Came across this abandoned building in Vermont while hiking in the woods. There’s no door and the windows have been boarded up and caged
Hiking through the dense, serene forests of Vermont, where the rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds are the only sounds, it’s easy to become lost in the natural beauty that surrounds you. But occasionally, the tranquility of the woods is interrupted by an unexpected sight—a structure that doesn’t quite belong. While on a recent hike, I stumbled upon one such mysterious building, hidden deep within the forest, abandoned and weathered by time.
The Discovery
It wasn’t the kind of discovery that happens often. Hidden behind a veil of overgrown trees and ivy, the building was far from the well-maintained cabins or rustic cottages typical of Vermont’s countryside. The structure looked like it had been forgotten for decades, its once-pristine features now battered and decaying. At first glance, it seemed like something straight out of a forgotten history, abandoned and left to the whims of nature.
As I approached the building, the eerie stillness of the area added to its haunting atmosphere. Its bare, crumbling walls were partially covered in moss, and the roof was sagging, as though it had once been a shelter, now left to decay in isolation. The most unsettling aspect of the building, however, were the windows—boarded up and caged as if to keep the outside world from getting a glimpse of what was within.
No Door, No Entrance
One of the first things that struck me was the complete absence of a door. Where a doorway should have been, there was nothing but a solid wall. It was as though access to the building had been deliberately sealed off. Was it to protect something inside? Or had it been intentionally left this way to ward off curious wanderers like myself?
The lack of a door made the building feel more like a shell—a hollow memory of what it once was. There was no sign, no clue as to what the building was originally used for or who had once inhabited it. Was it a forgotten farmhouse, a storage shed, or perhaps something darker, a place abandoned due to tragedy or neglect?
The Windows: Boarded Up and Caged
The windows were another striking feature of this abandoned building. Instead of the usual glass panes or shutters, they were covered with thick wooden boards and metal cages. It looked as though someone had gone to great lengths to prevent anyone from peering inside. The boards were weathered and cracked, their edges curling in the damp air. The cages were rusty, bent in places, as if they’d been exposed to years of harsh elements.
Why would anyone bother to secure the windows so tightly? Were they trying to keep something—or someone—trapped inside? Or was it merely an attempt to protect the building from vandals or curious onlookers? Whatever the reason, the boarded-up windows added an extra layer of mystery to the already enigmatic structure.
The History Behind the Mystery
Abandoned buildings like this one aren’t uncommon in rural Vermont. The state’s history is rich with small farms, mining operations, and mills that once thrived before being abandoned in favor of larger, more modern facilities. Over the years, many of these buildings have fallen into disrepair, some left standing as eerie remnants of another time. But this particular structure seemed different—its isolation and odd features made it stand out from others I’ve encountered on my hikes.
Could it have once been a home for someone? A seasonal cabin left behind? Or perhaps it was once part of a forgotten industrial operation, now buried in the forest’s embrace? The absence of identifying marks or plaques left me with more questions than answers. The only thing for certain was that time had taken its toll on the building, and nature had begun to reclaim what once stood proud.
What Lies Inside?
The most tantalizing mystery of all was what might lie behind the boarded-up windows and sealed doorway. Was the building empty, or had it become a home for wildlife? Was there anything left inside to reveal its history? The curiosity was overwhelming, but I resisted the temptation to try and force my way in. After all, the structure had been closed off for a reason.
Yet, the thought of what might be hidden within the confines of that eerie building lingered in my mind long after I left. It’s always the unanswered questions—the ones that leave you wondering—that make abandoned places so compelling.
Conclusion
The abandoned building I came across in Vermont remains an enigma, nestled deep within the woods, its story untold. It’s a stark reminder of how the passage of time can both preserve and destroy. For now, the building stands as a quiet monument to the past, its purpose lost to history, but its mystery enduring.
It’s places like these—hidden in plain sight—that make hiking through the woods so fascinating. You never know what secrets the forest may hold, just beyond the treeline, waiting to be uncovered.
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