The History
A monolithic relic of our past, spanning almost a quarter of a mile long. One of many old grain elevators left to decay along the Buffalo River. Built between 1915 and 1917 at the height of World War I. At the time Concrete Central was the most extensive grain elevator in the word. Drawing concerns surrounding German sabotage, the method of construction was top secret. When at peak operation capacity it could handle a total of 4.5 million us bushels of grain. Crews would unload 20 rail cars an hour along the Buffalo River while simultaneously unloading three lake freighters at one time. The property transferred ownership multiple times and in 1975 became officially listed as abandoned, Bringing us to present day even in 2018 urban explorers are continually looking to document the decay and overgrowth that has taken the once great Concrete Central over.
The Beginning
Delta, Alfa, and I packed into the car not knowing what lied ahead. Gear set gloves at the ready, sweat formed on our bottles. The radio crackled as the sun rose reflecting off the street our destination faded into view, a monolith of things past. Across the river, scouting narrowed down one way in one way out. Hugging the brush, we ascended the path, not the first or last to be drawn like a moth to a golden-lit flame. No expense was spared on surveillance as we ducked out of the all-seeing eye. While the bridge loomed ominously above us. It was now or never, with adrenaline running heavy through our veins. Shooting haphazardly from cover lungs burning at full capacity legs jumping sheer drops. Five seconds passed ten seconds passed. The rails vibrated to life out of time with one final push we dove off the rails and into the brush. Concrete Central is now looming within reach. Overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what lay in front of us. We began capturing what few will see in their lifetime.
Approaching the ground entrance, Delta went left Alfa right I forward sheet metal gently rattled above like an ominous guillotine.
The concrete superstructure cooled us rapidly, wiping sweat from the lovely jaunt we moved inside torches on.
The concrete superstructure cooled us rapidly, wiping sweat from the lovely jaunt we moved inside torches on.
Sunlight forced its way through the broken glass and twisted metal while a cool blue ripple danced on the ceiling from the river below. Scrappers had tried to remove anything not tied in and just possibly some of the foundation as well.
Concrete Central – General Electric
Burnt out and faded the transformer rests.
Crossing to the water facing side Joe Carts used to offload grain towered above us. With rusty sheet metal and gearing somewhat intact we stopped for a moment reflecting on fond memories of past tetanus shots.
Open Circuit
Concrete Central - Below the foundation
Deciding to circle back later we moved forward coming upon a body bag or after a very confusing thirty seconds a conveyor belt. Laughing in the face of death we determined it a good idea to now ascend the structurally unsound grain silo freely.
Moving to our entrance point a shattered fiberglass ladder tied with heavily weathered rope began our journey to the top.
After around twenty-five minutes had passed, we walked between holes, jumped through doors, shimmied along edges, and
climbed ropes hanging from a thread.
Concrete Central - Door to Nowhere
As I walked the ever shifting top floor sunlight poured through the doorway, inviting you to step outside.
Concrete Central - Recoil
Concrete Central - Imposing Silence
Grabbing your full attention as you wander through the rusted remains of a door half off its hinges. Glass cracking under your feet as you struggle to understand the scale of what's in front of you.
Concrete Central - Bells
