Attractions around the world that have disappeared, or are on the verge of disappearing, tell stories of various reasons such as war, natural calamities, urban development, or dwindling crowds. Despite their fate, we hold on to photographs capturing their former glory. Here are some renowned sites that have fallen victim to time’s relentless march or are on the brink of meeting their end.
1. Jumbo Floating Restaurant, Hong Kong
The iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Hong Kong, a prominent feature on the city’s shoreline, tragically capsized in the South China Sea in 2022. This 260-foot-long neon-decorated boat, which opened in the 1970s and welcomed notable figures like Queen Elizabeth II and numerous celebrities, had seen over 30 million visitors. Following closure due to the pandemic and mounting maintenance costs, the ship was being relocated when it encountered severe weather conditions, leading to its capsizing. Fortunately, no crew members were injured.
2. Mirage Volcano, Las Vegas
A dynamic attraction on the Vegas Strip, the 30-year-old Mirage Volcano in front of the Mirage hotel has been dismantled to make room for a new guitar-shaped Hard Rock Hotel. The disappearance of the nightly free pyrotechnic shows has left many fans disheartened.
3. Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo
Once a symbol of innovative modular architecture in Tokyo, the Nakagin Capsule Tower, constructed in the early 1970s, has seen neglect and partial deconstruction. Despite its allure to architecture enthusiasts, the tower’s distinctive cube-shaped apartments have been dispersed worldwide after sections of the building were salvaged.
4. Marble Arch Mound, London
Intended to be a verdant oasis offering a panoramic view of London, Marble Arch Mound failed to live up to expectations upon its opening in July 2021. Visitors criticized the site, likening it to a mere pile of earth surrounded by scaffolding. After a brief closure due to plant and grass deterioration, the attraction, mocked as the “worst in London,” was permanently shut down and deconstructed, with its greenery recycled.
5. Four Seasons Barrier Reef Resort, North Korea/Vietnam/Australia
A luxury floating hotel inaugurated in 1988 above Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the Five-Star Four Seasons Barrier Reef Resort catered to upscale divers seeking a lavish underwater experience. Equipped with amenities like nightclubs, restaurants, and even a floating tennis court, the hotel faced challenges with accessibility and inclement weather, leading to its closure after just one year. It changed ownership multiple times, relocating to the Saigon River before eventually being demolished in 2023.
6. Haiku Stairs, Hawaii
While Hawaii’s famed Haiku Stairs remain accessible for now,
They are running out of time quickly. The stairway on Oahu, constructed by the Navy in the 1940s, comprises nearly 4,000 steps ascending a mountain and disappearing into the clouds. It has become a magnet for thrill-seekers and various tourists seeking the perfect Instagram photo. Despite being officially off-limits since 1987, the stairs, some of which are in poor shape, continue to face widespread illegal trespassing, as acknowledged by Honolulu officials who have decided to dismantle the stairs. A $2.5 million contract for their removal has been given the green light.
Darwin’s Arch, located off the northern coast of the Galapagos Islands, crumbled in May 2021, leading to the loss of a popular tourist and diving spot attributed to natural erosion by Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment. Meanwhile, the Sutro Baths in San Francisco, a historic saltwater pool complex named after Adolph Sutro, mayor and entrepreneur, opened in 1896 and burned down in 1966. Today, the ruins rest within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Disney World’s River Country, which featured slides and a lazy river, closed in 2001 due to competition from other Disney water parks, while the once-revered Jonah’s Tomb in Mosul, Iraq, was destroyed by ISIS in 2014. The Royal Opera House of Valletta in Malta, initially opened in 1866 and reconstructed in 1877 after a fire, was nearly completely destroyed in 1942 by German bombings and has since remained in ruins, serving as a historical landmark and occasional open-air theater. Finally, the Hippodrome Theater in New York City, known for its Beaux-Arts style, was a grand spectacle during its prime years.
The text discusses various historical sites and landmarks that have since been demolished or destroyed. These include a former theater that hosted circus acts and vaudeville performances before being demolished in 1939. The Pink and White Terraces in New Zealand, known as the eighth wonder of the world, were destroyed by a volcanic eruption. The Central Park Casino in New York City, originally a restaurant, later operated as a casino and nightclub before being demolished in 1936. The Original Porcelain Tower in Nanjing, China, a 15th century pagoda, was destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion but later rebuilt as a replica. The Stardust Casino in Las Vegas, a mob-operated resort, was demolished in 2007 and replaced with Resorts World. The Original Penn Station in New York City, a Beaux-Arts architectural masterpiece, was mostly demolished in 1963 and replaced with modern structures. GuaÃra Falls in Paraguay and Brazil, once a major tourist attraction, were submerged by a hydroelectric plant in 1982. The Azure Window in Malta, a natural arch formation, collapsed during a storm in 2017.
“In ‘Game of Thrones’ season one, the Dothraki wedding scene is depicted. The Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan were carved into the mountainside in the sixth century. Unfortunately, in March 2001, the Taliban destroyed them almost completely. Visitors can still view the recesses, nearby caves, passages, and surface paintings.
Vidam Park in Budapest was a popular attraction where park-goers queued up to ride the Ferris wheel in 1910. The park closed in 2013 after over 100 years in operation. Its land was later acquired by the adjacent animal and botanical park.
The Love Locks Bridge in Paris, also known as the Pont des Arts, had around 1 million locks attached by couples and tourists starting in 2015. Due to the weight of the locks, a portion of the bridge collapsed in 2014, leading to the removal of the locks and the replacement of metal grills with panels painted by street artists.
Duckbill Rock in Oregon’s northern Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area was a once-popular spot that fell victim to teenage vandals in 2016, who toppled the rock.
The Crystal Palace in London was a cast-iron and glass structure built in the mid-19th century to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. It was later moved to another part of the city and eventually destroyed by fire in 1936. The site has been used for various purposes since then.
The Wawona Tree in Yosemite National Park was a drive-through attraction until it fell under the weight of snowfall in 1969. It can still be visited today, known as the Fallen Tunnel Tree.
Wall Arch in Utah, the 12th largest natural arch formation in the world, collapsed in 2008 without any witnesses.
The Mukurob in Namibia, also known as the “Finger of God,” collapsed in 1988. This sandstone structure was nearly 40 feet high and weighed around 450 tons.
Spreepark in Germany, an abandoned amusement park opened by East Germany’s socialist government in 1969, had 1.7 million visitors annually. It was closed in 2002 and suffered a fire in 2014. Plans to turn the site into a cultural and arts center have not yet been realized.
The second-century amphitheater in Palmyra, Syria, was a popular spot for tourists until ISIS members staged a mass execution on the theater’s stage in 2015.”
In 2016, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the theater’s exterior and part of the stage. The once-thriving Six Flags Over New Orleans in Louisiana, established in 2000, had to shut down just five years later due to extensive flooding. Today, the site remains abandoned, reclaimed by nature with overgrown vegetation and wildlife taking over. Recently, in 2021, the city of New Orleans awarded a contract to a developer who plans to revitalize the area by constructing a new amusement park and additional attractions on the abandoned site.
Another noteworthy lost landmark is the Euston Arch in London, constructed in 1837 as the grand entrance to the Euston station. Unfortunately, during the station’s reconstruction in the early 1960s, the arch was manually dismantled to prevent potential damage from explosives to surrounding buildings.
High in the Bolivian mountains, the Chacaltaya Ski Resort once catered to elite skiers looking for thrills at over 18,000 feet above sea level, exceeding the base camp of Mount Everest. However, the ski resort closed its doors at the end of the 20th century when scientists predicted the glacier would vanish due to global warming, which occurred earlier than anticipated in 2009. Despite its closure, visitors can still explore the site through guided tours, renting a car, or hiring a taxi from nearby La Paz. It is advisable to acclimate to the high altitude in the Zongo region before ascending to Chacaltaya.
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