Hidden in the undergrowth across the USA stand the forgotten ruins of remarkable historic homes. Once the playgrounds of high society, these estates are now crumbling shadows of their former selves with some pretty fascinating stories to tell. From tragic tales of heartbreak and haunting to a prince from outer space, click or scroll through as we reveal the curious past lives of some of America's most intriguing abandoned stately homes.

Dating back to 1838, this grand pre-Civil War estate was once a landmark home in Milledgeville, Georgia. The regal residence was built for Colonel Samuel Rockwell, an attorney and slaveholder. Captured by Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast, these incredible images show the home's sad decline after it was abandoned back in 1969.

No expense was spared on the property's imposing design, with every piece of wood that went into the construction hand-cut with expert skill. The bill for the wrought-iron fence alone is said to have been around $2,600. The mysterious abandoned mansion isn't short of intriguing tales either and rumor has it that gold is buried somewhere on the land.

Set amongst almost 50 acres of dense woodland, this huge abandoned castle is located in New York's Westchester County. The vast stone mansion was built and designed in the late 1920s by David Thomas Abercombie – the co-founder of clothing giant Abercrombie and Fitch – and his wife, Lucy Abbott Cate.

The property's title, Elda Castle, comprises the first letter of each of the couple's four children's names in birth order. Long abandoned, the home has lost the fight with Mother Nature, however, the 4,337-square-foot mansion is still undeniably enchanting. Once upon a time, this remote, romantic home must've been the perfect country retreat for the Abercrombie family. 

Spread across a number of stories, the home features arched doorways, a cast-iron spiral staircase, bespoke leaded windows and an outdoor fireplace. There are a generous 25 rooms in total – plenty of space for a large family to stretch out.

While several subsequent owners have tried to bring the crumbling castle back from the brink over the years, none have been successful, creating something of a lore around the seemingly irreparable property. Here's hoping this fairytale estate gets the happy ending it deserves. 

Robert Hodges, also known as the self-appointed Prince Mongo, purchased the 19th-century property and transformed it into a nightclub. Millionaire Hodges claims to be a 333-year-old alien ambassador from the planet of Zambodia. Inside, the abandoned American castle shows signs of his extraterrestrial enterprise, with martini glasses still lingering on the bar.

Though Mihaly managed to complete much of the exterior, including turrets and intricate pinnacles, work was put on hold a few years later and the promising self build project sadly descended into a state of disrepair.

With the roof leaking and the windows broken and smashed, an extensive overhaul is needed to breathe new life into the forlorn structure. Still in the midst of renovations, Mihaly thinks the project will cost around $200,000, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The military surplus entrepreneur had a smaller castle-like building constructed next to the elaborate warehouse, where he resided for a number of years. But when he died in 1918, the grand home build wasn't quite finished.

This romantic ruin may have a cheerful name, but its tragic history is anything but. In 1903, Kansas City businessman Robert McClure Snyder, Sr began purchasing land near Camdenton, Missouri, including the Ha Ha Tonka Lake, which means smiling waters in the local Native American language.

Another abandoned mansion with a dark secret, this languishing neo-Gothic pile sits on a thousand acres of land deep in New York's Catskill Mountains and has been ominously dubbed the Castle of Sorrow.

Dundas reportedly left a fortune of $40 million, but his daughter Muriel is said to have been duped out of the bulk of her inheritance by the castle caretakers. Construction ceased in 1924, leaving the castle in an unfinished state.

Seemingly cursed, Wyckoff's wife reportedly passed away a month before he moved into the property in 1895. Bereft and broken-hearted, Wyckoff met the same fate – he's said to have died in his sleep from a heart attack during his first night in the villa.

Following the war, General Electric pretty much deserted the expensive abandoned mansion. Structurally unsound, the home's death-trap tower has been demolished as a safety precaution and the rest of the property has been encircled in barbed wire.

Wyckoff Villa has since been on the market for years but has failed to attract a buyer willing to part with millions of dollars to fund its renovation. If you're interested, the 11-bedroom wreck, which sits on almost seven acres, is listed with Howard Hanna for $495,000.

Steeped in faded grandeur, this ruined plantation mansion near the town of Lowndesboro, Alabama dates back to 1830 and was remodeled in a Greek Revival style during the 1850s.

The abandoned Alabama mansion passed through a couple of prominent Southern families and was bought in 1901 by Robert Dickson, who named it Dicksonia. Like many mansions in this round-up, Dicksonia was destroyed by fire.

In the 1990s, the ruins and grounds scored a new owner, who rather than rebuilding the grand home, has decided to preserve what remains. Over the past 20 years, the exterior of the photogenic home has featured in movies and fashion shoots, and the grounds are available to hire for weddings and other events.

Back in New York, which seems to have more than its fair share of abandoned stately homes, photographer Bryan Sansivero chanced upon this enigmatic abandoned mansion in 2016. Located a few miles outside of the Big Apple, he captured the creepy house in all its eerie glory.

The 57-room mansion, which dates from the 1930s, was abandoned in 1976 by its owner, who was reportedly known to snap up grand estates and bizarrely leave them to crumble. Like a horror movie set, the time-wrap home remains frozen in time. 

The bulk of the mansion's fixtures and furnishing were inexplicably left to rot, including the grand pianos, antique sofas, marble fire surround and crystal chandelier that adorn the cavernous drawing room.

Vandals have scrawled graffiti on some of the walls, the paintwork is peeling off and some of the windows are broken, letting the elements in, but the mansion is actually in pretty good shape, all things considered. You can see more of Bryan Sansivero's stunning photography on his Instagram account.

Loved this? Like and follow us on Facebook for more amazing abandoned homes