Watch Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America
- 2022
- 3 Seasons
-
7.5 (72)
Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America is a compelling docuseries that explores the fascinating stories behind some of America's most intriguing abandoned locations. From deserted ghost towns to crumbling ruins, each episode sheds light on these forgotten places and the secrets buried within their walls.
The series is hosted by architectural photographer Alessio Rastani, who has spent over a decade documenting decaying sites across the globe. With his keen eye for detail and passion for mysterious places, Rastani serves as the perfect guide to take viewers on an adventure across America’s abandoned spaces. In each location, he peels back the layers of history to reveal what once was and why these sites were left behind.
Featured in the first season are places like Bodie, an Old West boomtown that grew from a small mining camp to a raucous city of over 10,000 people in the late 1800s. when the gold depleted the town was deserted, leaving behind an eerily intact ghost town marooned in time. We’ll also visit Grossinger's Resort, a lush Catskill retreat that once hosted the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and the New York Yankees. After falling into decline in the 1980s it became an overgrown ruin, mysterious artifacts still strewn about the abandoned hotel.
Other sites include a utopian 1920s commune, a riverside sanatorium with dark secrets, and a Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnel frozen in the early 1940s after a notorious plane crash blocked its route. Rastani travels across the country profiling these locations and more, combining stunning contemporary photography with archival images and interviews to uncover each site’s unique backstory.
Along the way, Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America touches on intriguing themes of American history. The rise and fall of industry, the ideals of visionary architects and social reformers, the devastating toll of natural disasters and economic strife - all have contributed to the fading of once-thriving places across the nation. By documenting these sites before they’re gone forever, the series preserves their legacies.
While other hosts simply explore surface details, Rastani digs deeper to reveal insights into America’s past through its deserted places. Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America is more than just visually stunning ruins porn - it thoughtfully analyzes the cultural impact of each location and connects their stories to the broader tapestry of American history.
Filmed in cinematic 4K quality, the stunning photography of decrepit ballrooms, crumbling hospitals, and overgrown landscapes turns ruination into a haunting form of beauty. Interviews with local experts, archival media, and atmospheric recreations further transport viewers back in time. The series manages to be visually engaging, intellectually fascinating, and deeply nostalgic all at once.
For anyone intrigued by ghost towns, creepy asylums, or the lost secrets of America’s past, Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America offers an unforgettable portal into these mesmerizing forgotten worlds. This cinematically-shot docuseries manages to intoxicate, educate, and contemplate all in one binge-worthy experience.
Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America is a series that is currently running and has 3 seasons (16 episodes). The series first aired on November 10, 2022.