1970s Aerial by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Groan of Heavy Iron by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
I've been eyeing this place for access, checking about once every six months for the last two years. In a pouring rainstorm recently, I made a fast run onto the yard and finally found a door open. The next shot of the main area was my favorite, with streams of rain water pouring in from the ceiling. The hollow, echoing plops of water made it sound like I was inside a deep cave.
Cover Story by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Generally Mediocre by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
There is no power left on here - it is light coming in through corrugated green plastic skylights. If you can imagine the thick, overpowering smell of old motor oil and a claustrophobic bit of dead silence standing in very close quarters, you can get a sense of what it was like being here for this shot.
Gone Green by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Mighty Loader by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Choose Your Poison by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Yes, I know, they're likely just multi-vitamins... but one way or another, they're probably toxic by now. This is the front desk area. I felt too exposed standing here taking these photos, as gaping front windows face a nearby house that I believe keeps an eye on this place. But probably just like you, I have to do a reality check sometimes and remember how much easier it is to look outside than to be out there looking inwards into a dark interior.
Sole Survivor by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
The above shot was it; the very last vehicle in the yard. No problem with any neighbourly sight-lines here, but there was such a massively overpowering stench of skunk coming out of the vehicle that I didn't dare open the door for an interior shot.
Quality Glass by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Cabinet Gods by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
All of the shelves (6 aisles about 50 feet long, times 2 for two floors stacked on top of one another) are still completely covered in salvaged parts. Although the vehicles were all removed from this location, the parts building doesn't seem like it was touched at all.
Central Stores by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Tanks A Lot by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
My split-second impression seeing this next visual was that I had come across someone's homemade bong, but then I started thinking about where I was and the function of this device became a lot more obvious.
Siphon Pump by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
The Boss is AWOL by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Outbuilding Storage by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Front Ends by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Sit & Ponder the Refuse by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Welcome Desk by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Past Inventory by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
By Make & Model by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Yardwork by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Left in the Open by
Ground State Photos, on Flickr
Rumour has it that someone has indeed bought this entire area of land recently. It is too far out of the city limits for a new neighbourhood development, so it will probably feature a nice country home sitting on a massive parcel of land. I have to wonder though what the environmental cleanup cost is going to be.