Here's something I wish I found earlier in my urban exploration journey! Most large cities have public databases of vacant/condemned properties. It's a great way to see who owns the property, how long it's been abandoned, etc. I've been using these as resources when I'm uncertain about the status of a property. Of course, it can't be 100% accurate, so always look for additional information elsewhere.

I'm certainly still a rookie when it comes to urbex, but I thought I'd share some information that I wish I had on day one. Here are some example websites for the Twin Cities near me. A huge portion of these listings are actual trap houses that are likely still inhabited...so don't just take every bando as an opportunity for exploration.

https://www.minnea...roperty-dashboard/

https://informatio....00&showTable=true

Non-rookies, what do you think about this resource, and is there anything similar that could help those of us still figuring out where it's worth going? Thanks!

www.google.com

I am not even joking. Almost all of my bookmarked sources came from there. The overwhelming majority of my GPS pins came from falling down a Google rabbit hole. I think you'll find that not only do most folks here not like to share location details, but they also would rather not share their sources. BUT - every single locations there is to see is either on the Google machine, or the source to find it is. It's a hell of a thing. When I started, there was no one tool or even a group of tools that was even remotely close to the power of Google, let alone an internet.

I'm a HUGE rookie, and those links are definitely going to help a ton, thank you.

Posted by fr00tCake www.google.com I am not even joking. Almost all of my bookmarked sources came from there. The overwhelming majority of my GPS pins came from falling down a Google rabbit hole. I think you'll find that not only do most folks here not like to share location details, but they also would rather not share their sources. BUT - every single locations there is to see is either on the Google machine, or the source to find it is. It's a hell of a thing. When I started, there was no one tool or even a group of tools that was even remotely close to the power of Google, let alone an internet.

So very true. I've found so many great locations by just reading news archives for certain regions on Google. Obscure mentions of a closed town in a document about prairie dog populations-check. Abandoned Cold War era missile test site with zero graffiti and working lights found while reading an article about bison migration- check.

The thing about "published" directories of "bandos" is they are so blown outbid the time they get put on the internet that exploring them is like going to Six Flags: everyone has been there. Especially city surplus/vacant property listings.

The amount of gross tweaker creeps who already spotted an empty property and are smoking meth, shitting on the floor, or wiping their Hep C staff infection wound on the door handles of is deterrent enough for me.