Invariably I get some flavor of the same question: “Can you tell me some good spots to explore”? Mostly, these questions are innocent, routine asks from a curious passerby. Sometimes they’re blatantly lazy (at best) or pretty sketchy (at worst) asks like “Can you give me some addresses of places you have explored”?
They usually show up after I comment on some social media post (generally via Reddit or Facebook) about abandoned locations, photos of mine taken in similar locations, or when I say I have been to/am aware of abandoned places in whatever location I am living in at the time.
While generally born out of innocuous curiosity, and voiced by people who want to share in something that brings me joy, these questions frequently irritate me. Maybe I’m snobby, crusty, jaded, “mean”, or some parts of all those things? Who knows.
But Mr. Curly, why are you reluctant to share sites you’ve explored?
There are Four main reasons:
1) I don’t want the location(s) to get trashed.
2) I put in the time and work. You should too.
3) Potential Criminal liability
4) Being informed makes you powerful
I don’t understand. Can you explain what you mean?
1 – I don’t want the location(s) to get trashed
In my experience, the philosophy of “Take only pictures and Leave only footprints” is followed fairly well by urban explorers. Members of other groups who can be found wandering the ruins of society do not always follow this philosophy. This is notably true for those who desire to install and/or showcase their spray can “art”, wish to add to the ruin of the location by damaging or destroying parts of it for whatever reason(s), and those living on the fringes of society looking for living space or quiet, covert places to indulge in the addiction(s) or languish in the afflictions of their choice.
I could provide a lengthy list of examples, but I am fairly confident that you who are reading this understand why others visiting locations with intent to do non-exploring things can (at best) ruin the opportunity for other explorers or (at worst) create HUGE public safety issues that present direct threats to the lives of others.
2 – I put in the time and work. You should too.
For each location I visit, I’ve already spent several hours on the administrative prep work needed before I even show up. Depending on the location (and all of the associated variables that go along with each place), I’ve slogged through research such as planning/zoning record searches, map reviews, location scouting trip(s), travel planning, emergency plans, ascertaining any special equipment I need to acquire (IE a gas mask or meter), and figuring out what equipment I (and/or any partners) might need to bring along.
If I (or anyone else) just hand the results of all of this work over to you, it cheapens the significant time and effort I’ve put in, relieves you of the effort required to go out and find locations on your own, and eliminates the opportunity for you to learn how to do a variety of those things along the way.
3 – Potential Criminal liability*
Most of what we do is, by definition, illegal. At best, getting caught wandering around in one of these locations is likely to violate criminal mischief or trespassing laws in your area. At the worst, these activities could get you in more severe (likely Felony level) trouble with charges like Burglary, Possession of burglary tools, or others depending on the situation, your location, and/or circumstances.
I VERY much enjoy avoiding unwanted attention as I explore—especially that which turns into government entanglements, criminal liability, or other unwanted attention. This is doubly true if the ‘attention’ is of the variety that could cost me time, money, or my freedom (if not all 3). I’m not about to do free work and make some Detective or Assistant DA’s investigation simple by blindly giving them most (or all) of what they need to build a case.
While I am fairly sure that no one cares enough to investigate or prosecute people wandering forgotten or abandoned spaces, I’ll happily err on the side of caution and keep those ultra specific details to myself. If you blatantly ask for specifics like street addresses, I’ll likely not reply or give you some snarky feedback.
4 – Being informed makes you powerful
The world is a fascinating place—sometimes in the best of ways, sometimes in the worst— whether it’s the natural world wherever you live, the built up environment, or the antics of groups and individual people in them both. Knowledge is also power; Being informed about the world around you makes you a better participant in life, harder to manipulate, and wildly more interesting compared to those who are merely content to be spoon-fed information and rely on the word/effort of others, regardless of the topic. Most importantly, it robs you of the opportunity to get to the very heart of what this hobby is about: Exploring! While this does not always refer to the literal exploring of an abandoned site/building in the physical sense, exploring the information regarding a site can be just as fun, in addition to being better informed.
So how do you find the locations you visit?
There has never been one single, foolproof way that I’ve come upon. Some of the ways I have located places include general curiosity, dumb luck, watching the news, paying attention to/looking around my environment, signs stuck in lawns, viewing publicly posted notices, researching (and then reading) land use notices or decision briefs on government websites, and reading newspapers (no, really, people do still do that).
If you live in the Portland, Oregon area read the Willamette Week column entitled “Chasing Ghosts” for a great start. It includes some great first- and secondhand information about the reasons the property is abandoned as well as the history and prior ownership of a given location.
Do/will you share information on locations?
Maybe. Put forth some minimal effort, get to know me a little, and things can happen. Better yet, offer to collaborate in some way—I’d love to share this hobby with others and collaborate or explore together. If you’re hoping I will just hand out info blindly—especially specific times/dates/addresses, I’ll ignore you and you’ll be sad.
*I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. This is not legal advice and I am not liable for your actions and any potential consequences, legal or otherwise. You should know and understand the relevant laws, any potential penalties, and the risk(s) of legal issues related to Urban Exploration in your area before exploring. Don’t be stupid and you’ll probably be OK.
Mr Curly's Adventures 