That time the escalator pit flooded mid explore

I was in an old mall outside Cleveland last spring, the one with the sunken food court. We were about 45 minutes in when I heard water running somewhere below. Turns out a pipe burst right above the escalator pit and water was pouring down into the basement level. I had to wade through about 2 feet of muddy water to get my gear bag back. The whole place smelled like wet carpet and rust for weeks after. Has anyone else had a surprise flood ruin a good explore?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor66823d ago

Water finding its way into places it don't belong is always a headache. That wet carpet and rust smell is the worst, it sticks for months no matter what you do. Makes you wonder if the building's bones are about to give out when you see that kind of damage from a busted pipe. Hope you got your gear bag dried out before the mold set in.

felix82422d ago

Man I've been there, the gear bag is the worst part. I actually threw a few silica gel packs in mine and it helped pull the moisture out way faster than air drying. Also, I found that hitting the carpet with a shop vac first and then a fan for like two days straight did the trick before any mold could take hold.

davis.noah12d ago

Nah I actually think the flood adds to the experience, not ruins it lol. Something about wading through gross water in a dead mall feels more real than the dry clean parts. Like yeah my gear bag got soaked and I had to toss a pair of boots but that's part of the deal. The wet carpet smell is just another layer of decay you're already there for. I'd take a surprise flood over finding nothing interesting any day.