Urban Spelunking

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

In addition to pornography, steampunk, taxidermy and science, I also have a semi-obsessive interest in urban spelunking and "secrets of the built environment." And though my interest is great, my knowledge is usually very general or generally lacking (at least in expertise).

I'm not a pornographer (yet), I haven't built anything steampunk (yet), I haven't stuffed a beloved dead pet (yet), and only once have I broken into an abandoned home turned Crack Den to investigate the mysteries within. I haven't ventured into an abandoned hotel in Detroit (yet); I haven't even watched that Underworld show in the History Channel...(yet).

In other words, I haven't done a very good job at turning my interests into actual hobbies. Instead, I live a very exciting imaginary life and read BoingBoing.net as often as I'm able.

Niagra Falls has a dirty little secret.



Ooh-lah-lah, how I love urban unmentionables: secret tunnels, rediscovered underground cities, the Mole people, etc.

Vanishing Point is a nice place to visit these treasures for those who, like me, are in process of bolstering their adventurous spirit.

[Not Afraid]

HEY! That's a scene from my brain while I was reading Neverwhere!

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I dunno - all I see are boobs - maybe that's just me...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

In addition to pornography,

Huh, did you say something after this? I kinda spaced out for a minute.

[I Heart Disneyland]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Huh, did you say something after this? I kinda spaced out for a minute.

haha!

[BDBopper]

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

I dunno - all I see are boobs - maybe that's just me...

DING DING DING!!! That's exactly what I said when I looked at that picture

[Capt Jack]

there were a slew of abandoned sewer lines near the house I grew up in. a good portion of them were left cut off and dry after a freeway cut through and they were re-routed. one of my childhood friends dads worked for the city and showed them to us one day.

of course, once we knew they were there, we went exploring them many times on our own. a thing that could surely have met with disaster on more than one occasion, even if only being busted.

Ive done a few different caves, most recently the last Camp Swank. the caves we explored were incredible, beautiful and eerie but the man made ones were just downright frightening and had a spooky feel I dont find in natural caves

you should make it a point to visit something of that nature...well guided and supervised of course, but worth every second of the trapped in a H.R.Giger painting feel

[€uroMeinke]

One of the pleasures I've had in my job is occasionally visiting abandoned or repurposed buildings - some as much as a century old, and quite industrial for the time - they may sport their own stables, black smith shops, etc. And some housed some huge machinary, that when removed left underground passages, trap doors to unusual places, stairs and doorways leading nowhere, or rooms sealed from any normal entrance. Often these places had stories of hauntings, doors opening and closing on their own and the like.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I love the idea of such places, but I get the feeling some sort of latent claustrophobia would set in.

[Boss Radio]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

One of the pleasures I've had in my job is occasionally visiting abandoned or repurposed buildings - some as much as a century old, and quite industrial for the time - they may sport their own stables, black smith shops, etc. And some housed some huge machinary, that when removed left underground passages, trap doors to unusual places, stairs and doorways leading nowhere, or rooms sealed from any normal entrance. Often these places had stories of hauntings, doors opening and closing on their own and the like.

And don't forget the abandoned Sunkist factory of our youth.