Welcome to the Investigation section of Columbus Underground, where you can discover new, undocumented places to explore. There are quite a few in a city the size of Columbus, so I'm always looking for contributions. Scroll down to read about the forgotten side of the capital city.
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School Building
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Junction of I-70 and 315, west of downtown
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This obviously unused building is sealed up tighter than [Insert Obscene Phrase Here]. With metal riveted over every door, window, and vent from basement to roof, this place will be a real challenge to get into. The neighborhood doesn't help; it's only a block from Sullivant Avenue, which isn't the safest neighborhood in town (no offense, Sullivant Avenue residents). Parking is available on the street nearby. Visibility is high because of the building's proximity to the freeway, but with steel covering every window, once you're inside you shouldn't have to worry about cloaking your flashlights. My only concern would be releasing the demon they're obviously trying to contain in this place.
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Salt Factory/Grain Silo
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East Main Street
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Located just across the railroad tracks from Bexley, this towering concrete thing is similar to several others you run across from time to time. The only problem is, I have no idea what the hell it is. A guy walking by when I was taking pictures told me it was a salt factory. Others have mentioned grain storage. It's probably abandoned; if it's used at all, they don't keep the place up very well. Railroad sidings out back are overgrown with weeds. A train car sits neglected outside. Spraypaint covers much of the walls. I actually climbed this one with my friend Hoss last summer and was blown away by the view--and the risk of imminent death. The neighborhood isn't the greatest, but everyone I've run into around there has been extremely nice. Still, if you plan to explore this place, be careful.
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Capitol Manufacturing
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Front Street
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Get it while the getting's good, folks. This massive ninteenth-century factory in the Brewery District is about to be gutted and turned into apartments. They haven't started on it yet, though, so if you'd like to explore the place, it can still be done. Capitol's new plant is way out on Route 40 in West Jefferson. Who knows what's been left behind in their old factory? Visibility is very high, though, so watch out.
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Alum Creek Factory
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Alum Creek Drive
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The abandoned factory on Alum Creek Drive near Maryhaven stands directly opposite a similar factory on the railroad tracks. It's obviously not in use anymore, and is covered with a prodigious amount of spraypaint. What did they do or manufacture here? I don't know. But I do know I want to find out.
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The Broadwin Apartments
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East Broad Street
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The towering apartment building at the corner of East Broad and Winner is not exactly abandoned, but definitely under renovation. You can see a construction light or two inside, but not much else. I've stopped several times and never encountered any activity. The only thing I could find online about the Broadwin said that it had been purchased by the state of Ohio and is being turned into low-income housing. I'd definitely like to get inside the place, if I get the chance.
The Rumor File
Some places haven't been officially confirmed as even existing. Below is a list of underground sites which may or may not be explorable.
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Under Downtown
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The fabled system of sewers, drains, and maintenance tunnels beneath the buildings of downtown Columbus. I've heard so many rumors about this that I don't know what to believe. One legend says that the tunnels are haunted by a mysterious figure in black. How do you get in? Hard to say. There's supposed to be an entrance on the train tunnel under High Street next to the Convention Center, but a guy I know who checked that out says the only door is locked up tight. Another entrance may exist in the basement of the Char Bar. If you're the adventurous type, huge runoff drains open above the Scioto River in Bicentennial Park. Check it out and let me know what you find.
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Morse Road Trainyards
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I've heard rumors of an abandoned trainyard north of Morse Road. The yard is said to contain numerous dilapidated trains.
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Fifth Avenue Aeronautics Factory
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My dad first told me about this one, and I've since gotten some other confirmation. Apparently an aeronautics manufacturer's old plant is still standing somewhere off of Fifth Avenue out near the airport. It was in the news recently, my dad said, because they went into it to retreive a massive jet engine the government wanted to put into use. If it stored airplane parts it must be a pretty big place. Rookie and I drove the length of Fifth Avenue one night on the hunt for the place but turned up nothing. Does anybody know where it is?
UPDATE: This one turns out to be FOR SALE, which makes it pretty inaccessible. Oh well.
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