Abandoned luxury apartment house in Bangkok becomes tourist attraction as "Ghost tower"
This abandoned carcass of a 49-story, residential high-rise in downtown Bangkok has turned into a lively — albeit illegal — tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the world.
Construction of the Sathorn Unique Tower screeched to a halt during Asia’s financial crisis in 1997. The cement had been poured, wooden floors had been installed in the 659 apartments, electrical lines and outlets had been installed and plumbing had been completed for sinks, faucets and toilets.
Then the economy collapsed, and developers abandoned the “Ghost Tower.”
Years later, locals and tourists cautiously climb unlit stairways and try to avoid unsealed airshafts and holes in the floors. Packs of wild dogs prowl the lobby, circling around two escalators on the ground floor that were never unwrapped or operated.
There are no railings on terraces or on wide-open windows to protect visitors from falling from the building.
Still, dozens of people stroll through the hallways, which are covered with graffiti that reads, “This place needs more decorations.”
Despite 90-degree temperatures and 90 percent humidity, many visitors make their way to the roof of the abandoned apartment complex.
One woman dangerously jumps in the air on a high ledge, riding a broom and recreating a Hogwarts scene from the “Harry Potter” movie franchise.
Groups of friends often pose for selfies, smiling for the camera as a bright, blue sky and the city of Bangkok smile behind them.
This abandoned carcass of a 49-story, residential high-rise in downtown Bangkok has turned into a lively — albeit illegal — tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the world.
Construction of the Sathorn Unique Tower screeched to a halt during Asia’s financial crisis in 1997. The cement had been poured, wooden floors had been installed in the 659 apartments, electrical lines and outlets had been installed and plumbing had been completed for sinks, faucets and toilets.
Then the economy collapsed, and developers abandoned the “Ghost Tower.”
Years later, locals and tourists cautiously climb unlit stairways and try to avoid unsealed airshafts and holes in the floors. Packs of wild dogs prowl the lobby, circling around two escalators on the ground floor that were never unwrapped or operated.
There are no railings on terraces or on wide-open windows to protect visitors from falling from the building.
Still, dozens of people stroll through the hallways, which are covered with graffiti that reads, “This place needs more decorations.”
Despite 90-degree temperatures and 90 percent humidity, many visitors make their way to the roof of the abandoned apartment complex.
One woman dangerously jumps in the air on a high ledge, riding a broom and recreating a Hogwarts scene from the “Harry Potter” movie franchise.
Groups of friends often pose for selfies, smiling for the camera as a bright, blue sky and the city of Bangkok smile behind them.