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Location DB > United States > Ohio > Columbus > Pomerene Pool > The Beginning

Story Info
Thu, Nov 27th, 2014
posted by KD20
The Beginning

I know what you're thinking. This dinky little abandoned swimming pool hidden among the amongst the hustle and bustle of a highly active college campus can in no way compare to some of the other UE gems out there. But to me, it still ranks as one of my favorites. Why? Because it was my first.

Back when I attended OSU, I developed an interest in the many intriguing structures on campus and extensively researched them and their history. During my research, I came across a story about an abandoned swimming pool hidden in the bowels of Pomerene Hall. And I just had to see it in person. So one day, not at all knowing what I was doing, I walked down to Pomerene and strolled in through the front door. And I could not find the pool. Not to be denied, I went back to my dorm and did some more research, trying to find out whatever I could that would get me inside that natatorium.

What I didn't know beforehand was that the pool wasn't quite abandoned anymore. Campus planning had moved into that wing and was using the natatorium to store their blueprints and other documents. And those guys do not enjoy students (or other people) poking around in their work space. Because of this complication and the confusing layout of the building, when, where, and how you enter the building is essential in whether you will or won't get to explore the pool. I won't spoil the fun though.

Armed with more information, but still not quite all the knowledge I needed, I returned to Pomerene the next week. I didn't realize it at the time but what I was doing was classic urban exploration. After a lot of trial and error, I finally found my way to a hallway that looked familiar. This is the hallway where the pool was. Excited, I continued on and peeked into the first doorway on my right. I saw a flight of three or four steps leading up to a tile floor and the top half of a chain-link fence. Jackpot! I had found it. I spent some time in there enjoying my find and taking a few pictures. As I left the natatorium, a bald guy in a red jacket stepped out of one of the offices and gave me a "what are you doing here?" look. It didn't matter. I had seen the pool firsthand.

I write this almost three years after that first exploration. A lot has changed since. I've graduated from OSU and been forced to start acting like a grownup. One thing that hasn't changed is that awesome feeling I experienced for the first time at the Pomerene pool: discovering a really cool abandoned place. This is the place that started it all. After I left the pool, I knew I had to find more places like it. So I did. And I'm still doing it. Recently, I've read that plans are in place to fill in/remove/repurpose/whatever the pool. I hope it doesn't happen but just in case it does, I will return soon. Hopefully I still have my old student ID lying around somewhere.

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