The world is filled with hollowed-out buildings longing for care, forlorn parks whose better days are distant memories, and subterranean haunts that have been abandoned. Many of these forgotten relics wither away or are demolished. Others are saved by people who recognize their hidden beauty and potential.  

While restoration is always an option, others are transformed. These 15 places have been repaired and repurposed far beyond their original designs, allowing them to live wondrous second lives that can be experienced in person, whether that means rocking out in an 18th-century cathedral, kayaking through a subterranean reservoir, or exploring an abandoned film set. Rescued from neglect, they’re now shining examples of human ingenuity.