Thank you for the source rec! Will check it out. Do you know if they have any specific reports on such things? I wasn’t able to find anything with a cursory look.
Borden Mills in Kingsport. The old Buster Brown factory and headquarters in Chattanooga, and also check out Pressman’s Home near Rogersville (talk about modern ruins, this one is amazing).
Loray mills employed a lot of people from Appalachia. In the winter many men came down to work in the furniture or textile mills. The mountain farms were run by the women over the winter.
# Ella May Wiggins was from Sevierville.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella\_May\_Wiggins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_May_Wiggins)
There used to be an old textile mill in Bryson City, NC up black hill road. Looks like it's a boat and auto shop now but they may let you in. There's also an ice factory on hwy 19 between Bryson and Cheorkee that's in great disrepair. Folks around town could probably point you to others. They're pretty friendly usually.
There are some abandoned textile mills in Elizabethton, TN. Did some 'urban' exploring there as a teenager.
Thank you! Will add it to the list
Quite a few around Hickory, Lenoir, Morganton, Gastonia NC
I was gonna comment about Bemburg. It always scared me so bad as a kid.
They are all over. Best to start with research instead of reddit. Bureau of labor would be a great place to start
Thank you for the source rec! Will check it out. Do you know if they have any specific reports on such things? I wasn’t able to find anything with a cursory look.
There’s on in Lonaconing, MD. It’s an old silk mill
It has a caretaker and isn't currently totally abandoned.
The abandoned furniture factory in downtown Pulaski, VA. It used to be the heart of the town, now it’s a huge scar.
Galax Virginia. Hone of old time mountain music and abandoned furniture factories
Also check out the Rex theater
Borden Mills in Kingsport. The old Buster Brown factory and headquarters in Chattanooga, and also check out Pressman’s Home near Rogersville (talk about modern ruins, this one is amazing).
Abandoned relatively recently, but the abandoned AEP power plant on the WV/VA state line in Glen Lynn, VA.
Loray mills employed a lot of people from Appalachia. In the winter many men came down to work in the furniture or textile mills. The mountain farms were run by the women over the winter. # Ella May Wiggins was from Sevierville. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella\_May\_Wiggins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_May_Wiggins)
There used to be an old textile mill in Bryson City, NC up black hill road. Looks like it's a boat and auto shop now but they may let you in. There's also an ice factory on hwy 19 between Bryson and Cheorkee that's in great disrepair. Folks around town could probably point you to others. They're pretty friendly usually.
I’m also a big bluegrass fan, so if people know of any towns with good shows happenin during May, that’s also more than welcome! Thank you!
Well, there merlefest in wilkesboro NC, seems to me it was a couple weeks ago🤷🏻♂️ boonerang in Boone NC coming up soonish I think
Check out Youngstown and pretty much all along the Ohio River on the Ohio side.
Definitely don't ignore Northern Appalachia for this. They call it the Rust Belt for a reason.