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skatchkins
 
location:
The Desert
Gender: Male
 |  |  | Phoenix Trotting Park
< on 3/14/2012 5:49 AM >
|  | | | Last month I took an accomplice and made it in and out unfettered. Took a couple of starting positions to get in clean. One golf cart patrolling or just driving around the building avoided.
Good times. Stayed through sunset.
Phoenix Trotting Park - sunset by Skatchkins, on Flickr
Bombed out escalator by Skatchkins, on Flickr
Stairs to the viewing area by Skatchkins, on Flickr
IMG_1782 by Skatchkins, on Flickr
Basement by Skatchkins, on Flickr
IMG_1754 by Skatchkins, on Flickr
IMG_1860 by Skatchkins, on Flickr
Angles and hallways by Skatchkins, on Flickr
Old bathroom by Skatchkins, on Flickr
Roof graffitii by Skatchkins, on Flickr
IMG_1987 by Skatchkins, on Flickr
IMG_1993 by Skatchkins, on Flickr
IMG_2044 by Skatchkins, on Flickr
IMG_2058 by Skatchkins, on Flickr
Flickr Pitchrs |
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MonkeyPunchBaby
     
| | Re: Phoenix Trotting Park
<Reply # 1 on 3/14/2012 5:58 AM >
| | | | I can't wait to see this spot this summer.
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Lomax
location:
Denver
Gender: Male
| | Re: Phoenix Trotting Park
<Reply # 2 on 3/14/2012 5:12 PM >
| | | | That's an interesting looking building, nice set!
rollin on dubs of love |
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skatchkins
location:
The Desert
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Phoenix Trotting Park
<Reply # 3 on 3/14/2012 7:42 PM >
| | | | Posted by Lomax
That's an interesting looking building, nice set!
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Thanks. I figured there was enough back story out there on it already but if not, here's words:
One Sunday after church I got an itch to get out but didn't know to where. I looked around on the west end of town for something to drive to and maybe take some photos at. I was looking around the Gila river when I remembered that old racetrack out there. I called a friend (an old bible study teacher) and asked, "You want to go break into an old abandoned building?" The answer was quick enough, "Yeah, I'll be at your place in an hour." That gave me some time to figure out some approach plans, especially since at the south end of the property is an old folks trailer park where I read they have nothing better to do than scan the horizon for movement on the private property. Upon further reading, I learned the Goodyear cops seem to be pretty responsive to the area- guns drawn, small town, we have nothing better to do, this is fun to us kinda stuff.
Steve showed up and as we headed out we discussed plans and routes. One problem is that the area is mostly just flat desert with lines of sight for days. We reconned a bit and then picked a spot pretty far away, stopped on the road side, popped the Xterra's hood for effect, and began hiking. We came around the overpass to find a service truck on property in our path so we retreated for a different approach. We finally picked another off the road side spot where after 1 minute of walking we could continue most of the rest of our journey in a gravel pit/dump situated well below sight-line. Steve opined that a nondescript white truck would be awesome to have right about now to avoid suspicion amongst all the No Trespassing signs.
We did our bail out, then felt pretty good as we traversed our low approach path. We popped out really close to the building but there's still a good flat, let's make no sudden movements time to be had before reaching cover again. We made it behind concrete giddy but unsure of how much unfettered free time we'd have alone.
The Phoenix Trotting Park was built in 1964 by developers with mob money. It was supposed to cost $3 million but the futuristic design ended up topping $10 million. Other problems such as its distance from Phoenix, desert heat and flooding led to its quick demise and abandonment. It still sits mostly due to the fact it's full of asbestos no one wants anything to do with.
Pretty much the whole of the building was used as a bomb in the 1996 Sheen and son movie No Code of Conduct.
The good explosions and the really good acting begin at the 1:42 mark.
http://www.youtube...re=player_embedded
The explosions took out all of the glass which is pretty much all the south end of the building is. If you read more on the event, you'll find that the explosion killed a couple hundred birds and there's even a site with sad music playing over it describing the work to help the wounded. Steve and I only saw pigeons, so we held back out tears.
The birds are back in force. There's inches of old poop on the floors in some areas and there are plenty of birds hiding about to give you a scare as they unsettle things or flap away unexpectedly.
Anyway, we began exploring and were probably in there around 4-5hrs. You might find that odd until you find out for yourself how many levels there are in this thing. The basement area was a highlight as it was super dark and water was pouring out of somewhere adding to the echoing noises below. The escalators and elevator shafts were pretty freaky and a must see.
We also found the room sized safe. A hole had been torched in the door to the thick concrete room. More impressive when you review that the door was 4-5" steel. The 2'x1' cut out piece on the floor could not even be moved. All the big bill money wrappers scattered about added to the intrigue. Inside there wasn't much to see but we did find some old receipts listing the cash put in and taken out along with betting sheets.
We finally made it up to the roof and the press box that looked out over where the track had been. It was close enough to sunset to stick around for it and it turned out great.
Only once while on the exposed stands side did I have to duck for cover as a golf cart meandered very slowly by. Once when we split up, Steve called my cell and scared the crap out of me and I missed the call. That was ok, because the same thing happened to him when I called him back.
We left the building with some dusk to offer us cover and made it back to the parked Xterra, no foul play or tickets to be seen. We explored In & Out on the way home.
Flickr Pitchrs |
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insanebuslady
location:
?
Gender: Male
"You talkin' to me?"
| |  | Re: Phoenix Trotting Park
<Reply # 4 on 3/16/2012 3:24 AM >
| | | | Awesome dude, love that escalator
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Rozz
location:
The Whales Vagina, CA
Gender: Female
I'm Reich and You're Wrong
| | | Re: Phoenix Trotting Park
<Reply # 5 on 3/16/2012 3:19 PM >
| | | | Fantastic photos. Im loving that light with the sunset. Awesome!!
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Jonno23
location:
Phoenix, Az, Sector zz9 Plural Z Alpha
Gender: Male
This space for rent
| | Re: Phoenix Trotting Park
<Reply # 6 on 3/19/2012 2:41 AM >
| | | | I live pretty close to there and hit it regularly. I know a few places close to it as well if you are up for a trip another time. Hit me with a PM, always down to meet some new explorers...
Nice set by the way. Love your shot at sunset.
Blah Blah Blah. Shut up and open the damn door.
"It's ok Officer, I watch a lot of cop shows on tv, so i am practically one of you guys." - sadly, that didn't work.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonno23/ All my photos suck. |
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skatchkins
location:
The Desert
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Phoenix Trotting Park
<Reply # 7 on 3/21/2012 6:21 AM >
| | | | Posted by Jonno23
I live pretty close to there and hit it regularly. I know a few places close to it as well if you are up for a trip another time. Hit me with a PM, always down to meet some new explorers...
Nice set by the way. Love your shot at sunset.
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Very cool. Thanks man
Flickr Pitchrs |
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Uzi-
location:
Central Nebraska
Gender: Male
| | Re: Phoenix Trotting Park
<Reply # 8 on 4/7/2012 2:28 PM >
| | | | Good shots here, I agree with others on the escalator being top notch as well as the sunset shot. It looks like they're scrapped more of the stainless steel off the escalators since I was there. This place was the highlight of my AZ trip glad to see its still doable and hasn't changed too much.
Posted by Send4Help
Man... Not even the mods make it to this corner of UER
I feel like I am in ...well... the great plains ;) Posted by willskith Unfortunately, due to overuse of tonemapping, photography was gradually ruined and now stands with halos. |
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Jonno23
location:
Phoenix, Az, Sector zz9 Plural Z Alpha
Gender: Male
This space for rent
| | Re: Phoenix Trotting Park
<Reply # 9 on 4/8/2012 1:43 AM >
| | | | Posted by skatchkins
Very cool. Thanks man
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No problem. There are some great shots to be had on the south side of the property at the Judge's Grandstand and maintenance yard. Since the scrappers busted open the maintenance shed it has been harder to hit that area. But, it is worth it.
Blah Blah Blah. Shut up and open the damn door.
"It's ok Officer, I watch a lot of cop shows on tv, so i am practically one of you guys." - sadly, that didn't work.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonno23/ All my photos suck. |
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