Discover the 8 tallest 'ghost buildings' in the world with thrilling stories

While skyscrapers are engineering marvels that exemplify the growth of any city, some towers give the surrounding area a spooky feel when abandoned.

Here are the 8 tallest "haunted buildings" in the world , some of which have become tourist attractions for those looking for unique experiences.

Sterick Building, Tennessee, USA

Height: 111m (29 floors)

The Sterick is a magnificent Gothic-style skyscraper in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. At 378 feet (111 m) and 29 stories, it was the tallest building in the southern United States from 1929 to 1957. Nicknamed the Queen of Memphis, the skyscraper is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the most popular attractions in Memphis, Tennessee.

As more modern office buildings appeared in downtown Memphis in the 1960s, Sterick began to lose tenants. Even after several renovations, the building lost its appeal and has been vacant since 1986.

Plans are underway to renovate the iconic tower and reclaim its coveted spot on the Memphis skyline, but no official plans have been announced as of January 2025.

Holiday Inn Beirut, Lebanon

Height: 117m (26 floors)

The Holiday Inn Beirut is a crumbling, bullet-riddled skyscraper in Lebanon that stands as a symbol of the city's turbulent past. Built between 1971 and 1974, the hotel opened in 1974, and the 26-story building features 400 rooms, a nightclub, and a revolving restaurant on the top floor.

The hotel operated for less than a year until civil war broke out in 1975. It was at the center of a months-long conflict known as the "Battle of the Hotels", in October 1975.

The hotel was again a battlefield during the 1982 Lebanon War. Since then, it has remained a bullet-riddled skyscraper, towering over the city. Ownership issues and costly renovations have left it in disrepair and abandoned.

Torre Abraham Lincoln, Brazil

Height: 122m (36 floors)

The skyscraper has remained empty since construction stopped in 1974, an obstacle to Rio de Janeiro.

The Abraham Lincoln Tower (also known as the Abraham Lincoln Tower) in Barra da Tijuca was built as part of a 1960s urban development project to transform the district into a modern residential area. However, only two of the planned 76 residential buildings were completed.

Plaza Tower, Louisiana, USA

Height: 162m (45 floors)

The 45-story Plaza Tower was the tallest building in New Orleans when it was built in the 1960s and remains the third tallest building in the city. Located at 1001 Howard Avenue in New Orleans' Central Business District, it is largely used as an office building.

The skyscraper was evacuated in 2002 due to environmental issues such as mold, which caused health problems.

The Plaza Tower remains vacant after multiple plans to rebuild it, making it one of the tallest abandoned skyscrapers in the U.S. Discussions have been ongoing about possible demolition, which would cost an estimated $27 million.

Financiero Confinanzas Center, Venezuela

Height: 170m (45 floors)

The Centro Financiero, also known as Torre de David (Tower of David), is another abandoned, unfinished tower that dominates the skyline of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Its construction began in 1990, but was halted in 1994 after the death of its investor.

The tower is one of the tallest buildings in Latin America, but it lacks essential features. During Venezuela's housing crisis in 2007, more than 200 squatter families occupied the structure. By 2011, the population had grown to 700 families.

In 2014, the government launched an effort to clean up the building and evacuate the occupants, and all families were relocated by June 2015. Since then, the building has been unused, uninhabited, and abandoned.

Sathorn Unique, Thailand

Height: 185m (47 floors)

Commonly known as the Ghost Tower, the Sathorn Unique in Bangkok, Thailand, is a long-abandoned skyscraper. Construction on the building began in the 1990s but was halted in 1997 due to the Asian financial crisis.

As of January 2025, construction has yet to resume. Rumors also circulate that the decaying structure is haunted. Now, the abandoned skyscraper is a magnet for ghost hunters, thrill seekers, and...

Ryugyong Hotel, North Korea

Height: 329m (105 floors above ground, 3 basements)

The Ryugyong Hotel is an unfinished, towering pyramid-shaped skyscraper in Pyongyang, North Korea. It is the tallest skyscraper in North Korea and one of the tallest uninhabited buildings in the world , standing 105 stories above ground and 3 stories underground.

Construction of the building began in 1987 and was scheduled to be completed in 2012. However, the project was halted in 1992 due to North Korea's economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The structure was left unfinished until 2008, when work resumed and the exterior was completed in 2011.

Yet even after nearly four decades, the skyscraper remains unfinished, unused and abandoned…

Goldin Finance 117, China

Height: 597m (128 floors)

Goldin Finance 117 in Xiqing District, Tianjin, China, is considered the tallest abandoned building in the world . Construction began in 2008 but has been halted twice.

Construction was initially halted in January 2010 due to the country's global financial crisis. However, it was supposed to resume the following year, until the Chinese stock market crashed in June 2015, causing huge economic losses across the country. This caused the project to stall once again.

Construction was scheduled to begin in 2018, but as of January 2025, the skyscraper remains unfinished and abandoned.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/kham-pha-8-toa-nha-ma-cao-nhat-the-gioi-voi-nhung-cau-chuyen-ly-ky-185250217095704502.htm