Abandoned mansion in the mountains of BC. Adventure #2

[@IcarusFlyby]

Hello Dustin I read about Pick and Walden North in the seventies while living in Vancouver, BC and on impulse contacted him and was invited for a visit. Pick graciously walked the property with my wife and I at one point, stopping in the shop to show us a wood lathe that he had invented that cut spirals. Cool Guy! In those days pretty close to what I imagined doing with $10 million! LOL Sorry no gopros in those days. Thanks for the video.

[@hotmoon2959]

Amazing experience 👍 Does he have any children?

[@OneBlueFroggy]

Don't understand why people who find other peoples' property sitting empty, they think they have the right to destroy it ? If it ain't yours, dont touch it ! So cool to have you make the climb for us and show us around ! Also very grateful to the owners for giving permission. Awesome views up there, thanks for your time and trouble Dustin ! 👍🇨🇦✌️

[@69kevroletfastback33]

I used to live there! My friend was caretaker there for over a decade. I had my 30th birthday party there when it was still in perfect condition in 1995. The roof starting leaking and the foundation was cracked and they decided not to spend the money to fix it. That was around 2005. I also met Vernon J Pick there in the early 70`s when my Dad did some work for him. The Walden North Estate has been in my life since I was a kid. I have some great pics of the estate when it was still prime. I road that tram a 100 times! It pains me to see it in such a terrible state. P.S. I still have Vernon`s 1950`s Zenith solid state short wave radio! LOL

[@mjb51657]

69 Kevrolet Fastback Thank you for sharing your wonderful experiences with us. How cool that must have been. The vast knowledge Mr Pick must have, and how kind that he opened it to that couple who wrote him. AWESOME. What a travesty to lose such a treasure. If only they had invested in that roof. Vandalism will never stop, as long as there are stupid people, sadly. I just love these explorations! Thank God someone is documenting this history before it’s gone forever.

[@nayr87]

Any chance you could post those photos on Facebook?

[@norm5785]

Was there not a basement or another structure either partially or wholely underground on the property,

[@69kevroletfastback33]

@@norm5785 Yes, the estate house at the top of the hill had a basement.

[@nicholegottselig6974]

Very neat!

[@joshyaks]

The most Canadian thing ever: Apologizing for the mess at an abandoned mansion! (Thanks for walking up a mountain to tell us this fascinating story! Great video!!)

[@AnnaLVajda]

We apologize even for little messes it's like a reflex.

[@coreyhoward8595]

Hahah I was about to write that comment 😂

[@ostapbendervan7874]

Non Americans do apologize..not shoot someone. APOLOGY EH WORLDWIDE NORMAL

[@joebloe1152]

That's freakin hilarious!

[@大疯狼]

AHA good point fam! "Oh sorry about the mess that was made here 30 years ago before i was born" :D pretty much for ya Canada. Now I wanna bring me mates here and have a camp-out xD (That is unless someone has occupied or demo'd it already by then) I would not do it alone you never know what kind of lunatic could be lurking in the shadows at night, maybe we'll get more than we bargained for (*_*)

[@MatthewFordVictoria]

I love your slogan "Take Nothing but Pictures. Leave Nothing but Footprints!" I wish others would follow that path!

[@Petrajac88]

makes me want to go there and tidy everything up

[@BRBTechTalk]

@Petra J Yes me too, I know where it is. I love that area, If I had the money I would try and buy it.

[@MrPatvee]

Come to my house

[@jabbawoods]

I was thinking the same. To me, it still looks like a nice place to live.

[@HugoRauss]

Barry R. Brown What the price could be? Is it possible to buy the house and convert it to something good for community?

[@brianberezowski5352]

AGREED 👍👍

[@oneandall420]

hi everyone, so we juse purchased the propert a few months ago. We (cayoose creek indian band) bought the power plant in partnership with innergex. We however have full ownership of the land add buildings. We will most likely be looking to develop the land, taking into consideration the preservation of its history.

[@HugoRauss]

Jess Hopkins Hi, do you own the house today? Do you have intention to restore it or to sell out? Regards.

[@cmon7192]

Beautiful message about the need to preserve these places and not destroy because it does ruin it for everyone else. Thank you!

[@fukushimatruth1654]

Vernon Pick's ghost still walks the halls of Walden North! I know this for certain as I met him during the night when I stayed in his bedroom while all alone at the mansion. It happened during the first of my many adventures to Walden North. Since then, upon learning everything I could about this most amazing man, he has become my ultimate hero and someone that I hold in the highest of regards! He was one of the most intelligent men of our time. Very few people are aware of what an incredible person Vernon Pick truly was! Walden North & Vernon Pick (in spirit) deserve so much more respect than what they have been given. Walden North is a very special place indeed. It is a part of our Canadian history that also has a very interesting story that needs shared. One day, I hope that Walden North will become officially nominated as a 'Canadian National Historic Site'.

[@Nootnoot433]

Schizophrenia?

[@d.carelli8036]

How is that done? Someone has to restore this place.

[@TyeDee123]

Wow, was I surprised to find this video today. My dad had worked for Vernon Pick while his mansion was being built. His job was to take care of equipment maintenance around the machine shop for Mr. Pick, who I was able to meet briefly a couple of times (I was 9 years old). I was able to go to the property a couple of times and I remember the inclined railroad. I can't recall if I was able to go on it, but it was impressive to a young boy. Mr. Pick was definitely a bit eccentric, and my dad only worked with him for a couple of months. I somehow recall that there was discussions of our family living on the property as caretakers (not living in the mansion though), but that didn't materialize as there was some disagreement with my dad and Mr. Pick and his employment ended. Thanks again for sharing this.

[@monkeyman522]

Not sure if I'm missing something but the core of this building looks like it's in great shape. It might take millions to renovate it but you'd have something really nice when it was done.

[@captainmidnight7012]

What a waste ! To bad , it would cost a lot of money to fix it probably more than it cost to build, what a shame, the government should fix it and it could be a tourist or historical site ! That man was a visionary , wow 😲

[@TommyAlanRaines]

looks like a great place to restore !

[@drum77]

How AWESOME!! I look at the mess in the place and I can only think. “Why?” Unbearably sad what some humans are capable of. Then, there is the total opposite on the scale. This intelligent young man that is willing to do some hard work to get a great story out to the greater public. Bless you and keep it going!!!

[@marcusrussell8660]

I totally agree with you. I don’t understand why people vandalized such a beautiful place like this. This saddens me. But the man who built all these things should be known.

[@xsadsappysuckr6710]

Could you imagine spending all that time and effort into building a home like that only to abandon it and let it rot? I bet that home was absolutely gorgeous in it's prime.

[@matthewwilliams8220]

blut und ehre unfortunately he passed away.. most likely right on the mattresses you see about half way through

[@TheRogerKyle]

@A OK pretty good chance the uranium mining caused the cancer

[@ostapbendervan7874]

Happens across italy SPAIN EVENT "IN AMERICA" #SOOKE POTHOLES

[@relaxingnature2617]

@@TheRogerKyle he smoked cigarettes constantly

[@TheRogerKyle]

@@relaxingnature2617 you knew that guy personally?

[@canadianhonker2537]

Awesome place and story; it's too bad people have to wreck everything. A place like that and the story behind it should be preserved for sure.

[@floofytown]

15:32 "So this trail seems to kinda just end in the middle of nowhere" *pans to most majestic view imaginable*

[@helbent4]

@linda yates Majestic Canada. We don't consider ourselves part of "America" in the traditional sense, although we are in North America (which also includes Mexico, and the countries of Central America and the Caribbean.)

[@Yuhabahhablast]

@@helbent4 Americans like to claim everything lol

[@mrnobody3161]

Some Canadians take views for granted.

[@mattandemilybrubaker8823]

Take nothing but pictures leave nothing but foot prints...I love this!!

[@scotyfilms]

I can’t imagine the amount of work that went into this place. How they got the supplies to build it and then furniture and appliances. Amazing and sad at the same time.

[@jomama5186]

What a beautiful area. So nice to have a history on a place and person behind a place. It makes so much more sense that way. What a shame there's no one left to utilize or enjoy any of it.

[@earlkoropatnick1928]

I met this man and visited this place when he was still alive. He was friends with my grandfather Earl Brett. I believe I visited in the mid to later 1950's not sure exactly, but I had a great time on the visit. I'm not really sure but I think Vernon bought a plane from my grandfather or at least they were discussing the topic on the first trip I took there. This brings back memories I haven't touched in a long long time.

[@purplegr3mlin]

That is incredibly neat!

[@Destination_Adventure]

+Earl K. I love hearing from people that met Vernon personally. I am glad you liked the video

[@Nate-wu8rr]

+Earl K. It is absolutely infuriating to see what some little @$$holes have done to the place. I wish people would teach their kids things like respect and ethics. But with the degeneration of morals in society things like vandalism are the minor things kids do today. I am sure I would have sneaked in but would have never spray painted the walls or tore stuff up. There is no point in it. I loved exploring but seen no point in destroying other peoples property for no reason. Its just heartbreaking!

[@johnomalley3652]

Destination Adventure b

[@laurensouthgate2458]

Thank you for making this video I didn't know this history and I live in b.c. I hope someone brings it back to what it was it's a beautiful house.

[@tanyacreedon]

What I don't understand is why people would just destroy something so interesting and historic as this place.

[@edwardwestley115]

@ unfortunately it is the same the world over

[@susanosborne7713]

Not everyone has that view

[@brianharrigan8821]

YOUTH ! A STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT FOR HUMANS THAT NEEDS CONSTANT OVERSIGHT !! ( you dont let dogs run in packs ! ) , This is why military schools were formed !!

[@tonyk9722]

I say just hang them vandals from them trees. Let the grizzlies have a healthy snack of meat..people are just pigs.....🇨🇦👍

[@DumpsterMarcus]

that's a really cool place. Man I would fix it up and live there if I owned that Property. Awesome views!! Great video

[@kinniwright1642]

Bed'n breakfast

[@tinderinc]

I subscribed because your Canadian and we need more good youtubers

[@sharong8511]

I subscribed yesterday for the same reason! That's crazy and cool. I'm in BC. Nice to meet you.

[@Destination_Adventure]

+Tinder inc Right on. thanks for the local support

[@tinderinc]

We are all from BC

[@sharong8511]

+Tinder inc In your picture are you wearing a Native button blanket/robe? I'm also wondering if that is a woven cedar hat? Both are very beautiful from what I can see in the tiny photo on my tiny iPad screen. I was looking at Native created jewelry online a couple days ago; I'm especially fond of designs by Dan Yunkws, who is from the band near Hazelton. BC has many skilled carvers and artists. We are fortunate, indeed. ; )

[@tinderinc]

Sharon G Actually your the first person out of like 100's of Americans to message me who hasn't tried to make fun of my picture. Its actually me, I am wearing a fedora hat from Value Village a wig fake glasses and an auto trader shirt all from Value Village. I wanted my picture to be funny looking. Sorry its not Native but I do enjoy the Native art that's all over BC.

[@chelleehorton739]

I couldn't agree more. Its just so sad that vandals have so little respect for things that not only were achieved and built through LOADS of HARD work, costing so much in time, money and many other resources, and are historical jewels that COULD have been enjoyed for decades to come, if not centuries, and it is now a big mess. My heart feels sad. I still enjoyed hearing the story and found so much about this man and his life really fascinating. Thank you for sharing things that some of us would never know about otherwise.

[@sammy11232003]

wow it's to bad someone wouldn't take that over and restore it. it is beautiful

[@geraldinecripps2915]

So sad that everything was destroyed by some thougtless people. I would go and clean it all up .

[@jcfra420]

I don't understand peoples compulsion to destroy and vandalize cool places.

[@TheRogerKyle]

Because they're pathetic losers

[@Claude1Rochon]

....because uneducated people who spend their lives doing cheap drugs, drinking cheap alcohol and eating low-nutrition foods end up being unhappy and full of resentment towards others...especially the Rich. So they raped this place out of the misery of their own sorry lives. Self-crippled folks are the scum of the Race, really. You can expect NOTHING good to come out of them.

[@Geoduct123]

As a kid i would build amazing lego lands and would love destroying it afterwards. Some people like the journey others are only interested in the destination.

[@the81kid]

If they can't have it, then nobody can have it. That's the philosophy of these people.

[@Claude1Rochon]

@@the81kid interesting conclusion....indeed... a lowly form of vengeance over fate. Something to that effect happened to me one day as i was strolling down one of Montreal's alleyways....a lady had just departed of a super nice ceiling fixture ( type of circular plaster cast a candelabra would be hanging from... ) which lay against the fence behind... and i stopped to look at it in amazement ! it was a genuine treasure ! but i thought ...let's proceed with my errand at the food store and i'll think about it. When i walked back home and past the point where the cast had rested there on the fence....lay two distinct parts of a broken treasure on the ground !!! the woman had come down from her kitchen to break it, so i wouldn't have the pleasure of the find... ( ... ) to say i was shocked would be an understatement. What misery !

[@nocatordog]

Too bad Mr. Pick died so soon after completing this home. It would be wonderful to see it restored and put to good use.

[@johnwatson3948]

Would be interesting to know how they got the construction materials up there - be nice to also see the hydroelectric plant and reservoir.

[@niceguy2171]

Really puzzles me how and why people are destructive when they come across places like that. When I was young, we used to go back into abandoned structures often..out adventuring, and my buddies and I never broke one thing, wrote on any walls, or did any damage, and I cannot understand what the 'thrill' of doing so would be. The adventure is in the seeing of such places.

[@vanessaagostino4960]

Love your Canadian accent! It's beautiful where you are too!

[@Veldtian1]

Looks Squatchy AF, careful. If I bought it I'd call it 'Bond Villian Bed n' Breakfast., man it's funny how millionaires think they'll live to be 10,000..

[@ginrobi01]

"Take only pictures, leave only footprints" is an urban explorer's motto. Those that go in and destroy are giving the true urban explorers a bad rap and it's not fair.

[@abandonedsc4261]

Very cool story and history behind this location. Like you said It's really a shame when people trash a place. Thanks for the long hike to show us this place. Great work!

[@raynus1160]

I'm surprised someone with deep pockets and a desire to get away from it all hasn't purchased & resurrected the place.

[@factsoverfiction7826]

A local person commented that the property was purchased by the local Band (First Nations). The foundation of the house is cracked and the roof damaged; repairs are considered too epensive.

[@beenthere5010]

@@factsoverfiction7826 oh.. Well then. They'll just whine that we won't fix it for them. Shame

[@factsoverfiction7826]

@@beenthere5010 It sounds like a business decision: the small hydroelectric dam/power plant is profitable; the house is not. Someone with a vision could change that.

[@piperlynne1]

I wonder why his family left so much stuff in the house. Did they rent the house out or maybe the family used it for a holiday retreat and then abandoned it or sold it. Just seems weird that such a great piece of property was left abandoned.

[@kinniwright1642]

Happens more than you think.

[@AndrewBrowner]

imagine if a few homeless people came and tidied the place up and made it liveable... thered be outrage! police and lawsuits! whole town would be in an uproar

[@FWCaptain-kv6sm]

@@AndrewBrowner cause homeless people don't fix places up they destroy them.Thats why they're homeless

[@factsoverfiction7826]

A local person commented that the property was sold to the local Band (First Nations). The roof & foundation have damage considered too expensive to repair. The proceeds of the sale were divided among 10 inheritors and a trust that gives scholarships to math & science students.

[@TRUE_GR1T]

That property is amazing! I'd love to be able to live up there for the warm months of the year, away from all the bullshit.

[@JaiBoogie531]

Stumbled upon this video and enjoyed it a lot. Cool story and neat home. That view off the trail... man, I live for those views! Amazing

[@Wildstar40]

I always find it sad seeing abandoned places rotting away no matter how big or small. Knowing there are many abandoned places with nobody living in them and people out there with no place to live almost makes me want to throw up.

[@davidjohnston5033]

That is a god awful shame. That home is awesome. Who wouldn’t love to live around all of that natural wonder and beauty. Where do human beings figure that it is ok to vandalize someone’s property? If I lived there you would never see me in town either!! 😢😢😢😢

[@pigoff123]

Thank you for giving us the history. Wonderful story.

[@MoniqueFromPlymouth]

Vernon Pick died in 1986. For a mansion to be abandoned for 30 years and counting, it has held up well. Probably thanks to it being a brick structure and in a very isolated location.

[@MsMesem]

I heard about people from Florida that moved to Colorado to escape possible holocaust in about 1980. Most of them got fed up and went back to higher education after a couple of winters...

[@karlvietnieks2831]

Such a beautiful historic place. Very sad that this place is ruined beyond repair.

[@rainbo5250]

Why didn't his family sell it? This house is a magnificent work of art. It is a horrible shame when a house doesn't get sold or auctioned, so that another person can come along and care for the property. The people who come along and destroy other people's property are MONSTERS,....so THANK YOU FOR YOUR MESSAGE AT THE END. Curiosity is human nature,........and acceptable if uninhabited,....however DESTRUCTION is evil, rotten and monstrous.

[@kinniwright1642]

Moved away perhaps. No one knew about it. No friends etc

[@factsoverfiction7826]

The property was sold to the local Band (First Nation) and the 16MW hydroelectric dam sells electricity to BC Hydro. (I looked this up.) A local person posted that that foundation developed a crack and the roof is in bad shape. It's considered too expensive to fix. The estate was divided among 10 inheritors and the Vernon J Pick Foundation. Every year, scholarships are awarded to students in math, science and engineering.

[@rainbo5250]

@@factsoverfiction7826 WOW,.... THANKS!

[@BarryDuttonSellsHomes]

With the backstory, I am willing to bet that the owner named it Walden North -- after all the adventures of Henry David Thoreau -- he had similar interests, was an outdoorsman and educated people in the 1800's of how useless government is and a waste of money and time. Look up his work, it amazed me. Great tour and advice for people to just leave stuff alone and not wreck things.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Except for now, during this COVID-19 pandemic, where millions around the world are desperately looking to their governments to help provide ventilators, hospital supplies, cash infusions for failing businesses and broke ex workers, etc.!

[@TheArtofThings]

am I the only one who.wamts to go thete just to tidy it up? not even live there, just give it back it's life.

[@burgesskj]

Yes! The rail was obviously electric, fire that puppy up, load up some window glass, and an electrical toolkit to restore the service. A space heater, and a woodstove (if the fireplace was still useable), and add a few books to supplement that library. Covers for the worn chairs & couches and she's fully functional. Set some potpourri in a few corners, and leave a note on the door. Make it a geocache, to encourage safe keepers to check on her once in a while.

[@philcarter2806]

I feel much the same and live fairly close by

[@totallyoffgrid3008]

Are you guys serious about wanting to help restore it?

[@ggadventures6654]

TheArtofThings me too!

[@missingremote4388]

I can clean it ( remove debris to dump ) in two days time. Take another month to repaint inside walls. Just load a dumpster on the funicalar railway 🚗

[@audiarayz]

"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints"

[@downhomesunset]

It's a cool design for a house. Lots of storage, ect and beautiful scenery

[@EpiphanyOne2]

Well done young man, especially "Take nothing except pictures, leave only your footprints"! I still miss BC and there's no place in the lower 48 that compares (IMO) to B.C., especially this time of year! Almost 3 years there and from my condo balcony (18th floor) on a clear day I'd see some of the BEST SUNSETS I've ever scene in my life! Living in CANADA was an amazing experience! I was very lucky to be there and I met so many great people there while I was there, a really blessed experience!

[@shecat1964]

I just started watching, I got to the pool. I know this was a few years ago, but can you please do a huge favor for us animal lovers? If you come across and old pool please find a board or tree branch to place in the pool as a ramp, so animals looking for water that fall in have a hope of escaping. I have brought this to the attention of a few other urban explorers. They all agreed it was a great idea. Please think of the small animals and save lives. Thank you for the video.

[@TroyAbshire]

This is a perfect example of what many refer to as a "crying shame." Very interesting story. It really is sad that the family you referred to isn't doing anything along the line of restoration. Not only would a place like this be a treasure with regard to history, but completely restoring a home such as this would be a terrific investment for the family. That is, if the family is/are indeed the current owners of this real estate. After all, you'd be very hard pressed to find a home that even remotely resembles this place. Plus, you'd be totally prepared for whatever horrible revenge mother nature decides to leash upon mankind for all the years that we've abused our environment. Just saying...

[@ruggie.74]

And this is why family is more important than money. All that hard work and money, only to die alone and leave nothing to anyone.

[@factsoverfiction7826]

A local person who knew Vernon Pick commented that Mr Pick had 10 inheritors and a trust for math & science scholarships. The property was sold to the local Band (First Nations) and the proceeds divided among the inheritors & trust. Other comments said the Band uses the hydroelectric dam; the foundation and roof need work considered too expensive. I agree that family is more important than money ... Mr Pick seems to have agreed with us. The video states Vernon Pick became rich mining uranium to provide for his family.

[@ruggie.74]

@@factsoverfiction7826 Great story. Glad to hear he did such amazing things with his wealth, even after death.

[@nighthrashchannel8627]

Guess what? I feel like its time to move on to one of those lost location. Cities are death trap.

[@albertafarmer8638]

More travel restrictions are coming soon and there isn't much time left anyways. Just get rapture ready because all born again Christians will soon be out of here! Listen to Dr. Ron Rhodes on nd times chronology christinprophecy.org/sermons/ron-rhodes-on-end-times-chronology/

[@RhiaDance75]

So sad that building isn't being restored. It would be a showplace today :( Can't stand vandals. So selfish. I hope it's restored one day. Thanks for the video. I love nature & landscapes

[@Itsurecanglitchsomemore]

RhiaDance75 shut the hell up and do it! So pointless to say!

[@ParadoxdesignsOrg]

very cool story behind it, someone should restore that place before it returns to the wild completely.

[@MultiMrLondon]

15:35 wow, that view is breathtaking. wasn't expecting such a beutiful land scape as the camera panned up

[@mistie8908]

Isn’t it sad that some people have nothing better to do but destroy beautiful things

[@GordonGekko98]

Honestly it would take a a month and not to much money to make that house look new. Sweep the floors, clean up the trees, new glass, new paint, new kitchen. There is a lot of potential

[@MattLarose]

You never showed us the dam! Fantastic place, though. If I had the money, I'd buy it and live there.

[@Destination_Adventure]

I know. the dam is still in use so i didn't have access to it.

[@MattLarose]

+Dustin Porter still in use? do you know what for?

[@Destination_Adventure]

Yes making power lol

[@MattLarose]

+Dustin Porter duh, I meant I doubt BC hydro would take over a private dam, so it's either still making juice for buildings on the property or it's been sold to the province for whatever reason

[@Destination_Adventure]

Oh i see, sorry. The property is close to a city so i do believe that BC hydro bought it to generate power for the city. it also powers the buildings on the property. It is really quite an impressive dam. much more than you would expect. One of the partners that own the property is a power company.

[@VinylToVideo]

Really odd that no one continued to live there in order to take care of the place. If there are other houses on the property I guarantee they aren't as nice as this one was. Great video; thanks.

[@HollywoodFan21]

Destination Adventure, cheers. In addition, your videos are a cultural contribution to Canadians and other nacionalities.

[@gramzw7087]

Thank you for sharing this. Places like this make me sad but it's also so fascinating. It seems like there was more than one kitchen - I'll bet he had money enough to have some staff living with him.

[@terracethornhill]

Made his fortune from mining uranium, but died from lung cancer. I guess he did sort of suffer his own private nuclear apocalypse. Nice house he built, it would be nice to see someone buy it and fix it up. Surely there must be someone out there looking for a luxury survival retreat.

[@virginiawilliams1130]

What a beautiful location . I can't imagine waking up looking out on all that just gorgeous such a shame people destroyed that home

[@HickoryDickory86]

That house still has so much potential! So sad to see it in such a state.

[@patricegardner2842]

I happened to stumble upon your channel yesterday and I am enjoying the adventures you share. I only wish I had come across it sooner. Its fascinating along with the stories that go along with it. Thank you so much!

[@cigarcaptain]

must be a secret room or another level down that is secret as well. Like a bunker you could stay in for a year , amazing story and place.

[@johnd9357]

My God what a beautiful scene at 15:40.

[@allandavis8201]

A very nice video, the scenery is absolutely outstanding, thanks for sharing. I think the story of bulletproof glass was an big fat urban legend, but still a good urban legend as they go. If the mansion was built as a retreat from the nuclear apocalypse and its aftermath I would have thought that somewhere along the build a fallout shelter or bunker in case of a hostile attack would have been incorporated, but then it would have been a secret so it could be hidden in plain sight and the only person that knew how to enter it has passed, it could be an amazing time capsule for someone to find one day. Thanks again for the tour. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@icarusprime]

Great video. I love stuff like this and the insight you provided on the property and history is fantastic. I wish you lingered a little longer on things; going a little slower and getting to see all the little details really makes these kind of videos.

[@damianmorrison209]

Such a stylish period house could be restored

[@markanthony3275]

That house has a real "North by Northwest" vibe...if you've ever seen the movie featuring the house built above Mount Rushmore and starring Cary Grant. It would be really really cool if in your exploration of the house, you picked one room, and cleaned it up and put it back in order as much as possible. I think that would freak a lot of people out.

[@jasonselvey3675]

WOW! what an awsome place! how could anyone let that go to hell!? :( i would love to go in their and fix it up.

[@bcpioneer59]

Thanks for the tour, I will never understand how people can just destroy something like this that belongs to someone else. What goes through their minds ?

[@gottabidonthings]

They are Canadian. Not much else to say. Trudeau's kids

[@bcpioneer59]

@@gottabidonthings Well I am Canadian and I do not destroy or touch things I do not own. And if you think this type or thing does not happen all over and just as bad or worse in the US you are sheltered

[@borealjwff]

Thanks for the adventure. I found this story very interesting. Vernon Pick sounded like an interesting guy. I did a Wikipedia search on him and nothing came up. Interesting the vandals didn't touch the Encyclopedia set. You know the old advice: hide your money in a old pair of work boots. Thieves won't touch them.

[@michaelledford4751]

The cost to rehab the property would be 3 to 5 million if the hydro power plant is still 100% functional , much much more if the generation plant is destroyed , seeing the destruction sickens me . My wife I & did a lot of what's now called urban exploring in the 1970's & 1980'a when it was called trespassing & cops came , we stopped exploring in the early 80's when I nearly had to shoot a couple of crack beads holed up in the old Packard plant in Detroit , my wife snapped a pic & her flash exposed them lurking in a corner , they ran at us like maniacs until I fired a warning shot , its amazing how quickly a 357 magnum shrinks crack balls , to this day I still wonder of I had of shot them to protect ourselves if anybody woulda found the bodies , areas of industrial Detroit are so overgrown that wild pheasants have migrated back into the city in huge numbers , entire industrial complexes are hidden from view by vegetation overgrowth , I've got a picture my wife took of a 30 ft tall poplar tree growing out of the hot tar roof of the Packard plant that made all the trucks shipped to Russia before the battle of kursk , that tree was only rooted into the 6 inch deep roof insulation as its soil & nutrient base , I'm thinking the root mass became stable by attaching or wrapping itself around the iron work holding the roof section up but I couldn't verify that , inside trying to spot roots attached to iron is when the crack heads popped out & went on the nutt so we split & decided to quit exploring . Now that were retired I've been thinking of exploring again with the focus being solely on landmarks of Detroit , Flint & Saginaw Michigan's abandoned automobile factorys , Flint Michigan had some great buildings in the 70's that were the very 1st Chevy plants .

[@TabbyAngel2]

Awesome! you and your wife sound really adventurous and cool! God bless you guys :)

[@janicem4382]

I want to clean it up. I would do it for free. I just love it. I make “junk” journals and I would love to photocopy some of the papers lying around. They would make a really interesting pages in journal based on the area. What a great place!

[@RiverfrontPub]

Cool! Thank you for making this video! I grew up in Lillooet and toured this place with one of it's caretakers years ago.. I try to explain it to people but there is so little public information about the place that I just sound crazy lol. Sad to see that it has been so vandalized :(

[@Destination_Adventure]

+Riverfront Pub It is a hard place to try and explain, i have tried many times as well. hopefully this will help. thank you

[@MsBee777]

Just pisses me off that anyone would deliberately destroy anyone's abandoned property. Such idiots. No respect.

[@ItsTheMunz]

Vandals aside, it sure doesn’t take Mother Nature long to take back what’s hers.

[@fjellfiskeren7354]

The word of the day is That one mans dream Dont wait Follow your dream before it is 2 late..

[@asankaw1]

i m glad i came across this video.. pretty interesting.. loved it.. what a shame that some people have to destroy things.. this could have been lovely holiday home.. wonder what happened to his family? couldnt they keep this house.. ? .. great video.. . enjoyed it.. thanks for the great story..

[@mika2666]

+asankaw1 could be because it's too expensive too maintain :)

[@robertdaggitt8715]

Thank you for bringing these abandoned places back to life....what always strikes me is the silence at these places. Keep up the excellent work.

[@cedfan1]

Awesome video ! It is a shame that these properties are destroyed by thoughtless vandals. Thanks for posting !

[@Thomas-wn7cl]

I wonder how much of his nuclear apocalypse fear came from what he learned in the uranium industry?

[@danadouglas1968]

Why can't people just leave shit alone! Such a piss off with the vandalism.

[@UCSPanther20]

Apparently, from the tales I heard of Mr. Pick, the reason he had his mansion built out of concrete and brick was when he was young, his family's home burned down. He decided to go the masonry route to keep it from happening again.

[@tysonthornton1126]

UCSPanther20 maybe that and he was worried about nuclear apocalypse which is why he moved in the first place

[@jrbland18]

IT VERY SECLUDED. ITS A NICE PLACE IF SOMEONE WENT IN THERE AND FIXED IT UP. ITS VERY STURDY.

[@MrFakit]

Make Walden North Great Again

[@davidbacon9223]

Make Walden North Juicy Again!

[@staceypennington919]

This place would be AMAZING fixed up. I’d move into it. Thank you for showing this. I plan to look more into him and the house

[@shecat1964]

I do not understand how his family could let that happen. The house had to have been worth a ton of money. Why did they not sell it?

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

Maybe that comes under the "more money than brains" category. There is no reason to abandon a property of this caliber. I'm guessing the family didn't share the old man's views of life and decided to take all the money he had and moved on. Or maybe they went broke, not knowing how to handle it. That's the story I'd like to hear.

[@JohnSaundersPermits]

There are many people who have no family or are estranged from them with no contact. Sad all his hard work andmoney building it went to waste

[@lisamarie8130]

It was sold. In 1992 and then again just a few years ago. The whole acreage/ power plant went for 9 million..

[@phylloxera1866]

Congrats from Toronto, totally fascinating video. It looks like he was around 83 when he passed away, which indicates the house was probably finished in the 70's. Some amazing views. Thanks for the posting.

[@codychickadee5095]

Man, this place is stunningly beautiful. This man seems like he was a real gem. It is very unfortunate the place got ransacked. Thanks for the video, great work.

[@debradorsey9686]

You are an excellent videographer. Thank you for the historical background on this property. Your camera work is awesome and makes the viewer feel right there exploring with you. I subscribed and hope you have more like this!

[@Destination_Adventure]

Awesome. thank you so much for this compliment.

[@helloby791]

The weight lifting machine in the first window you look in looks pretty new. Also those windows do look a lot more modern.

[@blaineconners2987]

The trolley up the incline is called a Funicular. Great vid.

[@lucymaldonado3279]

wow beautiful don't let people know cause someone will always ruin it for others sadly -let it stay beautiful

[@lucymaldonado3279]

+LUCY MALDONADO Love how you said take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints that's awesome Dustin or Mr. Porter ;) Enjoyed as you did lovely !! Thankyou for Sharing with us

[@Destination_Adventure]

Thank you very much

[@lucymaldonado3279]

Your very welcome Thankyou for showing us and sharing with us awesome job thankyou

[@bruceforster3709]

It seems to me it could be very nicely cleaned up & restored. I HATE Vandals! The exterior of the house seems to have a Frank Lloyd Wright flavor to it. I think the owner lived about that time in history. Am I correct in that assumption?

[@lucymaldonado3279]

yes very well could be ;)

[@juergengarbe899]

So sad to see the results of a great man's vision not being cared for.

[@alimonytony]

It's always so heartbreaking to see someone's hopes and dreams reduced to trash.