Restricted Sites for Tourists in 2025
While it may appear that the entire globe is a smorgasbord for tourism, not every delicacy from the past is still available on the travel menu.
Some attractions and establishments ceased to exist in 2024, some due to natural catastrophes, others due to financial challenges, or simply a shift in preferences.
Here are a couple of places you won't be able to visit in 2025 – or likely, ever again.
Two Icons of Las Vegas
Two iconic casino hotels disappeared from the Las Vegas skyline this year – the Tropicana and the Mirage. The Mirage, which opened in 1989, will be replaced by a new Hard Rock property in the shape of a giant guitar. On the other hand, the Tropicana was demolished in October to make way for a stadium for the Oakland Athletics baseball team, relocating to Sin City.
Alternative Option: In 2024, Sphere revolutionized the Las Vegas Strip. The massive LED-lit orb is a futuristic event venue that kicked off with a series of concerts by U2. CNN’s Brandon Griggs, who visited on opening weekend, described it as “like being in a giant planetarium, a juiced-up IMAX theater or maybe VR without the headset.”
Chez Michou, Paris
An emblematic drag club bid adieu to Paris' Montmartre neighborhood. The club, Chez Michou, cited financial difficulties following the death of owner Michel “Michou” Catty in 2020 as the reason for its closure.
Catty was a well-known figure in France whose passing was publicly mourned by President Emmanuel Macron, and Chez Michou was the inspiration for the musical “La Cage aux Folles."
Alternative Option: Just off the Champs-Elysees, Crazy Horse is one of the hottest tickets for burlesque and cabaret performances in Paris, hosting stars like Lisa from Blackpink and Dita Von Teese.
The Rubin Museum of Art, New York City
2024 proved to be a challenging year for New York City's art museum scene. The Rubin Museum, a Chelsea institution with one of the world's largest collections of Himalayan art, announced it would be closing its physical space and becoming a “museum without walls.”
The Rubin bid farewell in October, but has said that some of its works – including the popular Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room – may move to other museums.
Alternative Option: Head to the Nicholas Roerich Museum, which is located in an unassuming Upper West Side townhouse. Roerich was a Russian painter who moved to India and created numerous paintings of the Himalayan landscape throughout his career. It's free to enter – and rarely crowded.
Fotografiska, New York City
The other major art museum saying goodbye to the Big Apple is Fotografiska, an offshoot of the Stockholm-based photography museum of the same name.
The museum's last day in operation at its Park Avenue home was September 29, albeit the owners have not given up on New York City and hope to move into another location.
Alternative Option: The International Center of Photography's museum on the Lower East Side hosts talks, screenings, and book signings in addition to photo exhibitions. It's also close to the Tenement Museum and the Museum of Chinese in America, offering a world of culture in a single afternoon's itinerary.
Wayfarers Chapel, Ranchos Palos Verdes, California
The Wayfarers Chapel, a National Historic Register-listed glass church in southern California, has fallen victim to climate change.
Designed by Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, the structure was at serious risk from landslides in the area. As a result, the trustees made the decision to disassemble the chapel and store it until another home can be found.
Alternative Option: About 40 miles west of Ranchos Palos Verdes, in the Orange County town of Garden Grove, lies Christ Cathedral, often referred to as “the crystal cathedral" due to its reflective glass building materials. Its design was inspired by a four-pointed star.
Private Streets in Gion, Kyoto, Japan
In Japan's former capital, the influx of tourists attracted to traditional geishas has become a source of displeasure for residents in Kyoto's historic Gion neighborhood.
To try and limit the flow of “geisha paparazzi," earlier this year, the Gion local council voted to block off many of the side streets and alleys, although major thoroughfares will remain open to the public.
Alternative Option: Tourists who want to learn more about geisha culture are encouraged to do so at locally-run organizations. The Gion Kagai Art Museum, which opened in 2024, has exhibits about geishas, daily performances, and opportunities to take pictures with geishas and maikos (their apprentices).
Rothko Chapel, Houston
Like the Wayfarers Chapel, another spiritual tourist site has been affected by climate change. The Rothko Chapel in Houston, which housed 14 artworks by the famous painter Mark Rothko, was badly damaged during Hurricane Beryl.
The category-five storm hit Texas in July 2024, causing rain to seep into the museum. It's now closed indefinitely.
Alternative Option: There are “Rothko Rooms” at other global museums for fans of the abstract expressionist to visit: one in the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, and one at London's Tate Modern.
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen established a unique museum in Seattle, showcasing his own collection of ancient computers and tech gadgets. This museum stood out as it welcomed visitors to interact with and experiment with all displayed items. After Allen's demise in 2018 and the arrival of the pandemic in 2020, the Living Computers museum temporarily halted operations before finally closing down completely in 2024. The museum's artifacts are set for auction.
Alternative Option: Allen reviewed several organizations in the Emerald City and contributed to the Museum of Pop Culture. This vibrant institution merges various cultural elements and serves as a housing site for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
"Dual Arches" at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
In 2024, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area encountered a significant setback when the "Dual Arches" disintegrated. The national park staff attributed this incident to erosion and fluctuating water levels that weakened the formation, which was made of near 200-million-year-old Navajo sandstone.
Alternative Option: Utah boasts an abundance of awe-inspiring natural features: Arches National Park has experienced such popularity that time-entry systems and crowd management strategies have become essential in recent years. However, there are numerous opportunities for Instagram-worthy photo spots at lesser-known state parks like Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Goblin Valley, and the Great Salt Lake, offering scenic beauty without the massive crowds.
Due to the demolition, the Tropicana casino hotel, a well-known icon in Las Vegas, will no longer be an option for travelers in 2025. Similarly, Chez Michou, a famous drag club in Paris, closed its doors in 2024 due to financial difficulties, making it unavailable for travelers seeking that unique experience.
