Most Popular Abandoned Illinois Buildings In 2025

Before we begin... Let's All Remember To Never Trespass To These Spots.

Illinois is home to many iconic places that have fallen into disrepair over the years. Some closed down after reaching their peak, while others were wiped out by natural disasters. These locations each carry a rich history, and although they still stand today, their future remains uncertain.

 Most Popular Abandoned Spots In Illinois

According to sources, these spots are well-known in Illinois. While many people enjoy admiring them from afar, others have vandalized these locations. Despite years of decay and damage, these places remain fascinating.

Only in your state named these as some of the most popular abandoned locations.

Joliet Correctional Center (Joliet) - Though mostly deteriorated, there are 24 buildings on this campus that had been in operation as a jail from 1958 to 2002.

Savanna Army Depot (Carroll and Jo Davies counties) - Located along the Mississippi River, this building was once used by the U.S. military to store equipment for the Rock Island Arsenal, which is nearby. The depot was in use between 1917 and 2000.

Manteno State Hospital (Kankakee County) - Famous for its history of lobotomies, shock treatments, and other grim procedures, this facility operated from 1930 to 1989, reaching its peak capacity in the 1950s. Although most of the grounds have been torn down or ruined, a few buildings still stand, offering ample inspiration for ghost stories across Illinois and beyond.

Cairo (Alexander County) - Situated at the meeting point of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in Southern Illinois, there's an abandoned town you should explore before it disappears entirely. With a population of fewer than 3,000, it’s rumored to be haunted. Cairo has a rich and tragic history, offering plenty to discover, whether or not you believe in its ghost stories.

Cahokia Mounds (Collinsville) - Once home to a thriving Indigenous community, this land has been left to deteriorate since around the 1400s. Visitors can still explore the remnants of the community and discover how they crafted their way of life.

Have you ever seen these places before?