Urbexing America?

[LittleMadam]

Hi guys,

I just got back from a work trip to Orlando, and saw a lovely site I would love to visit.

I am a complete nervous wreck when it comes to explores, so much so I rarely do it now. Has anyone tried it in the states, or know the risks involved?

The place I want to go is here

looks well sexy xxx

 

[Mikeymutt]

I think you will find the law is different from state to state.

 

[Bones out]

Hi guys,

I just got back from a work trip to Orlando, and saw a lovely site I would love to visit.

I am a complete nervous wreck when it comes to explores, so much so I rarely do it now. Has anyone tried it in the states, or know the risks involved?

The place I want to go is here

looks well sexy xxx

PM @mookster. He is your man, he is a regular explorer in the USA and will guide you I'm sure. Look up some of his reports, good stuff indeed..

 

[LittleMadam]

Oh wow he's done loads! Thanks for the pointer, will drop him a line xxx

 

[mookster]

Yeah I've done three explore trips to the USA now, mostly around the North East but a few bits and bobs in the Midwest.

It's a different kettle of fish over there compared to how easy we have it over here as trespass is a criminal offence. If you are caught there is a very high chance of, at the very least, a citation to appear in court (which usually ends up with a fine of a couple of hundred dollars) or an arrest. I have come very close to arrest twice, both on my last trip over and the American police really are not to be messed with, it's not fun.

The response you get really entirely depends on the state, as different states deal with stuff differently. In Texas for instance there are the castle laws which means trespassers can be fired upon by property owners to get them off their land. Also it's worth noting 'breaking and entering' over there doesn't necessarily require a 'breaking' part to be charged with it - simply opening an unlocked door is classed as breaking and entering. However like over here when dealing with police you get those that are more lenient than others and let you go if you've obviously only been photographing places, but you also have the ones who will arrest you immediately. Back in the summer my friend in Buffalo NY was exploring a school in the city and was held at gunpoint by police who stormed the place, arrested, spent the night in the cells and was given a six month good behaviour bond which if he breaks he will go to jail so it can be pretty rough.

That being said, for the most part I have treated all my explores over there exactly how I'd go about them here. Be careful, don't be an idiot and have your wits about you and generally it will be OK. It was quite a shock to my system on my first explores with Americans just how cautious they are when it comes to accessing places, but having had the two encounters with police back in September I fully appreciate how much higher the stakes can be. I've seen some truly incredible locations over there over the last year or so and barely scratched the surface of what I want to do.

Any more info feel free to PM me, I love it out there.

 

[LittleMadam]

Wow! What a fascinating response. I think I will pass unless I see anything completely gone!

I knew about the right to protect your property which is a law I respect, but your experiences sound harrowing. Do you have trouble getting back into the states?

I might look at ghost towns as an alternative, just trying to find some that have a good chunk of bits left.

Thanks for your insight and some fascinating reports! You're very brave!!

Xxx

 

[Foxylady]

I might look at ghost towns as an alternative, just trying to find some that have a good chunk of bits left.

Nevada's a great place for ghost towns as they've literally got hundreds there, many of them mining towns, many of them intact with all the buildings. Here's a good link to a list of them...

Ghost Towns of Nevada

 

[Foxylady]

Ah, this one's better, as the photo files were missing on the other link. I have a friend on Flickr who lives in Nevada and she visits old towns often. The photos are amazing.

Nevada Ghost Towns

 

[LittleMadam]

Oh wow there's loads, I'm on my ipad at the moment so can't see pictures. It looks like a gold mine of ghost towns!!!

I can almost imagine if as I went to Mariposa near Yosemite in March and that was a fully thriving toiwn but like walking back in time, so know if love Nevada!!

Unfortunately I've only got a day spare in Florida, so I need to pick wisely!!

 

[SlimJim]

Pity you're only about in Florida...the desert ghost towns are great. Some are converted to tourist attractions, but some are genuinely derelict and sometimes accessed via dirt road. Rhyolite, Nevada recommended Big ass tarantulas in the scrub!

 

[BikinGlynn]

Yanks with guns!!! don't think Ill bother lol

 

[The Wombat]

Cracking advise from Mookster

I have been to the US & Canada a dozen times, but never explored over there. My roadtrip co-pilot over there doesn't get the whole exploring thing. He moved from California to the deep south, where it can be justifiable to defend your property.

On a coast to coast roadtrip, driving through ultra rural Texas there were several derelict which looked really interesting, but I couldn't persuade him to stop the car.
We went to Dawson, Yukon a few years previous; Half the wild west style buildings right downtown were derelict there; would loved to have had a look.

 

[mookster]

Wow! What a fascinating response. I think I will pass unless I see anything completely gone!

I knew about the right to protect your property which is a law I respect, but your experiences sound harrowing. Do you have trouble getting back into the states?

I might look at ghost towns as an alternative, just trying to find some that have a good chunk of bits left.

Thanks for your insight and some fascinating reports! You're very brave!!

Xxx

Provided I don't get arrested and charged it's all good. If you are arrested they can cancel your visa and send you home though, so I don't go out of my way to do anything super risky. Ironically the two places I nearly ended up arrested at were two of the most ruined trashed locations I've seen while over there which should have been easy in and outs. Luckily as far as I'm aware the castle laws are only in effect in Texas.

Ghost towns are awesome, I have a friend I keep meaning to stay with who owns a ranch out in rural California and from there I'm sure I can go on a bit of a ghost town tour.

It's a pity you'll only be in Florida, I don't know too much about the exploring down there apart from the abandoned Disneyworld stuff and the old Aerojets site which housed a NASA solid fuel rocket booster in an underground silo, but thats now been flattened and the silo covered up with huge concrete slabs

Yanks with guns!!! don't think Ill bother lol

I haven't had too much trouble or worries about weapons, provided you are sensible. I have however been exploring in some pretty damn sketchy areas which make places you class as bad over here look like holiday camps. Newark in New Jersey is the only place I have ever stayed where I felt self-consciously white, and similarly Trenton in New Jersey is a place I didn't even want to get out the car in. You've just got to be aware of your surroundings a lot more.

 

[The Wombat]

This report is from Florida; I remember came up a couple of years ago, and thought it looked fantastic:

http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/mai...-kissimmee-florida-usa.html?highlight=florida

 

[LittleMadam]

Splendid China, does indeed look very splendid! I don't think I have the courage to do it though, I can't afford to be denied access to the States due to me job. So won't be worth it.

I am looking at Lehigh Acres as a potential ghost town to visit, or I've seen this video, and it looks amazing. The location is eluding me however with hours scouring over Google Maps looking for those rare curved roads near the Everglades. I will keep looking though, it looks epic!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq3rBmJJKtA

 

[LittleMadam]

OMG just found the location and it is so close to where I'll be!!!!

Too excited for words just to drive through!!!