This week, Anne challenges us to find what was once abandoned. She writes, “How many times have you passed an old rundown house and wondered about the people who lived there? Or passed an old barn on the roadside and let your imagination run wild?” You can read her entire challenge post here.
I picked a house Dr. Seuss could have built for my opening photo. I’m sure it didn’t look so misshapen when it was built. Okaton, SD, is an abandoned town, and the Internet told me this residence at the edge of the town was once the house of a lady known as Belva Crazybear. Whether that’s true or not, I leave to you to determine.
This house is part of the ghost town of Sims, North Dakota, which has an eerie history. Sims was founded in 1883 as a coal town and once had over 1,000 residents. However, its population dwindled over the decades, and by the mid-20th century, it was abandoned.
The Pueblo Motel in Whites City, NM, was once a roadside stop with a distinct Southwestern adobe-style design. The motel could host up to 150 guests and was a convenient place to stay for visitors exploring Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Promotional materials often highlighted its proximity to the park and the famous bat flight viewing. Looking at Google Maps’ Street View, it appears that the motel has been replaced by the Cactus Cafe, but some of the motel’s rooms (in the photo’s background) still stand near the new restaurant.
This abandoned trestle on the White Pass and Yukon Railway, initially built during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898, connected Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon. The trestle is a steel structure spanning a rugged valley, supported by an intricate latticework of beams. It was once a vital part of the railway, revolutionizing regional transportation by replacing arduous overland routes. These days, the railroad transports tourists through the scenic route into Canada and back.
Tabuaeran, also known as Fanning Island, is an atoll in the Kiribati Islands, a nation in the central Pacific Ocean. It’s one of the closest landmasses to the Hawaiian Islands. An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef, island, or series of islets encircling a lagoon. In 2007, we traveled on the Norwegian Wind, formerly owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, from Hawaii to the atoll some 1,122 miles (1,805 km) distant. The ship anchored offshore and tender boats entered the lagoon to drop off passengers. Inside the lagoon, this abandoned boat was a popular subject for the cameras on our tender.
In 2021, Lynn and I hiked the Blue Wash Trail with a friend. Along the way, we came across this abandoned car. It looks like it fell from a long distance, but no high places on the trail would have accounted for this much damage. Judging from the rusted frame, it must have been abandoned there many decades ago.
If you haven’t already abandoned this post, you may like to see these images on a black background or examine the photo metadata. If so, you can find an album on my Flickr site here. Thanks to Anne for hosting this week’s challenge theme. Last week, Ann-Christine’s theme, “Seen On Your Last Outing,” brought many responses with great recent photographs. Next week, it’s my turn to host. Please join me here at noon Eastern time on Saturday, April 19.
John Steiner
Journeys with Johnbo 
Fabulous series, and the stories behind them. I’ve always fancied visiting a ghost town. Not something we really get around here.
There are many “ghost” towns that are not really deserving of the title… You know… tourist trap. >grin<
I agree with Keith!!
Thanks, GP!
This is a great gallery John. I on team want to visit a ghost town.
You must have some towns that qualify. š
There probably are. I’ll have to have a look and see. I am due for a road trip soon š
Great abandoned items John. Did you look to see if there was a skeleton in the car? It would be unusual for a wreck to happen and rescuers take the person and leave the car. I think I’m watching too many mystery shows!
There was nothing but the skeleton of the automobile. We could see clearly that most of the car was gone leaving only a frame and chrome.
Wonderful! š
Thanks, Pepper!
An excellent selection John, all perfectly illustrating abandonment. I especially like the shots from Sims and Whites City š
That Whites City shot was one of my first tries to capture stars. The hotel was lit by a distant lighted parking lot. The long exposure brought both stars and a well exposed building. The image was more luck than skill. >grin<
John, I love all of your abandoned images. The two abandoned houses are my favorites although I really like the shipwreck, too.
Thanks, Beth!
Beautiful photos of abandoned things
Thanks, I. J.
Really like the first two photos on this post
Thanks, Randy! I stayed on public roads to get these shots. The sky was cooperative on those days.
Fun post John with your lovely photos and stories about those places.
Thanks. I’d love to know more of the back story of that car wreck, but I suspect that is not to be.
Excellent examples and photos.
Thanks Rebecca!
Wow! You picked some amazing examples for abandoned. I loved the whole gallery.
Thanks, Egidio!
Terrific finds John! Loved them all, great variety. ESP loved the train trestle
Thanks, Tina! It was fun processing that photo into a black-and-white.
I love the “Dr. Seuss” house I don’t think I’ve ever seen a house sag in the middle
It is almost a “cartoon” house, for sure.
[…] Lens-Artist Photo-Challenge John:…Abandoned […]
That railroad trestle Was quite a find!
It was, indeed!
These photos are all so cool! I love that first house. It’s like it’s just tired of standing there.
Thanks! It is my favorite.
That house in the featured photo reminds me of the Weaslyās House (The Burrow) from Harry Potter! Nice collection, John š.
Wow, John. This might be one of my favourite posts of the week š
Thanks, Sofia!
Johnbo, I grew up in Murdo, South Dakota, the county seat of Jones County. Okaton was in the same county, 5 miles or so away. Its present population is 54 and Murdo’s is 430. Elvis Crazybear sat in front of me in school! I have a picture drawn by him in my scrapbook. He went on to be a singer/musician. I last saw him 30 years ago at a school reunion. What were you doing in Okaton?? Yes, what you write is true, as is what I have written…Judy
Wow! Thank you for that bit of history. We were traveling through southern North Dakota and northern South Dakota specifically looking for abandoned towns. I’d learned that Okaton was the site of a tourist attraction ghost town that failed. Here’s my story about the town: https://photobyjohnbo.com/2021/01/26/okaton-south-dakota/