonna stop us from trying to play on those anyway.

Do you know of any beautiful abandoned places in Indiana you’d like us to know about? Let us know!

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