The Traveler’s Station Usage Disclaimer:
By your continued use of this site, you hereby acknowledge that you are, in fact, self-accountable, of sound mind, and make your own decisions at your own discretion within the limits of YOUR judgment; absolving the author, its subsidies, affiliates, and any third-parties thereof, of any and all liability. By your continued use of this site you understand and agree to indemnify, or “hold harmless”, all parties aforementioned herein. You also agree that it is your sole responsibility to understand this disclaimer, and the contents of this site to your best and reasonable diligence. If you are unsure about anything, consult a professional within the field of concern, before acting or making a decision. This site does not condone, nor encourage unsafe activities or behavior; and is to be used as a resource tool, viewed as a forum in which the author opines and shares personal experiences, and should, for all intents and purposes, be used for entertainment only. As with many things, there is a margin of risk; traveling is no different in that respect. In short, stay safe, and don’t be an idiot.
Third-Party Disclaimer
All third-party resources listed on this site do not necessarily endorse or sponsor The Traveler's Station, nor is there a monetary agreement or affiliate partnership, expressed or implied, nor any such vested interest otherwise between third-parties and The Traveler's Station. Any monetized sponsorships or endorsements shall be made public either on the website, or the podcast, or both, or as the terms of such an agreement deem fit. Any resources on The Traveler's Station website may be removed at any time, for any reason, especially at the behest of third-party ownership; unless under contractual obligations.
Abandoned Places
For those of you who aren’t aware, going into Abandoned locations carries significant risk. I am telling you this so that you don’t walk blindly into a location without being prepared for the consequences. This information is not meant to encourage you to place yourself, or anyone else, in jeopardy; but to educate and minimize potential issues. This information in no way encourages, nor condones, entry of private property, unsafe structures, or the risks associated thereof.
Firstly, you must perform your own due diligence to ensure that a property is legal for you to step upon. To do so is considered trespassing, and you could face fines and/or criminal prosecution.
Next, you must perform your own due diligence when assessing whether or not a structure is safe to enter. Some things to consider are:
Is the roof/ceiling safe from caving in on you?
Is the floor capable of holding your weight, and those accompanying you?
Are any walls, such as concrete, so compromised as to collapse?
Is there sufficient light?
Is the air safe to breathe?
Structurally, there are further things to consider, of such noteworthy significance they must be expounded:
If the floor is weak, and you fall through, you do not know how far of a fall awaits you. I have heard of one story in particular, where urban explorers went into an abandoned building illegally. The multi-storied building was so dark that the group didn’t realize that they walked right over the edge of a previously collapsed floor, falling very far down to their death.
The collapse of a wall can cause a cascade of structural degradation, whereby the wall can land on you and crush you; additionally, assuming the wall was a main weight bearing support, the roof will be further compromised, which can cave in on you, crushing you—killing you. Concrete walls can fall over without warning, crushing you with tremendous weight. Your family will have a closed casket for your funeral. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The air in some abandoned structures may not be safe to breath at all; there could be black mold, asbestos, or any myriad of airborne particulates that can cause respiratory distress and/or death. If you’re asthmatic, you must be particularly careful.
If you decide to cast my warnings to the wind, then I implore you take the following precautions, and equipment.
First, make sure you have air respirators, and make sure they are properly rated, otherwise they will provide you with only a false sense of security as you naively poison yourself on your exploration. Proper rating means that they are designed for toxic environments that might have black mold and/or asbestos. Always assume the air is toxic. I cringe whenever I see urban explorers on YouTube walk into some places so unprepared.
Next, wear jeans and boots. Don’t walk in there like you have someone to impress. If you’re a YouTuber, take care of Number 1—YOU, first—your fan base will only become more educated when they see you in the proper safety attire and donning your PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Critics will only make the mistakes you didn’t.
Your footwear should be rugged and waterproof. Work boots would be a good choice, but don’t wear sneakers. They will not protect you in the event that you step in a puddle of mystery substance. You are not guaranteed that water is the only wet substance you’ll encounter. Assume it’s toxic, and protect your skin. Long sleeves or a rugged jacket are a good option.
Wear a hardhat, preferably one with a light on it. Do not take for granted that falling debris will miss you, or cause no injury if it doesn’t—assume the worst.
Wear work gloves. You might encounter sharp, jagged, or toxic surfaces, don’t take for granted that you won’t become severely infected if you break your skin on these surfaces.
Carry a strong light. Some structures are very dark. Look out for insects, rodents and other wildlife.
Look out for squatters, looters, or anyone who otherwise wouldn’t appreciate… witnesses. Carry pepper spray for defense.
Park your vehicle discretely, but near enough that you can evacuate the property and flee quickly should the event call for it.
Don’t touch anything, test any door that you have to pass through, and beware of broken glass, especially if there is glass in the roof structure. Don’t walk beneath it.
Keep a first aid kit, including rubbing alcohol, on yourself.
Tread lightly, and slowly. Always be mindful of the floor, ensuring there isn’t a “spongy” step. You could go through the floor. Always make sure there is ground ahead of you—don’t end up like the victims from the story I mention earlier.
If possible, remove your PPE clothing, and place them in trash bags to be washed later. You don’t want to contaminate your vehicle and your home with whatever was inside the structure. Make sure you take a shower as soon as possible afterwards. Don’t wear your exploration boots around your home. Keep them at the door, outside, in a bin, in the garage—just don’t track the contaminants around your home and into your carpet, especially if you have pets or kids.
Do not wander to the point you become lost. For deeper explorations, use a personal GPS tracker, or a long spool of string to follow back to the beginning. I recommend surface exploration, to be on the safe side.
Do not separate. Stay together if in a group. If one should become lost, you can become lost looking for them, and in the process of searching for them, you might wander into areas you wouldn’t safely consider, because you’re panicking. If you get lost together, you will find your way out together. Stay calm. Have an emergency plan in place in advance. If you absolutely can’t find your way out, take one on the chin, and call 911. You need rescuing.
Also, I don’t think I need to say this, but I’ll say it anyway: if you’re in poor shape, or compromised health or health condition, don’t do this. You must be nimble enough to move quickly to avoid sudden falling obstacles, or pull away from a collapsing floor, etc.
Additionally, depending on the time of the year, you will encounter temperature extremes. The interior of abandoned structures can become very hot in the summer, especially. A winter freeze could have icy conditions which will elevate the risk of injury or death within a compromised structure. The winter will also be in the midst of an icing cycle, like cracks in a road, the fissures in the structure will be growing and weakening now. Ice/snow accumulated on the rooftop can create enough stress to cause a cave-in.
I only show you these locations so that you might take pictures from the outside, and create a fond memory—not place your life in danger. There is so much more road left to travel, that the risk simply isn’t worth it.
Consider this: If it’s illegal to enter, then it is most likely to keep the public safe, because the building codes are no longer being enforced and therefore, the building no longer maintained. You wouldn’t enter your own house if it sat for decades without care.
Nature has a way of recapturing what’s been borrowed, and eventually, with time, and without care, all things fall and crumble to ruin, eventually disappearing without a trace. You don’t want to be there while that transformation is happening. It’s better to be on the outside looking in. It’s the story of my life...
Ghost Town Visitations
Visiting Ghost Towns have risks. You might find yourself wandering off the paved road to get to one, you will encounter compromised structures, and you might even discover some unsavory characters lurking about. I’m going to cue you in on some of the things to consider before visiting a Ghost Town.
First, let me preface by clearing up the misnomer that a Ghost Town isn’t necessarily haunted. The term is lightly used to imply that the area has been abandoned for a significant amount of time. They can be haunted, but so can a regular town. I’ve been careful to separate the haunted locations from the Ghost Towns, assuming that if you wanted to visit a haunted location, you would seek it specifically; just as you might very well be interested in exploring a Ghost Town, devoid of both the living and the dead.
Well, that was more long-winded than I wanted it to be, but there it is. Anyway…
Make sure you have the right vehicle for rugged terrain. A hitch pulley is a good bonus, too—in case you become stuck, you can pull yourself out. I also suggest keeping a shovel for just such an emergency. Don’t overestimate your vehicle, KNOW your vehicle’s limitations. If you drive a small car with tough tire treads, don’t be a hero. You’re just going to look stupid. The first hole even one of your wheels sinks into will hang you up. A shovel might get you out of that emergency, but it might not. As a rule of thumb, low clearance vehicle’s should stay on the pavement. Plan the appropriate trip for your vehicle. If you have an SUV or larger vehicle, then you’re probably fine to enter dirt roads, or places that don’t necessarily have roads. Roadless places have the obvious risk of not having a clear path back to where you came from. If you do this, make sure that you have a GPS navigation device, a map such as Rand McNally(always have a road atlas), and/or a Compass.
You will undoubtedly discover the structures of the Ghost Town, but try not to explore too intimately, because the buildings may not be safe from collapse. Utilize the ‘leave no trace’ policy: Take only memories, and leave only footprints. Leave it as you found it. It’s for your safety, as well as the respect for future visitors. Don’t be “that guy”…
Speaking of “that guy”, you might encounter him while you’re there. This particular character isn’t someone you want to get close to, or even alert as to your presence. Sometimes, people with shady interests are drawn to these kinds of locations, because they are so secluded. Whatever business they’re attempting to accomplish, they don’t want anyone knowing about. Fortunately, those types usually conduct their shady dealings at night—so as a rule of thumb, explore during the day, and leave before dark. That doesn’t necessarily make it 100% safe, it just reduces the risk. Carry pepper spray to buy you getaway time, in case you’re confronted with hostility. Call 911 while you’re fleeing.
Some Ghost Towns are actually maintained as “living museums”, where a group curates the buildings for visitors, but leaving the area otherwise uninhabited. Some of these places have a nominal admission fee. I don’t personally consider these true ghost towns, because people are still lingering, even if it is to care for the site. That’s just my opinion. To each their own. It could still be a fun waypoint on your journey.
Danger Zones
I have marked zones where I feel there is considerable danger, while I have also omitted waypoints in certain dangerous cities. Traveling has many risks, and I’ve labored to mitigate them to the best of my ability. The locations I’ve plotted on the map are for your consideration, and not guaranteed safe. It is up to you to make that determination while planning your own trip. Should something adverse happen to you while at any of the locations I’ve provided, you are solely accountable, because you have been warned to perform your own due diligence in every aspect of your trip planning. The danger zone marked with a black skull and cross bones are areas I believe should be avoided due to elevated risk. If you discover areas of similar concern in your travels, please email me the coordinates and a brief explanation of the danger, and I will add it to the map. Areas of considerable danger are considered to be anything life-threatening that may only be known to locals, and not necessarily demographic information, such as high crime. Use your best judgment, and if you have any doubts, send the coordinates to me anyway, and I’ll decide if it belongs on the map.
Caves and Tunnels
Please do not wander into tunnels if they’re abandoned. The structures may not be stable, where the walls and ceiling can collapse at any moment. There are tunnels that run beneath certain violent cities, which I refrain to name, that may possess danger beyond a compromised structure. Shady characters sometimes lurk in these locations, and for that reason I have not included them on the map.
Mines are also tunnels, which I omitted from the map. Mines are unsafe in general, even while in operation; and I simply didn’t want to add these structures to the map due to the high probability they will cave in, if excessively explored. Neither you nor I want you in that situation, so if you discover a mine on your travels, take all the pictures you want—from the outside! Don’t enter them.
Caves, being natural formations still possess the risk of collapse, despite standing for millions of years—you don’t want your number to be called when one decides to cave in. There are caves where tours are given, and those are likely safer options to explore. In the unlikely event of a cave in while exploring a wild cave, there are other risks to consider; such as wild animals like mountain lions, coyotes, etc. There might also be outcasts from society living or staying there, and these are desperate people who wouldn’t hesitate to victimize you. More than the wildlife, you must keep ever-present in mind the threat of another person in remote locations. Always take heed when you see someone else in secluded areas, and try to spot them before they spot you. They usually aren’t expecting company, and you don’t know how they’ll react when startled.
Areas of Lore
I added these to the map for metaphysical and paranormal enthusiasts alike, and if you are very superstitious, then avoid these areas. Areas of Lore are meant to be fun locations with a touch of otherworldly fright.
Haunted Areas
The locations that
are haunted on this map range from roads, to cemeteries, to abandoned
buildings, to entire abandoned towns and more. If you don’t
believe in ghosts, then you probably don’t have anything to worry
about, because skeptics never experience anything that changes their
mind.
But, if you’re a believer in the paranormal, you must
understand that not all entities that haunt a location are friendly,
or even human… you will also run the risk of what is known as
“attachment”, whereby a spirit or demon attaches itself to you,
and follows you rather than stay at the location you visited.
Attachments are risks all ghost hunters take, and some of them quit
the business because the fear is all too real, and they don’t want
to bring something home to their family. Even well known haunted
locations that give ghost tours have a risk of attachment.
Probably the most severe attachment cases have been documented in a documentary by Zak Bagans called Demon House. Possession is another risk, which doesn’t necessarily happen in the sense that the movie The Exorcist portrays, but rather a personality change, usually negative, and destructive, after visiting a location with paranormal activity. If you plan to visit haunted locations, I advise you to have a plan and resources in place just in case any of the aforementioned happens to you.
TL;DR:
Don't be an idiot. Go back up and read it.
Summation:
You've been thoroughly warned, and thoroughly informed to the best of my ability.
Fair Use Notice