Built in 1919 and abandoned in 1983, this derelict observatory sits atop a hill in a residential neighborhood East Cleveland. The observatory was a gift to Case University and was used until almost 1980. Beginning in the 1950s, light pollution from Cleveland disrupted the astronomical work being done and the telescopes and other equipment were moved to other locations. Case sold the building in 1983 and it was subsequently abandoned until 2005. A wealthy couple purchased the building with the intention of using it as a home. Renovation work began on the first floor and in the basement but construction stalled when the owner was imprisoned for mortgage fraud. It has since become neglected again.

I first found out about this building about a year ago but it kind of got lost in the shuffle with some other buildings I had on my list. A month or so ago, somebody on here (I think it was aretheygone) made a thread about it which reminded me that I still needed to go here. I finally had an entire day to myself so even though it was really cold, I drove up to Cleveland to check it out. Afterwards, I was planning on exploring a second location but when I arrived, the cops pulled up simultaneously, got out of their cruiser and started doing something. So I guess I'll have to return to that one later. Funny thing is, I stopped off at a store on the way to Cleveland to buy a Christmas present. If I hadn't have done that, I would have been inside when the cops arrived. Funny how that works out sometimes.

1. The observatory sits on a hill overlooking a road and a neighborhood.


2. Someone has splattered red paint all over a couple of basement rooms.


3. One of the rooms where renovations had begun. There is even wood in the new fireplace.


4. These speakers were installed in most of the room on the first floor and in the basement.


5. Marble and wood paneling was installed in the basement hallway during the attempted renovation.


6. The basement had a couple of classrooms.


7. Learn how to spell, person!


8. More childish graffiti.


9. Mirror, mirror...


10. Stay awake!


11. Going upstairs.


12. The hallway by the auditorium had a display of light bulbs for some reason.


13. Auditorium chalkboard


14. The auditorium.


15. Only two remaining desks.


16. It dwells here...


17. Random chair in one the wings.


18. Inside one of the domes.


19. The restroom


This was a very unique and interesting explore. There certainly aren't many abandoned observatories sitting around. With all the wings and twists and turns, it has a very strange layout and it would be easy to pass something up. The building is now owned by the city and is for sale so there is still hope for renovation.

Love the history of the location. Those old people had the right idea about turning it into a home. Would make an awesome place to live!

THIS IS AWESOME! I never knew this existed! WOW! gorgeous!

Nice! I work at Case. I could probably get in there legit-like. I have an old postcard of it, too.

Sadly, the exterior promises quite a different experience.

Can you PM me the exact location of this place???

Posted by 812 scumbag Can you PM me the exact location of this place???

Seriously..?

Posted by 812 scumbag Can you PM me the exact location of this place???

Starting from the Cleveland city limits: go left on Vine, right when you reach 6th, straight on Main for a quarter mile, left on Plum, across the 6th Street Bridge, right on Cheshire, left on Valmont, right on Boyd, another right on Cameron, left on Van Dyke, right on Fenton, straight on Denney Avenue for a couple of miles, then another right on Wheeler, left on Savile Row, straight down Broadway until you reach Alvin Street, right on Alvin, put your left foot in, left on Leffler, straight down Straight Street, right on Richter, another right on Lane, left on Beauregard Avenue, merge onto I-471 towards Parkersburg, take Exit 56 to Langdon Street, continue down Langdon Street until you reach Sheldon Ave., put your left foot out, turn left on Sheldon and continue north until you reach Biscayne Street, ignore Biscayne Street and continue north until you reach Salvador Lane, put your left foot in, shake it all about, turn right on Ottawa, left on Bratton, across the 23rd Street Viaduct, turn left at the viaduct's end on Claddagh Avenue, continue down until the street turns into a two-lane road, then turn onto Auden Lane right past Farmer Don's place, do the hokey pokey, turn yourself around, turn right onto Claddagh Avenue, go back across the 23rd Street Viaduct, turn right onto Paulpa Boulevard, continue straight for about 3 miles until you reach Remington Lane, then right onto Vine Street, and you should be right there. Can't miss it.

Posted by Harvestman ...do the hokey pokey, turn yourself around...

You lost me there. Which way?

Posted by kenfagerdotcom You lost me there. Which way?

180º.

Posted by relik Seriously..?

YES!!!...really

Posted by Harvestman Starting from the Cleveland city limits: go left on Vine, right when you reach 6th, straight on Main for a quarter mile, left on Plum, across the 6th Street Bridge, right on Cheshire, left on Valmont, right on Boyd, another right on Cameron, left on Van Dyke, right on Fenton, straight on Denney Avenue for a couple of miles, then another right on Wheeler, left on Savile Row, straight down Broadway until you reach Alvin Street, right on Alvin, put your left foot in, left on Leffler, straight down Straight Street, right on Richter, another right on Lane, left on Beauregard Avenue, merge onto I-471 towards Parkersburg, take Exit 56 to Langdon Street, continue down Langdon Street until you reach Sheldon Ave., put your left foot out, turn left on Sheldon and continue north until you reach Biscayne Street, ignore Biscayne Street and continue north until you reach Salvador Lane, put your left foot in, shake it all about, turn right on Ottawa, left on Bratton, across the 23rd Street Viaduct, turn left at the viaduct's end on Claddagh Avenue, continue down until the street turns into a two-lane road, then turn onto Auden Lane right past Farmer Don's place, do the hokey pokey, turn yourself around, turn right onto Claddagh Avenue, go back across the 23rd Street Viaduct, turn right onto Paulpa Boulevard, continue straight for about 3 miles until you reach Remington Lane, then right onto Vine Street, and you should be right there. Can't miss it.

Smart ass...

cool cool house. aren't rich buyers afraid of being cannibalized by righteous squaters? Eat the rich