Located about 37 miles northeast of Madrid, Ciudad Valdeluz was originally planned as a dormitory town for the mid income workers who cannot afford the housing prices of Madrid. Scheduled as a stop along the high speed rail, Alta Velocidad Espanola (AVE), the developer Reyal‐Urbis anticipated large amount of people who would be interested in this project. With this in mind, the project was planned at a massive scale that would accommodate 30,000 people. However, the 2008 financial crisis crashed the Spanish housing market, and only about 1,000 people moved in Ciudad Valdeluz. Reyal‐Urbis quickly abandoned the building efforts; without paying for the mortgage, the banks ended up owning most of the properties. In an effort to recuperate their losses, the banks began trying to sell the apartments in bulk and at half the market price, further tanking property value.

       Today, the only amenities in town are a supermarket, a corner shop and a medical center that opens only twice a week. A 24 hour security patrol is also put in place to ensure the safety of the residents.

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DESERTED PLACES: The Spanish ghost town of Ciudad Valdeluz