I was just wondering if there are any active members here that are located in Oshkosh or nearby locations. If so I'd like to communicate with local explorers and could possibly help aid one another since I'm very new to urban exploring. Either this or possibly even explore together in person one day.

Not a lot of explorers in Wisconsin unfortunately. I used to explore around that area before moving away a couple of years back. There's a few oldhead explorers in your area who still get out, but they're not on UER anymore. Mostly the few scattered Wisconsin explorers function as satellite members of the MSP community rather than as a standalone community on their own.

That being said, you're close to some good stuff. Plenty of cool spots within an hour's drive of Oshkosh between Green Bay and Lake Winnebago, though the density isn't very high. And if you can get down to Milwaukee it's a veritable cornucopia of cool spots between the drains and old industrial/railroad districts. I've always been a bit mystified why Milwaukee doesn't seem to have its own local urbex scene, it certainly has enough spots to support one- but nobody is doing them. There used to be a Milwaukee specific urbex forum but it hasn't been active since 2012 and went offline during covid, so it just seems like there's a lot of untapped potential in that city.

I'm in the area, and still explore on most weekends. However, I fly solo and have no interest in sharing anymore. Sorry. But Aran is right - although not very dense, especially outside of downtown MKE, there is still lots cool stuff to see. Abandoned rail beds, bridges, and even at least 2 not publicly known rails tunnels all exist. There are few left, but there are mines. Forgotten planes, trains, and junk yards. Empty factories scattered about the state in both big and small towns. Nike sites. Smaller military installations. Farmsteads galore. Even some, albeit mostly unimpressive, ghost town and asylum ruins. Work the Google machine and drive the back roads. Hike the Ice Age Trail. You'll find plenty on your own with patience, some without even trying. If I can find them, anyone can. Don't forget the UP as well....

Posted by fr00tCake I'm in the area, and still explore on most weekends. However, I fly solo and have no interest in sharing anymore. Sorry. But Aran is right - although not very dense, especially outside of downtown MKE, there is still lots cool stuff to see. Abandoned rail beds, bridges, and even at least 2 not publicly known tunnels all exist. Forgotten planes, trains, and junk yards. Empty factories scattered about the state in both big and small towns. Nike sites. Smaller military installations. Farmsteads galore. Even some, albeit mostly unimpressive, ghost town and asylum ruins. Work the Google machine and drive the back roads. Hike the Ice Age Trail. You'll find plenty on your own with patience, some without even trying. If I can find them, anyone can.....

If abandoned farmsteads and houses are common, I'm happy with that. A lot of my friends are more "urban" and like to see the big factories and other stuff associated with a city. But personally I like the country, and the eeriness that comes with places where people used to live intrigue me, especially with my photography interests. If I due longer excursions I feel like the Northwoods is a good spot for something like that, as just driving through the country roads I'd see decrepit houses in the woods and there's probably a lot more hiding out there, especially in the Upper Peninsula. I'm grateful for your advice and happy to hear that there are some folks simply in the area, Thank you.

Posted by Thecurious If abandoned farmsteads and houses are common, I'm happy with that.

They are literally everywhere. Just head in different directions every time, and cover all the back roads around you in an ever increasing radius. I can think of at least a dozen within 20mi of me in Washington County. There was even a large one in Mequon (NW MKE county) just a few years ago that is now a subdivision of cookie cutter house. They even exist in state parks.....

Posted by Aran Not a lot of explorers in Wisconsin unfortunately. I used to explore around that area before moving away a couple of years back. There's a few oldhead explorers in your area who still get out, but they're not on UER anymore. Mostly the few scattered Wisconsin explorers function as satellite members of the MSP community rather than as a standalone community on their own. That being said, you're close to some good stuff. Plenty of cool spots within an hour's drive of Oshkosh between Green Bay and Lake Winnebago, though the density isn't very high. And if you can get down to Milwaukee it's a veritable cornucopia of cool spots between the drains and old industrial/railroad districts. I've always been a bit mystified why Milwaukee doesn't seem to have its own local urbex scene, it certainly has enough spots to support one- but nobody is doing them. There used to be a Milwaukee specific urbex forum but it hasn't been active since 2012 and went offline during covid, so it just seems like there's a lot of untapped potential in that city.

fr00tcake who also responded talked about a surplus of abandoned houses or farms, And in my other post in the introduction forum I talked about a little cottage I explored a little. I'm sure you understandably can't or won't disclose any specific abandoned/interesting country locations, but would you happen to know if the between Winnebago and Green Bay region or any other rural area has some locations to explore?

Posted by fr00tCake They are literally everywhere. Just head in different directions every time, and cover all the back roads around you in an ever increasing radius. I can think of at least a dozen within 20mi of me in Washington County. There was even a large one in Mequon (NW MKE county) just a few years ago that is now a subdivision of cookie cutter house. They even exist in state parks.....

It sounds like you're from the Kettle Moraine region, have you explored the Kettle Moraine state forest at all? Are there spots to explore there? I live closer to High Cliff and I know of a big kiln or something there, but it's not particularly interesting.

Yes. There is stuff in the Kettles, south and north. Even in the state forest itself. Governor Dodge, Chequamegon-Nicolet, Rib Mountain, High Cliff. And all around Lake Winnebago. And between Winnebago and GB. And in GB. And Door County. And Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, UP, Peshtigo, Marinette, Baraboo. Along the Michigan, Superior, and Mississippi shorelines. If you are into houses and farmsteads, like I said, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. Just get out and drive man, stay off the freeway, and I promise you will find them... No one is going to tell you where they are.

Posted by fr00tCake Yes. There is stuff in the Kettles, south and north. Even in the state forest itself. Governor Dodge, Chequamegon-Nicolet, Rib Mountain, High Cliff. And all around Lake Winnebago. And between Winnebago and GB. And in GB. And Door County. And Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, UP, Peshtigo, Marinette, Baraboo. Along the Michigan, Superior, and Mississippi shorelines. If you are into houses and farmsteads, like I said, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. Just get out and drive man, stay off the freeway, and I promise you will find them... No one is going to tell you where they are.

Alright, will do. I'm very excited to get out and do this and I'll make sure to take plenty of pictures. Thank you very much!!

Posted by fr00tCake Yes. There is stuff in the Kettles, south and north. Even in the state forest itself. Governor Dodge, Chequamegon-Nicolet, Rib Mountain, High Cliff. And all around Lake Winnebago. And between Winnebago and GB. And in GB. And Door County. And Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, UP, Peshtigo, Marinette, Baraboo. Along the Michigan, Superior, and Mississippi shorelines. If you are into houses and farmsteads, like I said, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. Just get out and drive man, stay off the freeway, and I promise you will find them... No one is going to tell you where they are.

I went out last night into the country and found a few possible places to explore. One thing I'm wondering about is where to park my car in order not to be super obvious to other people driving the roads and possible neighbors. I know this heavily depends on the specifics of the location, but what are some good tips in order to not be blatantly suspicious. I also plan to do a lot of this at night, which may help conceal my car.

Posted by Aran Not a lot of explorers in Wisconsin unfortunately. I used to explore around that area before moving away a couple of years back. There's a few oldhead explorers in your area who still get out, but they're not on UER anymore. Mostly the few scattered Wisconsin explorers function as satellite members of the MSP community rather than as a standalone community on their own. That being said, you're close to some good stuff. Plenty of cool spots within an hour's drive of Oshkosh between Green Bay and Lake Winnebago, though the density isn't very high. And if you can get down to Milwaukee it's a veritable cornucopia of cool spots between the drains and old industrial/railroad districts. I've always been a bit mystified why Milwaukee doesn't seem to have its own local urbex scene, it certainly has enough spots to support one- but nobody is doing them. There used to be a Milwaukee specific urbex forum but it hasn't been active since 2012 and went offline during covid, so it just seems like there's a lot of untapped potential in that city.

This certainly used to be true but there has been kind of a insta/tiktok brodude explosion in the last year or so. Lots of people exploring around milwaukee and the other cities south.

Other side of the cheese curtain here, but I go north periodically... mostly for the corpse of Northridge. Lot of the older MKE stuff I knew of has been redeveloped or demoed.

Posted by jonrev the corpse of Northridge.

City got $15m approved to raze it, however the owners Black Spruce still have the raze order in appeals. In the meantime, they are still getting fined daily for failure to secure the property and have put it up for sale for $2m. However if there were to be a sale, the next owner would still be facing the raze order. I am betting it will be gone in 2024....

Posted by fr00tCake City got $15m approved to raze it, however the owners Black Spruce still have the raze order in appeals. In the meantime, they are still getting fined daily for failure to secure the property and have put it up for sale for $2m. However if there were to be a sale, the next owner would still be facing the raze order. I am betting it will be gone in 2024....

I'm not so sure. I've heard rumors that it's owned by an overseas investing firm that may be attempting to use it to drive down the property value of the surrounding neighborhoods so it can perform a cheap land grab before redeveloping everything. Whether that long term profit is worth the short term hassle is up in the air though.

Posted by jonrev Other side of the cheese curtain here, but I go north periodically... mostly for the corpse of Northridge. Lot of the older MKE stuff I knew of has been redeveloped or demoed.

I haven't been to Milwaukee in a while but unless things have changed significantly, the Third Ward/railyard area ought to have some good industrial stuff. Hell, the railyard alone is like Mill Hell if it had an active yard running through it- for derelict buildings there's at least four mills, two bridges, a tannery, a brewery, two factories, two warehouses, and an abandoned steam network within half a mile of the yard. I used to spend hours wandering around there back when I lived in Wisconsin.

Posted by Aran I'm not so sure.

https://www.jsonli...llion/71904012007/

Posted by fr00tCake https://www.jsonli...llion/71904012007/

Huh, that does look like they're serious about it this time. But to be honest I've watched the city pull a "will they/won't they" schtick that would put most sitcoms to shame for so long that I won't truly believe it until the first bulldozer is on site.

The city-owned Boston Store anchor also has to be under demolition by the end of this month or they lose that grant money. There is no known progress on that in at least a couple years (90& of it was gutted by Penzey Spices during their brief ownership of the building).

Posted by Aran I'm not so sure. I've heard rumors that it's owned by an overseas investing firm that may be attempting to use it to drive down the property value of the surrounding neighborhoods so it can perform a cheap land grab before redeveloping everything. Whether that long term profit is worth the short term hassle is up in the air though.

Plausible theory. The one I was told (guy who rented it a few times for airsoft events circa 2018-19) is that ownership of Northridge is Black Spruce's visa into the country. They're in the agricultural business and have no actual intention of redeveloping the mall.

All these years following the Northridge saga... I'm with you in not believing anything from that circus until bulldozers are on site.

I'm about a couple hours south and new to the area. Would love to meet up with you or any other active explorers in WI!

Posted by Xiketic I'm about a couple hours south and new to the area. Would love to meet up with you or any other active explorers in WI!

Whereabouts if you don't mind me asking? Judging from other people, the areas between and also including Madison and Milwaukee have a lot to explore, so you're in a good spot. Would be nice too meet up possibly someday!