The abandoned $1.6 billion ghost town of mansions that no-one has ever lived in
The world has no shortage of abandoned places which continue to be a source of fascination to millions. From hotels which were once thriving but are now derelict, through to theme parks that have turned the rides off for good, and villages deserted by the locals due to war. But some of the more fascinating abandoned places scattered across the globe are those which never saw a trace of human activity, being shelved before anybody had a chance to even live in them. One such example of this in the US is a hugely costly development which promised houses, shops and even a gigantic theme park – but which was scrapped without welcoming a single resident or guest. Welcome to Indian Ridge Resort Community, Missouri… (Picture: Sharilyn Neidhardt)
Located next to Table Rock Lake, close to the resort city of Branson, Missouri, there were big plans for Indian Ridge Resort. Launched in a blaze of publicity in 2006, investors were promised that the $1.6bn (£1.2bn) development would include dozens of castle-like townhouses and a host of new amenities for the new residents. Plans were afoot for a shopping mall, golf course, marina, conference centre and the second-largest water park in the US, as well as a nod to the local native American population with a museum. The 900-acre site was also set to house a hotel with nearly 400 rooms, while highway improvements and healthcare facilities also featured in plans for the area. (Picture: Realtor.com)
Except it never came to be – and now all that sits on the site are the empty townhouses, in varying states of disrepair. Despite all the initial enthusiasm over the development the project ground to a halt in 2008 in the wake of the financial crisis, with construction work stopping amid defaulted loans and other issues, and the project being shuttered by federal regulators. But the problems didn’t end there. (Picture: Realtor.com)
According to Daily Mail, original lead developer Jim Shirato was fined for a violation of state clean water laws, while in 2017 five people were convicted for real estate fraud after lying to get loans to purchase townhouses and sell them as holiday homes. All of which contributed to the place remaining unfinished. But that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a source of fascination for those who visit Branson, which is a leading entertainment destination in the US attracting up to nine million visitors annually. (Picture: Realtor.com)
The development also went viral on social media, with TikTok user @carriejernigan1 drawing attention to it back in 2021. Speaking in the video clip she asked: ‘Have you ever seen a subdivision full of abandoned mansions? This was supposed to be a $1.6bn resort community. It was going to have one of the country’s largest water parks, golf courses, conference centres and shopping. But instead it turned into a ghost town when the 2008 housing crisis hit. And 13 years later the houses just sit here.’ The clip was viewed over 2.4m times according to the New York Post, with one commenter saying: ‘I want to go there but it looks haunted’ and another adding: ‘I’ve been there and it’s one of the worst feelings I’ve ever felt.’ (Picture: Realtor.com)
But as the years go by, and the houses fall into further disrepair, with greenery and ivy crawling up the walls, is there any hope that the project could become a reality? Well the Federal Deposit Insurance Company purchased the land in 2012 for just $3.1m (£2.2m) while new developers, Brookwood Group, stepped in and bought the site three years later. They broke ground on the development – now renamed The Ridge at Table Rock Lake – in 2018. (Picture: Sharilyn Neidhardt)
A statement on their website reads: ‘Situated in a dramatic setting for a prestigious new community and adjacent to the world renowned entertainment, shopping and recreation of Branson, The Ridge at Table Rock Lake sets the standard for master-planned environments in the Ozark Mountains. Within the 810 acres, the development accommodates hospitality, entertainment, healthcare, commerce and a variety of residential uses.’ Time will tell if plans for the development ever become a reality… (Picture: YouTube) Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
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