I had an interesting explore this morning where I got a little spooked. I discovered this shut down country club the other day while driving by, when I noticed how overgrown the golf course was. I just drove around the parking lot and left, but it looked pretty sealed up, so today I didn't expect any interior access and I parked right in front. I did some research at home and found that the place has been shut down for a year, initially with intentions of reopening, but got seized by the county and auctioned off just last month for delinquent taxes.



Now, it only started snowing yesterday, so I was a little surprised when I found some footprints (with a little bit of fresh snow dusting them, but not much) leading up to one of the back doors. I figured maybe it was from a caretaker or something and just shrugged it off, figuring I could just say I used to golf there and came back to reminisce about the good old days. Kept working my way around the main clubhouse and found this.



This doesn't seem like how the old owner would come pick up the copy machine. Of course, I was also a little excited that I could go inside. I hopped through and found a trail of still-damp footprints leading into the building. This was about where I started getting weirded out with having my car out front and everything. There were definitely no other vehicles on the property, so I don't know if the guys just left or had walked in and were still there scrounging for valuables that they could come pick up with a truck at night.

A couple more photos:
http://i48.photobu...05_zps23968422.jpg
http://i48.photobu...03_zps65aa50e3.jpg

I made my way around the building and saw that a door on the outside dining area was propped open with a box. Curiosity got the best of me and I decided that it wouldn't hurt to take another peek inside.


http://i48.photobu...10_zps09018a3a.jpg
http://i48.photobu...09_zpscdfc6ddd.jpg

From this floor, I could see the driveway and it was long enough that I could get back out the door before anybody drove up the hill, so I felt a little better looking around. Found the front desk and some offices, and then got spooked again when I found a pile of radio equipment by the front door, along with a whole lot more wet footprints leading down the hallway. I figured I should leave for real this time.

I might go back this weekend and hike in from a nearby parking lot. I thought for a second about reporting what I found to somebody, but it turns out I'm too selfish and I really want a chance to check out the rest of the building.

Listen man, its chill, we all chill, you can just tell us that you broke into that place and stole their copier. Aint no narcs here!

Looks pretty cool, but I'd definitely be careful.

By the sounds of it, I'd wager it may be scroungers looking for stuff. Given that it just recently changed hands, it means you're more likely to have someone come out there to assess their building, and I would not want to be anywhere around when they see scrappers hit the place.

The way you describe this is bad, very bad. Maybe it's just the way I'm reading it.

I would have just gone back another day when there was less (or no) evidence of activity. Usually when you are spotted on trespassing property, it's because you've exposed yourself to randoms from afar. The person who spotted you is never going to approach you, or they won't think twice about "conveniently" removing you from the property by having the authorities do it for them. (especially if they see the place has been broken into or burned)

For a bystander, it's the quickest and easiest way to get the job done.
For the cops, it's only a matter of whether or not some bad thing happened there the day or week before.

Posted by General Zod The way you describe this is bad, very bad. Maybe it's just the way I'm reading it. I would have just gone back another day when there was less (or no) evidence of activity. Usually when you are spotted on trespassing property, it's because you've exposed yourself to randoms from afar. The person who spotted you is never going to approach you, or they won't think twice about "conveniently" removing you from the property by having the authorities do it for them. (especially if they see the place has been broken into or burned) For a bystander, it's the quickest and easiest way to get the job done. For the cops, it's only a matter of whether or not some bad thing happened there the day or week before.

I don't think I was spotted, unless it was by the guys who were cleaning the place out. The footprints were definitely from the same people who had piled up the electronics and possibly broken the window, it was just initially that I thought it may have been a caretaker.

I had about the same thought as you, though, about why I shouldn't hang around. The last thing I want to explain my way out of is why I'm hanging out at a building by myself with a freshly broken window and a pile of electronics ready to load out.

Posted by ripcity I had about the same thought as you, though, about why I shouldn't hang around. The last thing I want to explain my way out of is why I'm hanging out at a building by myself with a freshly broken window and a pile of electronics ready to load out.

"I was just exploring, officer! Really! Yes, that's my car. Yes, those are electronics by the broken window. But did you see those footprints? Those aren't mine.

...well, no, I didn't SEE anyone else, but...


Waitwaitwait! Don't you think handcuffs are a bit unnecessary? I'm innocent, I tell 'ya! I'm innocent!"

...yeah, good luck explaining that one. You made the right choice. Still, pretty cool. Good luck if you go back there again.

Maybe whoever was in there heard or saw you pull up, thought you were the owner/caretaker and booked it out of there.

This sounds like a very sketchy situation. If I were you, I'd bring a friend along with a knife. Don't bring anything that would possibly lead an officer to believe you're stealing shit. Have the picture you posted of the smashed window with a time stamp to "back up" your story. Let us know if you make it back inside!!

Posted by JasonJacksonPhoto If I were you, I'd bring a friend along with a knife. Don't bring anything that would possibly lead an officer to believe you're stealing shit.

Bringing a weapon, however, is A-OK.

Eh. I wouldn't worry about it.

Very true! Even if we tried to snitch we could get us in trouble too!

Posted by Send4Help Listen man, its chill, we all chill, you can just tell us that you broke into that place and stole their copier. Aint no narcs here!

I finally got back over to the country club today. As expected, the broken window on the main clubhouse/restaurant building was boarded up and the door was closed and locked. I could see inside that more stuff had been trashed, and a couple interior windows were broken since the last time I was there. Still looked relatively intact.

I walked into the course instead of driving this time, and went past the check-in building, which had an open door but wasn't very big. I did find this funny note.


Lots of clutter.


There was plenty of expensive looking golf crap left to rot.


While I was in the check-in station, I heard a truck pull up to a storage building down the hill. I spied on the guy from behind some bushes, and sure enough, he starts loading up all this ducting into the back of his truck.

So, once again, the place was uncomfortably active with scrappers. I guess on the positive side, that means I might find the main clubhouse open again at some point, but it kind of sucks that the place will likely be picked apart before I have a chance to explore it again.

Posted by ripcity So, once again, the place was uncomfortably active with scrappers.

Scrappers or looters?

Posted by Salty Trees Scrappers or looters?

You're right, probably both. There's enough valuable stuff still laying around at this point that the wiring and other scrap metal probably isn't very appealing.

The guy was loading up metal ducting and a big inline fan. Probably plans on using it or selling it as is, though, as scrapping equipment like that wouldn't make much sense.

I would have hesitated at seeing the window smashed from the inside out. What reason would someone have to do that?

Posted by Darendor I would have hesitated at seeing the window smashed from the inside out. What reason would someone have to do that?

I don't think they did, though it does kinda look like that at a glance. There was even more glass on the inside than the outside. They're pretty thick double-paned windows, so it was probably kind of a process to make a hole big enough to climb through.

Weirdly enough, that copy machine was still there when I went back weeks later, even though the window next to it was boarded up.

Looking closer at the window, I guess those shards aren't glass, or at least not as much as I thought.

Was there a lot of other office related equipment inside?

ripcity:
Do everyone a favor and call the cops on the looters next time you encounter this situation. Then watch from the bushes and take photos when they get arrested.

Posted by Darendor Looking closer at the window, I guess those shards aren't glass, or at least not as much as I thought. Was there a lot of other office related equipment inside?

Computers, radio stuff (for the caddies I would guess), TV sets, and all kinds of other crap. When I went back I could still see some computers inside. I would assume they're old and shitty, but still surprising they weren't all gone. On my second trip I found all the golf cart keys in the sign in building. Those are stored in a garage down by the road (in view of neighbors) so I'm not sure if they're still there or got sold off... but somebody driving off with one is a funny thought.

Posted by freesideDo everyone a favor and call the cops on the looters next time you encounter this situation. Then watch from the bushes and take photos when they get arrested.

Haha... That's an entertaining thought, but somehow I imagine the actual turn of events going more like 1)Cops show up 3 hours later, 2)Cops have no leads, 3)Cops are at my doorstep grilling me about what I was doing there.

I'm always really cautious about exploring recently abandoned properties or places that I know are being looked after. You never know when the owner may show up so I try to avoid it.

I found this huge abandoned house but realized quickly it was being taken care of by real estate. It has been for sale for years but still has signs of upkeep. Cut grass, information cards inside, and the door had been repaired about someone had broken in. I realized the garage doors were all unlocked so thats how i made my way in.

When exploring places like this i try to record my point of entry with a timestamp to try to show I did not gain access by breaking in. I know its never a definite way to avoid the charge, but i like to be cautious and hope that will show anyone proof I didn't break a door down or smash a window.