So, I’ve always been fascinated by abandoned places, especially malls. There’s just something eerie and captivating about these once-bustling hubs of commerce, now silent and decaying. I decided to embark on a little adventure to explore some of these “creepy abandoned malls” and document my journey.
First, I did some research online, looking for abandoned malls that were relatively accessible and safe to explore. Found a few interesting ones, but I decided to start with the Dixie Square Mall in Harvey. It’s got a bit of history, having been used in the Blues Brothers movie. I packed my camera, a flashlight, and some water, and headed out.
Dixie Square Mall
- Arrived at the location and it was even more desolate than I expected. The parking lot was overgrown with weeds, and the building itself was covered in graffiti and boarded up in most places.
- Carefully made my way inside through a broken window. The inside was dark and dusty, with debris scattered everywhere. It was like stepping back in time.
- Wandered through the empty corridors, the silence only broken by the occasional creaking sound or the scurrying of some unseen creature. It was definitely creepy, but also strangely beautiful.
- Found the old food court, with its faded signs and overturned tables. I could almost imagine the hustle and bustle of shoppers and the smell of fast food that once filled this space.
- Took lots of pictures, trying to capture the atmosphere and the sense of decay. It’s amazing how quickly nature reclaims these spaces once humans are gone.
Next, I wanted to check out a mall that’s a bit further away but seems really interesting – the Hawthorne Mall. It was apparently looted during some riots and has been closed since 1999. If the Dixie Square Mall was bad, this one promised to be even more intense.
Hawthorne Mall
- Drove down to the location, and it was a massive, hulking structure. It was clear that this place had been through a lot.
- Found a way in through a loose board. This mall was even darker and more damaged than Dixie Square. There were signs of vandalism everywhere, and a lot of the structure was unstable.
- Explored what used to be the main concourse. The escalators were frozen in place, and there were huge holes in the ceiling where the skylights used to be.
- Discovered an old department store, with mannequins still standing amidst the rubble. It was like a scene from a horror movie.
- Honestly, I started to feel a little uneasy in this one. It wasn’t just abandoned; it felt like it had been ravaged. I decided to cut my exploration short and head back.
After those two, I felt like needed a bit of a break from the really intense ones. So, I opted for a more “modern” abandoned mall – the South China Mall. I heard it was mostly vacant for over a decade after it opened in 2005. That’s a whole different kind of eerie.
South China Mall
- Flew over and checked into a nearby hotel, just to make the exploration easier. The sheer size of this mall was mind-blowing.
- Walked in, and it was like a ghost town. The place is huge, but there were hardly any stores, just endless empty hallways and these massive, unused spaces.
- The escalators weren’t even running, they were just covered over. It was surreal to see such a modern building in this state.
- Snapped some pictures, but honestly, it felt more sad than creepy. It’s like this grand project that just never took off.
I’m not sure if I’ll continue exploring abandoned malls after that. Hawthorne was pretty intense, and South China Mall was a different kind of sad. But it’s definitely an experience I won’t forget. These places are like time capsules, each with its own story of rise and fall. They’re a reminder of how things can change so quickly and how even the grandest of human creations can be reclaimed by time and nature.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little account of my adventures. If you’re ever tempted to explore abandoned places, just be careful, be respectful, and be prepared. It’s a fascinating but also potentially dangerous hobby.
