Arrowtown, New Zealand: Gaol

The title probably mystified you until you realize that the attraction is pronounced "jail." Yup, it's a small prison for the bad seeds of the Arrowtown area. Before this was built in 1876, police prisoners were limited to two at a time and held in a very small building. The others often were chained to a log. That proved less than effective for one man, who picked up the log and headed for the nearest pub.

Only one successful escape from the jail is said to have taken place. A guard was overpowered by a prisoner, who locked the door behind him after escaping. The guard lived close to his house, and yelled out the window for help. But his wife thought it was just a prisoner yelling which was pretty typical. Eventually Mrs. Guard caught on, but the jail bird had flown the coop. 

It was used through the 1930s, although some people had a unofficial New Year's Eve party there in 1987.