Abandoned Places
Believe it or not, I had some photos stolen and probably turned into NFTs (found some of mine reposted without permission on Instagram, too), so I'm not posting full galleries. Let's go exploring! Always open to finding what's out there.
Abandoned among the miles of sugarcane fields off US-27 is Gator Land, on the west side of the highway less than a quarter mile south of South Bay’s city limits. The former mayor of South Bay, J.C. Bowen, and his wife Mary Lou owned a gas station that they turned into a roadside attraction. The conditions were deplorable and thankfully it was shut down.
Abandoned among the miles of sugarcane fields off US-27 is Gator Land, on the west side of the highway less than a quarter mile south of South Bay’s city limits. The former mayor of South Bay, J.C. Bowen, and his wife Mary Lou owned a gas station that they turned into a roadside attraction. The conditions were deplorable and thankfully it was shut down.
Gator Land
Everglades Memorial Hospital opened in 1936 and closed its doors in 1998.
Cornerstone of the hopsital.
The entrance to the emergency room.
Everglades Memorial Hospital opened in 1936 and closed its doors in 1998.
Everglades Memorial Hospital
The Glades Correctional Institution. Founded in 1932, closed in 2011.
This was as close as I could get since a fence has been set up around the perimeter.
The Glades Correctional Institution. Founded in 1932, closed in 2011.
Abandoned Jail in the Everglades
Abandoned train tracks at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on A1A and Sunrise Boulevard. Birch owned the land, and you can still visit his historic home The Bonnet House next door (it’s gorgeous and I want to throw the biggest soiree there). Birch willed the land to The Florida Park Service in 1941, and upon his death in 1943 they acquired it. It is now a quiet haven in Fort Lauderdale.
When you go kayaking at Birch State Park then you go right underneath the old train tracks.
Abandoned train tracks at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on A1A and Sunrise Boulevard. Birch owned the land, and you can still visit his historic home The Bonnet House next door (it’s gorgeous and I want to throw the biggest soiree there). Birch willed the land to The Florida Park Service in 1941, and upon his death in 1943 they acquired it. It is now a quiet haven in Fort Lauderdale.
Abandoned Train Tracks at BSP
The Jupiter Dungeon is an abandoned underground parking garage for a would-have-been shopping center and hotel that was set to open in the mid-80s. Money got tight, so construction was halted, it was bought by a private investor in 1988 who did nada, and then was bought by the city in 1999. I didn’t want to stick around too long because the folks who gave me the coordinates also said they were arrested for trespassing last spring/summer, there’s very clear “no trespassing” signs.
The Jupiter Dungeon is an abandoned underground parking garage for a would-have-been shopping center and hotel that was set to open in the mid-80s. Money got tight, so construction was halted, it was bought by a private investor in 1988 who did nada, and then was bought by the city in 1999. I didn’t want to stick around too long because the folks who gave me the coordinates also said they were arrested for trespassing last spring/summer, there’s very clear “no trespassing” signs.
The Jupiter Dungeon
Ruins of Wild Waters Park, which are only accessible by kayak and exploring on land is not only forbidden but dangerous due to the prevalence of herpes monkeys (I kid you not) and alligators, of which I saw at least one on the bank. The water park was opened in 1978 by the ABC Corporation. Long story short (it involves big business involving itself with people who like small government), it shut down in 2016 and has been abandoned ever since.
Ruins of Wild Waters Park, which are only accessible by kayak and exploring on land is not only forbidden but dangerous due to the prevalence of herpes monkeys (I kid you not) and alligators, of which I saw at least one on the bank. The water park was opened in 1978 by the ABC Corporation. Long story short (it involves big business involving itself with people who like small government), it shut down in 2016 and has been abandoned ever since.
Wild Waters Park in Ocala, FL
Shot with Kodak Portra 800 film at ISO 640 If you look closely then you can see the lights at the top of the fence that were used to illuminate the sign.
Shot on Kodak Portra 800 film at ISO 640
If it weren't for the giant pineapple it would be easy to miss the ruins of Shonda's Souvenirs off US-27. I was driving home from Orlando and decided to take the scenic route. The other shot I took makes the building look more sunny than it really is. In fact, there's quite a lot of shadows and shrubbery around it, so I was mindful that there may be critters or cats (both small and panthers) lurking about the premises.
Shot with Kodak Portra 800 film at ISO 640 If you look closely then you can see the lights at the top of the fence that were used to illuminate the sign.
Shonda's Souvenirs in Lake Placid
© 2023 by Black Barby.