Videos about things I find interesting

Since the 1970's, Borders Bookstores have been a place of comfort and peace for millions of shoppers. Their unique strategy of offering a cozy place to shop, with tens of thousands of highly trained employees was a winning one that earned the company billions in sales. But, it all came crashing down in 2011 and now, the brand is non existent. Join me today as we find out why.

When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea: Submarine Voyage became an instant hit. It was a theme park attraction like no other in Florida and a classic ride within Walt Disney World for decades to come. However by 1994, the iconic attraction was abruptly closed and would sit abandoned for the next decade, sitting in the middle of the most visited theme park on earth. Join me today as I find out why and take a look at the history of this beloved attraction.

In 2013, Elon Musk unveiled his concept for a "5th mode of transportation" called Hyperloop. Spawning from this idea was a lot of public excitement as well as companies racing to build one. Virgin Hyperloop One was one such company, seemingly making the most progress of any company with technological breakthroughs including the first human test. But after a decade to work and over $400 million invested, in late 2023, the company declared the equivalent of bankruptcy and shut down. Join me today to find out why.

Since the late 1930's, a home grown stadium in Akron Ohio has played host for thousands of events. From football games of all kinds to major concerts from music legends, the 40,000 seat Rubber Bowl was something of legend. For over 70 years it sat as an iconic local event venue, one however that would ultimately close and sit abandoned. Join me today as I find out why this iconic sports facility ultimately sat abandoned and what ended up happening to it.

Along the Mississippi River and just outside the city centre of Memphis sits perhaps the most out of place structure in any American city. The Great American Pyramid as it was touted in the late 80's was promised to be the next huge landmark in the midwest, a tourism marvel which would be reveared by millions. When it opened in 1991 however, the Memphis Pyramid arena wasn't the spectacular landmark it was supposed to be, Join me as I look into how this strange stadium got built, how it was abandoned and how a Bass Pro Shop ultimately moved in. This is a weird one.

Brennen from Uncharted Travel and I take a detailed look at my past video on the spectacular, abandoned ski resort. We had a crazy time filming this place and I figured this would be the perfect platform for us to share those experiences and what it was like to experience this magnificent place.

Among all of the ambitious development projects in the early 2000's, perhaps there was none more spectacular and iconic than the Chicago Spire. A concept to fill a long vacant plot of land at the mouth of the Chicago River. The Spire was planned to be the tallest skyscraper in America and briefly in the world. However a series of financial catastrophes then ensued leaving an enormous abandoned foundation. This is the Chicago Spire.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful vessels of her time, the Andrea Doria was a symbol of pride for Italy. A sleek and stylish 1950's liner fitted with the most luxurious appointments and beloved by many who sailed on her. However just 3 years into making transatlantic crossings, one fateful night would end in catastrophe, ultimately sinking her. But how did it happen? This is the story of the Andrea Doria.

In 2012 there were two major "eco", luxury sedans. Everyone knows about the Tesla Model S and how it succeeded and went on to re-shape the entire auto industry... but many don't know about its rival at the time, Fisker Automotive. They were just as ambitious as Tesla, with a former BMW designer at the helm, guiding their flagship, the Fisker Karma into production. However it ultimately failed and just a few years later the entire company went under. So join me as we explore what happened and how Fisker may be back from the grave and trying another time to take on the automotive industry!

Jurassic Park is one of the greatest films of the 1990's and one of my favourite of all time. Of course such an iconic film spawned an ever growing billion dollar franchise of more movies. But those films weren't exactly smooth rides and some were even changed weeks before shooting began. So join me as I explore the insane route of never made movies and the cancelled films in the Jurassic Park franchise.

Setting up retail in Canada is rather hard. However through most of the 1900's, there was one brand that rose through everyone else and became a thriving discount department store brand. One most Canadians remember fondly and went to every week. Zellers was a Canadian retail icon and one very much preferred over their fierce rival Walmart. However their fate ultimately ended with yet another American retail brand trying to make their own entry into Canada. That went well...

Objectively back in the 1900's, when you thought about taking pictures, you thought Kodak. They were once the worlds most iconic photography brand making popular cameras and film, innovating at every step. They generated tens of billions of dollars and secured themselves as one of the symbols of pop culture. However, in just a few short years, their photography empire came crumbling down in 2012 when they filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Today we are going into a former bowling alley with over 50 lanes. This massive building is on the verge of demolition for new condos and after its closure in 2016, the entertainment complex was left to the elements. Join us as we find out what's left.

After all this time, you'd think that the Geauga Lake amusement parks would have been cleaned up... Well not quite. Join me today as I take a look at what has happened to the legendary and now infamous, Geauga Lake as well as the formerly open water park across the lake. This is what has happened in 2020.

After over 130 years of business, today I am looking at one of the most iconic and prolific retailers in history. A corporation which grew from a small mail order business in Chicago, to pioneering modern retail and what is now known as the "big box store" as well as shopping malls. It became one of the worlds largest companies and brands... all until its rapid and public decline. Leaving hundreds of abandoned stores and leaving a huge mark in retail. This is Sears.

Deep in the heart of Pennsylvania sits a ghost town, now just an empty road alongside vacant lots, but it didn't always used to be that way... Hundreds of feet below the town rests the answer as to why an entire American town was forcefully evacuated for fear of their lives. This is the incredible story of the town of Centralia and how hundreds of families left due to a burning coal mine beneath their feet.

Today we visit a secluded, abandoned plantation resort on an island off the coast of South Carolina. It began in the 1980's as a family destination and soon became wrapped up in a massive fraud ploy which scammed investors out of over $25 million. Today we tell the story and find out whats left from this massive Ponzi scheme which left this resort now abandoned.

Back in the 1990's a man started a project from a dream he had to build not only the largest ship ever conceived, but to combine a family cruise line, airport and residential community all in one. His dream carried on through decades after and now seemingly stalled, a new CEO is taken the helm. This is the full story, of Freedom Ship.

Today we visit an incredible former Charles Town Mall. The structure began its life as a factory then was transformed to a outlet mall which served shoppers, restaurant goers and families for years. The mall eventually closed in 1991 and saw little use and remained relatively untouched until today. Where the abandoned ruins of the mall stand today. Let's take a look at whats left inside one of America's least known abandoned malls.

Back in the 1970's, the Walt Disney Company built what was at the time the worlds first fully themed water park. It was beloved and visited by millions until it unexpectedly closed in 2001. Since, there have been urban legends, failed concepts and explorers venturing inside what was now an abandoned Disney water park. For years it sat abandoned becoming an iconic decaying theme park. Today I am revisiting the topic that started this whole series and diving deep to explore the full history and what is eventually going to happen to Walt Disney World's River Country.

Long gone are the families, shoppers and deal seekers to this once thriving outdoor shopping mall. Today it sits abandoned and destroyed after a long fall from popularity and a 2016 closure. We're venturing inside to find out what is left behind at an abandoned shopping mall once home to Sears, Rue 21, Nike and GNC.

Today we're exploring an incredibly and massive former country club and family ski resort. This enormous property has a hotel with over 400 rooms, a 9 story tower with penthouse suites, an Olympic sized swimming pool, a beautiful lobby and theatre, all slowly rotting away and reclaimed by nature. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and explore what's left of the Nevele Resort.

After over a hundred years in business, General Motors was the worlds largest corporation producing some of the most iconic cars in history. However in the early 2000's, the company made some bad decisions and quickly brought the worlds most powerful company into turmoil, on the brink of shutting down, and eventually.. bankruptcy.

Since its opening in 1965, the Houston Astrodome has gone through many changes over the years. However after several enormous changes, the facilities including the stadium are left vacant and abandoned. Let's find out why...

Today we came across this incredible and abandoned Days Inn motel, fit with a convention centre and a night club. The hotel also became a Knights Inn later in life yet closed in 2015 due to the horrible surrounding area. Take a tour with us through this once family hotel, but now an abandoned motel in the heart of Alabama.