Abandoned Places

Before anyone else should get the idea that rushing out to this site is a good one, it is in full view of the nearby freeway and businesses. There’s another small problem or problems – bees. Near the skull and at the top of the pillar holding up the batting cage net, were nests. We gave them plenty of room and they saw no reason to be interested in us. The site once included an amusement hall, but that was destroyed by fire sometime in 2006. The new owner of the property had planned to renovate the building (before it had burned) then install a go-cart track and bumper cars. The fire ended that.


The nest in this area was down under the rocks

( New Look Coming Soon! (12 behind the cut) )

As mentioned, several members of the socal_abandoned community got together for venture to one known site and one I’d seen many times, but never had time to go to. After exploring the little bungalow, we decided on some wholesome (family-style) fun. We went to the mini-golf course.



( New Look Coming Soon! (12 behind the cut) )

As mentioned, several members of the socal_abandoned community got together for venture to one known site and one I’d seen many times, but never had time to go to. The little bungalow near Culver City and in the heart of Greater Los Angeles had more than a feel surprises inside. There was a definite feeling that the previous legitimate resident there, had been an old woman and her children or grandchildren. Things we found indivated a family member in jail and the older woman’s failing health.


Ghosts remain here

( Inside looking out (21 behind the cut) )

After a somewhat enforced absence, I’m happy to offer you some views from a trip I took with several members from socal_abandoned. The first site we went to was once a lovely little bungalow near Culver City and in the heart of Greater Los Angeles. In fact I was more than a bit surprised because the house is nestled among in a nice neighborhood.


Don’t bother knocking

( Outside in (10 behind the cut) )

In a very rare departure from my exclusively abandoned sites pictures, I thought I should put the previous Nike Battery pictures into context. The trip wasn't just to see the battery. The missile site happened to be open and accessible though. Unless there's a strong outcry, here's images from the nearby lighthouse park including a few images from the Sunken City area (which we couldn't get into due to an offical presence in the restricted area. The last three images are from the Sunken City.

Going to Pt Fermin is always a pleasure because of the amazing views in and around the park. The lighthouse (upper park) is very close to the Sunken City and offer amazing views of the abundant sea life in and around San Pedro Bay.

( Here and there [7 behind the cut] )
( Sunken City from a distance [3 behind the cut] )

I was going to post photos from the lighthouse complex, but I think those are mainly going to go to the “nature photo of the day” files. Never fear there will be some posted later by themselves. Instead, one of the next places we visited after the tide pools was a fading remnant of the Cold War.

Welcome to Battery LA-43, Fort McArthur former NIKE Hercules Missile Battery


Proceed through the security gate with caution.

( Getting above it all [15 and a video behind the cut] )

Given recent troubles with Photobucket eating these images for a day or two, I’m very happy to offer up these images. badgerphone and I wandered around the local area one day back in early July. We revisited several older locations and found a few new ones. It always amazes me how many of these sites there are so close to a metro area home to nearly 7 million (Los Angeles basin). The growth of that metropolis is sadly also the reason many of these sites are disappearing here.

Return to the east valley commercial farm


“Invitation”

( Fading away [10 Behind the cut] )

Given recent troubles with Photobucket eating these images for a day or two, I’m very happy to offer up these images. badgerphone and I wandered around the local area one day back in early July. We revisited several older locations and found a few new ones. It always amazes me how many of these sites there are so close to a metro area home to nearly 7 million (Los Angeles basin). The growth of that metropolis is sadly also the reason many of these sites are disappearing here.

Return to the Joshua Tree Grange #664

Blue tint was due to an interesting (and unplanned) shutter latching effect with my D-SLR

( 108F in the shade [9 Behind the cut] )

As many of you know, on many weekends I’ve roamed the high deserts of southern California with family and friends photographing the many abandoned homes, businesses, mines, farms, military posts, ghost towns and factories that dot the region.

Some of you also know that I’m the event photographer for Fright Night LA. The two projects converge on September 14th, when I will be the featured artist of the month. I will be displaying and selling copies of some of the best works. Check out the event flyer and the slide show below. If you’re in Southern California, I’d love to see you there.



Event Flyer

Photos will be offered in sizes:
5” x 7”, 8” x 10” and a very limited number in 20” x 30” poster size.

We safely got past the fire without incident, though my daughter was very upset by it. We descended back into the Antelope Valley and before angling north towards Rosamond, we found a double-wide mobile home that was abandoned to the elements and vandals.


On one side was a decaying couch

( Dust in the wind..[+20] )

For some of you who've read this journal, the story of Felicia is something of a legend. Today we discovered that legends can end. My friend badgerphone and I went hunting for the elusive Felicia. We were stunned to find that Floyd's Place (a primary Felicia site) had been heavily damaged by an intentional arson fire. Another photographer was there when we arrived and said that she did indeed have a car and could drive off, but he didn't know what happened to her.

We drove to Bessie's place (nearby) and discovered that another intentional fire had been attempted there, but did not get out of hand. We searched in the nearby areas for signs but nothing. We'll search more tomorrow. Pictures to follow later.

EDIT:
For those who aren’t sure who Felicia is, I’m including links to previous posts about her and the places she has been discovered at. Theses links go to my LJ (easier to find) but where cross posted on “Abandonedplaces” as well.

The original articles:
Floyd’s Place (May 06)
http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/99126.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/99799.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/99898.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/100297.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/100659.html


Bessie’s Place: (September 06)
http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/125240.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/125483.html

Night Raid (Sept 06)
http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/147504.html


Trailer trash (October 06)
http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/137029.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/137337.html

There are more articles, but this should give you all a good start. Use the search box in my profile page to look for other Felicia posts if you feel the whim.

Change of plans

For those of you playing the home game, yesterday I posted that I was openning up an expedition to friends and adventurers this weekend. The 400 lb common sense gorilla came and beat on me today. That and several well placed and well founded comments by my daughter (who sometimes shows surprisingly clearer foresight than I), have convinced me to delay by one week the planned photo expedition.

Why?

1. The weather
The weather which I had anticipated to not be a major factor is worsening. According to the national weather service, we're up to a 60% chance of rain and localized flash flooding possible. That kinda gets my attention considering several of the sites require travel over back roads

2. The preparation
My daughter reminded me that the Hawes Bunker has debris including possible (probable) asbestos in some areas. She prudently suggested that we warn people to bring lights, water bottles and possibly utility masks. Tis a good idea and one that I'll encourage.

3. The requests
Several folks have told me they really want to go on this trip and couldn't break existing plans. A couple of out of the area folks mentioned they were available the following weekend, but not this one. I'm mellow and willing to delay to work with folks. Short notice trips don't always work for others, so...

The replan
On February 17 (Saturday), unless anyone has other ideas, let's meet up in Lancaster in the Toys R Us parking lot (right off the CA 14 Freeway at Ave K) closest to the Burger King. I propose leaving from there at 11am, but I plan to be there as early as 10am. Carpooling is suggested. From there we can drive north up the 14 to Mojave and then across the 58 towards the bunker. If anyone wants to meet en route (Mojave or Barstow for example), e-mail me.

This weekend I actually would like to go out on an abandoned site exploration and hunt. Why announce this when I do all the time? Because I'm opening up the prospect for interested parties to come with me.

The primary target is the Hawes Communications Bunker near Barstow. This site is remote and to some degree haunted. Alternate targets include (the former) George AFB, and the Jawbone Canyon Mine Complex. I am willing to entertain sites closer to the Los Angeles basin versus the high desert. The question is when :

Friday - shooting at Fright Night LA and encourage others to attend.

Saturday - Free

Sunday - Free

Thoughts from my Los Angeles area explorers.

As we pressed deeper and deeper into the site, I knew time there was growing short. One of the cardinal rules of exploring is stay only as long as you feel you’ve not been seen. When we were exploring the edges of the garage, I felt we’d been spotted by someone at a nearby farm. In fact, I’d seen movement at the edge of the trees that formed a windbreak around their farmhouse. Either way, we’d been on site for nearly 45 minutes at this point and were pushing it.



( Out in the Great Wide Open.. [7 behind the cut] )

I hadn’t been planning to post two of these back to back, but I really don’t think I’m going to have time tonight or tomorrow.

Before Chris and I moved to check out the buildings behind the main repair garage, we walked over to look around the second house. Call it a safety precaution, but I didn’t want to leave an unchecked building behind us. The house was (very) secure and in good condition. Given that it was in plain view of the other nearby farms, I decided not to check of alternate entrances. Instead, the garage of this building seemed to be intact and littered with the detritus of a hasty departure or anticipated return.


I’ve always wondered where the intact toilets were

( Take Trip and Never Leave the Farm.. [17 behind the cut] )

The beauty of these trips and the allure is the challenge of getting these shots on the fly. This site is adjacent to several other active farms and not readily noticeable from the main roads. For lack of a better explanation, we drove to this location on a hunch. Creative muses are wonderful aren’t they?

After photographing the ‘office’ house, Chris and I started venturing to the other buildings in the complex. There were no less than 3 small sheds, 2 large repair garages, 2 barns and a travel trailer in the back of the property. My muse urged me to go see as much as we could before the prospect of discovery, so out we went..



( Down on the farm.. [17 behind the cut] )

The date alone should show you how many of these sites I’m sitting on out here. I literally have a backlog of six other sites to follow this set in the next few months. Among these are a roadhouse (that Chuck Yeager left his name on), a very haunted military bunker complex, a former dairy and various sites on Route 66 / National Trails Hwy.

One beautiful November afternoon while my daughter was out at a friend’s house, my 7 year old son and I decided to wander. I wanted to test a theory that we couldn’t drive more than 30 minutes out of town (in any direction) without locating a random, abandoned site of some kind. Having already proven this by traveling north, south and west, east remained to be proven. We brought our cameras and weren’t disappointed. His photos and mine will be mixed throughout the posts.


The Lonely Beastie at the side of the road

( California here I come.. [20 behind the cut] )

I’d meant to post this last month, but well the Cabaret and model photography work I’ve been involved in lately has kept me incredibly busy. Check my personal LJ for samples, but it’s been very interesting.

In September, on a whim, Trish (houseguest), the kids and I elected to go on a “Bum Hunt” as Trish put it. As the sun rapidly retreated to the horizon and beyond, we ventured to the two houses in the West Antelope Valley where I first found evidence of Felicia. The trip was certainly eye opening in multiple ways.


Shot by my daughter Brenna

( Bessie’s Place and Imperial Entanglements )
( Floyd’s and further discoveries )

Moderator Time!

Folks it looks like the community is doing well, growing the the entries coming in are awesome. Love the pictures and the stories to go with them.. Keep em coming.

Several months ago, we had a big discussion about using "Tags" and the "Memories: function to improve ease of searching for things. Although using memories for the community isn't a workable option, the use of Tags are. Please use them. I've been going back and Tagging various entries for the last few months. It your turn. If you aren't sure about what tags are appropriate, save the entry normally, then go back and tag it. A menu will appear at the bottom of the entry with various options Use [Cntl] to select multiple subject tags.

Slightly off topic:
Last year, I posted pictures and stories of my Halloween Yard Haunt Tour. This year, I'm doing it again and wanted to pass the word. Given I know that most of you are some distance away from the "Greater" (a term I use with amusement) Los Angeles area, visiting these sites won't likely be an option. I'd be remiss if I didn't offer the option though. Here's a link to the post in my LJ. http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/128997.html

If you have cool displays that are put up around your community, note addresses, gather your friends and go enjoy the creativity.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised. For those of you just seeing this, we first ran into (almost literally) Felicia back in May at another nearby abandoned house. They are a very skittish transient of questionable gender. The other house was only 3 to 4 miles away.
Here’s links to the original site and follow-up:

Part 4: http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/99898.html
Part 5: http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/100297.html
Part 6: http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/100659.html

Seeing another wall covered in pink nail polish writing and noticing a dozen or more empty chocolate milk cartons tucked behind a broken table was still a surprise though. Seeing that one of the ramblings had been signed on the same day we were there was stunning.



( The mind of chaos )