Places Edited by Rachel James

One of the oldest amusement rides in existence was a huge disappointment to its creator.

Dedicated to improving the plight of the rare scaly anteater.

The summer home of the largest colony of bats in the world.

Buildings that dynamite couldn't bring down were abandoned because of bathroom issues.

The world's first permanently occupied mountain-top observatory continues to report on the stars.

The ruins of an ancient Mayan city, beautifully preserved and only accessible by boat.

Nature is leading a successful mutiny on this century-old freighter.

If astronomy had a ghost, it would look like this observatory.

An open-air sewer system that was covered piece-by-piece over 300 years.

A centuries-old lookout post still sits atop a natural stone spire.

This roadside attraction attracts kids with dinosaurs before blindsiding them with geology.

A jewel of the Mexico city skyline now slowly crumbles after surviving an earthquake.

An elaborate Mayan city shrouded in alien conspiracy revealed the tomb of Pacal the Great.

This California estate was either haunted by ghosts or the Marx brothers.

This whimsical Oz-themed park had a wonderful impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

A historic chapel filled with colorful murals and a colorful past.

This preserved puppy was an adorable beacon of charity.

When this test site was abandoned, they didn't even bother to take the rocket with them.

The mysterious, fantastical woodland inspiration for "The Lord of the Rings."

This abandoned horse racing track was an exercise in hubris from its inception.

A Spanish-style estate that has traded black ties for rock concerts.

The remnants of a wooden-hulled fleet built and abandoned in WWI, now home to a thriving ecosystem.

Stained glass windows bathe this botanical garden in cosmic light.

The rusting remains of the largest assembled WWII fleet on the West Coast.