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UER Mobile > US: South > Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story (Viewed 9356 times)

post by AdventureDan   |  | 
Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
< on 2/22/2020 2:54 AM >

This is a story of discovery, adventure, harrowing fear, love, and loss.
 
What follows is my first attempt at coherently chronicling the greatest and most meaningful explore of my life. An abandonment that became a second home to myself and other explorers, and the literal home to unexpected wayfaring parties. An explore that extended into 2 or 3 years of obsession and endeavoring to protect it. 

I have gathered as many photos as I can find, using a mix of shitty cellphone shots and camera photos I took. Additionally I have taken the liberty of contacting some of the other explorers who shared this space and used some of their photos to fill in what gaps I can of documenting it. As with many of my favorite explores, I get so caught up in the explore I fail to properly photograph the place entirely. 

I have credited all photos not mine, and did my best to link to those users flickrs where possible.

This story is extremely LONG, so if you don't enjoy in depth write ups, feel free to just scroll through the photos. 

I'll begin. 



It all started when I stumbled upon an office building parking garage while skateboarding with a friend in uptown Dallas.The garage was empty and the office building attached seemed strangely vacant. However there was a loud noise which sounded like vacuum cleaning coming from the building. I figured the custodians were cleaning and the building was just empty for the weekend. We left the building and I forgot about it. 

Two years later by chance I started working at a fine art and collectibles office down the street. One day for lunch I decided to take a stroll around the lovely turtle creek path and happened upon the same office building I had ran into years ago. No signs of life. The building was in excellent condition, albeit an old looking drive thru bank ATM that seemed rather dated. Upon wandering into the parking garage, I heard the same hum that had deterred me years before. Thinking there was no way this could be a coincidence to come by when they were vacuuming two years apart, I decided to investigate further. 


Photo courtesy of Dee Ashley


The ATM drive thru. Photo courtesy of Dee Ashley

The building was very large and it took me quite a while to walk around it, attempting to peer through the heavily tinted windows without luck, I finally found an alcove in the back that had some electric panels stripped of copper. 

Bingo.

My first order of business was prodding every door I found for something that might be open. No luck. No broken windows either. It was sealed tight. A gated entry at the back had a padlocked grate with a ladder leading down to a deafeningly loud basement. This was the hum I had mistaken for vacuuming years before. 


The basement exit I tried going in through initially

After a few return trips during lunches throughout the week and failing to pick any of the high end locks on the base level doors and the grate being locked with a combo lock (at the time I did not know I could have easily shimmed this lock.) I turned my eyes to an air conditioning line that lead up a two story climb to a lower interior roof. 

I climbed this copper pipe and foam insulation up to the roof and found myself on a small closed in section of roof with a door leading into the main building. Approaching the door, I was confronted by a very angry mother vulture and two ugly chicks. I carefully stepped around her, giving a respectful hush, and went to work picking the generic key in knob lock. 


I wish I would have taken photos of the vulture at the time. This was taken later but it shows the same interior roof. The buzzards head covers the door and the beak is pointing at the piping I climbed up

Finally I was granted the satisfactory turn of the cylinder and the door swung open to a dim office space under long forgotten remodeling. This space proved to be the only small area under construction and what followed was a maze of empty but pristine office space.


my first view of the inside

Rolley computer chairs abound and the heavily tinted windows gave an attractive subdued natural light without fear of being seen from the outside.Not a speck of graffiti to be found. It turned out to be an eight story heaven. There were even penthouses at the top with an attractive balcony view of the city and the nearby security offices were left with equipment and countless tools and monitors. An extensive HVAC mechanical room had what appeared to be a scuba tank, and the penthouses had beautiful unmarred carpet, littered with mumified bat corpses.




The hole in that sheetrock was actually the only way to that wing that I entered in through that was under remodel.


Photo courtesy of Fatwax4








Still my favorite balcony I've ever been on


Photo courtesy of Dee Ashley


Photo courtesy of Dee Ashley

What turned out to be an even more useful attraction of the building was the basement. A terrifyingly dark and deafeningly loud maze of corridors and electrical rooms led me to a maintenance department where a small office and a windows 95 machine booted up. 





Here there was also a key vault that was left open that had labeled keys to the entire building including doors and sections of the building that were locked off. One such room was a vault room containing security tapes of the bank vault which was also housed in the basement (unfortunately closed.) The maintenance department had several boxes FULL to the brim with keys and old exchanged cylinders from the building.




One of the 3 or 4 boxes each weighing about 40 lbs of brass. Photo courtesy of OldNdustT


Photo courtesy of Astro

A particularly interesting find to me considering how interested I am with locksport, and would prove extremely useful later. There were also rooms stocked with hundreds if not thousands of fluorescent bulbs for the building. 


Just the OPEN boxes, there were piles of those boxes in that room.

Although it was not the most photographically exciting place, it's vast empty space and items left behind, as well as being completely unmarred by taggers or scrappers, it appealed greatly to me.


And here are some photos proving it's just my lack of photographic prowess. Photo courtesy of IndoAnomaly


Photo courtesy of Fatwax4



Photo courtesy of Fatwax4

Over the next few weeks I returned every day during my lunch break at work and went to my new job of unlocking doors, playing with electrical panels and restoring power to various sections of the building, replacing dead light bulbs and ballasts, and skimming through filing cabinets of insurance claims and documentation on the building. 

The ground floor turned out to be the most locked down with many doors screwed shut which had to be removed to allow further exploration. A lounge room converted to storage provided several couches, lamps, mattresses, pillows, and even a somehow still living bonsai tree. After several return trips (one such that ended in me and my brother and friend almost being trapped documented here https://www.uer.ca...=118928&currpage=2,) signs of malicious intent started to appear at the property. 


The front desk

Two weeks after my discovery of the building, a Dallas morning news article was published mentioned the buildings imminent demolition to make way for some upper class condos. 

And thus came the horde. 

Upon visiting my new sanctuary one day, I noticed a broken door window in the alcove. The sanctuary had been breached. Tools left near the door included wire cutters and pliers. 

Scrappers. 


some sketchy wire splicing to give light to the scrappers during their mining operation

I have to admit I was filled with anger and I vowed not to let such pristine pure urbex glory go to the scavengers. I went straight away to home depot, purchased a piece of heavy duty plywood and bolts, and went to work installing the board over the broken window. 

That board was never removed again. 

However this was not the end. Soon after I started spending the night there as I was saving 100 miles of driving a day to and from work, and I wanted to keep a closer eye on the place. I set up a base camp in an off the path executive office space with it's own balcony on the 7th floor directly under the big wig penthouses. 


This room would serve as my base and occasional home for a couple years


Post hoofing furniture and cool stuff up 7 stories on my back.

Using lock parts from the basement I re-keyed the door to a random key I found and furnished the room with a couch which I carried on my back all the way up from the first floor. I also brought up a leather armchair, the bonsai, a radio, a mattress, and my own sleeping bags.I started a collection of useful keys from the basement and even stockpiled a set of light bulbs and tools for maintaining the building there. 



I awoke one morning to an entire hallway downstairs stripped of copper from the walls and a mess of sheetrock. I found the door they had sawed off its hinges from the parking garage and a stockpile of heavy copper wire probably worth around 4 grand piled near the door ready for pickup at a later time. Near the door and copper lay a tool-bag filled with a full milwaukee power-tool set and several batteries, electric line cutters, impact drill, 2 sawzalls and a whole array of bits, drivers, files and saws. These people clearly weren't supposed to be here and they were destroying this sacred ground. 

This was war. 







I took the copper stash and hid it in a closet upstairs and put it under lock and key. I took their tools and put them to use installing metal hardware from the store to replace and bar doors they had cut open and stored them in my growing base upstairs. 

I armed myself with crowbars, machetes, and lead pipes found at the building, and slept quite uneasily at night in my base although fortified with deadbolts I installed on the inside. Sometimes I would awake to the sounds of sawing coming from the hallways at night.
 
My sanctuary became a horror house of paranoia. 


Photo courtesy of Fatwax4

Torn between fear for my safety, and desperation to preserve the building, I spent many night with a crowbar by my side. I never ran into them at night face to face but I did once stand on the other side of a door while they were sawing through it, which was a terrifying experience as I knew they probably were looking for their expensive tools I had commandeered.

I did run into them in the day time once and they tried to pass themselves off as "urban historians", as they silently pointed out to eachother long sections of pipe and appliances.

Ultimately though my work paid off with large gaps between scrappers breaching. I tirelessly replaced and patched entry points and continued to confiscate their copper stashes (they would come in the night and do all the sawing and cutting, then come back the next night and pick up the load.) I even called the police once and posed as a concerned passing jogger when they pulled up in the garage one night and started sawzalling a door. 



During this time I had been communicating my ventures with Astro, and she suggested hosting a meetup there. Excited at the prospect of meeting many folks from the site here I went to work with her creating a roster of locations to explore over the weekend, with the main draw of the bank being a base camp for the night. 

The event was in my opinion a smashing success and I met so many wonderful people and got to share a truly special experience. Attendees included IndoAnomaly, Fatwax4, Squish-e, Imbroglio, Atticaddict, Robertb, Johnny Mnemonic, Insulinguy, Revsm and of course Astro. 


Just a few of the attendees from the meet


Photo courtesy of Astro


This is IndoAnomaly Pre-nude era modeling the rooftop scuba and radio in an executive armchair on a penthouse balcony. That's UER history if there ever was a thing




Freddy, our amicable stairwell mascot which became the UER badge for the meetup. Photo courtesy of IndoAnomaly


Photo courtesy of Astro


Photo courtesy of Susan

Following the event I continued to keep tabs although less obsessively, and gave many a tour to many more explorers. The location also became a wonderful backdrop for a few model photography shoots during my time dabbling in portraits. 















It also hosted my lovely (now) wife and I's first valentine date. Complete with a rooftop dinner cooked by yours truly in the penthouse kitchen. 


The roof dinner setup





I like to think I have this building to thank for winning her over

On another particular excursion, Astro and I had a run in with the ACTUAL caretaker (well his helper) of the building which started with a flashlight standoff, and ended with a tour of the building with a very anxious man who really didn't like his job of being in old buildings alone. 

We learned that he had used his key to get in with his friends to have an epic paintball war (which I had discovered prior and thought the location was finally burned.) This resulted in the two most empty floors being entirely covered in paint which at first I didn't like at all (you will learn i'm a person not to excited by change) but came to affectionately enjoy these otherwise featureless floors new character.







However slowly but surely the scrappers returned with my increasing absence and power started being lost throughout the building, doorknobs pried off and my base camp broken into and looted (including the copper stashes I regularly hid from them.) 



Then one summer I had a few run ins with workers clearing out the bottom floor to prep for demolition and signs went up announcing its demise planned for that year. A security officer was employed and razor wire went up around gates and the garage. I had let go and come to grips with its end and I decided to share the experience one last time with some non explorer friends and host a secret penthouse party. 




Another mini meetup held there a year or so later was our WAYN ("Where are you now" which branched from NTUE) facebook group's clown party. Attendees included Dee Ashley, OldNdustT, Susan, and The Good. Photo courtesy of Dee Ashley


Photo courtesy of Fatwax4

I decided to have it in the large main penthouse and managed to get power ran on extension cords from a still working part of the building. I hauled furniture, speakers, drink tables, and installed heavy duty deadbolts on the one and only staircase door leading to the top floor so that we could be safe from scrappers or police with battering rams. Thanks to the heavy curtains up there and being the top floor I did tests at night to ensure no light escaped and that loud music could be played without a single hint to the surrounding area. 


This is the main penthouse that would become base camp two and host the party. Originally I had purposefully avoided pitching camp here as the nearby HVAC room and being a smaller floor, would have made it easily discovered by scrappers

The party went off without a hitch (except one small detail I will reveal later) and I rested easy knowing I had given it a good send off and that my time there had been spent well. The demolition was supposedly set for a few months later, and I thought that was that. 

Until it didn't get demoed. 


Photo courtesy of Fatwax4

The next year it was still standing and I decided to do a shoot there. I wanted to take the model to the penthouse to do some shots, and upon reaching the door, I found it locked from the inside. 


One of the photos from that shoot. I intended to shoot in the penthouse, but had to make due with the roof.

My heart stopped. There was only one other way in from the roof balcony door, so I continued the shoot on the roof and checked the door. Locked. The only way this was possible was that someone was currently inside, or that the owner had gone in, locked the deadbolt to the stairs, left through the roof and locked the glass door with a key on the way out. I thought this unlikely so I decided to come back with another explorer later that night to investigate.

That night upon rechecking the doors to the penthouse, we realized there was a hatch on the roof above the HVAC room that could be reached by doing some sketchy climbing of the Chiller tower and jumping a 4 foot gap to the roof. 

I went alone and silently entered the pitch black mechanical room and crept out to the corridor leading down to the big decorative double doors to the penthouse. I reached for the handles to push the doors open and was met with the sound and resistance of chains from the INSIDE. My stomach lurched and I quickly GTFO (there was no other entry points to that area and I knew for a fact someone must have heard me had they been inside.)


Photo courtesy of Fatwax4

Back outside I discussed with my friend what had happened and while still mid conversation, a dark figure came around the corner from the balcony exit. We were greeted by a tall young African American man with a flashlight and light jacket. He spoke very calmly and confidently and told us we were trespassing. We asked him what he was doing there and he claimed that he was renting the place and was living there "fixing the place up." 


Photo courtesy of Astro

I knew this could not be true since there was no running water, and would not be legal, but he stuck to his story and continued to prod us for information about how WE got in. His mannerisms were not confrontational but rather calculated and I realized we were dealing with a very intelligent squatter. He escorted us out but I told him we would be back. He didn't seem thrilled but he didn't say anything to forbid us.

After many subsequent trips I gained his (semi) trust and learned his name was Chris and toured his new home (which included some of MY sleeping bags now lol. At first I was rather peeved at the commandeering of my penthouse base camp, but after a while I came to grips with the fact he was there to stay and even found comfort in having a second set of eyes on the place.

He had also managed to rig up a TV with a working Nintendo and a computer where he played games. He said he was trying to apply for school and spent most of his time at the public library downtown. He had an uncanny way of remembering small details from conversations from prior meetings. I brought him beer and food from time to time. He also had a creepy way of showing up silently in dark halls and scaring the shit out of me with nothing more than a calm "hello" and "how did you get in here this time?" He never laughed or showed any emotion. I visited occasionally over the course of a year before moving away. I'm not sure where he is now. 


Chris AKA Lump's pad. His room was right around the corner

One theory of how he got in there in the first place, was that there was a homeless man that slept in a sleeping bag outside the front of the building at night. We discovered him from the inside of the building looking out during the UER meetup and I started to notice him more after. Always there at night, never in the day, and never moving a muscle and covered head to toe, we affectionately gave him the name of "lump."

Well during the penthouse party mentioned earlier, someone left the party early and left the door open on the way out. 

I believe "Lump" became Chris that night, as Lump was never seen again.

Eventually I got married, moved to Houston, had my first son, and never made it back whenever I was in town. Always friends and family to visit, new places to explore, and also I didn't really have the heart to see the inevitable damage that had probably occurred in my absence.
 
Last year it was finally demolished. Watching this video for the first time brought a very somber feeling to me. It felt like a part of me went down in that explosion. But also in a sense, I felt a bit of closure. I could stop worrying about the scrappers, and the thieves and the instagaram kids finding it. I could let go.

That building was like a home to me. I knew every hall and floor, every door and chair. It was truly a place close to my heart.



Thinking back, it wasn't so much that it was extraordinary in any way, although many explorers commented on how cool the running power and lack of graffiti was. It didn't have exceptionally exciting architecture or crazy forsaken treasure or even wonderfully photogenic.

What made it special to me personally I think, was that it was the first time I had discovered a location on my own, set out into unknown territory where none (that I know of) had gone since it closed in 2007, and really had time to EXPLORE.

Many times when exploring, it feels more like a rushed photography tour. The stress of taking the best shots before you lose the light, or cops come, or it gets demoed. But here I really got to know the place. It was to me a wonderland of small discoveries and as I went more and more, it's familiarity became a peaceful place of belonging.

Rest in Peace Bank. I'll miss you.

If buildings ever had a soul, this one did to me.


Johnny Mnemonics note left since the meet up. Photo courtesy of Susan

I recently added the location to the database and invite any explorers to upload any photos they have here as well if they wish.

http://www.uer.ca/...ow.asp?locid=31723

Special thanks to all of the explorers who dug through their hard drives to get photos for me and allowing me to use their photos in this write up! It means a lot as this was a place close to my heart. I was just too caught up to document it properly!

[last edit 2/22/2020 8:13 PM by AdventureDan - edited 4 times]

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post by Explorer Zero   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 1 on 2/22/2020 3:30 AM >

epic explore


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post by Cfourexplore   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 2 on 2/22/2020 4:15 AM >

Wow...just, WOW!
*Begins slow clap


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post by fatwax4   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 3 on 2/22/2020 4:26 AM >

Killer post man! Totally forgot about your battle against the scrappers.


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post by Squish-e   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 4 on 2/22/2020 4:32 AM >

Great post Dan! I'm not sure where my archived photos are at the moment, but will look when I have time. Good times Night Deposit by Jessica Steeves, on Flickr]


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post by randomesquephoto   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 5 on 2/22/2020 6:16 AM >

Really, really, very impressive.

I've had my obsession locations, with multiple visits, and lots of time and effort invested.

But this is just incredible.

Love your commitment, and skill you have. You've made it a craft. Much respect.


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post by Pearson   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 6 on 2/22/2020 4:34 PM >

Dude, this is one of the greatest posts i’ve seen on this website. This is absolutely exceptional.


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post by Howie Dunnet   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 7 on 2/22/2020 4:40 PM >

This is a truly fascinating post. I love the effort you put into foiling the scrappers' every move, the parties, the model shoots, The dinner date, but most of all the amount of effort to understand the building's soul.

You captured the essence of urban exploration. This sets the gold standard in my opinion.

This would make for a cool movie.


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post by AdventureDan   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 8 on 2/22/2020 8:07 PM >

Post by 2Xplorations
epic explore


Post by Cfourexplore
Wow...just, WOW!
*Begins slow clap


Post by fatwax4
Killer post man! Totally forgot about your battle against the scrappers.


Thanks guys, and yeah the scrappers were one of the main concerns for me about having a safe meetup. IndoAnomoly actually helped me reinforce some of those doors at the beginning of the meetup to ensure at least we wouldn't be surprised while people were split up running around in the dark.

Post by Squish-e
Great post Dan! I'm not sure where my archived photos are at the moment, but will look when I have time. Good times


That shot is AWESOME! I had never even seen that! Thanks for sharing


Post by randomesquephoto
Really, really, very impressive.

I've had my obsession locations, with multiple visits, and lots of time and effort invested.

But this is just incredible.

Love your commitment, and skill you have. You've made it a craft. Much respect


Same respect goes to you sir, I'd love to hear about some of those investments sometime.


Post by Pear
Dude, this is one of the greatest posts i’ve seen on this website. This is absolutely exceptional.


That's some pretty heavy praise man. Probably should go read some archived stuff on this website . There's a lot of (imo) incredible posts here that I can only dream of achieving.

Post by Howie Dunnet
This is a truly fascinating post. I love the effort you put into foiling the scrappers' every move, the parties, the model shoots, The dinner date, but most of all the amount of effort to understand the building's soul.

You captured the essence of urban exploration. This sets the gold standard in my opinion.

This would make for a cool movie.


Thanks Howie I really appreciate it.


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post by corvidcache   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 9 on 2/22/2020 8:08 PM >

Posted by Howie Dunnet
This would make for a cool movie.


I'd see it!

This is an amazing legacy. I can't even imagine having the opportunity to build such a relationship with a building. I mean, I can fantasize, but that's not the same...


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post by oldNdustT   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 10 on 2/23/2020 3:38 PM >

That was such a fun day, so happy that I was included and was able to experience this place. Great story too...great memories for you


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post by cleipelt   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 11 on 2/23/2020 4:43 PM >

Wow, definitely the most in depth and coolest thread I’ve ever come across on UER so far. Thanks so much for sharing your story and your extensive dedication to keep this place alive as long as you did.


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post by Aran   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 12 on 2/23/2020 5:55 PM >

Incredible story. I've always thought the abandonment squats set up by various explorers were pretty cool, and the way you set this up into a meetup spot and crash pad made an otherwise unremarkable big empty building into an incredible spot. Thanks for posting!


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post by android_eyez   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 13 on 2/24/2020 3:34 PM >

Dan, I read this a few days ago and re-read it today and just wanna say that this post is incredible...

The photos, the stories, the twists and turns.... At the very least a documentary should be made about this place.

I've literally only explored with one other person, the person who taught me everything I know, and they had a similar relationship to a building just like this, and I was fortunate to share some incredible memories with them in that space as well.

This is an amazing hobby, and I'm thankful that people like you are willing to share your stories like this!


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post by Alpine7840   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 14 on 2/24/2020 5:14 PM >

WOW, This was a fantastic read and i loved every second of reading it. Thank you sir!


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post by IndoAnomaly   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 15 on 2/24/2020 8:59 PM >

More people need to create write-ups for locations like this, but I doubt as many will have the stories to tell. Reading this brought back so many memories for me. I was a green explorer when I was invited to tag along for the bank campout, and I'm forever grateful. I was probably only a couple months into my exploring career when everyone got together for this little meetup and now look at me. Your ownership of this building was something to behold. I think you did a fantastic job of conveying it in words, but it really was something else to witness in person. I remember staying up until 3am one of the nights to barricade ourselves into this bank. I was equally parts terrified and enthralled. Ever since, I have been chasing the feeling I got from this small weekend. The group shot we got from here is still one of my favorite shots ever. And wow, you're right. This was before I started getting nude, but even the photographs you shared here give a foreshadowing of what is to come!

Dan, you are one of the most dedicated explorers I know. Any time we get together it is a true adventure from rooftops to drains to abandoned buildings. I cannot wait for the next opportunity to get crazy. This was a true reminder that any spot can be an adventure and notable. Too often we are chasing the next great spot for a couple pictures. Thanks for providing this check to me.

[last edit 2/24/2020 9:01 PM by IndoAnomaly - edited 3 times]

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post by AdventureDan   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 16 on 2/25/2020 1:56 PM >

Post by corvidcache
This is an amazing legacy. I can't even imagine having the opportunity to build such a relationship with a building. I mean, I can fantasize, but that's not the same...


Post by cleipelt
Wow, definitely the most in depth and coolest thread I’ve ever come across on UER so far. Thanks so much for sharing your story and your extensive dedication to keep this place alive as long as you did.


Post by Alpine7840
WOW, This was a fantastic read and i loved every second of reading it. Thank you sir!


Post by Aran
Incredible story. I've always thought the abandonment squats set up by various explorers were pretty cool, and the way you set this up into a meetup spot and crash pad made an otherwise unremarkable big empty building into an incredible spot. Thanks for posting!


Thank you guys for taking the time to read it! I appreciate your comments greatly.

Post by android_eyez
The person who taught me everything I know, and they had a similar relationship to a building just like this, and I was fortunate to share some incredible memories with them in that space as well


I'd be very interested in hearing about it some time. Always love swapping recounts of epic adventure

Post by oldNdustT
That was such a fun day, so happy that I was included and was able to experience this place. Great story too...great memories for you


Yeah it was. We need to get together soon with the gang next time i'm in Dallas!

Post by IndoAnomaly
More people need to create write-ups for locations like this, but I doubt as many will have the stories to tell. Reading this brought back so many memories for me. I was a green explorer when I was invited to tag along for the bank campout, and I'm forever grateful. I was probably only a couple months into my exploring career when everyone got together for this little meetup and now look at me. Your ownership of this building was something to behold. I think you did a fantastic job of conveying it in words, but it really was something else to witness in person. I remember staying up until 3am one of the nights to barricade ourselves into this bank. I was equally parts terrified and enthralled. Ever since, I have been chasing the feeling I got from this small weekend. The group shot we got from here is still one of my favorite shots ever. And wow, you're right. This was before I started getting nude, but even the photographs you shared here give a foreshadowing of what is to come!

Dan, you are one of the most dedicated explorers I know. Any time we get together it is a true adventure from rooftops to drains to abandoned buildings. I cannot wait for the next opportunity to get crazy. This was a true reminder that any spot can be an adventure and notable. Too often we are chasing the next great spot for a couple pictures. Thanks for providing this check to me.


You honor me greatly friend. In terms of dedication, I know none other more so than you. I've always held your craft and art in this hobby in the highest regards. So your words mean a lot. I'm very grateful to call you my friend and to have had the opportunity to share some life long impacting adventures.

I can't wait for the next big adventure. I'm feeling the next big UER event of the south is in the works.

[last edit 2/25/2020 1:59 PM by AdventureDan - edited 1 times]

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post by Dee Ashley   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 17 on 2/25/2020 8:49 PM >

Wow!
I’m so glad you posted this.

First of all, I had no idea this was where you had your first date with your now-wife. How cool is that??
I’m honored that you chose to include me in this part of your life story. It’s moments like these that keep me coming back for more, even after having personally paid such a heavy price for engaging in this activity. I’m addicted and I have friends like you to blame for that!
My explores with you have always been some of the most memorable ones. I’ll never forget the day you managed to coordinate that Greenville explore day with almost a dozen of us - that takes skill, lol. That was my first experience doing this as a group with like-minded people - at least half of whom I still keep in contact with to this day. I owe a lot of my happy exploring memories to you.
I am really, really, looking forward to this epic DFW meet-up you’ve been hinting at. We are long overdue around here!

Nice work. This is a post that will go down in UER history, I have no doubt.

*I should note btw, that you credited a photo (the scuba gear still life right before my dead bat shot) to me that isn’t mine. I don’t know who took that one!


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post by AdventureDan   |  | 
Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 18 on 2/26/2020 6:38 PM >

Posted by Dee Ashley

First of all, I had no idea this was where you had your first date with your now-wife. How cool is that??


Well it wasn't our very first date but rather our first Valentine's date
But still I think it's pretty cool.

My explores with you have always been some of the most memorable ones. I’ll never forget the day you managed to coordinate that Greenville explore day with almost a dozen of us - that takes skill, lol.


Hopefully good memories, I remember that was also the day you had a tragic incident involving keys to your car!

And I don't even know how we pulled that day off. Had a small crowd of explorers just waltzing in and out of abandonments all through downtown Greenville!

*I should note btw, that you credited a photo (the scuba gear still life right before my dead bat shot) to me that isn’t mine. I don’t know who took that one!


Ugh! I poured over this post several times trying to proofread and make sure I got the credits right. I believe it's OldNdustTs.

Thanks for your comment Dee, I know few people as well traveled and experienced as yourself, and i'm always envious of just how much exploring you do!

We will definitely have to get together soon, and I'll let you in on the secret plans for this uber epic meetup that will hopefully come to fruition.


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post by Astro   |  | Usually naked

Re: Dallas National Bank / Republic Insurance: An Urbex Love story
<Reply # 19 on 2/26/2020 7:02 PM >

Great post. I miss you, bud.


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