Growing up in Florida, I used to spend many weekends at Bradenton Beach. Driving down Manatee Avenue, we used to pass a deserted mansion sitting back far from the road on an overgrown lot. The façade was crumbling and tagged with graffiti, but it was obvious this home was once magnificent. I used to daydream about buying it when I grew up and restoring it to its former glory. Unfortunately, a real estate developer bought the land, demolished “my” mansion, and built condos.
I’ve always been interested in abandoned buildings. There’s an element of mystery about them as well as danger. Whether it’s a private home, a business, school, or hospital, I wonder who graced the hallways, why did they leave, and why was the building allowed to fall into such disrepair? Who partied in the empty building or squatted there? Is anyone lurking behind those walls with malicious intentions? Is it safe or ready to collapse? Can it be saved? What impact did its abandonment have on the community?
When I found the series, Abandoned, on HULU, I had to check it out. Don’t confuse this series with the American reality series of the same name.
Abandoned was one of the first programs added to the Viceland channel in 2016. It is produced by Vice Canada and shot in the style of a documentary. Each episode features Canadian skateboarder Rick McCrank who explores abandoned places with the people who care about them and want to revive them.
There are two seasons of the series with 12 total episodes and no announced date for future episodes or a new season. Abandoned is the type of show you either love or hate. If you are easily offended by swearing, this is not the show for you. If you’ve ever driven by an abandoned mall or school or watched business after business in your community close their doors and wondered why this seems to be happening all over North America and what can we do about it, then watch Abandoned.
McCrank has a unique approach to each venue. He connects with people from the areas to learn the history of the building and taps into their memories. It’s not surprising he always finds a community of skateboarders who are trying to establish a skate park in or outside of the abandoned areas because they don’t have access to a community skate park and have been shooed away from parking lots and area parks. The skaters clean the area and build ramps only to come back and find the city has demolished the ramps to avoid any chance of a lawsuit should someone be injured. I get that. They get that, but in the absence of a community skate park, they stubbornly rebuild or move on to the next abandoned site. Many of these youths feel as abandoned as the places they skate and often their fellow skaters are the only people they can trust or rely on. McCrank always joins them for a few runs and seems to genuinely fit in with his fellow skaters.
In Season 1, episode 1, “Ghost Mall” - McCrank visits the “ghost malls” of Northeastern Ohio. He talks to security guards and the people who care about these buildings and remember the days when these malls were social gathering places. Do you remember going to the mall with your friends, eating fries at the Food Court, and going to the movies? Is your neighborhood mall still around or is it in decline? McCrank also visits an area mall that is reinventing itself and rents out spaces to churches and other businesses.
Episode 2 – “Newfoundland Coast” - McCrank visits dead and dying fishing towns along the Newfoundland Coast.
Episode 3 – “St. Louis Schools” - McCrank tours many of the 20 closed and abandoned schools in St. Louis.
Episode 4 – The California Water Supply” - McCrank visits The Salton Sea and Owen’s Lake and traces the California water supply talking to people who remember the glory days when everyone wanted a home there and seeing first-hand the decay of these communities.
Episode 5 – “Nuclear Waste” - McCrank examines nuclear paranoia in the Pacific Northwest.
Episode 6 – “Route 66” - McCrank and his co-pilot Frank Gerwer drive legendary Route 66 and trace the historic significance of many of the once famous towns along the way.
Episode 7 – “Carolina Speedways” - McCrank explores the original tracks that built NASCAR into a popular and extremely profitable big business. He connects with the fans and drivers who are fighting to bring their sport back to the raceways they love.
Episode 8 – “Native Land” - McCrank visits the abandoned industrial towns along the Northern British Columbia Coast.
Episode 9 – “New Orleans DIY” – McCrank visits with people who are trying to build back in forgotten areas of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He visits the now abandoned Six-Flags Theme Park locals hope will be rescued before nature reclaims it.
Episode 10 – “Two Detroits” – Detroit represents the decay of an American city in the Rust Belt that citizens refuse to let die. McCrank explores the abandoned and still struggling areas of the city and the Detroit Renaissance.
I couldn’t find any information about the two episodes released in Season 2.
Season 1 is available for purchase from Prime Video and some episodes are available on HULU and Apple TV.