Dysktra, Vick, Widener mansions make ‘Creepy Abandoned’ list

Out of "thousands of palatial estates deserted and patiently awaiting sales," Forbes picked "Nine Creepy Abandoned Mansions" - and three have Philadelphia connections.

The others include the site of a murder-suicide, two allegedly haunted houses, and the Florida residence that Osama Bin Laden's brother ditched.

Of local interest are:

"1915 Moonlight Road, Surry, Va." was the site of "Bad Newz Kennel," where then Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, now the Eagles starter, ran the illegal dog-fighting operation that landed him in prison. Vick sold the vandalized, looted place for about $450,000 to a developer who fixed it up and put it on the market for $1.1 million in 2007. Last month, Dogs Deserve Better, a Tipton, Pa., nonprofit, gave up its bid to turn the site into a canine rehab center.

"1072 Newbern Court, Thousand Oaks, Calif." is one of two mansions abandoned by former Phillies all-star Lenny Dykstra, who bought the place from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky for a reported $17.5 million. After a high-flying flirtation a couple of years ago with appearing to be an investment guru, Dykstra saw his fortunes plummet, to the point where he owed millions, went bankrupt, became the target of lawsuits - and even wound up living in his car. A maid's charges of sexual abuse were dropped by investigators early this year. The house is now listed for $10.5 million, says Forbes.