The Most Miserable City in America

[@CityBeautiful]

Behind the scenes: In the clips where I'm talking to camera, there was an active lightning storm overhead! I was surrounded by trees and a flagpole. Not the smartest move at all -- but I really wanted to get the shot. Also, my father-in-law came with me on the shoot and gave me all of the details of what it was like in Gary during it's peak (1950s-1960s). I should have recorded his stories as a bonus commentary track or something!

[@thomasawdffaw123]

awesome video my dude

[@epicmatter3512]

@@JosephSneep This is where my great grandparents grew up

[@BenjaminDirgo]

That would be great! Nebula video? haha

[@MarcanthonyHarrison]

Come to Buffalo to do a video

[@jamaalfridge]

I'd love to hear his perspective. Would you post a second video on this somewhere? Maybe Patreon?

[@hawkrolla]

True Story, in 2012 I took a Greyhound bus trip around the country, we pulled into Gary one evening and picked up around 8 passengers. As we were pulling out of the station all 8 of them broke out in a spontaneous Cheer laughing and clapping with the joy of escaping the city, I will never forget it.

[@rubyparchment5523]

That's hilarious!

[@queeniez1970]

That's an awesome story!

[@testiclestoshirleycles5755]

already u.s. lost its superpower hundred years ago, Its economy is developing thanks to the colonial countries in Europe nowadays

[@eviljesus6111]

I would have made out with them in celebration

[@Mr_Green1017]

I'm gonna do that when I leave philly

[@TechRedstone]

Gary's reputation is literally so bad that "a one way ticket to Gary, Indiana" is a cards against humanity card.

[@oldankh]

That's honestly pretty funny, now I want to look through my deck and find it lol

[@DacStudiosEntertainment]

Ouch

[@angelgjr1999]

You know Gary is bad when people from even the south side of Chicago refuse to live there. Lol

[@martinmorrissey5647]

Thanks for telling me that I had no idea when I got that card

[@flowgangsemaudamartoz7062]

@@angelgjr1999 Whats up with the chicago south side?

[@grfrjiglstan]

True story: A couple years back, Gary didn't have any salt on its roads in the winter. The city was so bankrupt, they couldn't pay the salt trucks.

[@faizfuad8361]

I just need to affirm but i assume the salt is so to make the ice melt faster?

[@grfrjiglstan]

@@faizfuad8361 Yes, that's correct. Salt lowers the freezing point of water.

[@TheMrCC21]

@@grfrjiglstan Cities don't use strictly salt anymore. It's either just sand or a mix of sand and salt. Salt is a problem for infrastructure and vehicles as it is corrosive. Salts corrodes roads and bridges for example. It does damage to various parts of vehicles. That's why when a street is salted, you don't want to prolong washing your vehicle. Damage can start to happen. When salt reaches a certain temperature, it's no longer effective. It's fine for non-critical applications such as on snow that you will clear away later. But for when the application is used on roads and highways, it becomes impractically slow at lower temperatures. Within this search (that's where I got some of this information), I also found that around the freezing mark is when salt most effective. Or that's what it seems like anyways. At 30°F (-1°C), one pound of salt will melt about 46 pounds of ice. At 20°F (-6°C), one pound of salt will only melt about 9 pounds of ice. And at +1°F (-17°C), one pound of salt will only melt about 4 pounds of ice. So the colder it gets, the more salt is needed to provide a given amount of ice melting action. There is no industry standard for "lowest effective temperature" when it comes to highways and roads.

[@grfrjiglstan]

@@TheMrCC21 Well, whatever it is, they couldn't afford it.

[@faizfuad8361]

@@grfrjiglstan alright thanks

[@Atwater20]

Anyone who's really taken a close look at this country while traveling knows there are many Gary, Indiana's in our country, which is very sad.

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

It's mainly because of single industry economies. Gary was doomed from the start thanks to it's over reliance on the steel industry. Same story with Detroit and the auto industry and cities across the midwest and south

[@gnielsen07]

All over the rust belt. Youngstown Ohio is similar

[@Atwater20]

Town's like that can be found coast to coast, not just the rust belt.@@gnielsen07

[@JakeKoenig]

Yeah, they are called "Places Where Black People Live." And they ALL end up like Gary eventually. That's the pattern, for anyone with the balls to acknowledge it.

[@appletree9974]

Yes, because people have failed to build up communities and care about each other. Individualistic societies will crash anywhere. Corporations will thrive in this societies because will exploit you will deny social benefits, health care and education the very basic human rights. One does not need to be a “communist” one needs to be a human being. Corporations are to make billions pollute and live individuals jobless.

[@bluescreen243]

I was born in Gary in 1954. My father worked at US Steel as a crane operator for 22 years. We lived in a small town about 40 miles south of the town. Growing up I saw its decline over the years. I was sad to see their library abandoned. All the books were just left and as weather destroyed the building thousands of books became moldy relics.

[@magesalmanac6424]

That’s heartbreaking! :(

[@trinadeerhodes]

My dad from there. So sad I hear the stories of its hay day all the time

[@heru-deshet359]

That is blasphemous!

[@maxsweetman6341]

Really is time Americans left us all alone and sorted out its own sick sad sorry mess

[@carlosnarvaez5817]

What do you think about Michael Jackson and the Jackson Family? They were born in Gary Indiana. Do you have stories to share about them?

[@thebreakfastmenu]

Last time I was in Gary, a pack of deer were chilling out downtown. It felt like I Am Legend or something. That place really is something else. Edit: Sorry to everyone I have offended for using the wrong terminology in my comment. I called this group of deer a "pack" when I should have used the word "herd." I was in a really dark place when I said that. I hope everyone can accept this apology and I'm working so, so hard to better myself. Thank you

[@alexanderfrankenberger1118]

hahahaha love it

[@miniaturemachinist6098]

We have that in Wyoming all the time. A lot of the deer in town are so used to people here that you can walk right by them.

[@beanman6684]

@@miniaturemachinist6098 Shows how empty it is

[@alexmurphy5289]

@@beanman6684 Yes, Wyoming sounds dope AF. I actually want to live there one day

[@platinum-or3y]

@@miniaturemachinist6098 Happens in utah sometimes

[@hiddenXtreasure01]

I lived in Gary for 6 years when I was little. I went to a charter school. We thought it was the best place. Full of buildings to explore and create club houses. I thank God we didn’t get hurt. We were running off hanging out in abandoned houses in 4th grade! Thank God my mom never found out

[@kevinxanity4113]

You’re beautiful

[@BrocoliMan2002]

@@kevinxanity4113 ur sussy and I'm coming for u

[@classiccarbuff]

@@BrocoliMan2002 Easy there, tough guy. The internet isn't big enough for the two of you.

[@classiccarbuff]

I wish I could have seen some of the abandoned buildings when they were in somewhat better shape. I explored St. Mary's Mercy Hospital back in May of 2017 and part of it is about ready to collapse. It didn't seem like the police cared whether I was in there or not. Kevin is right. You're gorgeous.

[@jedaaa]

Are the stories about fake roadblocks true, I'm from the U.K and have heard wild stories about this place . ..

[@tomarmstrong1281]

Several years ago my family and I were visiting America from the UK. We were staying in Chicago. My young teenage daughter a fan of Michael Jackson knew he had been born in Gary and because it was only about an hour away from where we were staying she persuaded me to drive there. The sight of the desolation and deprivation was too much for her. In tears she said "Daddy drive away from this place".

[@mikewood5679]

Have you ever been to Grimsby 😮

[@canica99]

glad you took her so she can see all sides of humanity and how fortunate she is to live in a place she is proud to call home.

[@charliespeary2503]

It’s not really any different to Stoke.

[@tomarmstrong1281]

@@charliespeary2503 Tell me you have been and seen.

[@bldontmatter5319]

​@@canica99Oh please. Gary Indiana is this way because THE USUAL SUSPECTS made it that way!

[@chrismarek7864]

They filmed a scene for Transformers: Dark of the Moon in Gary. It was the scene where they’re in Chernobyl and they say the film producers had to do very little, if any, editing to show the level of decay they wanted for the scene since Gary is in that bad of shape.

[@justjuangoodcitizen4297]

Didn't even have to change the damn set smh

[@jorgerodriguez-ku4fw]

Shi I hope they at least paid to film there but who knows

[@AndreiBerezin]

Чернобыль даже лучше

[@REXae86]

@@justjuangoodcitizen4297 lol

[@milomilo6404]

Bogus, lol

[@willissudweeks1050]

The other city cutting off the road to Gary really made me laugh. Poor Gary.

[@harveytheattorney]

That city is full of racist cops and politicians, so not surprising that they made this move.

[@lancevance5907]

@@harveytheattorney And they're all Democrats. And now their mayor is running for the senate.

[@harveytheattorney]

@@lancevance5907 even as a left leaning politically person, I can tell you democrats can absolutely positively be racist, these Hammond politicians are a case in point

[@mikemccarthy6054]

The road was closed in 1976 due to a toxic dumping facility on the Garry side not being properly managed causing toxic runoff going in to Hammond during floods.

[@andrewjohnston2850]

that's only the beginning, I hear EPA are building a dome as we speak

[@EfrainQuezada]

I used to drive through Gary all the time. I used to pick up coils and other steel products on a flatbed from burns harbor. I always thought it looked nice and quiet. But one time, I was driving through a neighborhood with stops on every intersection and a cop actually drove up to me and said "after sunset, you don't stop." and sped off. That's when it hit me, ok maybe Gary is fucked.

[@joeyknight8272]

Its fucked if nothing changes. But people want gary to change and theres perhaps even people dedicated to turning gary around

[@enzop6861]

That is one of the last things you'd ever wanna hear from a cop...

[@B3Band]

@@enzop6861 If he was black it WOULD have been the last thing he heard from a cop...other than the gunshot.

[@roguedalek900]

Locals call it Burns Ditch not Burns Harbor. Used to run Chicago daily back in the late 90s out of Michigan. Used to skirt the truck scales on 94 by going US 12 and follow the parade of steel haulers. Exit on Cline Avenue or Burr St off 94. Good times. Ran the rail yards. Conrail 63rd or Mopac or BNSF or Global I & II. Got shot at all the time going into Conrail. Finding bullet holes in my container would be an everyday event and this was way back 96-97.

[@SomePotato]

​@@joeyknight8272 All I know about Gary I know from this video, but it seems that redeveloping the city is far beyond the resources of the city government. It'd need some serious state or federal help. I hope they get it, because from the video, it could be really beautiful.

[@oneglobeoneloveofficial]

Also Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. His father Joe, worked at the Gary Steel Mill. The Jackson five began their career in Gary, Indiana. Mostly their rehearsals and practising. They performed in talent shows,in bars and in clubs in neighbouring towns before being discovered by Diana Ross in the Motown days. I'd say if Gary, Indiana was going to make a comeback they could honor Michael Jackson's life and legacy.

[@ToddWerner-vp3vc]

That family, with all of their millions, did nothing for this city.

[@oneglobeoneloveofficial]

@@ToddWerner-vp3vc they didn't owe anybody anything. Look at the chip on your shoulder and broaden your thinking. They were dirt poor once and truthfully the city didn't do anything for them either.

[@ToddWerner-vp3vc]

​@malakai79 many successful families give back, at least somewhat, to the community they grew up in. This family did nothing! Look at the original comment, the city should not honor that family.

[@oneglobeoneloveofficial]

@@ToddWerner-vp3vc I simply don't engage with low level intelligence. All the best on your soul growth.

[@travishylton6976]

@@ToddWerner-vp3vc nobody owes anybody anything lazy ass

[@chrisbrowder9184]

I'm from Gary and I want to say this was an excellent piece that objectively explains what happened to the city without all the subjective , and commonly, negative opinions....thank you so much!

[@VincentGonzalezVeg]

I'm buying land in Ohio & I'll see what your city has (Edit; talked to the other executive's & we're going to be shopping in your neighborhoods) We need to preserve worthwhile development, homes Anywhere can be improved If we removed the human caused problems we see an 'ideal land' "If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it" - Willy 'Gene Wilder' Wonka Big Love

[@AnimalLover-dw2wu]

Yeah...but Gary is certainly not the most miserable city. If anything, it's a tie with several others.

[@smileyface9459]

I love Black people but i not think it woud be good idea for me to move in a all Black people city

[@RabbiPorkchop]

And home for stericycles biohazard incinerator ! Breathe deep my frand

[@Gfysimpletons]

So what your saying is that the truth should be swept under the carpet?

[@Albertalorian]

As a Canadian truck driver, our company literally had a "No Go" policy for Gary Indiana. If they seen your GPS tracker at the Pilot off Burr St in Gary, it was an instant firing!

[@Toxic_rnr]

I only wish my company would do the same and maybe pay for rerouted miles around that shit hole.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Yes. When I was driving we were told NEVER to fuel at that Pilot or the TA in Gary. One year there were three murders at that TA. Robberies were common. We fueled in Lake Station (10 miles east and a tad safer) It was called the Travel Port until TA bought them out after I went to local driving.

[@Jagg61]

The TA was disgusting

[@ginalynn6963]

Curious as to why they'd fire you?

[@Jagg61]

@@ginalynn6963 it was/is a super high crime area. Drivers robbed and or killed. Trucks being jacked. Its not a good place. Lol

[@vernonrobinson7214]

I just stopped in Gary for a restroom on my trip across the country. It feels like Fallout 3. It's incredibly abandoned and eerie. The folks over at the KFC were really friendly tho!

[@1marcelfilms]

I would rather piss my pants than stop there

[@javiergilvidal1558]

This guy has the typical soy-boy appearance, and a PC abhorrence of hard facts, coupled with a fear to call a spade a spade. Even in Wokipedia you can read: "after white flight in the 1970s, the city of Gary held the nation's highest percentage of African Americans for several decades". That speaks VOLUMES about the reasons for Gary's metamorphosis from a prosperous industrial and economic hub into a hellish dunghole. If any doubt remained in the tender minds of the bleeding hearts, Wokepedia makes it brutally clear with the demographic breakdown: Whites, 8.91%. Niggas, 83.90%. That does not show in this coward's video, who piously shows EMPTY PHANTOM STREETS. No showing people at large, lest it became obvious that they were ALL niggas! Go, Gary, go!

[@TL915.24]

KFC WOOWOO u can always trust KFC

[@javiergilvidal1558]

@@TL915.24 What the hell is KFC?

[@TL915.24]

@@javiergilvidal1558 the best chicken 🐔 you will ever taste "Kentucky Fried Chicken" but 9 out 10 times in a weirdo town or city u can always trust a KFC to get off and get food

[@mr.d.4175]

My first time seeing Gary was 1969 when we moved from Wisconsin to a town about 30 miles east of Gary. The sky was so rust colored at noon that the street lights were on. We drove past on I-90 on a weekend and the steel mills spewed sulpher smelling, rust colored pollution. When the wind was out of the west(most days), the smell 30 miles away was unbearable until the late 1970's when the air pollution controls forced the mills to use, "scrubbers." The pollution created my hometown into a cancer cluster that had 30 times the national average of rare and common cancers. It took my mother's life. The steel mills expelled their exhaust into the atmosphere and it mixed with moisture, dumped into a narrow band of land, and created polluted wells in their wake. My favorite moment was the view from the rear view mirror when I left for good in 1992.

[@Sashazur]

Everyone, please think about this next time you vote.

[@citadelgrad87]

Twenty plus years ago, I rented a car in Chicago to drive to Grand Rapids for a family wedding. Flights were grounded due to snow. The car rental guy took out a map and drew about 50 circles around Gary. He looked me dead in the eye and crossed through the city like a Ghostbusters "no" sign. He said "I need you to understand this. You are not to take this car into Gary. DO not get off the freeway between these two marks. If you get 4 flat tires, keep going, we will waive the damage claim, get past and then stop. No matter what, do not take this car into Gary. Do you agree?"

[@yuma9663]

WOW! Is it really that bad?

[@citadelgrad87]

@@yuma9663 No idea, I had my mother in law with me, no way did we go near Gary. The rental guy sure thought so.

[@BlownMacTruck]

Rental car person was clearly unhinged. Gary’s not the safest, but it’s hardly a terrifying no-go zone.

[@kennethclark4306]

😂

[@CaptainUnconventional]

Draw a circle around Chicago too.

[@brianm2242]

My only memory of Gary was driving through and seeing a restaurant boarded up with the "grand opening celebration" banners still waving.

[@nelsonx5326]

Haha. Maybe Covid shut them down hours before the opening. That happened to a bakery near me in NYC. They invested all that money in ovens and such, but lockdowns hit.

[@DaCubanPrincess]

Eek lol

[@brianm2242]

@@nelsonx5326 Not unless COVID-19 was around in 1999. XD

[@lawrencebraun7616]

@@brianm2242 That was coven 18

[@eddivel5954]

Keep voting crat???

[@theleperking9607]

I used to drive around the country doing foreclosures in places like St Louis, Detroit, Chicago etc. Gary is actually not too far from my own home so I bounced between Gary and Chicago almost every other weekend. Needless to say the residents of these places get curious seeing me cleaning out these houses and putting up for sale signs. Because of this curiosity I would have conversations about the area etc and in Gary I was basically told the same story every time: "You're wasting your money and your time. No one moves to Gary. You're either born here or you die here. No one moves here." And it's like a ghost town. In Detroit you'll have entire blocks of abandoned, burnt, desolate houses. In Gary, that's just the whole town.

[@Coconutszz]

thats some deep lore

[@Astrothunder_]

It is pretty reminiscent of Detroit. I would to visit family there as a kid and all those abandoned/burned down buildings and the perpetual grey sky always bummed me out.

[@hooperbraxton]

@Purple Ray no he's right unfortunatley......I live 5 min away and thats kind of how it is.

[@ditzyhere3138]

So did you sell any houses?

[@gabrielshensky348]

I'm excited to see what's to come of all these burnt blocks in Detroit. There's so many resurgences happening everywhere, and slowly but surely they'll make their way back.

[@bobbybob3865]

There used to be a city named East Gary but the residents voted to rename it Lake Station, even though it's several miles from Lake Michigan and has no other lakes nearby of any size.

[@wuzzleone]

Yeah they have a news article calling lake station the poorest city in the state I live in south bend

[@peterpiwoski]

Actually it was called Lake Station before named East Gary. City officials wanted to expand Gary to the east more. Though, as Gary's reputation began to become more negative, the folks there wanted to disassociate with Gary's stigma.

[@vthisademu]

I live by Gary, and I've been there a couple times. It's terrifying because the cops said to us not to stop at stop signs. He told us we can get robbed in seconds. It was a strange feeling being there. I was in the city and it was super foggy. Since there's literally nobody there, I kinda felt like I was in Silent Hill.

[@Intelwinsbigly]

Theres a reason for white flight.

[@6to1]

@@Intelwinsbigly Self fulfilling prophecy

[@TheLochs]

Same with me, cops told me to blow off stop signs.

[@stop08it]

It sounds straight up cursed.

[@Confettifun]

@@Intelwinsbigly you should “white flight” yourself back to Europe

[@CrimeFighter1943]

One of the happier days of my life was in 1979, viewing Gary, Indiana, in my rear view mirror as I left Gary, and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.

[@theonlycaamz]

lol

[@Somedude3549]

You left a dog turd for another dog turd that is covered in glittered

[@CrimeFighter1943]

@@Somedude3549 The weather was a lot better in the one covered in glitter. :-)

[@Midwestemoisme]

hows ur life now

[@CrimeFighter1943]

@@Midwestemoisme Great, I no longer live in the US.

[@charliebrown4799]

My friend bought a house out there for cheap. Like dirt cheap. After being shot in the wrist and having his dog stolen and held for ransom, he sold his house and moved back to CA. He eventually got his dog back. It was uninjured and in good health so the criminals weren't complete dirt bags

[@Mitters]

Wholesome and horrifying 😅😂

[@ddorsey1091]

You know it's rough when you move back to comifornia.

[@planetcancer8492]

@@ddorsey1091 oh shut up

[@fionn9852]

@@ddorsey1091 communism is when capitalism

[@sarahsim218]

It’s amazing he even sold it

[@DeathshotSociety]

I live in Merrillville, literally right next to Gary and the few times I've rode through Gary, such as one of the last times I saw my grandfather, left me speechless. Then I found out just how beautiful the city used to look. It's absolutely insane.

[@AlgaeEater09]

Used to be 90% white. Now its 90% black- Just stating facts, look it up.

[@shawnpahl]

Maryville sucks too

[@Telephonebill51]

Jesus, isn't Merrillville the porn capitol of the world?

[@camieki3419]

Sameee

[@mephInc]

Merrillville is the new Gary.

[@slimqt1]

Grew up in Gary in the late 80’s. If Gary was declining I was to young to realize it. I felt safe where I lived & spent my time. As an adult and going back, it’s sad how it looks nothing like my childhood.

[@chandlerpaulk4518]

I'm so sorry you had to experience that

[@shibuoommen6884]

Are all the gals up there fine as you?

[@Urineil]

@@shibuoommen6884 right?

[@dirkdiggler69]

@@shibuoommen6884 you dog 😉

[@PointSouthAndSee]

Cringe

[@d36williams]

My step grandfather worked at the newspaper in Gary Ind for years. He didn't start off covering murders but it became pretty much all he wrote about until leaving

[@thereluctantgearhead4544]

I wonder why that is....

[@javiergilvidal1558]

This guy has the typical soy-boy appearance, and a PC abhorrence of hard facts, coupled with a fear to call a spade a spade. Even in Wokipedia you can read: "after white flight in the 1970s, the city of Gary held the nation's highest percentage of African Americans for several decades". That speaks VOLUMES about the reasons for Gary's metamorphosis from a prosperous industrial and economic hub into a hellish dunghole. If any doubt remained in the tender minds of the bleeding hearts, Wokepedia makes it brutally clear with the demographic breakdown: Whites, 8.91%. Niggas, 83.90%. That does not show in this coward's video, who piously shows EMPTY PHANTOM STREETS. No showing people at large, lest it became obvious that they were ALL niggas! Go, Gary, go!

[@cherryjuice9946]

I just did a search on news from Gary, and that is indeed what I found. It was all murders. That and "books offered in vending machines to get kids interested in reading". Yeah, we'll see how that works out. The stories about more murders will continue, but they'll likely forget that attempt at reading.

[@carldevries178]

Way back in the 1990's, myself and some friends (all Canadian) were traveling thru the area. We made a few wrong turns and ended up in Gary. Within minutes a cop car approached us. When they found out we were from elsewhere, they immediately escorted us back to the interstate.

[@hankkingsley9300]

Well there's your problem lady

[@BamBabyBrenda]

@Brian Rogers bruh cops kill people here... Not too far from me a body was found chopped in pieces and the man caught was a serial killer. We don't put it on the news for everyone to see but some places in Canada are messed up. The ghetto area I used to live in had someone running around every night shooting at people for no reason. She got caught only because she shot herself by accident.

[@nickhinton9726]

Halifax police strike was pretty brutal

[@sativar6530]

@Brian the opioid problem is overwhelming because even kids are talking about doing it

[@Theywaswrong]

Same happened to me in Memphis, TN.

[@ashleyadillon]

I currently live in Gary. My Dad was born here and is currently pastoring here in Gary and desperately wants Gary to thrive again. That’s what we have been praying. We definitely want to make a difference.

[@wvdm-w7w]

you look nice :)

[@shandaman40298]

What church he Pastor at?

[@mephInc]

The only pastors I know of that reside in Gary are busy helping themselves to the collection plate. Not much different than the political leaders.

[@camlind12]

Better do more than praying to an imaginary character.

[@Jonathanedillon]

@@camlind12 We do a lot physically in the city like cleaning up, fixing buildings, providing homes for those in need, in addition to prayer. We care about the people in the city, unlike some youtube spectators.

[@williameckert306]

There was city next door called East Gary. Gary’s reputation was so bad, East Gary changed its name to Lake Station.

[@wildman2012]

interesting! Maybe Gary should try re-branding itself. It might take more than a name change, but that could be a start. What would we call the new Gary?

[@DaCubanPrincess]

Interesting

[@machineheadg2r]

@@wildman2012 west lake station

[@jimpatterson3286]

Actually East Gary was called Lake Station then East Gary then back to Lake Station. Lake Station is older than Gary. It was a rail stop on the lake hence the name.

[@HammerSSBM]

I used to live in Lake station, the town was pretty nice. It's not as bad as Gary but most roads there just need adjustment. Everyone at the school was really nice but they schools at the time weren't well maintained (This was back in 2012). The last time I been to one of the school was back in 2018 when my cousin graduated and it was pretty nice looking. I don't know where I'm getting here, all I'm saying is it's a good town

[@coopicrumbs]

This video is beautifully made, and very accurate to describe the state of my beloved home town. Looking at the abandoned buildings and churches and how ornate and pretty they looked always wowed me as a child; it was like a city that giants had left behind. I know Gary gets credited for being where MJ grew up but there was another hidden gem there, a man who fought Muhammad Ali. His name was Doug Jones....and he's my Grandpa!

[@41000mf]

grandpa jones!

[@hotstuff6131]

That's pretty cool

[@samuraijack0876]

That's so cool, dude. Your Grandpa fought the GOAT. 💯

[@KrispyBread]

Damn that's awesome

[@edithdlp8045]

And to think that the greatest artist in the world was born here, I am talking about the one and only Michael Jackson.

[@chucku.farley6463]

I remember driving through this city as a child and being on the verge of tears because it was that depressing looking. It was 1987 or so, and it felt like 1957. Literally, my memories of Gary are in Black & White

[@ArtistsCry13]

Gary was actually very prosperous in 1957 lol

[@vict0ree]

Gary was a nice place in 1957. Take your race baiting fake history somewhere else.

[@chiquita_dave]

@@ArtistsCry13 I think that's what they mean, it looks like how it was when it was at its most prosperous. I had the same experience driving through Welch, WV a few years ago. Some of the buildings look like they had been untouched since the 1950s.

[@RebelModeLuxe]

Born and raised in Gary, IN. It wasn't always bad, and both of my parents made 6 figures. I have great memories and miss the old days when my cousins and I could walk up and down the streets safely, and the neighbors had every right to check us if we were doing anything inappropriate. It is pretty rough now. When I visit, I can't believe the state it is in. No more Gleason Park, the homes and yards used to be beautifully manicured, Miller had beautiful beaches, not sure if the beaches are open anymore. It's pretty sad. My son is 12 and says, "Mom, I can't believe you grew up here. You don't fit in". I have a few family members trying to help rebuild the West Side, but It's going to take a lot more than them. I'm still proud to say I am from there. Definitely taught me a lot.

[@mylegs2056]

Shoutout to Freddie Gibbs. Legend he sacrificed his hair to make it out of Gary

[@philosophy20]

Hahaha bruh, chill! 😆😆😭

[@optimusprime4263]

first thing that popped in my mind when i read the title

[@iss3831]

😭😭😭

[@sharktv3000]

Maaaan, i thought he was from Nickerson Gardens, Watts

[@nickfinamori9992]

lmao that was the first name i thought of, and of course MJ

[@heru-deshet359]

I dated a girl from Gary, In back in 1984. Went with her for Thanksgiving to visit her folks. From the moment we were picked up at the train station and drove through Gary to her house, I was shocked at what a shit hole of a place it was then. I can only imagine what a depressing hell hole it must be now.

[@ahmedzakikhan7639]

Is it easier to pick up ladies in Gary. You know when you move to certain third world countries you are treated as a star.

[@olympia5758]

@@ahmedzakikhan7639 Oh yeah, it's the same thing. They all want to get the fuck out.

[@357SWAGNUM_MAGA_X]

@@ahmedzakikhan7639 yea buddy!!!

[@rogerwilco2]

We have a city with a somewhat similar history in the Netherlands: Delfzijl, built around and aluminium plant. When it's fortunes turned, the national government stepped in and basically paid to demolish half the city and relocate the remaining residents into the other half. A lot of the housing was built very poorly, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, so it was easy to pick places to tear down. It's now doing much better, being half the size it used to be, but with a much more diverse industry.

[@lioraselby5328]

@@donnerwetter1905 the Ruhrgbiet sounds a lot like Pittsburgh then

[@beastateverythin]

@@Juan-hv9bi lots of ‘luxury’ apartments with good road or freeway access, i.e. car centric, is what I see around me as new development in the US right now

[@daveharrison84]

A big university campus would be a good idea for Gary.

[@SuWoopSparrow]

@@donnerwetter1905 " European rust belt cities have a much more diverse economy", I dont think its fair to say this as it implies the diverse economy was there and prevented collapse. Declining European cities made the conscious decision to diversify when they saw problems brewing. That is the actual difference - Europeans are far more likely to think long term and shift gears/diversify than Americans who want to keep things the same. Look at coal workers still arguing to keep their jobs around with truly compelling logic such as: "its my job". Look at how many declining cities in America double down on their current trajectory rather than expanding and diversifying.

[@Dave_Sisson]

Geelong in Victoria, Australia, also avoided the fate of Gary. It was a city of 200,000 dominated by heavy industry; an aluminium smelter, Ford engine factory, oil refinery, etc. Then most of that heavy industry (except for the refinery) closed down within a few years. But both the state and federal governments poured a LOT of well targeted money into it. There was lots of assistance to establish new businesses in more modern industries. Some failed, but others are now mid-sized companies employing many people. More money was spent on retraining workers with obsolete skills. The rail line to nearby Melbourne, a city of 5 million, was improved and sped up, the freeway got extra lanes and a fast ferry to the centre of Melbourne was introduced. This encouraged people tired of the huge city to move to modestly sized Geelong and commute to work in Melbourne. All these projects combined to save Geelong and it didn't shrink or develop dangerous areas. The loss of the factories and heavy industry actually made it a nicer place to live and it continued to do well after the assistance and economic stimulus projects were wound down.

[@StreborKram]

Thank you for adding much needed context to the “drive by” you-tubers that are showing the symptoms you mention without that backdrop and deeper understanding.

[@levitatingoctahedron922]

he didn't mention the real issue at all. 80% of the population.

[@theeleven42]

I grew up in South Bend, about an hour from Gary. In the 90s there were multiple stories from friends who upon driving into Gary at night, would be pulled over by the police and told that it'd be in their best interest to turn around and leave as it wasn't safe.

[@dementedmindstate7063]

I heard that about Camden, NJ. They said red lights and stop signs mean go.

[@suranae]

@@dementedmindstate7063 Camden NJ does suck mightly.

[@voiceofreason1208]

I've also heard of police telling people not to stop at red lights/stop signs because they will likely get carjacked.

[@solidrockofjesuschristmini2423]

@@voiceofreason1208 I mean yeah your asking for it if you stop, there are ppl waiting for you to stop and Rob you, you yield at best if your in a bad area, if you stop doesn't mean you will get robbed your just asking for it

[@michaelcap9550]

Makes Flint look good by comparison.

[@easternrebel1061]

Truck driver here. Had to stop in Gary for fuel. As I was fueling at the Loves off of I-80/90 I heard popping noises. Fourth of July was 2 weeks away and so I thought maybe some kids were playing with fireworks a few blocks down. Then I heard what some like automatic gunfire and it dawned on me. I was listening to a shootout a few blocks away.

[@levitatingoctahedron922]

80% of the population.

[@neurotransmissions]

I pass through Gary on my way to the Indiana Dunes and man, they do themselves no favors by having that rotten egg smell washing over the highway as you drive by. Which is too bad because there are parts of Gary that look very beautiful!

[@fredericom2650]

LMao

[@cosslogan1043]

Reminds me of Hamilton, Ontario

[@asklouie]

It's true. The smell is unbearable.

[@russellmarra8520]

That smell is from one of the only remaining coke plants in America, on the east end of USS.

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

Which part is beautiful exactly? Lol

[@tonyxthextigre]

I grew up in south central Los Angeles. I went to Gary once while I was in Great Lakes for bootcamp. Gary is indeed the worst place in America. I felt like I could die at any moment and someone could easily roll my body into one of the many ditches overgrown with bush and it would be weeks before someone ever found me.

[@Mr.JerziiE]

For real you need to stop tripping you are from central La and you think Gary is worse than central La

[@tonyxthextigre]

@@Mr.JerziiE Gary is worse, by far. Its a shithole that has nothing going for it. Central/South LA at least has culture, great food and lively. Gary is a ghosttown and an all around terrible place.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

Just the vast areas of abandoned houses , blocks and blocks of old buildings that were empty , you don't have that in Los Angeles .

[@skipmatsey7738]

Many don’t realize that Gary was once the most dynamic city in Indiana. Blue collar jobs with benefits, entertainment from Sinatra and the Rat Pack,affordable housing, quality post- secondary education at IU/ Purdue NW, quality healthcare.

[@bodeezy78]

And birthplace of mj

[@mistamycall]

The Jackson 5 were born tbere.

[@clineshaunt]

@Wally Reyes It probably had to do more with 10s of thousands of steel jobs lost in the 80s when St. Reagan was in office. But hey, don't let facts get in the way of your blind hate.

[@drpicmeup]

I'm a Gary native and I went to Purdue NW for engineering. My dad moved to Gary from Mississippi and met my mom. I heard so many great stories about Gary from all the adults when I was younger. As a civil engineer, I look at the infrastructure and just imagine the possibilities. Gary needs a strong comeback!

[@themidnightlycan8116]

Used to

[@AbananaPEEl]

As an Indianapolis native, ive always heard stories and jokes about how dangerous Gary is. Then finally, in 2020, i had a bus stop there, and it was the first time ever actually being there. It didn't feel that dangerous. Just empty.

[@Mister8224]

Criminal gotta sleep sometime too. Give it a couple hours.

[@kyokusei]

A classmate of mine was killed in Gary, which neighbors my city.

[@leezhieng]

Gangs will move to metropolis where there are more money to rob/make.

[@secretsquirrel572]

Did you get off the bus?

[@gamecokben]

@@leezhieng I don't think you understand how gangs operate, or honestly even what they are

[@EthanPricco]

A few years ago my family drove through Gary while on a road trip and we were all shocked by how run-down and empty the city was. There was no one walking around and there were only a few cars driving around. It was pretty much a ghost town.

[@richardcline1337]

When gangs move in and take over, Gary is what you get! Who wants to live in a place like that?

[@markmac2206]

its the armpit of Chicago now, no deodorant.

[@iang8169]

Richard cline . yes but the video says that Gary went from the highest murder rate in the u.s to not even making the top 10 murder rates in Indiana. So it appears that when a city s pop keeps dropping and there is a huge drop in people to rob ,then criminals move out of town too

[@crazychase98]

@@iang8169 They just killed each other off.

[@nastrael]

@@iang8169 Murder rates are down but property theft, substance abuse(meth and heroine) and "violent crime"(assault, rape, robbery etc) are sky high. As in ~2x the national average high. Gary is an absolute shithole.

[@B-t2cz]

Growing up near Chicago, my family would go camping in the neighboring Indiana Dunes. We'd pass through Gary but never stopped there. The stench was awful. I remember seeing smokestacks everywhere. I used to wonder how people could live in a place that smelled so bad. A few years ago we found ourselves passing through Gary. We were coming up from visiting the south. I had to use the restroom so we stopped at a gas station. Big mistake. Run down, shady characters loitering outside AND inside, cashier behind bulletproof glass reinforced with cast iron bars, etc. The bathroom was pitch black because the light was out. The door didn't even lock. Imagine taking a piss in complete darkness in GARY INDIANA. I hurried tf out of there and my Dad kept yelling at me why did we have to stop in Gary. Dad was right. Thank God I didn't get mugged or anything.

[@mrthomas7511]

Piss on the road

[@mauricegillespie704]

It breaks my heart to see the current state of the city. I grew up in Gary and graduated from that last public High School, West Side High School in 1992. Although Gary was already in a state of decline in my childhood, it was a good place for me to grow up and I now realize that we received an excellent education in the Gary School System at that time. Myself, and many of my classmates have gone on to further our education and build successful careers in every field from Medicine to Education, Law, Business and Politics. Some really amazing people came from Gary and hope that it can again become a great place to grow up.

[@GaZonk100]

you write well...that good education shows

[@adamdavis5312]

How many of you and your well educated friends stayed in Gary yo become successful lawyers, doctors, and business men/women in that city??

[@jeffhreid]

@@adamdavis5312 excellent observation. Smart hardworking folk tend to leave decaying cities, and for good reason

[@d.e.carter5129]

Born and raised in Gary as well (Wirt c/o '94). I grew up by Wells Street Beach, and it was beautiful. I would go back and live but its too depressing and no jobs.

[@genevadixon8426]

LW ‘81. Gary did have a very good school system. Thanks for sharing your experiences there.

[@armaankular7885]

There's some legends from Gary though. Freddie Gibbs, Michael Jackson, and Greg Poppocivh are all from there. edit: Freddie Gibbs IS DEFINITELY a legend, I'm not explaining myself, fuck off

[@chonrodriguez7572]

how is Gibbs a legend?

[@armaankular7885]

@@chonrodriguez7572 Alfredo piñata and bandana are all classics in the underground scene

[@blaccrasta5825]

Cj so cool too

[@super.fly24]

The only time Freddie Gibbs name will be thought of before Mj’s 😹

[@keavamcdonnell6887]

@@chonrodriguez7572 what do you mean

[@rappscallion3238]

This, if anything, shows the danger of being dependent of a single large company employer. Cities need to diversify their labor market.

[@havocproltd]

I'm sure the early 20th century will take note of your observation.

[@rrsharizam]

Not as easy as it sounds.

[@skaterdavedownsouth]

Ummmmmm the city often develops BECAUSE of the industry.

[@munchenonyou3774]

@@havocproltd dont repeat history you goof howd you misinterpret that

[@havocproltd]

@@munchenonyou3774 I'm sorry. I must have been blinded by the stunning display of the self evident. And i don't even know what "diversify their labor market" means.

[@babusastry]

As a new comer to USA in 1965, my 1st Job was at Verson Steel at 93rd and Stoney Island. Based on my expertise suddenly I found being Chauffered to the Gary airport in 1967 in the CEO's personal plane to go to a place to evaluate a specialized machine. That is a fond memory for me of Gary.

[@Blacknight00D]

I'm from Cleveland and a huge Michael Jackson fan. So my wife and I went from Cleveland to Chicago for our anniversary on August 29th. We wanted to to see MJs original house on the way since it's right off rt 90 in Gary. We got stopped by a flood of armed cops and random people dancing the street. We initially assumed this happened a lot not realizing August 29th was Michael Jackson's birthday.

[@I_Lemaire]

That's so funny, though. You must love your wife so much.

[@Blacknight00D]

@@I_Lemaire maybe not as much as I thought since I put her in imminent danger just driving to Gary lol

[@kylein9869]

That's an everyday thing in Gary

[@Dave2one6]

I'm from Cleveland too. When I was in the air force a friend of mine who came on leave with me seen wish bone in a western union on st Clair. Special day for him like it was for yall.

[@dneen_ivonsUniverse]

I just visited Gary last June for Michael Jackson's death anniversary ( I'm a Super Michael Jackson fan as well) and I was shocked by the city itself, it gave me a feeling of doom, I was like, no wonder Joe wanted to get his family out of there

[@jah2724]

Back in the 80s I was a teenager with my family on a road trip and our car broke down on the highway in Gary. They towed us off to a repair shop there. As middle class suburbanites, we felt trepidation. But everyone we dealt with during our 24 hour stay was without exception friendly, helpful and caring. It opened my eyes to the fact that even in a rough place, there are many fine people.

[@phillyfan3942]

Maybe he did it intentionally

[@billchambers7760]

That's awesome. It's always a blessing to meet such people, especially in time of need.

[@leahflower9924]

oh my god are you the Griswolds? lol

[@missesmew]

@@phillyfan3942 lmfao, your terrible sir, probably right but still terrible. lol

[@panam4redd]

what kind of National Lampoon shit is this lmfao

[@CreepyBlackDude]

I'm from Vegas, so your talk of "Company Cities" really kind of caught my attention. There is one nearby--Boulder City, which was built for the workers of the Hoover Dam (back then, it was Boulder Dam). Being "paternal," as you mentioned, it is also the only city in the entire state of Nevada where Gambling is not legal. I know that wasn't the point of this video, I just never really thought upon this concept. EDIT - Actually, there is one other town in Nevada that prohibits gambling--Panaca. The closest casino is about 15 mins. outside of the city limits.

[@FlymanMS]

Fallout New Vegas made it famous, I was surprised when I learned Boulder City is a real place

[@SynchroSk8]

I always immediately think of Boulder City! Another one in Arizona was Goodyear, which was clearly named after the rubber company. They needed a specific kind of cotton that could be grown in Arizona. Company Cities are so fascinating.

[@0fficialdregs]

i heard of Boulder City through the many documentaries about the Hoover Dam

[@tomtrask_YT]

I recall seeing a video once about how Boulder City was basically Ottumwa Iowa transplanted to the desert to attract workers for the dam (a little bit like the current man-camps in North Dakota to bring workers for the oil and gas development except those jobs are temporary (a dam isn't?))

[@wernerdanler2742]

I live in Vegas. I did not know there was no gambling in Boulder City. FYI: citizens of Monaco are not allowed to gamble in the casinos. I can understand Boulder not wanting workers on the dam to gamble while it was being built but that was way back in the 1930s.

[@IWill-qo3es]

Born and raised in Gary, IN. It’s sad to see the city how it is now. Growing up we were taught of it’s glory days in school and it really seemed to be a great city once upon a time. All in all I’m still proud to say where I came from. Gary raises unique kinds of people lbs

[@lurleanpeeples]

Yesssss!! I will NEVER deny where I was born and raised.

[@lawren-hollienelson9948]

I live just North of Portland,Or and it's the same thing. Once upon a time it was a Great and Beautiful city. Now if you HAVE to go there, it is a straight drive, in and out. So Sad...

[@chrisschaeffer9661]

​@@lawren-hollienelson9948. I'm from Vancouver and I partially agree. The Traffic is never worth a trip into Portland. And there's almost as many homeless in Vancouver now. Especially East Vancouver which didn't have a homeless problem in the 70s and 80s.

[@gailbird100]

And WHY was it a "glory day" and NOW a shit hole? WHO DESTROYED OUR TOWN? It wasn't us

[@beej741]

I never knew about Hammond physically severing ties with Gary. That's really incredible.

[@lildurpy]

And kinda sad

[@PrinceCezar27]

White flight at its finest.

[@donnix768]

@@PrinceCezar27 That is simply untrue. I am a lifelong hammond resident, Hammond is connected to Gary by several streets, 169th street which turns into 15th avenue in Gary. It is also connected by 177th street which becomes 25th in Gary. Just like Route 41 becomes Lake Shore Drive connecting Hammond to its neighbor city of Chicago. The road in hammond that was cut off from Gary was because it was a residential area that wanted to cut down on traffic. Hammond is a multi cultural city so your theory is white flight is a lie. Don’t comment on places you know nothing about.

[@jamesbarca7229]

@@donnix768You're right that it had nothing to do with white flight, but it wasn't just a matter of cutting down traffic b/c there wasn't much traffic going down 9th Av. at that point. I remember when Hammond and Gary had their little "war" over that. Hammond put up a dirt barrier under the bridge and Gary came along and removed it. So Hammond put it back up and posted some cops to guard it, and Gary came along to try to remove it again and a several days long standoff ensued. Gary cried racism. Hammond said it was to prevent contaminated runoff from the Midco site. We all knew it was to stop people from committing crimes and quickly fleeing back to Gary, which happened a lot. Loven Oven Pizza, which was located right next to the bridge there, moved because they were constantly being robbed. Closing that road prevented a lot of crime in that corner of Hessville. Just the fact that they now had to go down to 169th, deal with the stoplight, and cross the bridge was enough to discourage most of it. It had nothing to do with racism, as you pointed out Hammond is multi racial. It was purely a crime prevention measure, and an effective one at that.

[@sultanofswing7198]

@@PrinceCezar27 and if the whites all wanted to move in you would call it gentrification. You are a fool.

[@reallue]

I live in Highland, near Gary. There was also a serial killer just a few years ago, hiding bodies in the tens of thousands of vacant buildings in gary. So, it's not exactly safe but there are ppl investing & trying to improve it.

[@intruative]

I read this as he was stuffing tens of thousands of bodies in the abandoned buildings, not that there are tens of thousands of abandoned buildings lmao, I was like how has this guy not been caught??

[@birch8109]

@@intruative same

[@Alxotaku]

yeah i remeber that if i remeber right the guy had been doing the same thing i think in texas or it was arizona either way it goes should've kept the guy in prison

[@johnhughes1783]

Is that your sales pitch?

[@kylein9869]

@@johnhughes1783 Lol

[@DejanSmaic]

When I lived in Chicago during the 1990's, Gary was dubbed "Scary Gary". At one time, the Mayor of Gary had a parade of Law Enforcement from hundreds of departments as a Show of Force to the criminal element.

[@DejanSmaic]

@BleedBlue Colts True, but this did happen around 1997ish while I was living in Schaumburg, Illinois. It made national news and was a BIG deal then. Do the research...

[@DejanSmaic]

@BleedBlue Colts I’m sure it was the State troopers. I’m sorry you had to live there. I certainly would not call it a figment of my imagination. So, I’m correct for the most part. Apology accepted buddy.

[@DejanSmaic]

@BleedBlue Colts well, I certainly do recall LE bumper to bumper showing off their presence to Gary and news outlets.

[@derp195]

@Purple RayNope. I live in Chicago, and Gary is stunningly bleak.

[@docvaliant721]

Yup scary Gary

[@ericalindsey-eb1bo]

I live in Gary now for the past 2 years and it’s definitely not the murder capital it once was. I feel safer here than I do when I lived in Chicago where I’m from. Gary has a lot of potential if you look at it thru a different angle. The city just fascinates me. Worth investing in. I would love to do my own documentary and interview the elders here who were born and raised.

[@sushipizza4439]

Idk enough about Gary, but i think that the media was/is somewhat overreacting. I live in indiana(3 hours from gary, ~1 hour from indy) and stopped there to see if the media was right about gary, and just out of curiosity. It was definitely not dangerous there at like 4 pm. There were abandoned homes, but some really nice ones too. I barely saw anyone, and a gas station I stopped at was fine too. It was like an average gas station in indiana, nothing more. I think you get what I mean

[@_elijamal]

I think this is a bad characterization of Gray tbh. My step dad has some of his family in Gray (we live in IL by state line) it’s not a place I would say have a lot of potential. Although it’s not the murder capital anymore I do believe Gray is not the safest place to be and it maybe safer than Chicago but with only 60k residents and half of the infrastructure abandon I’m sure crime exist in some form. Indiana is a corrupt state and the only reason ppl decide to live in Indy is because cost of living is way cheaper. Other than that I’m not sure why anybody would live in Indy

[@fjb4932]

I keep hearing in the comments that it's not the murder capital any more, and actually the murder rate is quite low. Is that because they've run out of murder victims ? ☆

[@gordonlandreth9550]

Get a huge demolition machine and start knocking down those old houses . The city or the state may even pay you big bucks to do it . Then collect all the bricks that can be used again , and sell 'em to the construction companies to build new homes there . Just a thought from CA . Go to the city and tell them - no more abandoned houses ! Turn it back into farmland !

[@JS-mg1mk]

​@@_elijamalhow is Indiana a corrupt state?

[@stevenclark8552]

I see why Joe Jackson was so hell bent on leaving

[@upabittoolate]

Joe was there in the salad days.

[@Fiftycents50]

What a shit hole!!!

[@upabittoolate]

@@Fiftycents50 you've probably never been there.

[@Fiftycents50]

@@upabittoolate nope. Just looking at the pics is enough to make me NOT ever want to go there!

[@alfredphillips3469]

Joe Jackson left when Gary was still nice, they didn't leave because it was on the way down, the family left to pursue a dream, and the rest is history..

[@Bestfriendpete]

I drove through Gary a few years ago, and spent about 30 minutes or so in the city, went to see the house where Michael Jackson grew up… I must say, Gary is by far the most depressing city I’ve ever visited. It’s filled with abandoned homes and businesses everywhere you look. I hope one day to hear Gary has made a grand turnaround.

[@gumity]

They're doing their best to work on it. There are a lot of old dilapidated structures down Broadway that they've been tearing down and they're working on replacing them slowly but surely. There's a lot of such construction going on in a lot of areas, hopefully it'll help a bit not having to see all the burned and gutted buildings everywhere and it'll give room to grow new businesses.

[@gumity]

@Carl Ferrigno There's actually plenty of people and money to support businesses to an extent, but especially on Broadway. There are a lot of people that commute either to places on Broadway (I sometimes work at a government center there) or go through Broadway to be elsewhere, it's a pretty busy road. A lot of people are looking forward to what gets built on the stretch they're working on.

[@supratimbhunia8063]

I also went to see Michael Jackson's house and nearby school etc with my family,there is surely enough points to come back again for this neighborhood city of Chicago

[@professionalamateur1549]

😂😂

[@milomilo6404]

Never

[@nickzap2473]

My brother used to be a truck driver. He stopped in Gary one night, thinking a suburb would be safer than Chicago itself. He went inside a gas station, and there were security guards. That gas station has since had a massive fire.

[@oatmeal710]

gary at night is more dangerous than any part of chicago

[@dudeinacar01]

I remember when Downton Gary got bordered up with a facade window fronts on stores. It went downhill fast. But 30 years later... that White Castle Restaurant is still there on Broadway, downtown.

[@chrisnelson3046]

Yeah I drive across country and thought the same thing. First gas station I go into has 3 inch thick plexiglass and the clerks expression was like wtf a white guy doing in here lol

[@chrispychicken9614]

Gas do be flammable

[@BeBopScraBoo]

the first time i drove through gary on the interstate there was a little suburban neighborhood that very closely resembled the one i grew up in, only it looked like it was built maybe 10 years earlier. it was empty, except for a couple abandonded rusted out cars in the driveways. every time i drove past it would be a little more run down, more moss on roofs, until eventually the little buffer area was so overgrown you couldn't see it from the highway anymore.

[@QuesoGr7]

Its crazy how this city gave us one of the most famous music artist/entertainers in history.

[@chipskylark172]

It didn’t take long for Michael to leave Gary in the dust lol they were living in Los Angeles since he was like a kid. Smart move 😂

[@subhuman3408]

He is the most famous entertainer ever

[@MissusTayIor]

My mother in law, aged 70 now, grew up in Gary. Lots of interesting stories. Her and her brothers used to play with Michael Jackson and one of his brothers when they were younger. She has lots of memories of how dangerous it was even in back in her time. Having to carry a butcher knife to the bus stop early in the mornings and almost getting gang raped while she waited at the library for her brother to pick her up outside. It was rough as far back as she could remember.

[@tias.6675]

Wow ! Katherine Jackson spoke on how bad it had become by the 1960s as well.

[@christopherhall5361]

need to bring a butcher knife to the bus stop....what a fine upstanding place

[@judeirwin2222]

Dunder(head)... not “ Her and her brothers”, but “ She and her brothers”. English is a wonderful language. Take care of it.

[@MissusTayIor]

@@judeirwin2222 You failed to provide anything constructive to the topic of conversation. Perhaps you should learn some interpersonal communication skills and we'll be even.

[@ShapezPuller64]

Dude, just take the correction in stride.

[@americanoutdoorsman_1133]

My high school principal Mr Charles “Chuck” Graves was born and raised in Gary, Indiana he was a great man and was big on discipline and character. RIP Mr Graves.

[@juniorhernandez3347]

There are still beautiful people in these “depressing cities”. The best man I’ve ever known Rickey Stewart was born and raised in Prichard, Alabama. It’s the values and life lessons they hold dearly I assume because he was very larger than life yet he had been in a wheel chair since his very early 20’s. He had been in a wheelchair longer than he had with two working legs. Still by far the best man I have ever known. Could go on with details but I’m just here to share the similarities within these cities/towns. Diamonds in the rough.

[@losj7294]

Funny that hammond cut ties with gary even though hammond isn’t much better

[@abubakra6587]

Yup

[@richardburke5686]

It has stable neighborhoods, an increasing tax base, and population. I get it's not a vacation destination, but Gary is flat out gutted.

[@gamemason6830]

At least Hammond has civilization

[@richardburke5686]

@@gamemason6830 Preach!!! Hammond is QUANTUM LEAPS ahead of Gary in every conceivable metric.

[@raulquintanilla8718]

Exactly!

[@carlorizzo5308]

5 years ago I got stuck in Gary Indiana's fire station number 13 back lot with my tractor trailer... they had to come with a wrecker to pull me out LOL. But the guys that were in the firehouse and on-call were so nice to me and they offered me dinner spaghetti with meatballs. I turned it down and just wanted to get on my way. But they had absolute awesome hospitality

[@tluns810]

As a kid back in the 60's -70's we used to travel through Gary on our way to Detroit, and I still have vivid memories of the Black smoke stacks, and awful smell as me and my siblings tried to hold our noses until we got to the other side of Gary where the air cleared up a bit.

[@TippyTop420]

That's a very nice memory.

[@blainelee8021]

Detroit ain't no better.

[@satchelh]

I walked around Gary a few times in the summer of 1996 and I have to say Gary looks better now than it did then. When I went inside a Grocery store, a liquor store and a convenient store I noticed I was the only one without a pistol either in a holster or tucked in a waistband. People were driving at highway speeds on Fifth and took off from red lights like they were on a drag strip. Union Station was an occupied abandoned building with cars parked all the way around the building. Some junk, some running with people hanging out in them. It felt like a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

[@cecilebraillie4471]

I can't imagine going to a grocery store and seeing people with guns tucked in their waistband. Wouldn't you constantly fear for your life?

[@neville132bbk]

@@cecilebraillie4471 Being in NZ,,, the only hand guns I have ever seen, once or twice, were on the belt of s Sydney (Aust) policeman. Our police do not carry guns and it is impossible to buy one as a private citizen, unless you belong to a gun club, of which there are not very many.

[@a.b.sproductionsllc]

We’re you there when they were shooting the 1996 film “Original Gangstas?”

[@eXTreemator]

@WheresPaul#1981 hunting, harrassing, arresting, killing people over minor issues is part of american culture. Police just runs itself.

[@M00NdaYn]

@WheresPaul#1981 That's because Japan is superior in every way.

[@stevenhaas858]

I lived in the Miller Beach section of Gary for 19 years, had to move to Naples. I miss the beaches of Gary. They are beautiful, as they were never developed west of Lake Street. There are a few miles of somewhat difficult paths through the dunes. If you are of adventurous spirit, explore those dunes. You may run into a lot of wildlife, deer especially. Wear good shoes, it’s worth it.

[@bellladonna2071]

I love Miller. I now live in CT. I miss Miller beach and taking my daughter to the forest preserve. Gary has some beautiful beaches. It has a lot of potential. I hope it can come back!

[@lambosforusal]

Why in the world does someone from Indiana have to move to southern Italy?

[@stevenhaas858]

@@lambosforusal Florida, not Italy.

[@Msantor1605]

@@lambosforusal 😂😂😂

[@lambosforusal]

@@stevenhaas858 ah.. wel that explains it. Sometimes it is confusing for non-Americans that so many places in the US have similar names to European cities.

[@johnwagner409]

Both my husband and I were born in Gary in the 1930's. It was a nice town then and had some beautiful buildings. My family moved to Hammond, but my husband's family lived in Glen Park. It is so sad to see what has happened to Gary. I hope it can experience a turn around. Cheryl Wagner

[@GoldenKing05]

As a Hoosier whenever anything bad happens or looks bad in a town you always say "well it's not as bad as Gary". It's very sad to see the buildings there rot away, and even though its an end to a lot of jokes, i hope that the city can see the light of day soon.

[@Skud0rz]

A lot of the buildings that are rotting look really cool and unique architecture, its sad

[@jonathanbowers8964]

Honestly it is prime real estate for redevelopment. It is right on Lake Michigan and next to Chicago. It could easily become the next Holland Michigan if developers put a bit of effort into gentrification.

[@carfreeneoliberalgeorgisty5102]

It depends. A lot of tax codes and zoning codes either prohibit people from making investments into a community or punish them for doing so. A progressive land value tax and an abolishment of euclidean zoning could help a lot of struggling US cities.

[@jonathanbowers8964]

@@carfreeneoliberalgeorgisty5102 I agree. I honestly think that considering Gary is practically a ghost town today, it would probably be best to abolish the city and start over. Maybe call it Chicago Heights, Bay City, or Lakeview. A total rebranding and total start over could work. Not much of the buildings there are even worth salvaging and considering it lost 90% of it's peak population it practically is already abandoned.

[@carfreeneoliberalgeorgisty5102]

@@jonathanbowers8964 I don't know if tearing down the city and starting over is a great idea. It's near impossible to create a thriving city from scratch since cities grow incrimentally and urban prosperity is a very bottom up process. Creating the conditions that allow for economic prosperity is a much better idea.

[@deekin2134]

I used to drive through Gary every week for work. That place gives off such an ominous "Silent Hill" vibe.

[@wendisparadeofperfumes5034]

Part of Gary is located in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The Lake has a nice beach and a good view of Chicago as well as some nice trails. I went there during the week with my dog, and I was the only one there. It was peaceful. The city itself is a bit run down but it's mostly quiet. The emptiness was palpable.

[@Slicknewt]

Lots of violent crime and missing people in gary. Place is creepy

[@mattlukasik2486]

@@Slicknewt it’s a great city with lots of history. Maybe you’re creepy.

[@redwingjv]

You should check out traverse city Michigan and sleeping bear dunes! Similar vibe but the city itself is s nice place

[@sTiKmAnHAHAHA]

@@mattlukasik2486 You don't make it out this way much, do you? Rich History? Absolutely. Great City? Absolutely not. The primary source of income for most is drugs.

[@wendisparadeofperfumes5034]

@@redwingjv Oh I've been up there too! Simply gorgeous area and has such a unique ecosystem. It's been a few years but Sleeping Bear is on my list of places to revisit. Traverse City is like the anti Gary but also prohibitively expensive:)

[@claudmyers833]

I don't know how many of these you do, but you did a great job encapsulating Gary. I'll be looking for more! Thanks.

[@alexcoffey8804]

As someone who grew up in Indiana, I heard stories about why you shouod never go to Gary. One guy described it as "if GTA Online was a real place." It's nice to finally see what Gary is actually like.

[@ginalynn6963]

This video wasn't a very good representation of what Gary is like...

[@alexcoffey8804]

@@ginalynn6963 Your filtered profile picture isn't a very good representation of your face.

[@myleslondon5220]

@@alexcoffey8804 it’s true though one video isn’t the full story for a city

[@vanguard4065]

so I literally just searched Gary Indiana news and the first thing that came up was a 79-year-old man shot dead while walking his dog so sad

[@javiergilvidal1558]

This guy has the typical soy-boy appearance, and a PC abhorrence of hard facts, coupled with a fear to call a spade a spade. Even in Wokipedia you can read: "after white flight in the 1970s, the city of Gary held the nation's highest percentage of African Americans for several decades". That speaks VOLUMES about the reasons for Gary's metamorphosis from a prosperous industrial and economic hub into a hellish dunghole. If any doubt remained in the tender minds of the bleeding hearts, Wokepedia makes it brutally clear with the demographic breakdown: Whites, 8.91%. Niggas, 83.90%. That does not show in this coward's video, who piously shows EMPTY PHANTOM STREETS. No showing people at large, lest it became obvious that they were ALL niggas! Go, Gary, go!

[@brianthompson4218]

Back in 1964 my father was hitchhiking across the midwest and got attacked in Gary by about four dudes. Luckily, a cop was driving by and the attackers fled. Gary has long been on my radar of "places to not visit ever."

[@scottdavidson8086]

I drove through there in a 18 Wheeler at night a few times in the 90's. It was the creepiest place I have ever been and I have been all over the world.

[@javiergilvidal1558]

This guy has the typical soy-boy appearance, and a PC abhorrence of hard facts, coupled with a fear to call a spade a spade. Even in Wokipedia you can read: "after white flight in the 1970s, the city of Gary held the nation's highest percentage of African Americans for several decades". That speaks VOLUMES about the reasons for Gary's metamorphosis from a prosperous industrial and economic hub into a hellish dunghole. If any doubt remained in the tender minds of the bleeding hearts, Wokepedia makes it brutally clear with the demographic breakdown: Whites, 8.91%. Niggas, 83.90%. That does not show in this coward's video, who piously shows EMPTY PHANTOM STREETS. No showing people at large, lest it became obvious that they were ALL niggas! Go, Gary, go!

[@QueensNYgirlie1988]

This looks like a perfect place to film The Walking Dead

[@deepchilledmusic7548]

😆🙈🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🤺

[@outofAlog]

That would be Kensington ave in Philly. Don’t even need to hire actors.

[@sean70729]

@@outofAlog 😆😆🤣🤣😆 You get that right I have to drive past there to work.

[@brittanygonzalez4364]

Lmfaoooooooo omllll

[@justjuangoodcitizen4297]

Facts. I'm from Camden, New Jersey and had to go to Kensington to meet someone. I actually appreciated Camden when I got back across the bridge which had a bad reputation but has changed alot.

[@Olivia.Boyd.]

My sister and I road tripped across the country and stopped in Gary for Taco Bell. Once we got to our hotel maybe 4 hours later, we filled in my mom on our stops and stories of the day. NEVER heard of Gary before, but I was yelled at by my mom for a good 45 minutes for putting myself in danger. But imo the Taco Bell was banger and everyone there was j chilling so 🙃

[@the_major]

NWI native here now living away from NWI. This really touched me and reminded me of home. It reminded me especially of an old Croatian-descended WWII vet that lived in the house next door to me when I was growing up. He and his wife always had great stories to tell me and my siblings, they were wonderful people. He used to talk about the Gary of the 30's, 40's and 50's with such pride. He spoke of how neighborly everyone was, how great his school days were and how beautiful the beaches were before the mills ate up the beach front. Gary's decline was something he really lamented and it's such a shame to drive by Gary and see it crumbling away. I really miss him and I'm glad I watched this. Thank you.

[@sneakyflutes]

Croatia was on the side of the Nazis in WWII lol

[@ohyeahyeah9213]

@@sneakyflutes Many Croats came to America before WW2

[@sneakyflutes]

@@ohyeahyeah9213 I was just being a stinker. Yeah, it's possible the neighbor in question served with the US forces. Most native Croats of that age...erm...try not to talk about their time in the war lol.

[@the_major]

@@sneakyflutes he was born in America and served in the Pacific. His parents were immigrants.

[@BgRdMchne]

Another abandoned city that would be interesting to look at is Cairo, IL.

[@dontask7657]

Stopped in Cairo for a couple hours, very interesting history. Their boulevard would have been wonderful to see in it's glory days, especially with the handful of manors they have there

[@0fficialdregs]

agreed

[@bussdownPIMP]

The place smells like death.

[@jairiske]

The only thing I know about Cairo is its' reputation for racism lol I have no idea if it's still or ever was an accurate characterization, it was just something that was said around me in northern Illinois

[@christopherconard2831]

@@jairiske It was. Though I don't know what it's like today. It was one of the last Sundown Towns, at least in the north. The police were notorious for spotting non residents (doubly so if they were black) and "keeping an eye on them", aka harassment. It was often blatant and aggressive.

[@rohitrajt8]

How ironic that Gary is geographically gifted to be strategically located at the southern most shore of the lake Michigan apart from the fact that it's almost like an extended outer suburb of the largest inland urban metropolitan area of Chicago. Gary has better location than 90% of cities in the US and hence great potential for future growth 🙆🏻

[@joseph1150]

It will never get better as long as the steel plants are there.

[@Nerevarine420]

I'm sorry but anyone who actually lives in Indiana knows Gary is never gonna get support nor will it ever be anything like people describe its litterally the states black spot and most pretend it doesnt exist. The only reason that Gary still isn't the most violent place in indy is simply because people moved away to Chicago and other places. Gary is also far from the capital so it just reinforces the government to not care. Let Chicago handle it they think .

[@cleb154]

Reminds me of Cairo, Illinois.

[@chobai9996]

Wanted to add too, that, the remaining steel mill jobs are HIGHLY lucrative for those that are left. In the Midwest, especially in Indiana and Illinois, working at the mills is seen almost like an honour because, while the work is relatively menial and really physically tough, it pays a LOT and offers good insurance packages for the workers. Working there for a bit of time you can end up making more than $100,000 a year, something that I think a lot of Americans are unaware of as most think only white collar jobs make that kind of money. If you work hard it pays

[@chlorine5795]

@@cleb154 Cairo, Egypt.

[@gguitteau]

Oh, my. It’s so nice that you not only created this fine video, but you also had the will and pride to present it, rather than hand it off to a horrific AI. I learned quite a bit here and I hope Gary can recover somehow.

[@granthse]

living in Indiana growing up, going to Gary was always scary. I remember an officer pulled us over driving because we actually stopped at a stop sign, he said "you aren't from around here, don't be completely stopping at this time of night" it was only about 8pm at the time.

[@sahauricarter5704]

Oh please 🙄

[@Glimbosgold69]

Riiiiiight bud totally didnt make that one up

[@williamzagarella8066]

Oh yeah thats not fabricated lmao. So he pulled you over so you both were completely stopped at that time? Yeah ok buddy. Nice try.

[@jebronlames9486]

🧢

[@nicholasfield6127]

My best friend's dad had that happen to them in Detroit late at night. They also are a semi truck driver and people like to steal things out of trucks there

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

I was on a road trip to visit my in-laws in Wisconsin. I was very much aware of Gary, Indiana's reputation, and our route took us straight through it. Because of the timing of our journey, we basically had to stay the night either just before or just after Gary. We decided to press on, get through Gary, and find a hotel further along the route. We passed through Gary without incident, but it sure looked rough. We ended up staying in Rockford, Illinois, which, unbeknownst to us at the time, is even worse than Gary! We spent a rather nervous night in a hotel there and got the hell out as early as possible.

[@wilf7042]

What did you think was going to happen? A hail of bullets hitting your vehicle as you drove through? 😆

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

@@wilf7042 Well no, but the reviews for the hotel did have several people complaining that their cars broken into. The only things that actually happened were that we were woken up by some hoodlums driving around the parking lot with one of their friends on the hood of their car drinking a 40, and someone tried to get into our room via the French windows as we were preparing to leave in the morning.

[@kyokusei]

so weird seeing a video about a location this close to me. entering Gary feels like walking into a different biome in minecraft, the atmosphere and the colors shift

[@motherfromwayback]

Yeah, dead does have a distinct color.

[@Railgun003]

Damn there's a distinct color shift? Now that is real bad

[@rpm773]

That berm (0:17 in the movie) is on 9th ave and the Cline ave overpass. On the other side of the expressway, the road is in disrepair and there's the 9th ave superfund site. The berm was put in place to keep any floodwaters from the superfund site from flowing into the residential community. If the fine folks of Gary want to invade Hammond, they are welcome to do so via 5th Ave / US 20.

[@robflynnii3196]

I can remember riding in my mothers car in the late 70's, early 80's as a preteen going to visit my grandmother in Chicago. I have vivid memories of passing by Gary on I90 and having to roll up the windows to hopefully avoid the sulfur smell. I was always in awe of the mills and the stacks burning off...what ever they were burning. I always thought, how could any one live there. I hope and pray things change in the future for the residents of Gary.

[@johnossendorf9979]

We used to drive from NYC in the 70's and then Chatham NY from the 80's in to the 90's to Chicago to visit our Grandparents. I remember Dad telling us to "Roll up the windows" as Garry came in to sight.

[@Chipop267]

I remember this too driving from Chicago to Detroit as a kid with my parents. Current day, I’m rooting for Gary and Detroit.

[@jameshudson6414]

It's weird hearing this knowing I live right near Gary XD

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

@rob cool story bro.

[@joerivandeweyer3056]

yeah, if they move. it's not rocket science.

[@dennissvitak6453]

I was the planner for the local Coca-Cola delivery trucks. Standard rule for Gary was to get them into the town first, and get done by 10 am. Most of the late night criminals weren't up and about yet. We had "special security zones", where TWO drivers were mandatory for each truck. Most were "no cash" deliveries..for a reason. Terrible, terrible place to live.

[@lucasRem-ku6eb]

That is common in most US Cities now, before 10 am it's still friendly ! US Steel is China now ....

[@aimeeinkling]

Yep. I say all the time, "Bad guys don't get up early." 😂

[@grecianatalia3283]

As someone from East Chicago, Indiana at Notre Dame, I often get confused for being from Gary. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I hate the assumptions people automatically make because someone can be from Gary/a nearby area. People often have a lot to say about Gary, but don’t understand why it is the way it is.

[@emmabenedek646]

PUBLIC APATHY. The situation in US is horrific. Theres folks going around pointing cameras at semi derelict cities and towns all over the place. Theres people living there in total poverty. One of them inhabited by females on their own. Whole streets with empty shops, gas stations and diners and wharehouses all starting to collapse. How come that nation paid people to walk about on a moon. Why are they staring into space trying to find 'life' when they cant even manage what they have. Do you think any distant civilisation would tolerate the people here// Why are you assuming they would be like you. Foir instabncxer whats all this about Police killing a 1000 people a yr. They dont seem to do that to the corrupt. In UK we are experiencing Police attacks too who are sent on behalf of religion. They told us that the evidence we gathered during 12 yrs traipse round vCent London accompanied by victims cannot be revealed to public. They also told us that theres no such thing as 'Natural Talent'. theres only what your teacher teaches. That attitude killed millions US Nativ Americans and Germany did same to tribes in Africa. This is the 3rd attaxck we have experienced after doing state of the art work on so called incurable clients sent to us by Health system. They had recd anything up to 22 yrs 'treatment' They needed six hours. One of them would have died that nite had we not broken in to get to her. We wewre then told to stop the work which was threatening establ jobs so around 12-15 000 died and the issues covered up by Local Govt. Police. HM Coroners. HM Courts. HM Psychiatry Charities. Press. 17 universities who are in league with Int drug firms. f-book and Twitter destroyed all our mails and all websites also disappeared. We have no access to Parliament or Law or Health or Welfare. We are woriied anbout dying cos this place coulds be ransacked by Police and the public would do nothing. We are a Jewish Family who came to UK to escape the very activities going on in UK. We came here with two suitcases and 80 yrs old granma. we were washing up dishes in hotel and taking scraps food home. no one offered any help. We left behind jobs in the Law System. Now lets think about this site. People are goin around filming other pewoples misery so what the persons criteria. Why dont they go raise hell at the aeras Political representative for those areas. Why dont they stop and knock at all the doors to see if the folks need food por help with property maintenance. Why are peopole sitting watching all this and doing nothing. Is it becauase the victims aree not 'relatives' If so you need waking up. No change in 10.000 yrs. Stop the deception. 5000 comments have not changed anything.The UK and Europe are also horrific. The EEC has told us that nothing can be done about corruption or the attacks on us. Maybe wre should try to get out of here urgent before we end up dead. The natives that the US killed knew how to survive. You dont. You killed most them wheres the guilt we dont see any. Waste time putting comments on sites, the people are all going in different directions. There will one day be pay back because theres no attempt to change. God help me and asny innocent people. But where they are dont know.

[@gisawslonim9716]

When I was attending University in Chicago in the 1950s I had a boyfriend who was from Gary and he hoped to make a career in music and escape the city but fate decreed otherwise and for reasons of finance he had to leave the academic life and go to work in the mills as his entire family had done for several generations. At night, in Chicago, and looking in the right direction, one could always see the dark sky lit up by flames as the mills continued to work day and night. That, and the ghastly odor from the slaughterhouse on hot, muggy days, was the epitome of Chicago in the 40s and 50s.

[@workingguy-OU812]

Those flames at night are what I remember of the mills in Pittsburgh. Various colors of flames, too - red, orange, blue, yellow. There was a raised road beside the mills, so it put cars up enough to look down, or directly at, those flames and the mill properties. It was really neat, and beautiful at night in its own way. So much so that I started looking for color pictures or videos of it last year. I found nothing. Filming such things at night, or trying to take pictures of them just wasn't a thing from what I could tell.

[@CTON2022]

Thank you for sharing

[@AK-nc4ul]

This comment hits like a time machine.

[@rrocketman]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@jonpaul3868]

Holy, how old are you, maam?

[@LightsOnMultiMediaMindArts]

I grew up in Gary. I remember taking the bus downtown to see "Goldfinger" at the Palace Theater, and the sidewalks were so full with pedestrians that I had to walk in the street (Broadway). Within a couple of years the streets were deserted for all the reasons you mentioned in the video, but there was one other. The Village Shopping Center was one of the first shopping centers in the US and many people switched to shopping there instead of downtown. No reason for anyone to go downtown anymore. Downtown businesses dried up. Ironically now shopping centers are being abandoned. The way we buy goods and services keeps changing.

[@kontraksionista]

Why is that? Is because racial demographics change?

[@LightsOnMultiMediaMindArts]

@@kontraksionista Lots of reasons. US Steel was the company that founded the city. It takes fewer employees to make the same amount of steel today. Therefore the city suffers. There was a lot of good in Gary. I would like to see it reborn.

[@alienvomitsex]

​@@kontraksionista because Republicans and neocons outsourced american jobs to Mexico and China

[@Jaymes400]

I feel like online shopping is also causing a lot of businesses to lose money worldwide these days. the bigger and more convienent online shopping becomes, the more the main streets will fail.

[@Grundig305]

Wonder what happened?

[@johnlabus7359]

Both of my parents grew up in Gary, and they "got out" after marrying in 1960. Both of their families were early 20th Century Eastern European immigrants, and both families were associated with the steel industry. I spent my childhood occasionally visiting Gary when we traveled to visit my grandparents. Over the course or years, it just got worse and worse. Just last month, my father's second childhood home was sold; this was the home that I associate with my grandparents. In any case, it sold for $4500. I suppose that's not too bad a price since the home was somewhat recently the scene of a murder where the victim was buried in the backyard. These days, none of my relatives live in Gary, though they aren't terribly far from it in NW Indiana.

[@bluefloydwong]

thx for sharing!!!!!

[@e.c.listening326]

$4500 with or without the victim in the backyard ? Asking for a friend.

[@xtiger8025]

@@e.c.listening326 Same question. For different friend.

[@edmondgreen7970]

@@e.c.listening326 comes with its own meth lab and 24 meth heads in the basement. (meth heads may or may not be alive at time of sell)

[@Arkiasis]

Considering the average home in my city costs over a million, fuck it I'll take it.

[@rickdiaz7239]

Great job! Well researched and great commentary.

[@honuman39]

I'll never forget driving across the country and coming around some corner on the 90 highway and suddenly this dystopian vision rolls in with old industrial buildings and smoke stacks with fire coming out the top. As I drive by I see "Gary Indiana" and I said to myself that that city looks like the perfect set for a Mad Max movie.

[@darrellmccall6100]

You can tell that Gary was a thriving city during the steel industry. Even though there are many abandoned properties.....the quality of the churches and some buildings are still amazing architecture and craftsmanship. I own a home in Schereville that I rent out and when I go visit....I always go through Gary and stop at Michael Jackson's childhood home (which is still maintained).

[@liftedgifted6010]

Really? This is the most interesting comment 🤩 that'd be enough to make me actually WANT to visit Gary 🙂 thanks for the info! I'll stay in my car for the majority tho 🤣

[@jnyerere]

Whenever there's talks about the Rustbelt, most people automatically assume you're just talking about the cities in the Great Lakes region. But Baltimore was also a Rustbelt city. And it's story of how it rose, its height, and its downfall, is very similar to that of all the decaying Great Lakes cities. It's like you can copy/paste the stories for all these cities with very minor differences in the details.

[@MarloSoBalJr]

Yup, one the Bethlehem Steel Mill in Sparrows Point went under as well as the shipping docks in Canton, Baltimore has taken a major hit. The city is still large and vast enough to recover but the problem is the lack of 'willingness' from the leaders. Born & raised and still live here.

[@rossedwardmiller]

I was thinking about baltimore the entire time I was watching this. And I live here

[@InflatablePlane]

Lived in B'More for a few years and it was still doing alright in the mid 90's, but it certainly had fallen far from its high point by then. It's even worse now O.o

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

You forgot the rise again.

[@blushdog]

This. People forgot the northeast corridor has its own rust belt and was a major manufacturing region stretching from Baltimore to New York City and everything in between. Philadelphia was even known as the workshop of the world in the early 1900s.

[@mattmurphy8288]

I’m a trucker that had to pick up a load of sugar in Gary yesterday… it is pretty run down… traffic signals that have gone bad have 4 way stop signs added… they didn’t bother to take down the signals… yet you see the occasional well kept house … we got money for Ukraine but nothing for cities like Gary… sad

[@laurenbacall3847]

My memories of Gary are when we drove from Chicago during the summers in the 1970s to the Indiana Sand Dunes. This was before the EPA, and the steel mills were polluting Lake Michigan. When my brothers and I would sled down the dunes into the lake, we would see the silver reflection of all of the dead fish floating on the water, and then, SPLASH, right into it we'd land. It was gross.

[@Sigmanovar]

😂😂

[@bonanzajellybean4802]

I have the exact same memories, just in the 80s...It is so sad to see Gary from the highway now...

[@Corcook]

If we want to breathe sulfuric acid and get our heads torn off by giant lizards, we can always go to Gary, Indiana.

[@GEARofRESISTANCE43]

Even I would never send you to Gary, Indiana!

[@jthereffman]

I live near there and yeah it does smell like sulfur

[@SiameseCheese]

Why does it smell like sulfur? Is it from the mill(s)?

[@jthereffman]

@@SiameseCheese yes

[@jthereffman]

Specifically from the coal used

[@bombing7392]

As a resident of Gary, I always wonder when will the city finally turn into a true city. Its population is on the decline every year, abandoned houses everywhere, trash all over the place. It breaks my heart that we can't get out stuff together and become the city we were meant to be like in the 50's and 60's. A 14 year old should not have to travel to Hammond from Gary to be in a great school system and feel safe either.

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

Sadly it’s not going to happen at least not for generations The US is bankrupt

[@mikecorey8370]

Gary is a mini version of Detroit, also considered the most miserable city in the country. Except for the newer downtown area, Detroit is an absolute sewer. Why? Because of the people who live there. Gary is the same.

[@sc705]

Get out while you can

[@drjohnson98]

May I ask why you remain in Gary and how you make a living there? I am from Chicago and lived for a while in northwest Indiana, in LaPorte. So I grew up knowing about and sometimes passing through Gary. This was the 1960s to 1980s. Gary was known for crime and to be struggling economically at that time as the US steel industry declined. Still, it was a middle class town of workers. But I lost touch in the years since and had no idea that Gary had become a kind of American Chernobyl. Best of luck to you.

[@maynardisgod2091]

Can’t imagine what happened? 🤔

[@7thsealord888]

Interesting stuff. I'd recently seen another YT from someone travelling through Gary. A huge decaying church there stuck in my mind, there were many very empty-looking areas, and a few places that looked downright post-apocalyptic. But, for all that, there were still neighborhoods that, if not top-tier, did look relatively nice. Still possibilities here, to be sure.