So, normally, I'm running around in Colorado. But I'm back from college for one week, my family's all off doing other stuff (aww), and on a whim I brought some of my exploration gear - so, being a rookie and not knowing the region, I decided to hit up one of the interesting-looking public DB locations: Rock Creek School, a building in Rockford abandoned back in 2007 with the last documented exploration in 2010.

Approach was dicey. There's not a lot of places to park, and Rock Creek is located right next to a low-income housing project, meaning an annoying combination of gang and police presence. The POE was easy to find, and it's obvious why - there are lots of signs of habitation, some very recent. The paranoia really should've kicked off right there.

I started off in the basement. Plenty of debris, some clothes/trash scattered about, and pretty much pitch black thanks to the rain outside blocking any light that might've come through the windows.



I made my way up to a ramp that took me to where the old building (1911) and the new building (1950s) were connected - I opted to explore the newer building first, since I had a bad feeling about the older building's wooden floorboards.

Ground floor hallway and staircase:




There wasn't too much else interesting on the first floor; a lot of dark, empty rooms. Stuff got better on the second floor where the windows weren't totally boarded up.

Collapsed bricks on the stairwell:


A music room, visited by "THE ARTIST:"


Obligatory abandoned piano, shallow-DoF shot:


Those poor CRTs...




A good portion of the roof tile structure was collapsing in the northernmost building. I'm antsy around exposed wiring; I'm fairly certain the building isn't powered, but a wire's a wire. What's worse is that someone strung up the tape from a VCR along the roof and walls, so it looked like there were wires everywhere.


"This school was NOT an elementary school!"
"Fuck you this is a sushi school ＾ω＾"
I laughed a bit harder than I should've.




Here's where the trip went to shit, though. I'd been relatively quiet, despite the plaster and glass everywhere, and after exploring the northern annex I decided to revisit the southern building.

The entrance (ramp to the basement where I came from on the right):


I made it up the short stairs and took one step before this happened:


Foot broke through the floor and I caught myself on the wall, so that was fun. I don't know what I was thinking taking this picture, because after the sound of breaking wood and fresh-scattering plaster calmed down there were some very clear voices coming from above, at least two. And, worse, I've spent a fair amount of time at gun ranges, and it's hard to mistake the sound of a gun being chambered. I hauled ass and didn't stop until I was down the road, didn't even stop to doff my mask.

I've no idea how they weren't an issue earlier. The only thing I can think of is that they were asleep or tripping balls and, combined with my being careful, they didn't hear me in the other building. Until I busted up the floor right beneath them, at least - which also explains the slow response that let me get out despite sticking around to take a picture.

So, yeah - interesting location, but the last half decade has seen the danger of the place change from "cops" to "armed thugs." I'd advise against exploration here, given that hazard, and if at all do it in a group during the day. I'd rather risk getting caught by cops than druggies.

(Full album at full resolution)

I havent been back to this location since it had the fire like 5 years ago. Wasnt sure if the inside had anything left worth revising. But looks like the fire damage wasnt as bad as it looked from the exterior.

If you want to do some night time stuff later, hit me up. I might be down to get out for a few hours. Its pretty rare when theres any other explorers out this way.

If there was any fire damage, it was in the old building - which, for aforementioned reasons, I didn't stick around to explore. Most of the rooms in the new building are flat out empty, though the rooms that do have stuff have a few tidbits of interest here and there.

Yes, the fire was all to the old building. Upper floor. It actually put a hole in the roof. Which probably has alot to do with why your foot went through the floor.

Aaand just realized I mislabeled it "Rock Creek" as opposed to "Rock River." Herp Derp.

I knew exactly what school it was once you said it was Rockford. We have 3 currently closed. And the other two are a bit different. 1 of them being in a neighborhood that makes this one look like a high class area. If you can even fathom that.

Awesome set and story, you are damn brave! And the gun you heard racking, odds are it wasn't a policeman, every officer I know and even myself being a permit holder always has the gun racked.