10 abandoned places in Singapore and the stories behind them

First things first, the solitary cow on Coney Island is no longer there but there are still plenty of things to see on this rustic island in the North-East of Singapore, like a hidden beach and wildlife such as the native macaques. Until recently, the unoccupied Haw Par Beach Villa has been spotted deep inside the forest.

Built in 1937 by the Aw brothers (the duo behind Tiger Balm and Haw Par Villa), the single-story villa comes complete with an open verandah. It’s said that the brothers owned it until the 1950s before the government acquired it in the 1970s. A graffiti on one of its walls is dated “Sept ‘66”, which could be assumed that it was already abandoned then. 

The path to the villa is boggy, with “no entry” signs along the way, so go at your own risk.

It’s been deemed as the most expensive haunted house in Singapore. But enter if you dare – cause if you’re not spooked up by the supernatural, you can get caught by the law for trespassing. Nonetheless, it’s worth knowing that Singapore has an actual haunted mansion. The now-abandoned house is located in the deep woods of the Holland Road and Tyersall Road area. It was once occupied by a Sultan of Johor, but now remains empty and covered in vegetation and decay. What’s creepier is the fact that the spot is not charted on the map of Singapore and is, therefore, out of bounds. But you can have a virtual wonder with this walkthrough video instead.

This abandoned hostel at the end of Tanglin Road has blown up on TikTok recently, but its history dates back far before that. The Brunei hostel was constructed by the Brunei government in the mid-1950s to provide accommodation for Brunei students studying in Singapore. As Brunei developed its own education system and fewer students were sent overseas, the Brunei government decided to shut the hostel in 1983 – and the building has been left vacant since. The building looks dilapidated now with graffiti on its walls, and ghostly sightings have been reported over the years.

Another prime spot for ghostbusting, the now-defunct general hospital in Changi first opened its door in 1935 before it was left to the Kempeitai (Japanese military police) to hold more than 50,000 Allied prisoners-of-war and as a torture chamber during the Japanese Occupation. After World War II, it continued as a military hospital for the British, as well as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). It then vacated in 1997 when the new Changi General Hospital opened. The abandoned building still stands and occasional ghost tours are held there, which has added to its reputation of being one of the spookiest places in Singapore. Alternatively, you can observe it from afar or from the Raintr33 Hotel, which used to be part of the hospital.

Also known as simply The Pier, Cashin House sits on the Lim Chu Kang pier and was built in 1906 by an Irish merchant named Henry Cashin. The Cashin family was also known for the Matilda House which is one of the oldest houses in Singapore. However, Cashin House fell into the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army when it landed on the north-western coastline in 1942. It was allegedly used by the Japanese as a makeshift brothel. After the war, the Cashin Family reclaimed it and turned it into a weekend resort due to its idyllic location. But the pier was left abandoned after Howard Cashin’s passing in 2009. Since 2013, it has been fenced up and closed off to the public, but there are plans to restore it as a new visitor gateway as part of Lim Chu Kang Nature Park, slated to open in 2022.

While Sentosa is known for its sandy beaches and exciting nightlife, hidden deep in the jungles is Fort Serapong, a historical gem constructed in the late 19th century to defend against pirate attacks. The fort, equipped with naval guns, later played a role in WWII, albeit an unsuccessful one against the Japanese invasion. Today, the ruins stand as a haunting reminder of Singapore’s wartime past, with collapsed roofs, vines creeping up the walls, and rusted remnants evoking an eerie ambience. While Fort Serapong is closed to public access, guided tours offer a glimpse into this historical site, delving into its rich history and hidden secrets.

The art deco house at 25 Grange Road dates back to 1938 when it was constructed by the famous local architect Ho Kwong Yew. As its name suggests, the project was commissioned by the eponymous Chee Guan Chiang, the son of Malacca-based banking tycoon Chee Swee Cheng. But the house wasn’t occupied for long. After World War II, it was renamed the Leonie House and catered to foreign boarders and tourists. However, due to a legal battle, the accommodation was left empty after the 70s, even to this day. The façade of the building still looks like something out of a sci-fi film, but inside, it’s like an apocalypse, overrun by trees and graffiti. Don’t judge a book by its cover – it’s worth an estimated of over $400 million due to its position on a prime piece of land.

Literally a ghost town – Neo Tiew Estate is an unoccupied housing complex in Lim Chu Kang. Named after the businessman who was a pioneer in the development of Lim Chu Kang in the early 20th century, the estate – comprising a trio of three-storey blocks, a wet market, and a playground – was built in 1979. It was then en-bloc in 2002, and has remained vacated since then. But it’s not strictly abandoned – the estate is occasionally used by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for military exercises but remains out of bounds to the public.

This hidden gem in Mount Faber Forest dates back to as early as 1905 when it was used as a private reservoir before transforming into a swimming hole in the 1940s. So hidden, the reservoir was totally left out on official maps of Singapore from 1954, and was only recently rediscovered in 2014. There are still traces of the past including concrete steps and an old diving board. To check it out, start your trek on Keppel Hill Road before slipping into a man-made path that would require you to bash through some super tall ferns and wild grass.