Forgotten corners of Chiang Mai! This urban exploration guide features 8 eerie and fascinating abandoned buildings.

1: Dumped Airplanes

Airplane Graveyard near Bo Sang Village: (Location)

Located along Road 1014, approximately 5 kilometres east of Bo Sang village, this privately owned lot features old, decommissioned aeroplanes and their parts.

Visitors can take a small inland path, to discover an almost complete Thai Airways jet, along with turbines, wings, and other aircraft components scattered around the area.

Visitors can take a small inland path to discover an almost complete Thai Airways jet, along with turbines, wings, and other aircraft components scattered around the area.

This unique site offers a fascinating glimpse into aviation history and provides ample opportunities for photography and exploration, making it a noteworthy stop for those visiting the Chiang Mai region.

Note: The area is home to stray dogs that have taken shelter in the aircraft wreckage, so approaching with care is advised.

While the exact history of these aircraft and the owner’s intentions are somewhat shrouded in mystery, some of the planes were acquired with plans to repurpose them into unique venues like bars or cafes. For more of a deep dive into the background of the dumped planes, check out the following video:

Video: History of the Dumped Airplanes

When did the planes first appear? What is the story behind them? Find out more!

Previous Additional Old Videos of the Site

2: Abandoned Mall

The two-billion Baht Mall that sadly became the victim of modern changes (Location)

*IMPORTANT* – There are now severe penalties imposed on anyone caught on the premises.

Opened in the early 1990s, covering an area of approximately 250,000 square metres, Kad Suan Kaew was Chiang Mai’s first major shopping mall.

It was a bustling centre filled with shops, cinemas, a bowling alley, and even a rooftop swimming pool. Over the years, it hosted concerts, cultural events, and community gatherings, making it a beloved part of the city’s social fabric.

However, as newer malls like Central Festival and Maya Mall emerged, Kad Suan Kaew struggled to keep up with modern retail trends. Its outdated design and declining foot traffic led to a slow but steady downturn.

By 2023, much of the mall had become eerily quiet, leaving behind empty shop spaces. Finally, in early 2024, the official announcement came: Kad Suan Kaew would close permanently. The last remaining tenants vacated, marking the end of an era for Chiang Mai residents who had fond memories of the once-thriving mall.

While the mall is now shuttered and vacated, the property remains maintained.

Some sections still house expensive items, such as musical instruments.

Additionally, the main elevators are still in operation.

The future of the complex.

There are talks of redevelopment. Reports suggest that the owners intend to transform the space, rather than bulldoze it. So hopefully, the unique architecture may be repurposed, preserving some of its nostalgic charm. It would be nice if that included the fantastic murals which line the carpark walls.

Video: Interior & History of KSK Mall

Background info, comparison footage and interior of the abandoned mall.

3: “Angkor Wat”

Abandoned Angkor Wat building in Mae Kachan. (Location)

The exact construction date of this abandoned Angkor Wat-themed spa near Mae Kachan Hot Springs is not definitively documented. However, available information suggests that construction began in the late 1990s.

The project was intended to be a luxurious spa complex featuring stone baths, Jacuzzis, and showers, all designed in the Khmer architectural style reminiscent of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temples.

However, the project faced financial difficulties (most probably linked to the 1997 Asian financial crisis) and was never completed. As a result, the partially constructed buildings were abandoned and have since fallen into disrepair.

The building’s lower levels are constructed from stone and concrete, and although abandoned, the site has largely remained untouched by vandalism or graffiti, preserving much of its original aesthetic and structural integrity.

Visitors of the nearby Mae Kachan Hot Springs remain a popular spot for relaxation—offering amenities such as foot-soaking pools, food stalls, and souvenir shops, whilst the Angkor Wat-themed ruins serve as a stark reminder of one of the many halted developments during the Asian Financial Crisis.

It’s important to note that while the hot springs are open to the public, the abandoned spa structures are on private property, and access may be restricted. Visitors should exercise caution and respect any posted signs or barriers when exploring the area. Additionally, the building may be structurally unstable.

Video: Interior of Angkor Spa

Since this video, the main building’s interior has been boarded up. Despite the poor video quality, it provides a glimpse of the old spa fixtures and fittings.

4: Magic Land Theatre

Strange and spooky “Magic Land” theatre: (Location)

Update: This Area has now been bulldozed.

In May 2015, “Magic Land” opened, providing a fun experience for children.

It appears to have been fairly successful for a couple of years, bringing in crowds of children, often school tour groups.

Posts on social media dropped off in October 2017, indicating the business had collapsed after 2 years of operating. At least at this location, under this name.

Up until 2024, the building remained abandoned, with remnants of its glory days still dotted around the property.

Inside the building, the stage and stacked seating area were intact.

Random props, including balls, masks and shoes, could be seen inside and outside the building.

Considering the length of time it was abandoned, it remained in fairly good shape.

It’s a pity that the area was bulldozed because it was quite wonderfully spooky and interesting.

Video: Magic Land- Day Time

Video: Magic Land- Night Time

After posting the video above on my Facebook Page, I had a request/challenge to visit the building (alone) at night. I took up the challenge, and the result was this LIVE recording below.

Large house in Ban Pong – Possibly a resort. (For location, join my Patreon)

This resort appeared on the mountainside as I was exploring around the Ban Pong area. Initially, I first spotted the resort in 2015, and it has remained abandoned since. (Last checked in 2023).

It is a rather perplexing place because there does seem to be occasional signs of work going on, due to cement bags and tools lying around. Yet, nothing seems to have progressed with the property.

Over time the resort seems to be becoming engulfed with ivy, weeds and moss.

some care is needed when walking on the site, due to how slippery the moss is.

Note: This is of course private property. Be respectful. Take nothing. Leave nothing.

6: Condo 9

A huge multi-story building in the San Sai area of Chiang Mai. (For location, join my Patreon)
Abandoned for many years but developers intermittently come and go.

I first properly looked inside this condo in 2016 and whilst outside, I met a local lady who stated that it had been abandoned for many years already, (and mentioned that it was haunted, so people are scared to enter. Most abandoned places come with the same story, though.)

The massive scale condo complex stands in stark contrast to its surroundings, towering over the much smaller neighbouring buildings.

Rumours suggest that the building contractor may have cut corners during the foundation work, leading to the structure failing its construction survey assessment. As a result, the project was ultimately abandoned, leaving behind this eerie, unfinished shell.

Certainly, a significant investment went into this construction. With hundreds of rooms, it’s easy to imagine how impressive the building might have been had it been fully completed.

Now, graffiti covers the walls, elevator shafts remain exposed, and a stagnant swimming pool—home to murky water and pond life—adds to the unsettling vibe.

Some murky pond life was alive under this thick green sludge…

The building has sheer drop-offs from floor-to-ceiling openings, missing balconies, and open stairwells, making it a hazardous place to explore.

7: SpaceRoller

The Forgotten Roller Disco of Chiang Mai (Location)

Located near Chiang Mai’s main bus terminal, the Space Roller Rink was once a buzzing centre of fun.

Built in the early 1990s, this massive dome-shaped roller rink quickly became Northern Thailand’s premier skating destination, drawing families, teenagers, and roller disco enthusiasts.

The rink was a vibrant part of the community. However, in the late 1990s, the Asian Financial Crisis hit, leading to the downfall of many businesses, including the Space Roller Rink. Despite its past popularity, the venue struggled to compete with newer entertainment options in Chiang Mai and by the early 2000s, it was shuttered, leaving only memories behind.

Today, the rink sits abandoned and eerily quiet, with only layers of graffiti and broken windows to mark its past. The once-smooth wooden floors are now warped, and the air is heavy with silence.

Some say the rink is haunted, and locals have reported seeing figures gliding across the floor at night.

Though the rink is now abandoned, there are still signs of life in the form of homeless residents who have taken refuge in its vast interior. The contrast between its lively past and the current state of decay is striking. It’s a sad reminder of how quickly time moves on and how some places are forgotten, only to be reclaimed by others who need them most.

The Future of the Space Roller Rink
There are no clear plans for redevelopment at this time. As it stands, the Space Roller Rink remains a hauntingly eerie relic of a bygone era. Whether it will be left to continue deteriorating or transformed into something new remains uncertain.

Video: The Eerie Roller Rink

The eerie rink and details about its history!

8: Luxury Village

This incredible abandoned village complex spreads out across approximately 550,000 Rai/ 140 Acres! (For location, join my Patreon)

When I spotted this village entrance, I had no idea of the huge complex that stretched out beyond it.

As I rode in, I could see there were multiple stunning homes set within large surrounding gardens, some surrounded by man-made lake developments.

The complex also had community areas, set up with restaurants and gyms.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any information about this village anywhere, even in Thai language.

The private road continued on and on, and split off into separate sections, with some homes having their own long driveway.

Some of the long driveways led to plateaus, where a home was intended to be built, but never materialised.

The investment has certainly been significant, but I have no idea when or why the development was halted.

I can only assume some kind of lack of funding caused it to be frozen in time. Maybe a new investor will rescue it one day.

Video: LIVE video from that day

Live from my Facebook Page
(Subscribe if you would like to see ongoing LIVE updates of places I visit)

Bonus Additions

Car Graveyard

An amazing collection of vintage cars. Update: Unfortunately, now cleaned up and gone.

This collection of cars was once a museum:

Pineapple Plantation

A stunning abandoned house on a pineapple plantation. Although this is in fact in Chiang Rai province, not Chiang Mai – in the Mae Suai district. (Location)

Superhighway Hotel

In the 1970s, Poy Luang Hotel”, was the tallest hotel in Chiang Mai. It lay abandoned for many years until November 2019, when it was bulldozed. (The location was here).

Ivy Haven

Vine-covered structure off the R118 in San Pa Pao. (Location)
I am including this one because there is just something I like about this building.

If you enjoyed this list of abandoned places, drop me a comment.
Also, please drop a Like-Follow-Subscribe.

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