On my way into Pennsylvania once, I had noticed a very intriguing country home sat behind some brush, a broken wooden fence stretched perfectly across the front yard.

Trust me; I love a “dead mall” just as much as any other explorer or lover of urban decay, but with Chapel Hill Mall, this surely is NOT the case.

Here is a before and after image, showing the changes that have taken place in just this past year on the crumbling streets of Elderwood Ave. in East Cleveland.

The former Sonny’s Beach marina and vacation community now sits collecting rust as it slowly falls apart into the dirt. Dust sits still, layered thickly across counters and tabletops inside empty vacation cabins, while family’s items lay scattered everywhere.

Built in 1875 to house the poor of Knox County, this Victorian era beauty was actually ranked as one of the largest buildings in not only the county, but the entire state of Ohio – this title was not held for long however.

For over 30 years, the old Circle Line V has sat rusting away at the mouth of the Ohio River; a nearly forgotten vessel. First departing in 1902, coming from Wilmington, Delaware, the ship was captained by railroad executive, J. Rogers Maxwell – a passionate yachter. Originally named the Celt, this 180-foot-long, steam-powered boat would experience many name changes throughout its wild and interesting life.

The fire burned on as streets filled with smoke. An apocalyptic aura was drawn over the neighborhood as smoke billowed from broken walls.

Ohio is a beautiful place that tends to be largely overlooked by far too many. Sure, there’s tons of empty space in the state, can’t argue with that – our corn is on point though.

Over 2 million sunflower seeds were planted here in Avon Lake, Ohio in memory of a little girl who suffered brain tumors, eventually passing away. Her mother now cares for this field every year in memory of her daughter, raising more awareness of these conditions.

I have watched it for years now, deteriorating in such an incredible, beautifully destructive way. From the initial abandonment when all was still fairly pristine – shop windows intact – to looking like a bomb dropped – windows smashed and glass tossed all around as trees begin to grow wildly throughout. This is definitely one of the most bizarre “forests” you will ever take a hike through.