Hey, I'm newer to exploring a few of my friends and I have been going to Hamm's Brewery on a almost weekly basis trying to make it through everything, We still plan on making 2 more trips at least but I was looking for more people to explore with that knows more areas to explore.

Moved your thread so it will get more exposure in the region youre from.

I've never been there, but I'm intrigued. How many buildings are there to explore? Since you've made several trips and not seen all of it. Security? I'm about three hours away and would definitely be interested in exploring it with you guys!

Posted by WIurbex I've never been there, but I'm intrigued. How many buildings are there to explore? Since you've made several trips and not seen all of it. Security? I'm about three hours away and would definitely be interested in exploring it with you guys!

I have heard of a few places around the Twin Cities but for the most part we have been going to Hamm's, I know that there is a mill in Minneapolis that we went to once but we couldn't figure out how to get around except by going up a super long ladder and even then we didn't find anything. Granted it was probably around 3:30 AM when we went and it was the first trip we went on. I'm sure there is more to explore around here but I don't really know where to look.

First, welcome to exploring in MSP. It really is a great place to see a lot of great things and the community here is just amazing (in person).

But second, what keeps the place amazing is being careful with it. Be mindful that you're on a public page that property owners can find when looking around for what's online regarding their properties. (The cops have better things to do than troll the internet, generally, but owners of unused properties and neighborhood associations surrounding abandoned properties can make things pretty uncomfortable just the same.) We try to stay low-key because of this. Simple things like keeping entrance details offline let everyone in on the fun of trying to find a way in, of course, but less obvious things like not using the proper names of places also helps. (Please refrain from using proper names online.)

Specifically the place you've mentioned is, of course, undergoing a bit of a redevelopment and reuse, as I'm sure you've noticed, so be careful with all of that. Also be aware that the property owners have, in the recent past, decided to make an example of anyone actually caught there which resulted in pretty steep fines and a very uncomfortable weekend, if I recall correctly. (I wasn't a part of that group.)

The other spot you mentioned (but not by name, at least) the neighborhood is obviously sick to death of the activity inside and the cops seem equally sick of responding, so be careful. (I WAS a part of one of those, unfortunately, because at the time I wasn't smart enough to leave when The Noisy Teenagers with Spraypaint showed up.)

So where does that leave us? For your classic UER Abandoned Building Adventure, things are getting sparser and sparser all the time. Many of our old standbys have been reused or demolished in the last 5-10 years and new stuff isn't going offline fast enough (or staying that way long enough) to take up the slack. Which is great for the economy, of course...

Above ground, things move pretty fast as one business clears out and another takes up the space in a matter of months. A lot of things are pretty ephemeral and take a little extra care and creativity.

What we do have, though? Is a world-class network of drains and sewers, courtesy of the easily diggable St. Peter Sandstone that underlays so much of the Twin Cities. Take a drive along the river, before the trees blossom and leaf out and obstruct the view. There are TONS of gaping holes along the river, some of which are a TON of fun, and once you've gotten a taste for it, you can find even more underneath a manhole cover.

So grab a couple flashlights, drain boots if it's cold out, and check the weather forecast. (SERIOUSLY, "No drains when it rains.") Read Predator's Approach to Draining (and read it again when you're done) and go find you some underground! The same rules of discretion still apply, of course, but there's a TON of stuff to see underneath the cities.

Welcome to exploring in MSP!

(But please don't use real names of stuff online, anymore. Thanks.)

^Truth. All of it.

Just out of curiosity, how long have you been exploring and what was the first thing that got you interested in it?

I'd also like to mention that out of the several cities I've been to in the midwest, the Twin Cities seems to be one of the more difficult ones to explore. The police and public are much more aware of explorers in MSP than they are in most other cites, which is probably due to the large number of explorers and the fact that the less prepared ones often end up on a search & rescue evening news story. Many police also know to look out for people wearing boots, backpacks, headlamps, and tripods in certain areas.

So, whatever you choose to explore, be sure you know what you are getting yourself into and how to best be prepared so you don't put yourself in a situation you can't get out of. For the most part this is just common sense stuff (extra flashlight/batteries, not exploring tall decrepit buildings at night while drunk, etc), but other stuff will come from doing a bit of research (ie reading the drain guide NotBatman posted).

Posted by NotQuiteHuman I'd also like to mention that out of the several cities I've been to in the midwest, the Twin Cities seems to be one of the more difficult ones to explore. The police and public are much more aware of explorers in MSP than they are in most other cites, which is probably due to the large number of explorers and the fact that the less prepared ones often end up on a search & rescue evening news story. Many police also know to look out for people wearing boots, backpacks, headlamps, and tripods in certain areas.

Yeah... As the home of Action Squad, the scene of most of Into the Dorkness, a few high-profile busts, the now semi-annual news piece of some idiot who gets scared when their cell phone doesn't work in a cave (seriously) or who tried draining in the biggest storm of the year (again, seriously), and just an unusually large exploring population in general resulting in semi-frequent encounters with the law (or the fire department, or search and rescue) they absolutely know what to look for and what an explorer looks like. That CAN work in our favor, occasionally, when a cop recognizes that we're just a bunch of lovable scofflaws who mean no harm, but every now and then people get hassled on the street because they're easy marks for a cop having a bad day.

Posted by NotQuiteHuman Just out of curiosity, how long have you been exploring and what was the first thing that got you interested in it?

For myself, I did my first drain and semi-abandoned building when I was nine or ten. (It was before we left New York, anyway...) It didn't stick at the time, but when we were about 13 or so in MSP a friend and I started noticing all the drain outfalls along the river. "Hey! That kinda looks like the entrance to that dungeon in Ultima III, doesn't it? I wonder what's in there!"

Consequently, to this day, I'm disappointed that I STILL haven't found a single goblin or treasure chest...

There have been periods when I haven't been actively/systematically "Capitol-E Exploring," of course, but I've been poking around in the world for most of my life. I get restless and impossible to deal with if I stay away too long.

Posted by NotBatman Posted by NotQuiteHuman Just out of curiosity, how long have you been exploring and what was the first thing that got you interested in it? ] For myself, I did my first drain and semi-abandoned building when I was nine or ten. (It was before we left New York, anyway...) It didn't stick at the time, but when we were about 13 or so in MSP a friend and I started noticing all the drain outfalls along the river. "Hey! That kinda looks like the entrance to that dungeon in Ultima III, doesn't it? I wonder what's in there!" Consequently, to this day, I'm disappointed that I STILL haven't found a single goblin or treasure chest... There have been periods when I haven't been actively/systematically "Capitol-E Exploring," of course, but I've been poking around in the world for most of my life. I get restless and impossible to deal with if I stay away too long.

Whoops. That question was intended for Leroy779, but I realize I was vague on that. Fun to hear the story anyway!

Posted by NotQuiteHuman Whoops. That question was intended for Leroy779, but I realize I was vague on that. Fun to hear the story anyway!

Kinda thought so, but then I got to thinkin' about it all again so I answered just in case.

Posted by NotQuiteHuman ^Truth. All of it. Just out of curiosity, how long have you been exploring and what was the first thing that got you interested in it?

I've only been Exploring for probably a month or so now and we had been going off of Action Squads page for a while. The first thing that really got me interested in Exploring was mostly roofing, a guy i worked with for a month or so invited me to go climb some smaller building in the area after they all closed down for the night and the thrill and the views I saw hooked me, and I didn't think of not mentioning the names (oops) It definitely wont happen again. I had thought of trying UE a while ago and read a few pages off Action Squad and after I saw most sites were demolished and the fact that I didn't have a car or friends with cars prevented me from seeking it further. I personally do it for the thrill really, and I have been intending to take pictures but haven't had the available resources to invest in the proper equipment.

Posted by Leroy779 I've only been Exploring for probably a month or so now and we had been going off of Action Squads page for a while. The first thing that really got me interested in Exploring was mostly roofing, a guy i worked with for a month or so invited me to go climb some smaller building in the area after they all closed down for the night and the thrill and the views I saw hooked me, and I didn't think of not mentioning the names (oops) It definitely wont happen again. I had thought of trying UE a while ago and read a few pages off Action Squad and after I saw most sites were demolished and the fact that I didn't have a car or friends with cars prevented me from seeking it further. I personally do it for the thrill really, and I have been intending to take pictures but haven't had the available resources to invest in the proper equipment.

First what was said about this being a public thread is quit true; don't dime yourself out.
Even in private threads here its best to wait until you are long done to post it.
It's a small, small world...

If you have a smartphone that will do as long as the light levels are sufficient.

Posted by Leroy779 ...my friends and I have been going to Hamm's Brewery on a almost weekly basis...

Not saying it was you, but, to the guys I ran into who were leaving Hamm's on Saturday, protip: while respiratory protection is a good idea, it's also a good idea to try to avoid attracting the attention of random passers-by via, e.g., taking your mask off once you've left the toxic fungus farm.

Posted by Krenta Not saying it was you, but, to the guys I ran into who were leaving Hamm's on Saturday, protip: while respiratory protection is a good idea, it's also a good idea to try to avoid attracting the attention of random passers-by via, e.g., taking your mask off once you've left the toxic fungus farm.

Whoa, where did you pop up from? lol..

Toxic fungus... what you trying to say?

Posted by ToXiC Toxic fungus... what you trying to say?

Are the caves not still covered in sewage-fed fuzz? I haven't been in there in five years or so, but when you get a few hundred yards downwind on the bike trail, it sure still smells that way. A piquant and heady blend of raw sewage, vigorously-growing mold, and the rotting remnants of whatever that last fruit-based (raspberry?) contract brew made there years and years ago was...

I haven't gotten the chance to get back in there for probably a month or so but that's kinda funny that they were just walking around with respirators.

Posted by Krenta ...Not saying it was you, but, to the guys I ran into who were leaving Hamm's on Saturday...

Posted by Krenta Are the caves not still covered in sewage-fed fuzz? I haven't been in there in five years or so, but when you get a few hundred yards downwind on the bike trail, it sure still smells that way. A piquant and heady blend of raw sewage, vigorously-growing mold, and the rotting remnants of whatever that last fruit-based (raspberry?) contract brew made there years and years ago was...

Nah, more like sand sewer now

Posted by Krenta Are the caves not still covered in sewage-fed fuzz? I haven't been in there in five years or so, but when you get a few hundred yards downwind on the bike trail, it sure still smells that way. A piquant and heady blend of raw sewage, vigorously-growing mold, and the rotting remnants of whatever that last fruit-based (raspberry?) contract brew made there years and years ago was...

Stop. I am salivating at the thought of MSP.

Hope you've gotten to see more places, MSP has some great places to go to, the more experienced you are the better things will get. I'm a lazy fuck so I finally just got around to the forums. I have seen a lot, and some of the best locations come and go around here, so it doesn't hurt to do some research as well so you don't miss anything.