Once must-see destinations for curious travellers, these famous attractions vanished from the tourist trail. Some people demolished them, others left them to crumble and a few forces of nature claimed them – but all remain etched in memory. So, what happened to them?
1. Wawoma Tree, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Back in 1881, workers carved a tunnel through this impressive 2,100-year-old sequoia tree in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park. By the late 1910s (when it’s likely this photograph was taken), tourists flocked to the tree, eager to be pictured driving right through the magnificent 234-foot (71.3m) tall beauty.
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2. The Azure Window, Gozo, Malta
You might recognise this stunning natural formation – Game of Thrones, The Count of Monte Cristo and Clash of the Titans, as well as many an Instagram feed, have featured it.
3. The Azure Window, Gozo, Malta
When heavy storms hit the Maltese archipelago in March 2017, the announcement that the arch had collapsed devastated the world. However, it wasn’t all bad news, as the fallen rock formation has now added to the intrigue underwater, attracting scuba-diving enthusiasts to the area.
4. Buddhas of Bamiyan, Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Two mammoth Buddha statues – the tallest in the world, in fact – once looked out from a sandstone cliffside in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Valley. They were carved in the 6th century, with the tallest topping out at 180 feet (55m). But in 2001, the Taliban destroyed these Buddhist effigies.
5. Buddhas of Bamiyan, Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Today, two empty alcoves remain as a haunting reminder of what the statues once contained. The UNESCO World Heritage Site designated the valley in 2003, and in the years since the buddhas’ destruction, people have debated much about whether or not to rebuild them. So far, the closest the monuments have come to resurrection is a hologram projected in the spaces where they once stood.
6. Duckbill Rock Formation, Oregon, USA
Named (you guessed it) for its likeness to a duck’s bill, this rock formation once drew camera-wielding tourists to Oregon’s Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. The sandstone hoodoo stood around seven-foot (2m) tall and, carved out over millennia, most likely occupied its coastal spot for millions of years.
7. Duckbill Rock Formation, Oregon, USA
Yet in August 2016, the monument suddenly disappeared. Then a shocking video emerged, showing it being pushed by vandals until it crumbled and collapsed. Now, although the famous formation is gone, visitors are still pulled in by Cape Kiwanda with its sweeping views of the Pacific and its opportunities for hiking and hang gliding.
8. Sutro Baths, San Francisco, USA
After struggling financially for many years, in 1964 developers bought the site and began to demolish it, then a fire destroyed the remainder of the building in 1966. Now, just the foundations remain as a reminder of the Victorian attraction, with the cliffside setting making the site a popular spot for walkers.
9. Crystal Palace, London, UK
Tragically, a fire destroyed the building in 1936. Today, visitors can still see remnants of the palace, including terraces, sphinxes, and a huge bust of its designer, Sir Joseph Paxton, at the site, which lies within Crystal Palace Park in south London.
In recent years, the park has undergone extensive regeneration, including the restoration of the Italian Terraces, conservation of the Grade I-listed dinosaur sculptures, and the reopening of the Victorian subway. Plans are also in place for a new visitor centre and dinosaur-themed playground.
10. Pink and White Terraces, Lake Rotomahana, New Zealand
Nowadays, Lake Rotomahana remains a beautiful sight, although scientists have disputed the former location of the Pink and White Terraces. Independent researchers Rex Bunn and Dr Sascha Nolden claimed in 2017 that they actually buried the terraces on land, based on an archaeological study.
But New Zealand’s scientific research unit GNS Science disputed the claim and in March 2021 produced a new map of the lake, highlighting the terraces’ likely location.
11. Vidampark, Budapest, Hungary
Sadly, authorities forced the theme park to close in 2013. Visitor numbers plunged to less than 300,000 in 2012, and the park ran into debt, propped up by municipal credit. The neighbouring city zoo swallowed up the site as part of an expansion, though a few rides, including the century-old carousel, remained.
Conclusion
It’s crazy how quickly huge landmarks can just disappear, whether a storm knocks them down, a fire rips through them, or people just ruin them on purpose. Still, the story doesn't always end when the landmark goes away. A lot of these places are turning into something else entirely—like that collapsed arch in Malta becoming a hotspot for divers, or old ruins getting turned into community parks. The physical things are gone, but people still visit just to stand in the spot where they used to be.
FAQs
Q: Can you actually see anything left where the Bamiyan Buddhas were?
A: Yeah, the giant empty holes in the cliff are still there. There's a big debate about rebuilding them, but for now, the cool part is they sometimes use high-tech holograms to project light versions of the statues back into the empty spaces.
Q: Why would anyone knock over the Duckbill Rock in Oregon?
A: It was just dumb vandalism. A video came out right after it happened showing a bunch of guys intentionally shoving the rock back and forth until the whole sandstone structure just snapped and broke.
Q: Is there anything left of the Azure Window at all?
A: Not if you're standing on the beach—the whole thing fell into the ocean. But if you dive, it's actually cooler now. The giant broken rocks created a bunch of underwater caves and tunnels that tons of scuba divers go to see.
Q: Did those model dinosaurs at Crystal Palace burn down in the fire?
A: No, they actually survived. Because they were sitting outside in the gardens and not inside the main glass building, the fire missed them. They're still hanging out in the park today and people are currently working on restoring them.