5 abandoned places to explore near Toronto

Abandoned places near Toronto have a strange allure that beckons people to explore. With the number of abandonments in the city dwindling as redevelopment claims former urbex playgrounds like the Tower Automotive Building, a trip outside the city offers excellent opportunities to soak up some of the area's lost history and spooky but beautiful ruins.

Here are 5 abandoned places to explore near Toronto.

Camp 30
This former POW camp is worth a visit for novice urbex types in that it has a fascinating history, is typically easy to access, and offers some stunning interiors, including a former swimming pool that's been consumed by graffiti. On occasion, entrances to buildings will be obscured by boulders, but local explores tend to provide new access points once old ones have closed.

Barber Paper Mill
These beautiful old ruins date back to the 1860s along the Credit River in Georgetown. Various development projects have been pitched for the area including a hotel and condos, but a heritage designation in 2008 has helped to slow the process by which the site can be redeveloped. This was one of the first places to use hydro-electric power, and remains a fascinating place to explore.

Muskoka Sanitorium
One of the most eerie places on this list, this former Tuberculosis sanatorium is located in Gravenhurst and attracts urbex types looking to explore one of the few abandoned medical facilities still standing near Toronto. Interior access has typically been relatively easy, which reveals a building that's slowly being reclaimed by nature even as its former use remains legible.

Cheltenham Brick Works
Toronto's Brick Works might be the best known in the region, but a trip up to Caledon reveals an old industrial site hasn't been reclaimed as a cultural centre. It's quiet here, but there's a beauty to the decaying buildings that's undeniable. Access to interior spaces is less likely these days, but the grounds themselves are worth the trip.

Inn on the Parkway Motel
This 1960s era motel has been closed for over a decade now, and the doors have been boarded up, but you can still explore the swimming pool and grounds, which you might describe as modern ruins. Bonus: two minutes down the road towards Chippewa is another, unnamed motel that's been abandoned for decades.

Did I miss your favourite abandoned spot? Add more suggestions in the comments.

Photo of the The Cheltenham Brick Works by Kevin Cabral in the blogTO Flickr pool.

by Derek Flack via blogTO