The Coolest Abandoned Places In Indiana
Indiana is home to some cool abandoned places, such as hospitals, residences, and even an abandoned waterslide.
Written by Mary Cahill
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
From old hospitals to a concrete waterslide tucked away in the woods, eerie
Indiana
is home to some truly unique and very cool abandoned places. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to see the inside of a deserted school or wander through an old theater, Indiana is a great place to explore.
Here to guide you through some of Indiana’s coolest historical sites is the
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Abandoned hospitals in Indiana
St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital
Location: Gary, Indiana
Abandoned since: 1995
Is it legal to go in? Not recommended
Originally established in 1908, St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital was overseen by the Sisters of St. Francis to serve the residents of Gary. The hospital underwent numerous expansions from the 1910s to the 1930s to meet the needs of Gary’s growing population, which was fueled by the city’s steel industry.
By the 1960s, Gary's reduction in population and a shaky economy threatened the prosperity of the hospital—until it closed for good in 1995 after almost 90 years of service. While there were attempts to preserve the hospital building as a municipal facility over the years, it was never repurposed and has since deteriorated.
The St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital is no longer open to the public. If you enter the abandoned St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital building, this could be considered trespassing.
Central State Hospital
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Abandoned since: 1994
Is it legal to go in? Yes
Established in 1848, Central State Hospital was initially known as Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane. While there were only five patients admitted in the hospital’s first year, it expanded over the next 100 years to include two large men’s and women’s wards—which housed a total of 2,500 patients.
Although the hospital continued to take in patients throughout the last half of the 20th century, it was plagued by controversies ranging from patient abuse to financial trouble before closing its doors for good in 1994.
These days, the grounds of the former Central State Hospital are home to the Indiana Medical History Museum. The museum allows visitors by appointment and you can schedule one by visiting their
official website
. Interesting abandoned places in Indiana
Horace Mann School
Location: Gary, Indiana
Abandoned since: 2004
Is it legal to go in? Possibly
Like St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital, the Horace Mann School is a relic of the former prosperity of Gary, Indiana's booming steel capital. Built between 1926 and 1928, Horace Mann School is a huge brick building intended to house over 2,000 students. It sits atop once-well-kept grounds that included a pond (which would eventually become a parking lot) and a rock garden.
But like so many community buildings in Gary, the city’s population began declining in the 1960s due to the downward slope of America’s steel industry. Horace Mann School sufferedmassive budget cuts and a shrinking student body—eventually closing for good in 2004.
A vast amount of school materials remained in the building after Horace Mann School closed and are still there today—including a fully stocked science lab, piles of textbooks, and a dilapidated piano in the auditorium.
Although it does not appear that entering the abandoned school is illegal, you should always enter abandoned buildings with caution.
The Palace Theater
Location: Gary, Indiana
Abandoned since: 1972
Is it legal to go in? Possibly
Seating 3,000 patrons and positioning itself as a force within the midwestern theater scene, the Palace Theater opened in 1925 and quickly became a popular destination for live performances in Gary. After years of hosting mostly vaudeville acts, by the 1930s the Palace evolved into a movie theater.
Unfortunately, by the 1960s, Gary’s once glittering downtown area where the Palace Theater thrived had morphed into a hotbed of crime.
The murder of a teenager in the lobby in 1968 was among the worst in a string of violence that took place. Despite law enforcement’s efforts to control the issue, the city summoned the Palace Theater to close permanently in 1972 following the attack of a woman in the restroom.
The latter part of the 20th century saw attempted revivals of the theater—but they ultimately failed. The Palace was scheduled for demolition in the early 2000s, but due to lack of funding, it was never torn down and remains in a crumbled and shabby state to this day.
It is not recommended that you visit the abandoned Place Theater due to the location being vulnerable to criminal activity.
Zoom Flume
Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Abandoned since: Early 1980s
Is it legal to go in? No
You might think an abandoned waterslide in the forest sounds cool, creepy—or maybe you haven’t thought about it at all. But it does exist and it’s called the Zoom Flume.
Back in the late 1970s, Bloomington was home to a huge, concrete waterslide that sat beside Lake Monroe. It operated during the summer season with hopes to attract even more visitors to the already popular lake.
For reasons that aren’t clear, the Zoom Flume was shut down within a few years of opening. It’s a popular belief that safety issues and liability concerns were to blame for the short-lived excitement of the Zoom Flume.
Today, you can still see the abandoned Zoom Flume twisting through the woods covered in layers of bright graffiti. It sits on a private lot just off of State Road 446 protected by a fence. And while it’s tempting to explore, slipping past the fence for a better look is illegal.
Abandoned homes and hotels in Indiana
Monroe Allison House
Location: Metamora, Indiana
Abandoned since: 1927
Is it legal to go in? No
Southeast Indiana is home to an unusual abode called the Monroe Allison House. Constructed in 1871 by 19-year-old Monore Allison, the nine-room house was framed using logs connected by wooded pegs leftover from various carpentry jobs Allison worked on at the time.
As years passed, he continuously added on to the house until it stood six stories high—complete with an elaborate rooftop that included a sunbathing area and walkway known as “widow’s walk.” The crafty touches and pink exterior paint caused the locals to dub Allison's home the gingerbread house.
After Allison died in 1927, his house went into disrepair. Although there is still furniture and wallpaper inside the Monroe Allison House, the wooden structure has rotted in many places and the greenery is extremely overgrown.
It was once possible to visit Monroe Allison’s decrepit gingerbread house—until renovations began in recent years. Now, a tour is only possible with the owner’s permission.
Mahencha Apartments
Location: Gary, Indiana
Abandoned since: 1985
Is it legal to go in? No
Right across the street from the abandoned Horace Mann School sits a four-story brick building that is also vacant and run-down—the Mahencha Apartments.
Built in 1928, the Mahencha Apartments were intended to house managers of US Steel and city officials of Gary. In 1978, the Mahencha Apartments were purchased by longtime mayor of Gary, Richard G. Hatcher—who renamed the building the Hatcher Apartments.
Hatcher oversaw the apartment complex for a mere six years before closing it for good. Structural issues were a growing problem that Hatcher was either unwilling or unable to fix—he also failed to pay any taxes on the property. Efforts to revive the building failed to take shape and in 2021 it was victim to a destructive fire.
Hotel Mudlavia
Location: Near the town of Kramer, Indiana
Abandoned since: 1920
Is it legal to go in? No
A beautiful hotel and therapeutic spa built at the site of a thriving natural spring, Hotel Mudlavia opened to guests in 1890. Despite its ongoing success, the hotel was destroyed by a fire in 1920.
The Pleasant Valley Lodge took its place—which first served as a home for the elderly and then became a restaurant. Sadly, history repeated itself in 1968 when the lodge burned down.
Shortly after, the Mudlavia Lodge was built on the land—until it too went up in flames after only six years of operation.
To this day, the ill-fated Mudlavia ruins remain untouched in Kramer, Indiana. Only the Perrier Company is legally allowed to access the property to bottle the water from the spring.
MORE: The best fall road trips in the Midwest
Tips for exploring Indiana’s abandoned places
It can be exciting to check out abandoned places throughout Indiana, but it’s important to be smart about it so that you don’t go somewhere unsafe or wind up with a trespassing ticket. Here are a few tips to remember as you explore.
- Understand the rules before you go. Usually, a quick online search on the abandoned place you want to visit will let you know if it’s legal to go there.
- Dress for the occasion. When you’re tiptoeing through an abandoned site, make sure you’re wearing sensible clothing and flat, closed-toe shoes.
- Leave the site undisturbed. It may be tempting to take a trinket or memorabilia from an abandoned location but it’s not a wise idea. Out of respect, you should leave everything at the site exactly as you found it.
- Don’t go alone. Exploring abandoned places is not an ideal solo activity. For your own protection, bring a friend or at least let others know where you plan to go.
- Determine whether you need protective gear. Depending on where you’ll be visiting, you might want to bring equipment like gloves or a face mask to risk coming into contact with hazardous building materials.
How to find affordable car insurance in Indiana
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Is it illegal to visit abandoned places in Indiana?
Several of the places on this list are either private property or located in unsafe areas, but places like Indiana’s Central State Hospital have been converted into historical museums.
Why are there so many abandoned places in Gary, Indiana?
After the decline of Gary’s booming steel industry, the community’s economy took a major hit. Additionally, Gary has struggled with a high crime rate.
