14. Abandoned Houses on Harbor Island, St. Helena Island, South Carolina
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina’s St. Helena Island
Year: The 2000s
Price: $112,000–$398.00* (2022 House Worth)
Several islands can be found off the coast of Beaufort, South Carolina, including Harbor Island. Due to Harbor Island’s popularity as a holiday destination for both locals and visitors, homes, duplexes, and condominiums have been built along its three-mile shoreline.

St. Helena Island, South Carolina’s Harbor Island Abandoned Houses @atlasobscura/Pinterest
When Harbor Island was populated, there weren’t many limitations about where houses could be built, so landowners made the foolish choice to put their expensive beach houses right on the sand. As expected, these residents realized their error when hurricanes struck and fled their houses, leaving only the ruins in their wake. The abandoned beach cottages continue to stand as a singular example of nature’s destructive force.
