This is the first year I've really felt like I had enough to justify one of these, so I figured I'd give it a shot. The title is in reference to finally getting to do things outside of Kings Park, and while I'll always love the place and continue to explore it, it was nice to finally do things that felt fresh. Among the new experiences this year were my first active explore, my first truly solo explore, our first time getting to dig into the history of a place using on-site resources.

Pictures and talking below.

The first explore of the year came on April Fool's day. Our group was walking around what was once a dormitory for nurses. We hadn't come for this place, but were nonetheless interested in getting inside. My group quickly lost interest when it started to drizzle, but as they walked away, I saw a possible entrance and climbed inside. I walked down a dark hallway using the flash from my camera to check for tripping hazards. When I reached the end, I knew I had to run back to my group and get the tripod. As we returned, we made a pair of new friends for the day - a couple of guys from Queens who said they'd Googled creepy places on Long Island and found this place. Sure, why not?

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About a month later we returned, this time with a Sigma 17-50 to replace the Nikon kit lens, because the nursing school across the way from the dorms had opened up and we decided to get inside. Before doing so, I went and checked out the dorm again.

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We moved on to the nursing school, but sadly it was a bit disappointing. Mostly just empty rooms and identical hallways.

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Aside from a little more KPPC, the summer was pretty slow.

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In July, I had an opportunity to visit my cousin, who was attending college in a certain midwestern city. He took us on a tour of his campus, and eventually into a building where he informed us that he was pretty sure we weren't supposed to be there. An empty building with lots of locked doors, we eventually got lucky with an unlocked and un-alarmed exit stairwell and made our way up 12 stories for some elevated shots.

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A month later, and we're all back in New York for a baby shower. I'd been aware of a nearby abandonment for a couple of years, but never checked it out. That was all the information I had. From the street, I couldn't even guess at what kind of place it was. I didn't know that this explore would turn out to be the highlight of my year.

We'd never seen so much left behind. Exercise and spa equipment, checks, and eventually, notices from the IRS.

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We were getting ready to leave, as we thought we'd seen everything and had gotten a text asking us to head back. I just wanted to check behind one more door - and was greeted by pitch blackness. I got the group back, and we found that we'd completely overlooked a gym and some racquet courts. It was too dark to photograph most of it, so all I have to show for this area is the image below.

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Come October, a friend and I got to see an old location from a new angle, and then made our way to what was once a children's psychiatric ward, mainly for children with autism.

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Fast forward to the end of November, and the baby from the previously mentioned shower has been born and is having its Christening. With some time to spare, I ended up going back to the fitness center, this time focusing on getting a GoPro walkthrough, as the footage I'd previously shot on my DSLR was fairly disappointing. I ended up going alone - and this may have been a bad idea. As I walked around the side, I heard the sound of things falling over and possibly footsteps inside. I considered backing out, but plans are already in place to demolish, and I knew I might not get another chance.

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Interestingly, I'd learned that the outdoor pool had once been an indoor pool, and that the room had collapsed shortly after abandonment.


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Peconic_Before_After by Steve Jorbs, on Flickr

I also learned that it had its own dock, destroyed in Hurricane Sandy.

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On the way out, I heard a loud crashing from the gym across the pool. I hadn't gone in for lack of a light. After seeing a bike chained up around the front of the building, I can be pretty sure I wasn't actually alone. Scary.

Thanks for looking!

Video of the final explore, since I'm not going to bother making a thread for it.

Some good stuff here. I used to be notorious for posting the same hospital over and over here when I first signed up. Even though I started to go to other places eventually I still went to my home base until I had covered every inch. There's something to be said for having a consistent local spot to hang out at.

Some of these photos are really beautiful.

Phew talk about image heavy but a lot of good stuff. I had to do a double take on #19 since it looks exactly like a building about 20 minutes from me just missing one shelf. I really like the light in #7 & #47. The pop of green in #16 is very beautiful as well.

Consistently Great Lighting. Absolutely loved your photos! I think you have been holding out on posting far too long Cant wait to see what this year brings. Awesome captures DOAR.

Really great stuff! Thanks for sharing

Thanks! Hope everyone has a great 2018.

These pictures are absolutely AMAZING! I really liked #9 #47 #48 and #63. 2017 was a pretty good year for your photography from what I can see.

Great collection, keep at it!

That fitness center is really something else, definitely worth the coverage before its all gone. Great selections all around, and I really appreciate the narratives for each.