I wonder if anyone else here on Wu's takes part in this activity? I'm probably too old to be doing this, but I still find it intriguing to get the flashlights out and investigate long abandoned buildings and properties. My brother joins me in this activity as does my brother-in-law and nephew. I took Lala and Nettie to one site as well a while back where we did a foot shoot.
I'll share a few shots from some of my recent adventures to some very amazing places that are within about an 80 mile radius of home. Just in case you're wondering this is not actually the safest of undertakings as you can run into who any kind of unsavory people that may be hanging out or living in these places, or of course get ticketed for trespassing. Always have your camera and a cover story... "Art Project!" and park your car well away from the site so as to not attract attention.
I won't give out any of the locations of these places other than give a little background info. Don't want anyone else to get into any mischief and blame it on me if they get hurt/caught.
This first place was formerly an army hospital that ended its service at the end of the Vietnam War and shut down in 1975. It appears in the 1990s it was briefly used to sell appliances and electronics as there was lots of vintage VCRs, TVs, and computer equipment as well as vacuum cleaners in all sorts of states of disrepair. Place was tagged quite a bit. The green tiled operating rooms and the morgue were actually in complete darkness. They are only illuminated by the flash of the camera and the small LED flashlights we were using. Place was 4 stories and a basement and sub-basement. Took over 100 pics and some video here.
Creep factor 8 out of 10 stars.
[ February 17, 2013, 11:55 PM: Message edited by: LeDaemon ]
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Another site is this formerly luxury hotel in that same area which was built in 1927 and closed its doors for good in 1972. Famous people stayed here at one time or another: Marilyn Monroe, Bonnie and Clyde, and some presidents! This one took a little acrobatic ability to get into as it is pretty well sealed off and in the middle of downtown. However, where there's a will there's always a way. Probably would be best to mention to take a respirator with you if you have severe allergies or worry about such things as black mold or asbestos. yeah....
Anyway this was about 12 stories tall as well as a huge basement with full kitchen. Took lots of pictures during our exploration of this place. Around every corner I was expecting creepy little girls in matching dresses to say "Come and play with us Danny. Forever, and ever, and ever..."
Creep Factor 9 out of 10.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
This mansion was a originally a lodge built in the late 1920s that also used in later decades as an orphanage as well as a retirement home for widows. The place was shut down in the late 1960s due to code violations and then in the early 1970s a religious cult moved in! Around 1976 they moved out and the place has sat vacant since. In the 90s arsonists torched the building greatly damaging most of the structure.
Upper floors were not very safe to walk on though the basement was structurally sound. Well, maybe.
Creep Factor 6 out of 10. Mostly due to the fact that someone was recently camping out in it in front of the fireplace.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Old meat packing plant and offices closed its doors in the early 1970s. The 1970s seems to be a common theme for this!
I came out to this one a couple of times. Scoped it out with my brother and then brought Lala and Nettie out to it a little later. This site was fairly big with two guard towers and several buildings. Evidence of gang activity abounds and also homeless camp out here at night. No problem checking it out in the middle of the day, but I would not venture out there after dusk.
Creep Factor 7 out of 10. Mostly due to the fact that someone might jump out and knife you.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
I hit a ghost town with my brother back in 2006 that we had visited once before in '92. It was within a few miles of the Oklahoma/Texas border. Houses and other buildings were abandoned as well as vehicles although the graveyard strangely was maintained.
Creepy Factor 5 out of 10.
Posted by DeuceBigglo (Member # 1326) on :
Some great buildings. have you found any valuable items.
Posted by screwhead20 (Member # 16242) on :
Is this all in Texas?
Posted by FootBoi88 (Member # 43020) on :
Hmmm..my my what a nice set these were, feet and old style bldgs. Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Well, I don't go into these places with the intention of taking anything. Just looking around. You will see some weird stuff though when something sits vacant for 40 years.
Yes, all these were in North Texas within an 80 mile radius of where I live. Plans are in a few weeks to hit another ghost town named Thurber which is about 100 miles or so from me. There is was an old brick factory, and coal mine there as well as old buildings that are now abandoned. Another friend of mine that is actually a nurse mentioned another abandoned hospital near the San Antonio area we may try to check out.
Anyone in New Orleans probably already knows about the Six Flags amusement park that was closed after hurricane Katrina indefinitely. That is a big possibility on my list. I've seen photos from it some other explorers have shot which have a creep factor of 11 out of 10.
These aren't my photos, but here's the abandoned Six Flags....
Posted by FootLongSub Zero (Member # 19380) on :
Pretty cool/creepy
Sounds cliche to a horror movie. All you need is a few university/college students and you're away .... these may include; FEMALES - A Hot Blonde - A Mediocre brunette - A Sexy Redhead MALES - A Jock - A Geek/Nerd - A Musician - A Druggie ....
Posted by feetluvr (Member # 1570) on :
Very cool photos. Interesting hobby. There is something fascinating about seeing buildings/towns/parks that used to bustle with activity sitting totally vacant.
Posted by bluetoelover (Member # 14736) on :
Thats some cool shit man. I had an old abandoned one room school house by my parents house that I would go and check out, been abandoned since the 60's. And just up the road from that was a 150 year old farm house that has been abandoned since the 50's that was in pretty rough shape, the whole bottom floor was basically caved in but left behind was some cool stuff from the 40's(a "fridge/ice box",radio) but the coolest thing was seeing newspapers that they used as insulation that had dates on it from 1882!
There was an old barn in the backyard that was full of tools and machinery from the 40's and blew my mind that it was just left there like that... if your an antique guy that place was a goldmine!
Since I moved across the country and am still getting use to my surroundings I haven't had time let alone seen abandoned buildings like that...would love to find some though. Great thread idea! Posted by hoss44467xh (Member # 11629) on :
ya those are good ghost hunting places.
Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
Would love to, but you go poking around abandoned shacks in Australia, you're going to encounter all manner of deadly wildlife willing to kell you haha.
Posted by Salvy_Mic (Member # 13384) on :
Exploring places like this has always been one of my dreams. Out here in L.A., there isn't much that's readily accessible, other than the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. This is one of those old fashioned, turn of the century zoos where they kept the animals in cages instead of enclosures. Apparently, the park rangers don't bother with keeping anyone out of it, but it has been known as a gang hideout.
At any rate, does anyone remember that old MTV show "Fear"? It was something of a game show, where they'd take some skittish gen x-ers and have them stay at some of the oldest, most abandoned places in the country for a night or two and have them perform challenges. You want to talk about creep factor, these places ran the gamut from abandoned mills, cement factories, sugar refineries, a moth-balled WWII era aircraft carrier, an old civil war era fort, etc. However, nothing could touch the handful of prisons, asylums, and hospitals. Stuff of nightmares right there.
Posted by JLCupcakes (Member # 45996) on :
Okay...I heart you! I do this a lot too! I don't have any pictures except modeling ones of me in abandon places,lol! I wish I took the time to not just work, but actually take pictures of some pretty stellar locations too! This is the only one I have on my laptop! But This was a lovely row building that was a dentist office, and We found a fun little air tank there, with mask! Just look at the wallpaper too! I hope this picture isn't too um...offensive to some! Sorry, heh! Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Cool shot JLCupcakes!!! If you were in my area I'd give you a call to run around with me on one of these outings.
Just went to this place yesterday. In my town it is nicknamed "Morningside Murder Factory." It was a waste disposal plant that was only in operation for a couple of years from the late 1950s to 1960s. Basically the disposal of garbage by the incinerators which belched out toxic smoke to the poor neighborhoods just under a mile away probably didn't go over well even back in those days.
Very seedy area to be in and I'm assuming "Murder Factory" has to do with the number of bodies that have turned up in the area over the years to drug deals gone bad to gangland killings.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
A group of seven of us went to this place that was built in 1950 and originally owned by the FAA. The complex was about 171,000 sq. ft. in size and had multiple buildings, garages, and a large courtyard. Gate was unlocked and we sneaked in pretty easily. There was one guy in the area on a bulldozer doing some work, but we managed to avoid him the whole 2 hours we were wandering through here.
The place was most recently used by a group of airsoft rifle fans that used to have urban warfare meetups there. Guys would be decked out in fatigues, face masks, helmets, and go to town shooting BB guns at each other and tossing BB grenades. Believe me, the place was covered in BBs and exploded grenades.
Posted by FootLongSub Zero (Member # 19380) on :
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
This is a really old power plant that I was not able to get into at the time we went. Shot a lot of stuff around it and managed to shoot the one interesting interior shot through a hole in a wall. The place makes me think of the "Fear" or "Halflife" games. A guy I met that I went through the FAA building with in the above post said he was able to get in it after about 2 hours of trying, but no one else with him could follow him. He wisely decided not to explore alone. Planning on adding this to the return later list.
Posted by bluetoelover (Member # 14736) on :
Thing to watch out for in that old power plant would be possible H2S exposure(Hydrogen Sulfide), especially if you go into an unopened room/area that could have it just building up there. Might not hurt to get a gas monitor, be nice to know what your breathing in at those places lol usually run about 100-300 bucks depending on the brand you get.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Our group grew to 11 this time when we met up and hit an old rail road warehouse in the downtown area. The place used to be locked up tight, but someone had cut the heavy padlock to the basement gate allowing us entrance. When we got there three photographers were already in there with lighting and tripods sneaking around like we were.
The building has eight stories and a basement as well as rooftop access with additional buildings. The building was used during the 1990s for a giant haunted house during Halloween and then as a paint ball arena. Not sure what the future is for it.
Posted by FootLongSub Zero (Member # 19380) on :
Maybe next time keep an eye out for loose bricks/floor boards as there maybe hidden treasures (safes/secret stashes/dead corpse...lol ) you never know Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
One day I'm going to run across some human remains I'm sure of it.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Nine of us went to an abandoned waste water treatment plant that is hidden in the middle of town and is actually next to a park. The place is a breeding ground for mosquitoes in the summer and scary green and brown toxic sludge waters are stagnant in pools. We pretty much covered ourselves in insect repellent before stepping foot here.
The place was huge and covered several acres of land. The site was in operation from the 1920s until the late 1970s when it shut down and a modern facility took its place. However, nothing has been done with it since then!
One of the girl's that's in our group works in water treatment and she was telling us how the whole operation worked. She was quite upset with this place left in the state its in and of course the environmental dangers to people and animals. In those trenches you can find the skeletons of stray dogs that wandered in here and fell to their deaths below. Turkey vultures kept their eyes on us from above hoping we'd take a tumble and become their next "fresh" meal.
One cool thing was finding an administrative office that was filled with records and old log books from the operations of the place. Oldest thing I found (pictured) was dated to 1928. Most recent was from 1977.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
A good friend of mine invited me down to spend the day with her exploring a few sites in central Texas. Unfortunately our main objective a former luxury hotel that was built in the 1920s and has been closed since the 1960s was not open for us to check out. We did find a small ghost town called Moline that had an old stone gas station and a school house that had been closed since 1949. The old piano in the school added to the extra creepy factor.
Posted by NorcalfeetStudios (Member # 732) on :
Man those are epic pics, that place is ready for the Zombie Apocalypse lol.
Posted by topcat1238 (Member # 4044) on :
I live in Westchester NY and the underground exploration movement is pretty big here. Lots of abandoned old hospitals, hotels ect....
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
quote:Originally posted by topcat1238: I live in Westchester NY and the underground exploration movement is pretty big here. Lots of abandoned old hospitals, hotels ect....
Its really amazing what's out there just left to the elements. Are you involved in any of it?
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
This past Sunday we went exploring in an abandoned nursing home that was on a rather sketchy side of town. When we exited the building I found a crisp $20 bill laying on the ground next to a pair of discarded flip flops. There must be a story behind that one. Everyone but me and Sammie felt the need to wear a mask to filter out all the asbestos, mold, dust, etc floating around in the air.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
This is an abandoned single screen movie theater that closed down at least back in the 1970s. There was old movie tickets, bits of film, old piano, and old movie projector vacuum tubes laying about as well as other interesting artifacts. Word of note, someone was living in here as evidence by the queen size mattress, clothes, and food supplies that were nearby.
I visited it with the above group of explorers a second time, but didn't take pictures and found old concert ticket stubs from the 90s to all kinds of metal shows (Metallica, Pantera, Marilyn Manson) that whoever was living there had with his belongings. Guess the person was a real rocker and burnout and kept a hold of his precious ticket stubs from 20 years ago while he lives on the streets. Strange...
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Got to explore the abandoned power plant fully on two different occasions. This was from about a month ago before I took Sammie along. The place was HUGE and one of the most impressive explorations we have ever undertook.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Returned to the Baker Hotel with another group to explore again. Found some interesting things not seen previously before this time around.
Posted by oneagain (Member # 35859) on :
Wow...uncanny stuff. Would be cool to explore it. Sad to see how something could have had such life but now it is just dead and rotting away with no purpose.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
....
![[Hump]](graemlins/hump.gif)
