Way out in the middle of the 2,000 square mile area of the Florida Everglades lies the remains of bootlegger haven Lost City. Considering it was so easy to reach by boat and yet so hard for the authorities to get through the thick bush and wetlands, it was used to transport all kinds of shady goods.
In fact, rumor has it that Al Capone himself ran moonshine through Lost City. Another story of the land tells the tale of a failed hideout of Confederate soldiers being found (and killed) by the Seminole Indians.
The Wonderland Hotel, Elkmont TN
The Wonderland was built as a luxury resort in 1912 and was purchased by a group of businessmen from the area that turned it in to a member’s club. It was a favorite for the wealthy elite in East Tennessee for several years. When the Great Smoky National Park was founded in 1934, all of the club members were given lifetime leases.
The leases, however, wound up being turned into terms that were then dismissed by the National Park Service in the early 1990s. Because of the “General Management Plan” that the Park Service instilled, the hotel was scheduled for demolition.
Mount Druitt Waterworks
In the early 1980s, Mount Druitt Waterworks was a haven for children all over New South Wales, Australia. During the first few years they were in operation they did really well, and the waterpark was always full to capacity during the summertime.
But as costs started to rise to maintain the park and fewer and fewer people showed up each day, the owners were forced to shut their doors. Well, it’s probably for the best, their slogan always did seem a bit suspect: “the Waterworks will get you in the mood.”
Roy’s Motel Cafe
Roy’s Motel Café is an iconic little historic motel located off of Route 66 in Amboy, California. The area is, for the most part, a ghost town, these days. The site is no longer operational, but there is one dedicated woman rumored to still hang around and sell you a coffee if you show up and ask for it.
The Amboy area was created when a crater struck the area several thousand years ago, but the only reason anyone comes through these days is to snap a photo with the sign, which is still used in movies and commercials today.
Sylvia Flats Pools
New Zealand boasts some of the world's most stunning nature, and the Sylvia Flats hot pools were high on that list. Located in Canterbury, a region in New Zealand's south island, the Sylvia Flats Pools were a popular tourist destination for those looking to immerse themselves in relaxing, natural hot pools.
In an unfortunate twist of fate in 2017, a massive mudslide caused by bad weather destroyed the site, burying everything under huge rocks and trees. For those who never got to visit the famous Sylvia pools, you can head on to Maruia Hot Springs, in Lewis Pass Park, and enjoy a similar experience.