These “white elephant” construction projects really cost a fortune! Whether it is deserted palaces, half-completed hotels, or disused Olympics facilities, people spent a lot of money on structures that are no longer used or were never even completed. Check out these big builds that cost billions and are now abandoned.

Big Builds That Cost Billions And Are Now Abandoned

1.  The Maginot Line, France

The Maginot Line was constructed back in the 1930s. France spent a total of 3 billion francs on it, (approximately $3.7 billion today). Named after Andre Maginot, the French war minister, it included fortifications, obstacles, and weapons spanning the country’s borders with Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Germany. It was meant to stop German troops from invading during the Second World War.

The Line was so ineffective the name “Maginot Line” is now synonymous with any barrier that provides people with a false sense of security. It was especially weak in the Ardennes Forest, where military officials mistakenly thought the terrain was too tough for invading German forces. Unfortunately, it was here that German troops burst from the trees to invade France. The underground tunnels under fortifications were great to temporarily train and house troops as they included eating areas and were air-conditioned but the project was too expensive.

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The Mirabel International Airport, Canada 

This airport opened for business in 1975 was meant to serve as a replacement for Dorval Airport. It cost 500 million Canadian dollars ($1.7 billion US today). Although it was the largest airport in the world, it had issues.  

It was 26 miles outside of Montreal which impacted the number of passengers. Thus, the airlines all too quickly dropped this airport for Toronto. Additionally, by the early 2000s, Dorval (now named Trudeau) Airport had expanded and all passenger flights in and out of Mirabel had stopped. The terminal was demolished. Occasional cargo flights still fly in and out but the otherwise vacant place is now only famous for being used in the 2013 zombie rom-com movie Warm Bodies.

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Olympic Stadium, Canada

Located in Montreal, Canada’s Olympic Stadium not only had issues, it was not even finished in time for the famous 1976 Olympics. The stadium’s estimated cost was roughly equal to $1.4 billion USD today. It wasn’t finished until 1987.  

Even then it wasn’t suitable for use. A section of the structure fell apart in 1999. It has not had a permanent tenant since 2004 due to its reputation. Unfortunately, it would cost more to dismantle it than to keep it open for even occasional use in the future. At present, a stadium construction company in Germany in conjunction with RIO (the Régie des installations olympiques) is making plans for replacing the old roof in 2024. It was most recently used as a COVID vaccination center.

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The Palace of the Parliament, Romania

This huge palace in the capital city of Bucharest was reportedly dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s pet project. The gigantic manse covers an area of almost 3.9 million square feet. After the US Pentagon, this is the world’s second-largest administrative building.  

Allegedly, it can even “be seen from the Moon.” They broke ground for this project in 1984, demolishing large areas of the city in the process. What’s worse, literally thousands of construction workers actually died while erecting the building.  

Even though Ceaușescu was executed in 1989, work continued and the infamous Palace of Parliament was completed in 1997 at a total expense of $3.9 billion USD in current currency. Now they use just 30 percent of the structure and the utility bills are said to run more than $6 million USD annually. This structure also includes an underground network of rarely explored tunnels featured in an episode of the Brit television program Top Gear. They were originally built specifically for the hard-nosed dictator, who thought he might need an emergency escape route to the local airport if there was ever a revolution.

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The Ryugyong Hotel, North Korea

Also known as the “Hotel of Doom,” the Ryugyong Hotel towers ominously over the capital city of Pyongyang. Construction on this 105-story triangular tower back in 1987. Since then, it has cost the equivalent of the nation’s total gross domestic product. This overly-lavish landmark sticks out like an irresponsible “sore thumb” in a country where roughly 10.5 million citizens are undernourished. It has been beset by both construction and funding issues.  

This 3,000-room hotel was supposed to open its doors in 2012 but as this goes to press, it is still incomplete, unopened, and entirely unused. The development was slowed by several different reasons including electricity shortages and just plain poor quality materials. According to announcements made in the state media in March 2019, there are new plans to resume work on the unfinished skyscraper. Part of these plans includes erecting a pair of neighboring sail-shaped skyscrapers inspired by Dubai’s distinctive Burj Al Arab hotel. The tower’s incomplete exterior has been damaged by exposure to the elements over the years, and the estimated cost for completing the structure would be the equivalent of an additional $2 billion.

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Athens’ Olympic Facilities, Greece

The Olympic facilities in Greece were also a true financial disaster which some say significantly “contributed to” the fall of Greece’s economy. Indeed, as this article is being written, Greece’s economy is still said to be “in crisis mode.” Similar to a number of other purpose-built stadiums and entertainment venues, the gigantic Olympic facilities were not constructed with any thought to long-term use.

In preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greek officials, flush with lots of Euros, spent a lot of money on the games. Estimates vary but it is believed that they spent at least the equivalent of $412.8 billion current USD. Most of what was constructed were largely unused by 2020.  

Meanwhile, the nation is deep in debt. Since there was no plan on what to do with the buildings after the Olympic Games, they have largely been abandoned. The aquatics center, for example, is now dry, garbage has been dumped in the outdoor training pools, and once attractive monuments are practically covered in graffiti.

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Beijing’s Olympic Facilities, China

The 2008 Olympic Games cost China the equivalent of approximately $47.6 billion in today’s market. A little over 10 years later the facilities are in disrepair. The water sports arenas are dried up and the mascots are now ignored.

The wood of the volleyball stadium is rotting too. The two main Olympic venues, the Water Cube aquatics center, and the Bird’s Nest stadium still attract tourists and the government hopes to use them again in 2022 for the Paralympic Games in 2022. Still, the derelict facilities upset many locals as nearly 2 million residents were forcibly relocated to make way for the games.  

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The Soccer World Cup Stadiums, Brazil

As you may have deduced by now, more than a few white elephants are the result of major athletic events. In fact, the country of Brazil is reported to have had more than its fair share of them. Indeed, the government of Brazil has given the thumbs up to the construction of a dozen of sports stadiums at a total cost of $3.6 billion USD in today’s market for just the 2014 Soccer World Cup alone.

Today, less than 10 years after the popular tournament, the majority of the high-maintenance sports venues are either underused, totally empty and abandoned, or poorly repurposed. Two years after the conclusion of the World Cup, the impressive Estádio Nacional in the capital city of Brasília, for example, is used only as a bus depot. Other such stadiums are now suffering from maintenance issues, are the center of corruption scandals, or are simply written off as large financial losses.

To make matters worse, the public pays for any maintenance being done to the now mostly neglected stadiums is taken from public funds. O Globo, a Brazilian newspaper, reported that almost $100 million of public funds were spent on maintenance costs in 2018 alone. Desperate to make some use of these stadiums, the Maracanã stadium located in the city of Rio de Janeiro is being used to host various concerts and various other events, and officials still don’t know what the future holds for the venue.

(Dis)honorable Mentions

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The US Department Of Homeland Security’s Secure Border Initiative, USA, Canada, And Mexico

The United States government has been looking for different ways to strengthen border security for decades. One example is former President George W. Bush’s “virtual wall.” The Department of Homeland Security had a plan known as the Secure Border Initiative.

The plan focused on the construction of a special network of security surveillance towers spanning both the Canadian and Mexican borders. Ground was broken back in 2006 on a 53-mile span of Arizona’s border. All too soon there were issues.

The first stage was not only beset with significant technical problems but went well over budget. During testing, the radar sensors installed in the towers were not able to differentiate between falling autumn leaves and human beings. By the time President Barack Obama’s administration halted work on the border security project sometime in 2011, a total of reportedly $1.15 billion had already been invested in the ill-fated effort to bolster border security.

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The US Bureau Of Reclamation’s Auburn Dam, USA

This dam project on the well-known American River near the Auburn in California was considered by some to be “ill-conceived” and all too quickly became the center of some controversy. First proposed back in the 1950s, construction did not actually begin until 1968. Unfortunately, once work had begun, a seismic fault was discovered underneath the future dam site.  

The dam, as designed, would not be able to survive a major earthquake. Thus, construction came to a stop. A new and improved design was proposed in 1980 and the work resumed. By 1989, the dam project was abandoned due to skyrocketing costs and an environmental impact assessment. A total of $400 million had been spent. Other attempts were made to revive the dam project but the dam has yet to be built. The more recent attempts up the price tag to a current total of $431 million.

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The US Department Of Energy’s Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository, USA

In 1987 the powers that be chose Yucca Mountain in the state of Nevada to be the United States’ main nuclear waste repository. In 2002 Congress officially approved the project and work started on the complex shortly thereafter. This megaproject still met with opposition and a few issues arose.  

There were unanticipated issues over waste transportation and unsuitable geology. American politicians started second-guessing the entire project when experts confirmed that a nuclear power station can actually safely store waste on-site over decades. In 2011 President Barack Obama cut the funding and the project was essentially canned. At that point, US taxpayers had already sunk almost $15 billion into the station. At press time, there were no specific plans to revive the project so the unfinished Yucca Mountain repository remains uncompleted. 

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The US Department Of Energy’s Superconducting Super Collider, USA

The Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) set to be located in the state of Texas was arguably one of the United States’ most ambitious megaprojects ever. The SSC was going to be the country’s very own particle collider. It was meant to rival even the world-famous particle collider located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research or CERN in Switzerland. Indeed, had it actually been completed, it would almost certainly have outdone CERN and discovered the now-well-known Higgs boson “God particle.”  

First proposed in 1976, construction on the SSC did not start until the late 1980s. Between 1990 and 1992, costs were out of control. Suddenly the project’s viability was thrown into question. Miles of tunnels and all the access shafts had already been bored and yet the over-budget SSC project was canceled by the powers that be in 1993 regardless of the $2.4 billion that had already been sunk into it.

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Everyone enjoys travel. When times are tough–and even when they aren’t–it’s good to travel to destinations where you can get the most bang for your buck. Here then, are 25 places where Hipmunk reports your dollar will go far.

Canada

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.31 CAD
Canada offers travelers numerous options. Hipsters enjoy Halifax, Nova Scotia. Art buffs and foodies head for the city of Toronto and coastal explorers enjoy the glory of Vancouver.
The national parks there are especially budget-friendly. In fact, Jasper National Park, in the Rocky Mountains, is the nation’s largest park and charges an entrance fee of less than $7.50 for adults and kids are free.

Mexico

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 19.07 MXN
Mexico has some affordable options. Don’t miss the National Museum of Archaeology. It’s the country’s largest museum and includes a noteworthy collection of Mayan artifacts (at an admission charge of under $4). Check out the numerous Mayan ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula complete with the popular pyramid at Chichen Itza for less than $25.
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Colombia

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3,199 COP
Colombia is said to be having a resurgence among trendsetters. Highlights include the Amazon rainforest, the Andes Mountains, and the desert plains. There is also the walled city of Cartagena and the country’s second-largest city, Medellin. Medellin comes complete with museums, plazas, and eye-catching street graffiti. Enjoy a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for under $3.75 or a full three-course meal for two at a mid-range eaterie for less than $18.75.

Iceland

Exchange rate: 1 USD= 122.033 ISK
Iceland is not a cheap travel destination, but the krona has weakened so now is the time to go. Highlights include glaciers, a striking volcanic landscape, and lava fields. In the summer you can enjoy the endless sunlight. In the winter, you can relax in a great outdoor hot spring surrounded by stunning frozen snowfields. Don’t forget the capital, Reykjavik, where you can see the museums and learn of Iceland’s history too.
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Thailand

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 30 THB
Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, slotted into the top 25 “affordable places to visit in 2019” on the Backpacker Index. See the prominent Grand Palace for under $17. Visit the island of Phuket, a.k.a. the “Pearl of the Andaman,” and enjoy its beautiful beaches. After your long day of touring or just relaxing, you can have a tasty three-course meal for two travelers at a mid-range restaurant for less than $20.

The Philippines

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 51.15 PHP
Visit the capital city of Manila. See the ancient walled city of Intramuros. Admission to the well-known Museo de Intramuros is free.
Take in the shops and museums and don’t miss the popular Manila Cathedral and Fort Santiago. Hit the beach in Boracay. You can get an inexpensive meal there for under $3.60, and a good, midrange three-course meal for two is less than $15.65.
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Vietnam

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 23,244 VND
According to the 2019 Backpacker Index, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are two of the topmost affordable cities to visit this year. Visit the legendary Temple of Literature. Situated right outside the capital, it was constructed in the 11th century in order to honor Confucius. The entry fee is under $1 for adults. Children 15 and under are free. Ho Chi Minh City contains several war memorials and museums too.

Brazil

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.77 BRL
Here you can take a rainforest tour and party in Rio de Janeiro. Don’t miss exploring this iconic tourist stop and the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue. Check out Iguacu Falls too. You’ll find it in the UNESCO-praised Iguacu National Park.
Adult admission is only $18. You can enjoy an inexpensive meal there for just $7.95. A mid-range full three-course dinner for two is about $32.
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Japan

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 108.16 JPY
Remember, once the 2020 Summer Olympics open, prices will go up for sure regardless of the exchange rate.
Tokyo is a great starting point but you should also try to see Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Mount Fuji if possible. Here an inexpensive meal in the city will cost $9.25), and a nice mid-range meal for two is roughly $55.

Hungary

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 292 HUF
One must-see spot here is the world-famous Buda Castle District in Budapest. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features not only a castle but historical monuments and an entire old town. Mind you, tours of the caste itself must be paid in euros. So while it will cost you almost $89, remember the tours include rides on the railway too. For good deals elsewhere, patronize businesses that accept the local currency.
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Indonesia

Exchange rate: 1 USD= 13,990 IDR
No matter what’s going on in Indonesia, the island of Bali remains safe. The beaches are beautiful but don’t forget the stunning temples either. See Goa Gajah, the 9th-century temple carved into an ancient cave. Don’t miss the Uluwatu Temple constructed on the edge of a cliff. Some of the attractions have an entrance or parking fees but they’re very low. For example, at Uluwatu, admission is less than $1 even for adults.

India

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 68.99 INR
Visit the well-known Himalayan city of McLeod Ganj where the Dalai Lama lives. “Budget” hotels there range from about $4.75 to $24 per night. Bargains aren’t as easy to find in the “touristy” areas. When you visit the famous Taj Mahal, the admission charge is based on where you’re from: admission is under a dollar for Indian citizens, but almost $16 for “foreign tourists.” There is an additional charge of $2.90 to see the Taj Mahal’s popular main mausoleum.
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South Korea

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1,179 KRW
This another country deemed by the 2019 Backpacker Index as being one of the “most affordable places” to travel. It’s famous for the capital city of Seoul, its countryside and impressive Buddhist temples. Highlights include the laid-back city of Busan, famous for Jagalchi Market and its seafood, Gyeongbokgung Palace, which was built in 1935 for the Joseon dynasty. Admission is about $2.90 for adults and about $1.25 for anyone under 19.

Nepal

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 110 NPR
This nigh legendary destination in the Himalayas attracts backpackers and hikers from across the globe. Everything is inexpensive here. You can get a meal at an inexpensive restaurant is roughly $2.27. A three-course meal for a couple at a mid-range restaurant is roughly $9.50. If you want to splurge on a stay in a four-star hotel it’ll only cost you $56 per night.
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Argentina

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 29 ARS
Here you can visit sections of the Andes Mountains. Stop by Los Glaciares National Park. It’s an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. There’s also Argentina’s oldest national park, Patagonia’s Tierra del Fuego National Park. Visit the capital of Buenos Aires and the exceptional art museums there. There’s the National Museum of Fine Arts where admission is about $4.67 and the Fortabat Art Collection, where admission is under $3.25.

Chile

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 691 CLP
Chile is famous for its geographic diversity. It features ancient forests, picturesque coastline, snow-capped mountains, and sprawling deserts too. In the capital, Santiago, there’s the popular Plaza de Armas which includes the National History Museum and a neoclassical cathedral. Dining at an inexpensive eatery here will cost $8.68. A meal for two at a mid-level restaurant is about $43. You can stay at a youth hostel for under $25 per night.
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Czech Republic

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 22 CZK
Prague is “The City of a Hundred Spires.” Here you’ll find the world-famous medieval Astronomical Clock, Gothic churches and the historic center of the city, Old Town Square complete with numerous colorful baroque buildings. Be sure to see the Museum of Communism, where you’ll discover what daily life under the Czech Republic’s controlling political party was like from 1948 until 1989. Admission for adults is under about $13.

Poland

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.81 PLN
Poland includes 14 UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the primeval Bialowieza Forest, Warsaw’s Old Town (reconstructed after being destroyed in World War II), and the historic stone walled medieval town of Torun. There’s also the popular Wieliczka Salt Mine. Once a normal working mine it was later carved into an elaborate underground city which even includes chapels. Admission is just under $20 for non-Polish adults.
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Croatia

Exchange rate: 1 USD= 6.63 HRK
HBO’s “Game of Thrones” has breathed new life into tourist here. the fictional city called King’s Landing is, in reality, the city of Dubrovnik. Check the medieval metropolis Korcula. It’s an Adriatic island less than 30 miles off the shore and the birthplace of Marco Polo.
Stay in a hostel for only $38 per night. Stop by the friendly seafront city of Pula. See the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater. Admission is about $7.50.

South Africa

Exchange rate: 1 USD=13.88 ZAR
If a safari is on your bucket list you must see Kruger National Park. Odds are you will be able to see all the continent’s “Big Five” animal species: buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, and rhinos. Admission for non-South Africans is about $27. The largest city, Johannesburg, includes the well-known Apartheid Museum, which tells the torrid tale of South Africa’s abandoned system of legal racial segregation. Admission is about $7.
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Australia

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD
There is plenty to do and see here. There’s Sydney, the home of the much-photographed harbor opera house. There’s also the popular Great Barrier Reef and the much-visited Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Admission to the park is about $17.50 for an adult which covers a three-day visit with an optional free two-day extension. You can also purchase a family pass which also covers two or more children for under $45.

Bulgaria

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN
Enjoy the mountains, the Danube River and the Black Sea coastline. Experience the traditional crafts, dance, and music. Be sure to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Nessebar, a seaside town that’s 3,000 years old.
It’s situated on a rugged peninsula on the Black Sea. Enjoy a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for about $5.70. If you want a meal for two at one of their mid-range restaurants that will cost you less than $25.
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Sweden

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 9.4 SEK
Take in Sweden’s stunning landscapes, explore the unspoiled forests, numerous lakes, and many archipelagos. If you’re a history buff interested in learning about this country’s history then head for Stockholm. There you can take in the popular Vasa Museum. It’s “the most visited museum in Scandinavia” and among its treasures, you will see the planet’s best-preserved 17th-century ship. Adult admission is under $16. You can eat at an inexpensive restaurant for roughly $10.85.

Romania

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 4.23 RON
Romania, long associated with Dracula, features multiple medieval villages, the fabled, forested region of Transylvania and numerous massive, mysterious castles such as Bran and Peles Castle. The former harkens back to the 1300s. It is a former royal residence and the Dracula’s alleged lair. If you wish to explore the castle it will cost you $9.45. The rich summer palace, Peles Castle was constructed in 1874. Adult admission is about $7.
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Israel

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.52 ILS
If you are into religious sites, this is the place to be. A number of major events for three of the world’s largest faiths–Christianity, Judaism, and Muslim– are said to have occurred here. The city of Jerusalem alone is rich in religious significance and is the home of the well-known Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock. (There is no admission charge either.) There is also an ancient area that includes other noteworthy spiritual sites. You can enjoy an inexpensive meal there for about $17.

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