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For many prisoners, serving time means being confined within the same building for a set number of months or years. They endure the monotony of staring at the same square walls day after day. They listen to the agonizing sounds of fellow inmates screaming, arguing, fighting, and even dying. When these prisons are eventually left behind, the ghostly echoes of their past linger, filling the air with an unsettling cold.
After seeing these ten haunting images of abandoned prisons, you’ll likely find yourself agreeing with the unsettling aura they exude.
10. Old New Mexico State Penitentiary
Notorious criminals instigated two violent riots at the Old New Mexico State Penitentiary before it relocated in 1956. By the 1970s, the prison was dangerously overcrowded, and a newly introduced ‘snitch system’ provoked widespread anger among the inmates. On February 2 and 3, 1980, the prisoners seized control of the facility in a terrifying uprising that saw 12 guards taken hostage and 33 inmates killed by their fellow prisoners. Some were brutally tortured before being executed in retaliation for informing the authorities. Although the guards survived, seven of them were gravely injured after being assaulted and raped.
It took a grueling 36 hours for the authorities to regain control of the prison. Afterward, part of the facility was decommissioned, and the remaining prisoners were relocated. Today, the Old New Mexico State Penitentiary (Old Main) lies mostly abandoned, with certain areas repurposed for storing movie props. Given the horrific events that transpired there, it’s no wonder that many who have visited since the closure have reported seeing shadowy figures and hearing eerie noises from the desolate cells.
9. Sinop Prison
Sinop Prison is one of Turkey's oldest correctional facilities. Nestled within the Sinop Fortress, it was established in 1887. In 1939, a new building with nine wings across two stories was constructed to house juvenile detainees.
The conditions inside were extremely harsh due to its coastal location. The constant dampness and coldness of the sea air made even basic tasks, like lighting a match, nearly impossible. Sinop is also renowned for incarcerating numerous intellectuals, including journalists, politicians, teachers, and poets.
The prison was decommissioned in 1997, and the prisoners were relocated to a newer facility in Sinop. Today, it serves as a tourist attraction, with plans underway to transform the inner fortress into a maritime and justice museum.
8. Her Majesty’s Prison Pentridge
HM Prison Pentridge was founded in 1851 in Coburg, Victoria, with the first prisoners arriving in the same year. The prison was divided into sections designated by letters of the alphabet. For example, Section A housed well-behaved prisoners, both long-term and short-term, while Section B was reserved for those who misbehaved. Section G was for inmates with psychiatric issues, and so on. When the prison closed in 1997, it held over 1,000 prisoners. The notorious Ned Kelly, Australia’s most infamous criminal, was incarcerated at Pentridge, and his remains were discovered in a mass grave within the prison in 2009.
Although parts of the abandoned prison have been repurposed for housing developments, several of the old sections remain intact and are now used for eerie ghost tours.
7. Candido Mendes
Ilha Grande is a picturesque island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, known for its pristine white sand beaches and serene waters, attracting thousands of tourists. However, what many visitors may not know is that the island is also home to a now-abandoned high-security prison.
In 1886, Lazaretto Hospital was established on the island to quarantine patients with contagious diseases, keeping them away from the general population. It didn’t take long for the hospital wards to become overcrowded, and the island’s population grew rapidly. A small prison was built to contain troublemakers, and Lazaretto eventually became a military prison. During wartime, it was temporarily closed, but in 1930 it reopened. In 1942, Lazaretto was renamed Colonia Candido Mendes and officially became a functioning prison. It was here that notorious gangs took root and began plotting to overthrow the guards.
Gang violence spiraled out of control to the point where the authorities could no longer keep the peace, leading to the prison’s closure in 1994. However, one inmate remained behind. Julio de Almeida, who had been serving a 28-year sentence for murder, theft, and attempted escape, was released in 1994 for good behavior. With nowhere else to go, he chose to stay at the prison, creating a unique home for himself.
6. Carabanchel Prison
Carabanchel Prison, located in Spain, opened its doors in 1944 and reached its peak during the era of Franco's rule. Built by political prisoners, the panopticon-style structure was designed to be inescapable. The prison became infamous for its brutal practices, and very few inmates left their cells alive. Rumors of executions, abuse, and torture ran rampant, particularly targeting unionists, terrorists, and individuals identified as gay.
The prison was officially closed in 1998, and its 2,500 prisoners were transferred to other facilities. Shortly after its decommissioning, the prison was looted, and all doors, railings, and metal were stripped away. The site then became a haven for drug addicts, undocumented immigrants, and the homeless before being demolished in 2008.
5. Goli Otok Prison
Goli Otok was a notorious political prison situated on a desolate island in Croatia when it was part of Yugoslavia. It was in operation from 1949 to 1989. The prisoners incarcerated here were primarily Stalinists and anyone suspected of having Soviet sympathies. Inmates were forced into grueling manual labor under extreme conditions, with temperatures sometimes reaching as high as 40°C (104°F). Over 400 prisoners perished due to exposure, murder, or suicide while enduring the brutal environment.
The prison was abandoned in 1989, left to deteriorate over time. Nowadays, the site serves as a shelter for shepherds and attracts tourists seeking to experience the eerie remnants of its troubled past.
4. Napier Prison
Napier Hill in New Zealand was home to Napier Prison from 1862 until its closure in 1993. It holds the title of the country's oldest prison complex and was the site of four executions that took place in the 19th century. The photo shows the historic hanging yard where these executions occurred.
The prison underwent restoration in 2002 and has since been repurposed as a backpacker accommodation. Today, it features the Escape Room Experience and Self-Guided Audio Tours. Visitors can even experience being locked in solitary confinement or a padded cell before exploring the hanging yard and the nearby graveyard.
Napier Prison is regarded as one of the most haunted locations in New Zealand. Many visitors have reported sightings of the ghost of notorious mass murderer Roland Edwards, along with chilling occurrences like faces appearing out of thin air and the sound of footsteps echoing in the darkness.
3. Garcia Moreno Prison
The Garcia Moreno Prison in Ecuador, with a history spanning over 140 years, housed a range of criminals, from petty thieves to politicians and former presidents. Among its tragic tales, one stands out—a prisoner, filled with jealousy, strangled his wife in front of their two children. The prison, designed to accommodate only 300 inmates, became a notorious overcrowded facility, holding 2,600 people before its closure in 2014, when the remaining prisoners were relocated.
Now a popular tourist destination, the prison offers a glimpse into its grim past, with disturbing murals and messages left by the inmates still visible for visitors to see.
2. Holmesburg Prison
Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia, often referred to as the 'Terrordome,' was closed in 1995. However, during its operational years, it was the site of highly controversial experiments, including pharmaceutical, biochemical, and dermatological testing on prisoners. In 1938, 23 inmates went on a hunger strike and were confined to a solitary cell called the Klondike. The cell became unbearably hot, with temperatures reaching 93.3°C (200°F) due to nearby radiators and steam pipes, causing the tragic deaths of four prisoners who essentially boiled alive.
The prison was also marked by violent riots in the 1970s. In one particularly brutal incident, 100 inmates armed with knives and table legs destroyed the dining hall and attacked both fellow prisoners and guards. Many believe that the prison is haunted by the spirits of deceased inmates, with reports of ghosts charging at unsuspecting visitors within the building.
1. West Virginia Penitentiary
The imposing West Virginia Penitentiary, built in a gothic architectural style, continues to serve as a backdrop for horror films while also housing a museum. Operating from 1876 until 1995, the facility was constructed by its own inmates. The prisoners toiled in various workshops, including a carpentry shop, paint shop, stone yard, blacksmith forge, bakery, and even a hospital. They also helped sustain the prison through a farm and coal mine, generating savings of approximately $14,000 annually for the state.
Initially, conditions were somewhat tolerable, but they eventually worsened to the point where the prison became one of the most notorious in the United States. A notorious room, known as ‘The Sugar Shack,’ became infamous for violence, gambling, and the abuse of inmates. In total, 36 murders occurred within the prison’s walls. In 1983, Charles Manson even requested a transfer to this penitentiary in hopes of being closer to his family, but his request was declined.
In its final years, the prison was plagued by riots and frequent escape attempts. When it was finally abandoned, 94 executions had taken place within its walls, which only contributed to its eerie and ominous reputation. Today, visitors can experience the chilling environment during guided tours, and for the brave, there’s the option to spend a night within its haunted cells.
