Abandoned Baton Rouge

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot

Hi everybody, amd Merry Christmas! We're not allowed to say that up here in New York City, where there is a War On Christmas! Just kidding! It's been far too long since I last posted, so here is a long-planned update on your favorite ABR sites, a la at the end of movies when it's like, 

and,

The following post sat idling in draft form probably a year ago or more, as I added a note here and a photo there. I never got to take all the hoped-for photos before moving, but here we are. If anyone wants to supply missing shots and/or more information, I'll be happy to credit you.

But don't think of it as an epilogue for a dead blog; only one that is mostly dead. Consider this also a call for suggestions: I need more curious abandoned sites to feature on ABR. I'll be back in town briefly in April and would love to shoot photos for future posts.

The Racquetballer

I went to The Racquetballer immediately after getting a tip from a reader. He thinks it closed in the mid-80s and the inside probably looked like nothing had changed since. That was all I needed to hear.

The real Superstore : No prices every day

Judging by the font, the real Superstore began claiming "Low prices every day" around the early 80s.

Some "whatever happened to..." speculation about Superstore here. (I think we all know what happened. Its initials are W-m.)

 

Gone With the Sinned: Swaggart Bible College Dorm

The HQ for Jimmy Swaggart Ministries is in Baton Rouge.

It is still occupado. However, not all the buildings on its campus are. This never-completed dorm for the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College has a fence around it, so because I am a law-abiding citizen, these like, other guys named Cosh and Jo supplied me with photos.

ABR Roadshow: Denham Springs Bowl N Putt

So, I had heard that Denham Springs, a town a few minutes down the highway from Baton Rouge, had a cute old-time downtown area. When my road trip partner Leah was still down here, we decided to check it out. First and most importantly, we found this:

A-Ace Insurance/ Able Insurance

One of the exciting aspects of urban exploration is that often, places that initially looked dull can hold a surprise or two. Take this boring old insurance agency. They took the lame Yellow Pages alphabetical tactic of starting the business name with a bunch of A's. Like, way to have confidence in your services, Ace.

Only they couldn't decide which "A" name they wanted. This one doesn't exactly instill more confidence in their services.

Eh, they're just able. No wonder they went out of business. But I soon learned this place hasn't been completely abandoned...