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UrbanBuck
Location: Corvallis Oregon Gender: Male Total Likes: 35 likes
| | | Finding Locations < on 5/14/2014 8:21 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | So an interesting conversation people have sparked up with me is how I find locations without being intrusive and potentially bothersome to other urban explorers. Here's what I do: 1) (I find this cheating though and stray away from using this technique) Look at local area forum posts. Try to find clues in pictures of where it may be (A house address number, a billboard, a sign, etc.) 2) (This will require scouting) Google maps. Hover over a business districts and industrial districts. Look for any visible graffiti, empty and poorly maintained parking lots, partially collapsed structures. Drive out to the location at night and try to see if lights are on, if at night lights are on it may be possible the place has an alarm system. (Assume that since it's a commercial building and the building has electricity the prior caretakers installed an alarm system, I've tripped two already and narrowly made it out before a police officer rolled up.) 3) Ask a hobo. I've found three local locations I would have never noticed before nor found a P.o.E. to it if it weren't for stumbling upon a hobo's sleeping spot under a bridge and as well in abandoned buildings. Start by sparking a conversation and offer them a pack of cigarettes before bringing up the question. WARNING: Try not to mistake cracked out wackos and drug manufacturers for hobos. 4) Record any information on a piece of paper or smart phone. If you spot a nearby building with windows smashed out, graffiti, boarded up windows, write down the nearby streets to it or if you have an app such as TapTag for Android which allows you to record your GPS location and save it. Re-investigate the location if it's a big industrial or commercial building at night to see if lights are on. 5) Ask a friend. On Face Book, I have a friend who is obsessed with urban art and I took the time to message her and ask her about a couple locations which turned out to be abandoned and absolutely stunning. Also a local modeling company did a few shoots in an abandoned warehouse and I messaged them asking for the location. 6) Craigslist. Look at properties for sale on Craigslist. I managed to find a couple cool smaller spots from Craigslist this way. 7) Google Search. I've found a couple interesting locations by simple searches such as 'California abandoned' and '*insert city/town name here* abandoned' and have had a few good results. Just remember, research locations by typing them into Google Maps before you get too excited, most the ones I've found this way are already torn down. These are my methods for finding locations. It's always interesting to hear from other people how they discover places as well.
[last edit 5/14/2014 8:32 PM by UrbanBuck - edited 1 times]
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| LawnJockey
Total Likes: 5 likes
Keep on climbing
| | | Re: Finding Locations < Reply # 1 on 5/14/2014 8:35 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Even though it results in 90% failure, I find myself getting out of my car in some areas, and just walking around, following a river or stream, I just hunt for hours on end. Only then, if I think something is near by, I use good old Google maps, to find any hidden areas I may not have been able to access on foot. To me, this way is so incredibly rewarding. Because when I finally find something, I feel so accomplished!
| Always remember that when your life is hanging by a thread, the most amazing things happen just before the thread snaps |
| HipsterKitty
Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia Gender: Female Total Likes: 46 likes
I'm not a real hipster, but I am a real kitty.
| | | Re: Finding Locations < Reply # 3 on 5/15/2014 3:26 AM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Craigslist never occurred to me, so that's a pretty cool tip! The rest seems common knowledge, though. For me, I just drive around. If I see a place that looks abandoned and interesting, I pull in and drive close to the entrance. If there is any sign of activity, I keep driving and pull a U-turn, going back the way I came on the main street. If nothing, I wait a bit, messing with the maps on my phone in case someone comes out to see what I'm doing. After that, I just go for it and knock. 100% success rate so far. I've even "turned around" in a lot with a cop hiding out of sight from the road, and he didn't bother to follow. It's a pretty safe way to search thoroughly, but I suppose it does have its risks.
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| HipsterKitty
Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia Gender: Female Total Likes: 46 likes
I'm not a real hipster, but I am a real kitty.
| | | Re: Finding Locations < Reply # 8 on 5/19/2014 3:42 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by DJ Craig
Definitely good advice. A lot of people seem to be afraid to talk about exploring openly, but I talk about it constantly to all different kinds of people. Even people I don't know that well. And it's amazing how often I get new leads on locations from doing that. And it's very rare that anyone responds negatively when I explain it properly.
| Lucky you. I actually get negative feedback more often than not. "Yes, I'm aware that it's illegal, but those laws are intended to-" "Yeah yeah, you're above the law. Sure." "Well, either way, it's not like I leave the place any different than I found it." "Maybe not yet, but you'll slip up." "I would only damage something if I would be put in immediate danger otherwise." "Why put yourself in these dangerous situations at all?" And it goes on. Oddly enough, though, my parents are the most supportive people I know.
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| DJ Craig Moderator
Location: Johnson City, TN Gender: Male Total Likes: 374 likes
Break the Silence
| | | | | Re: Finding Locations < Reply # 9 on 5/19/2014 3:53 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | I talk about it in the most nerdy way possible. I emphasize the "historical preservation" and photography aspects of it, and, depending on who I'm talking to, don't even mention that it's illegal or dangerous. If I simply don't say that it's illegal or dangerous, it surprises me how many people just don't even make the connection that it would be! I also emphasize the "online community" part (because if there's an online community of people that do something then it must be legit) and talk about how we "all" follow a strict "code of ethics" of not damaging locations, stealing, vandalizing, etc. And if they ask me "Is that illegal?", my response to that, which seems to satisfy most people, is "Well, yeah, and I've been caught plenty of times, but what happens generally is you just get asked to leave. Worst case scenario, occasionally a small fine, but even that's rare." The more you can sound like a socially inept nerd with internet friends, and the less like a rebellious teenager, the better.
| "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." -Dr. Suess |
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