Exploring Texas: Abandoned Places In Houston That Have Been Left To Decay

Abandoned places are all around us. Even in a bustling city like Houston, there are buildings that have been left to decay. These abandoned places are a reminder of the city’s past – and they can be fascinating to explore.

If you’re interested in urban exploration, then you’ll definitely want to check out some of these abandoned places in Houston. Also, peep the list of our best abandoned places in Texas for urban exploring!

 

Cool Abandoned Places In Houston Texas

 

1. Palace Of The Golden Orbs Temple

The Palace of the Golden Orbs (map) has been uninhabited since 2001. It was the pet project of Chinese Taoist leader, Kwai Fun Wong. Construction of the building began in 1999 with the intention of it being a place of worship, daycare, and living quarters for practicing Taoists in the area.

However, due to visa issues, Ms. Wong was deported back to China and her dream of the palace never came to be. The exterior of the building was finished but it was never used. It has been sitting, slowly decaying for the past 20 years.

Despite its eerie atmosphere, the abandoned palace in Houston has piqued the interest of many photographers and urban explorers over the years who have ventured inside to get a glimpse.

 

2. Hillendahl-Eggling Cemetery

Located on the West side of Houston, the Hillendahl-Eggling Cemetery (map) is riddled with speculation and mystery. This now abandoned cemetery was once the resting ground for many German settlers who lived in the area. The land surrounding the cemetery was once a settlement that was inhabited by migrating families.

Houses, churches, and other structures were once present near the cemetery but were forced to be relocated in 1890 due to constant flooding. Both the cemetery and the church which stood nearby were left behind. The church met its demise to the elements in the following years after its abandonment.

The cemetery, on the other hand, lasted several years until the buried bodies were moved to an unknown location due to vandalism and supposed ‘satanic worshipping’. The cemetery also earned the nickname ‘Blue Light Cemetery’ due to a chemical that was used in the headstones that caused them to glow blue at night.

This unique feature of the cemetery has attracted the attention of curious explorers and ghost hunters alike. It’s one of the coolest abandoned places Houston has to offer.

 

3. Reliant Astrodome

Known as the ‘Eight Wonder of the World’, the Reliant Astrodome (map) was the first multi-use air-conditioned domed stadium to ever be constructed. As major league baseball was growing more and more in popularity all over the United States, the city of Houston took it upon itself to build this remarkable architectural marvel to house both of their state’s teams.

Construction began in 1952 and was ready to open in 1965. For over 30 years, Houstonians visited the Astrodome to enjoy baseball games, concerts, and even live-stock shows (popular in Texas). But all this would come to an end. In 1995, a scheduled game was canceled because of unsafe conditions on the playing field.

Much needed renovations which threatened the safety of visitors, players, and staff were ignored. Because of this, the Houston Astros, which occupied the Dome, threatened to leave the city unless a new ballpark was built. In 2005, after mounting safety code violations the Reliant Astrodome was closed down.

It was briefly used for a couple of months in the wake of hurricane Katrina but closed down again shortly after. Since then, many uses for the Astrodome have been proposed but nothing has been done. Access to the building is restricted but that hasn’t stopped daring exploring from making their way inside this abandoned building in Houston.

 

4. KVVV-TV Station

This now-defunct television station was opened in 1968 and served the city of Houston and surrounding areas. It was owned and managed by TVue Associates and was only in operation for a total of 1-1/2 years. During its short run, the station would go on to play shows like No-No the clown, and the ‘Stock Market Observer’.

It also carried syndicated programming and on Sundays, the station would dedicate its time to Spanish-language shows and movies. By 1969 much of the staff were laid off as the station began losing viewership.

Owners of the station reported a major financial loss in its one year of operation that they decided to close down for good. The equipment and tower used at KVVV were sold to neighboring stations and the building itself was left behind.

 

Find More Abandoned Buildings In Houston

Abandoned buildings can be found everywhere, no matter where you live. Space City is no exception to this.

The locations mentioned in this article are but a small handful of the thousands of abandoned sites urban explorers can visit in H-town. For the truly fearless explorers, see our list of abandoned asylums in Texas. You might find a location worth your time.

If you’re still looking for places to explore in Houston, or anywhere else, check out my guide where I show how you can find abandoned places near you to explore.