Parks and Recreation

Memorial Rec Center
Veteran's Memorial Recreation Center
Veteran's Memorial Recreation Center in River Rouge was an abandoned recreaction center that was demolished in 2021.
Richard Library
Gabriel Richard Branch Library
Richard branch library anchored the neighborhood around Grand River and Livernois from 1923 until it closed in 2011 and was abandoned.
Western YMCA
Western Branch YMCA
The western branch YMCA is a former recreation center in southwest Detroit that closed in 2001.
Gray Branch Library
John S. Gray Library
The John S. Gray branch of the Detroit Public Library closed in 1971, later serving as an outreach ministry for the homeless until it was abandoned in 2000.
City Sports Center
City Sports Center
The City Sports Center is a former indoor tennis and hockey facility that closed in 2014 and later reopened as a soccer club.
Fine Arts Theater
Fine Arts Theater
The Fine Arts Theater is a vacant theater in downtown Detroit.
Boblo Boats
Boblo Boats
The Columbia and Ste. Claire were two passenger ferries that served Boblo Amusement Park until service stopped in 1991.
Bloomfield Park
Bloomfield Park
Bloomfield Park was a commercial and residential development in Pontiac, MI that was halted in 2008 due to the recession. It was abandoned and later demolished in 2017.
Cloverlanes Bowling Alley
Cloverlanes Bowling Alley
Cloverlanes was an iconic bowling alley located in Livonia, MI. It closed in 2015 and was demolished in 2016.
United Artists Theater
United Artists Theater
The United Artists Theater is one of Detroit's most amazing ruins, abandoned for over 20 years until it was demolished in 2022.
Pinnacle Race Course
Pinnacle Race Course
Pinnacle Race Course was a horse racing track in suburban Detroit that operated for only two years before closing and being abandoned.
Hosmer Branch Library
Hosmer Branch Library
The Hosmer Branch Library was built in 1910, and was later converted into a health climic. It has been abandoned since the mid 2000's.
Pontiac Silverdome
Pontiac Silverdome
The Pontiac Silverdome was a vacant sports stadium, formerly the home of the Detroit Lions football team, and the Detroit Pistons basketball team.
Mark Twain Branch Library
Mark Twain Branch Library
The Mark Twain Branch of the Detroit Public Libraries closed in 1998 for renovations and never reopened.
Belle Isle Nature Zoo
Belle Isle Nature Zoo
The former Belle Isle Nature Zoo or Safariland was a small zoo on Belle Isle. It closed in 2004 due to budgetary problems.
The Ford Auditorium
The Ford Auditorium
The Henry & Edsel Ford Memorial Auditorium was a historic music venue located in Hart Plaza, downtown Detroit. It closed in the mid 90's and was demolished in 2011.
The Grande Ballroom
The Grande Ballroom
The former Grande Ballroom on Grand River Street is one of Detroit's many abandoned music venues.
The Eastown Theater
The Eastown Theater
The Eastown Theater was a large theater in Detroit. After being vacant for many years, the theater was demolished in 2015.
The Vanity Ballroom
The Vanity Ballroom
The Vanity Ballroom is one of several music halls built in the musical heyday of the roaring 20's and 30's. It is currently abandoned.
The Belle Isle Aquarium
Belle Isle Aquarium
The Belle Isle Aquarium is America's oldest aquarium. Built in 1904, millions of visitors passed through its doors before its closure due to budgetary reasons in 2005. It reoped in 2012.
Brewer Recreation Center
Brewer Recreation Center
The Brewer Recreation Center in Detroit closed in 2006 due to budget problems. It was demolished in 2010.
Highland Theater
The Highland Theater
The Highland is an abandoned theater on Woodward Avenue in the Detroit suburb of Highland Park, MI.
The National Theater
The National Theater
The National Theater is one of Detroit's last surviving burlesque / vaudeville venues.
Guild Theater
The Guild Theater
The Guild is an abandoned adult theather on the north side of Detroit.
Kronk Community Center & Gym
Kronk Community Center & Gym
The Kronk gym is a historic abandoned recreation venue in west Detroit, home to boxing trainer Emmanuel Steward.
Grand Quarter Theater
Grand Quarter Theater
The Grand Quarter was a former night club on Grand Boulevard that played host to acts like Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chillipeppers, and Sammy Davis Jr.
Cannon Recreation Center
Cannon Recreation Center
The Cannon Recreation / Community Center was a learning and athletics facility on the east side of Detroit.
The Belle Boat Club
Belle Isle Boat Club
The Detroit Boat Club is the oldest boating association in the country, created in 1839. After losing two previous clubhouses to fire, the club built the Belle Isle location in 1902. The building has been vacant since 1996, when the club moved to another location.
Redford Bowl
Redford Bowl
Redford Bowl is an abandoned bowling alley located in the Redford neighborhood of Detroit.
Hannan YMCA
Hannan YMCA
The Hannan Memorial YMCA is an abandoned community center in Detroit.
Kimball Entertainment and Sports Arena
Kimball Sports Arena
Kimball Arena was an unfinished hockey arena near Port Huron, MI. It was demolished in 2014.
Abandoned Playground
The Highland Park Adventure Playground
An abandoned park in Highland Park made mostly out of concrete.
O'Shea Recreation Center
O'Shea Recreation Center
The O'shea Recreation Center is one of several closed in the 2000's by the city of Detroit.
Ernie D's Campus Ballroom
Ernie D's Campus Ballroom
The Campus Ballroom was a music venue on the northwest side of Detroit, abandoned for many years.
Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center
Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center
The abandoned Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center is located in the shadow of the Brewster-Douglass project towers.
Ukrainian Workers Home
Ukrainian Workers Home
The Ukrainian Workers Home was an ethnic hall just north of Hamtramck in Detroit.
Fortschrittsbund Hall / City Singing Association
Fortschrittsbund Hall / City Singing Association
The former hall of a German organization in Detroit, and later a choir. Currently abandoned.
Phelps Cocktail Lounge
Phelps Cocktail Lounge
The former Phelps Lounge is an important part of Detroit's soul music scene.
Little Champs Restaurant
Little Champs Restaurant
Little Champs Restaurant was a diner on the west side of Detroit.
Belle Isle Golf Course
Belle Isle Golf Course
An abandoned 9-hole golf course located on Belle Isle. Closed since 2008.
George Lothrop Branch Library
George Lothrop Branch Library
Built in 1911, the Lothrop Branch was a west side library that was demolished in 2009.
Maheras Playfield
Maheras and Bronson Gentry Playfield
The Maheras-Gentry playfield is an abandoned rec center in north Detroit.
Dorias Velorome
Dorias Velorome
The Dorias Velodrome was a banked track for bicycle racing in one of Detroit's parks. After sitting abandoned for many years, restoration has begun by a group of cyclists.
Roesink / Veterans Stadium
Roesink / Veterans Stadium
An abandoned park and stadium in Hamtramck, a suburb of Detroit.