Originally published on Islands.

8 Once-Abandoned Train Stations That Have Transformed Into Something Else

By Rosheda Stephenson  Aug. 22, 2026 6:30 pm EST

There's something about abandoned buildings that brings out the adventurer in some travelers. From discovering previously unknown artifacts in the vacant recesses of older buildings to the unique aesthetic decay they often hold, many love nothing more than exploring a structure left in ruins. These train stations no longer offer the adventure of walking through decomposition or vast empty spaces — for that, you can consider visiting one of the once-thriving Olympic Stadiums that now lie abandoned or one of the U.S.'s abandoned airports. But they hold another kind of charm. Where there used to be decay and emptiness, they've been restored, offering insight into the past. Their previously vacant spaces now fill with activity and human interaction.

Many offer different types of accommodations: Charming bed and breakfasts and elegant hotels that welcome guests into lobbies resembling the old train stations' waiting rooms from the distant past. Others hold museums, many exhibiting railroad history, but some with unique subject matter. One European train station has been refitted into an unusual tropical destination that you wouldn't expect to find on the continent. If you ever find yourself in one of these destinations, consider adding their repurposed train stations to your itinerary.

Union Pacific Railroad Depot, U.S.A (Now Asher Adams Hotel)

Ritu Manoj Jethani/Shutterstock
Imagine the western U.S. as a vast, unreachable empty land, without Hollywood, San Francisco, or any of California's many European-looking small towns. That was the state of affairs before Union Pacific began building America's first transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. After they built the railroad system that would birth industries and towns across California and the rest of the West, the railroad company turned to stations. Completed in 1909, the Union Pacific Railroad Depot in Salt Lake City, Utah, was one of its most exceptional buildings.

Decorated with French Renaissance-style embellishments, the roof was its most outstanding feature. Other architectural touches, like windows crafted from stained glass, grand murals, terrazzo floors, arched windows, and skylights, added to its allure. Inside, a central waiting room was topped by a domed ceiling and flanked by the ticket office, baggage rooms, and more. The station was Salt Lake City's railway hub until around 1986, when the popularity of air travel and other factors shuttered many train services. By 1989, all operations ceased, and it became a storage space. Since then, it's been reincarnated in many ways.

Its latest reinvention is Asher Adams Hotel, a spectacular destination that opened in 2024 with many of the original details. Upon entering the lobby, guests are greeted by murals from the 20th-century station on opposite ends of the walls. Stretching between them, the stained glass windows have been meticulously restored, and the flooring and walls also look like they did back then. But modern amenities like a bar and coffee bar have been added. Honoring the building's past, two event venues, Desert Wind and Pioneer, are named for trains and routes, respectively, while many suites are named for figures instrumental to the old station.