Exploring a Huge Abandoned High School with Power - Westport High School

[@katherineheath3878]

That was my classroom. I’m Ms. Heath

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Haha, that's awesome, what are the odds!

[@awilson816aw]

No way!!

[@danikamatters3270]

Wow, really cool seeing the building again. My mom was a teacher there for almost 20 years until it closed in 2010. I spent so much of my childhood roaming those hallways. The sound you heard while in the library I believe was the school bell. It always sounded kind of strange. The mural of the dragon was painted by Tony Hancock, a former art and special ed teacher at the school, who passed away in 2016. The murals above the auditorium doors were painted by another Kansas City artist, and graduate from Paseo Academy, Alita Sledz. Thank you for exploring this building. I look forward to watching future videos.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

That's some awesome additional info, thanks!

[@GMacII]

Mr. Hancock was a thorough guy. Never had his class, but kept us young men in line

[@jenniferbailey8328]

@@GMacII I loved Hancock. Sad to see him pass.

[@jenniferbailey8328]

Your mom was appreciated and loved. She's a special lady.

[@Er0y]

My wife and I have been watching since the beginning. We live in KC and love your vids!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Thank you so much!

[@heironymousmortek]

My old high school. Class of 1980. I went to school there from 1975 (8th grade) through my senior year. Much has changed but I recognized most of it. So many memories from the auditorium, The school closed for good in 2010 and I toured it then. Doesn't look to have changed too much since then though it was heavily renovated after my time there. The new area with the library and all, that modern wing, didn't exist when I went to school there. The track and the grassy field were all homes. I still live in the area and I walk the track every now and again. Thanks for being respectful of the building. I had a lot of really great times in that building. Appreciate the nostalgia.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

No problem, that's awesome thanks for sharing!

[@GrindAddictCass816]

So many memories in that school my Class of 2010 the last year it was open for school

[@gibsemajb5232]

This is my High School!! I Graduated in 94! Go Tigers!!

[@atrophyheart2]

Love seeing all the alumni in the comments. Your videos are great man , love your channel.

[@rachellejohnson9849]

I attended the middle school and high school great memories. Thank you for doing this.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

No problem, I'm glad people got to see and reminisce.

[@rayedelllarue4394]

What a thrill to see what is left of my old school. Graduated in 1959 when it looked much different. I have performed on that stage. Brings back so many memories!! Thank you for sharing.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

No problem, glad you could see it!

[@paularussel6305]

Hey, Raye Dell, I also grad 1959. Looks like a whole addition was added after we left!! Paula Luther Russel, '59

[@leonardyoung5626]

So many memories in there. Class of 2004.

[@GMacII]

Man you’ve brought back so many memories. Every time I’m in KC I go by to take a glimpse of “The Port”. It is on my Vision Board to repurpose my alma mater one day SOON. #WestportMade05

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

That's awesome man, glad you got to see it!

[@shaunettaledbetter9527]

AWEEEE thanks for the video. I graduated from WESTPORT in 91' and haven't been back in the building since. It looks the same.. wow what great memories we had. The building is still in really good condition, I'm actually surprised they haven't gutted it out and turned it into Senior Apartments like the did some of the other old school building in Kansas City that is in good condition. again THANKS for the video

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

No problem, glad you got to see it! Although there is currently renovations beginning so it likely will soon be apartments.

[@lashondabetts152]

I attended that highschool! 90-94. c/o94 I also attended Middle school across the street and graduate from there also. There is alot of memories of both schools. WESTPORT TIGERS FOEVER! RIP. To the Kaufman's. Mr. Franklin and Ms. Vicki who where part of the Kaufman family just to name a few.

[@donnahall7726]

I am class of 1996. This brought back memories, thank you so much for doing this.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

No problem!

[@jeremiahcoleman844]

So close to the hidden room. The thing that looked like shower was a revolving door(photography darkroom)

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

You're definitely right, looking back on it, that table makes sense, I remember the darkroom from my high school days 👍

[@gibsemajb5232]

That's what it is. A Dark room.

[@ThisIsTrent]

It was a dark room! We also had television production class there as well!

[@billyfaison2399]

Wow!!! Went to both middle and High schools From 82 to 88. Went to the open house on the last day in 2010. I'm just glad they're doing something with the building.

[@bluespringsmom]

I spent five years in that magnificent building, graduating Class of 1965. Back then, 8th graders attended. Approximately 1200 students in the original building. The field and newer building that you first entered was constructed in the 70s I think. The biology lab, if that was the first floor down from the front office was where I dissected a formaldehyde soaked frog. I sat in that beautiful auditorium from every perspective, each Friday, there would be an all school pep rally for a weekend football or basketball game. Once, my teacher let me out of class to go sit alone in the upper balcony to watch with bird’s eye view my little sister deliver her 8th grade campaign speech for president. (she won). I was in that stage every day for 5 years in my orchestra class. Back stage, were cubby holes for our instruments. We had many concerts there. The annual talent show was there as well as plays. Bragging about my sister again she had a leading roll her Senior year, 1969, in “Paint Your Wagon”.That “gym 2” was on the second floor and was the girls gym. Every other Saturday night it was decorated and turned into a dance hall, lights low, hit records blasting or an occasion live rock band. The gym below it in the basement and first floors were the boys gym that consisted of a suspended running track around the perimeter of the room above and near the ceiling. Iron spiral staircases in each corner led up to that. That gym was a rec room during the dances with dozens of ping pong tables set up. “High upon a hill, so noble, challenging the eye, stands a school above all others....”. Thank you for the tour and stirring up good memories.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

That's awesome, I'm glad you got to see it. There's been a lot of people finding this video who went to this school back in the day. If you don't mind me asking, how did you come across this video?

[@bluespringsmom]

​@@JaredCokerUrbex​ Facebook group of fellow classmates. Wish I could put a picture on here of our orchestra.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

@@bluespringsmom That's awesome, I'm glad you all got a to see it again.

[@bluespringsmom]

@@JaredCokerUrbex A side note, my son who is 30 liked to do what you do when he was young and daring (maybe reckless? LOL). He entered the entire Power & Light building when it was closed and getting ready for rennovation. He went clear to the rooftop and took pictures of the view and the old lights that shown the different colors on the top tower. If I find that video, I will email it to you. Currently, my old pc died and I need to extract the hard drive and hopefully get my stuff off it.

[@doxienestewart7193]

I'm 91 years old and attended Westport 1943- 47. There was no 8th grade until my Senior year and it was so strange to see those young kids in the halls. I was one of the original Girl's Sextet and we were the only ones to take a 1st place at the Annual Columbia Music Contest. The Choir, Boys Quartet and Girls Glee only got a 3rd place and we did it entirely on our own. I also earned Distinguished Service Award for Physical Ed in '47. I also helped to paint the Original Tiger's Den that was over Kresge's on Main between 39th and Westport Rd. I met my future husband in 4th grade at Norman School, but wouldn't talk to him as he was always sitting on the Principal's bench. However, summer of '45, he was the Star Attraction in the Swim Show at the old PlaMor. He would dive through the skylite into the water that had been set on fire and then swim beautifully to the song "Dream". I decided he looked pretty good then and shortly after, we went steady the next two years until graduation in '47, then engaged a year, moved to Los Angeles and got married in '48. We were married 65 years and had a boy and then a girl. He was a keeper. Used to roller skate at Pla-Mor and also what later became Cowtown ...El Torro Skating. I have a picture of me in our choir robes and I might add, our Accapella Choir was outstanding. Mr. Harlan Spring was the director and we did Fred Waring arrangements...if anyone is old enough to know who that is. My steady was Best Gymnast - City Wide and we were Best Dancers, too. I belonged to Promethean and Kappa Epsilon Gamma and he was president of Alpha Xi Beta. Nearly everyone belonged to Pep Club. Schools were still segregated in those years, but we weren't racist, we had no reason to be. We thoroughly enjoyed trading talent and Assemblies with Lincoln High. Everyone got along. There were no fights, no gangs, just a terrible WW ll. It was really sad to see the horrible condition of Westport when it was so clean and beautiful back then, and yes, Klee's was still across the street on the corner.

[@killarob06]

Ahh the old stomping grounds. Thanks for bringing back some high school memories. Class of 06

[@LindiH7]

I was nervous right along with you! Glad you pulled it off. Cool video!

[@kevingibson7292]

Yes Sir! Class of 1984. I've wondered, for a while now, how it looks today. I sat in that very auditorium and walked those very halls for four years of my young life. Thanks for the tour.

[@NaomisAdventures]

That's an awesome school. Good video

[@DaydreaminNerd]

I was on the edge of my seat this whole video, seriously awesome place! 😄 (And yes I did miss the exploring hat, glad its back 😆)

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

It's suspenseful to watch, and twice as suspenseful being there in the moment 😅

[@jeffhkkfi]

The first gym that you entered was originally much larger and had a spiral staircase up to a banked running track on the second level. That was all closed in probably in the 80s or 90s when it bacame a charter school. Also the tiles on the ceiling in the auditorium would come loose and fall down. It was a challenge in the 60s to yell loud enough during a pep rally to actually shake one or two loose. The holes in the ceiling came when someone accessed the area above the auditorium and stepped in the wrong place. Spent many hours in the auditorium and backstage as stage manager for 3 years.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Wow, I wish that extended gym and track had still been there during this visit.

[@Lies.1k]

Wow, I ran tons of laps around that oval track. They had a girls gym & a boys gym, plus a weight room also

[@GMacII]

Wow never knew that 😳 c/o ‘05

[@MsMonniDanielle]

I started going there in 2000, the following school year (2000-2001) it became a charter school. I never knew anything about a track.

[@koreyflowers5510]

The best experience I had they closed down the year of my graduation in2010. Love this

[@Gemini_89]

Awesome video Jared! Your fearlessness never ceases to amaze me!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Thank you!

[@kim_patton5538]

It is amazing what gets left behind!! I would pay a stupid amount of money to get my hands on some the old rubber soccer balls, that are left behind at some of these abandoned schools, especially middle schools, High schools, and Colleges. Many of the sports balls are left behind, because they are so badly worn, flat, and old. I would love to get my hands on specifically those old, rubber soccer balls, that are badly beat up and very worn. I could only imagine the goldmines of vintage sports balls - including old rubber soccer balls, that could be found at these locations, not only in North America, but throughout abandoned schools Europe as well. The reason I want these old rubber soccer balls is because they are so worn, no two are alike. Some are so beat up from being used in hundreds of soccer games year after year, they just have a distinct character onto them, from boot marks and divots to scuffs and scratches. As a "used" soccer ball collector, the older the ball and the more it was used (in games), the more I want it, and frankly, the more it can be worth!! If you happen to work and a school as a PE teacher or athletic director, maybe you might have a few old rubber soccer balls that I'd be interested in. I hear schools hold onto old/vintage stuff for quite some time.

[@Beerning]

Went there yesterday and the wooden door that you see near the entrance is rigged to a alarm. Me and my friend activated it and ran like hell out of the building.

[@sashanick9533]

Wow crazy to see this building in this condition. I went to the middle school across the street from there. Wow that was crazy!!

[@thebrokeskill]

the chamber in 5:34 is something to clean in if you were for example touched by some chemical . Also be used to clean your eyes out. the faucet probably got removed and used somewhere else

[@coltconnorproductions1016]

Awesome video. Congrats on all the support you've been getting, you deserve every bit of support that's been given

[@jeanicebernard]

Class of '01' and one of TWO generations that came/graduated from WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL (screw charter school systems)

[@cassie6492]

Oh look it's the place I was bullied when the school district closed my high school at the end of my junior year and sent me here for Senior year while sending practically every other student I spent 3 years with to a different high school. I hated that place.

[@anonmsones3263]

Awesome sauce! Keep 'em coming!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Thanks, sure thing!

[@omarmartinez550]

Class of 95 brings back memories

[@qute623]

@16:24 the room with the risers appears to be a music room w/the sound boards on the wall, elevated for choir or band

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Oh yeah, forgot to factor that in too

[@pinacoloda226]

Great video! Love the hat! Again, awesome video!!

[@gibsemajb5232]

You've brought back so many memories!!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Glad I was able to!

[@katewill7113]

You are super cool. I liked the part, “enough of that speech”. Ha ha lol hilarious. I did hear the ring.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Thank you! No time for talking when random noises start popping up 😂

[@temperanceluv81]

At 5:10 youre in a darkroom! Haha! My favorite part of high school! The chamber youre referring to is a light trap. Its a revolving door that doesnt let light in from the outside :)

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

I went on to use the dark room and light traps in a photography class my final year at college.

[@Snorky_88]

This is sick. Love doing sketchy urbex stuff its a rush.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Really gets the adrenaline going

[@visubeats]

Shout to the class of 09! 🙏 i miss y'all

[@BigBankz]

Sickkkk!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Definitely the best school I've been to

[@JMac-Attack]

So the tube you thought at first was a splash wash station.... it's a door. It rotates. It goes to a photography dark room. It's built like that so that no light shines from one room to the other when going between rooms.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

I ended up getting into a photography class in college which had the same type of door and dark room, it always reminded me of finding that room in this school whenever I went to that class.

[@omarmartinez550]

The revolving door is to a dark room where they taught us photography

[@calvinharris9577]

5:12 is a photo lab! That was an entry to the darkroom

[@kenyeadudley368]

I think that was the photo lab, it was on the bottom floor

[@jenniferbailey8328]

Lots of ghosts are in there. Go back when it's dark. The ghosts would appear in the evenings when I would stay after to grade assignments.

[@GMacII]

Ms. Bailey!? Art and Volleyball right?

[@jenniferbailey8328]

@@GMacII Yes!

[@rangergrrrl]

Just stumbled on your groovy vids and channel. Just watched the one where you go to the top of the grain elevator--I've always been curious about them, but I'm way too gutless to even think about actually wandering around inside of one. I'm curious--is there a reason why you don't give the names of these structures and their physical addresses etc etc? Keep up the cool work, and stay outta trouble...

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Yeah, I as well as most other explorers almost never publicly give out exact locations and addresses because the more people who know about them, the more vandalized and destroyed they would get. It's just a matter of trying to keep the places safe from further damage and whatnot.

[@rangergrrrl]

@@JaredCokerUrbex Of course. Makes sense. I also wondered about legal liabilities and whatnot. Didn't realize there's a sub-culture of "explorers." Very cool. Thanks for the reply...!

[@MarkE-ICM0-4001]

The V70 is a great car. I like the sound of the 5 cilinder engine 😊

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

I don't have it anymore unfortunately, it developed too many cosmetic issues, but the engine always ran perfect.

[@MarkE-ICM0-4001]

@JaredCokerUrbex sad to hear that. But the car is build 20 years ago so it happens. Did you buy a Volvo again?

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

@@MarkE-ICM0-4001 I have a 2 door Honda Accord 2014 now

[@MarkE-ICM0-4001]

@JaredCokerUrbex Japanese cars are very reliable

[@PSJBL]

That black round booth was most likely an entrance to a photographic dark room. Used up until digital photography came along. I hope you reported that the door was unlocked when you left. Hate to see it vandalized. Thanks!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

There's a comment floating around here somewhere from someone involved in the renovation project who said it's locked now.

[@PSJBL]

@@JaredCokerUrbex let’s hope so. Tkx

[@ThisIsTrent]

That is Westport High school! I graduated from there in 1999!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

That's my birth year

[@ThisIsTrent]

@@JaredCokerUrbex I'm old I know🥴! I used to have to work in the office my senior year! Thanks for bringing back memories for this old fellow!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

@@ThisIsTrent No problem, I'm glad you got to see it!

[@omarmartinez550]

Low beep was prob class ringtone at least that's what I remembered

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Kind of like a school bell? Someone else mentioned something like that, I think that's a pretty good guess.

[@henryumscheid5393]

Is there still a way in?

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

No, it's under construction

[@donaldsmith7501]

Wow! My high school from LA Class of '69'.

[@bluespringsmom]

Did you know my sister? Patty Phillips?

[@donaldsmith7501]

@@bluespringsmom Yes. It's been a long time, but I believe we had more than one class together.

[@donaldsmith7501]

@@bluespringsmom She was in the Pep Club and the band. WE was in the same homero0m with Mr.Roark

[@bluespringsmom]

@@donaldsmith7501 That's right. Years later, Mr. Roark wrote her a letter apologizing for his behavior. Were you there when he flipped her desk chair over and she landed on the floor? My mom went up to the high school to complain about it. On another note, Do you know Mr. Roark years later committed suicide?

[@donaldsmith7501]

@@bluespringsmom No, I know he had passed. Doesn't surprise me it was suicide. And yes I remember the incident,

[@WeCantBeSeen]

What up from Los Angeles. Love your vids!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Thanks man!

[@slartsbarts]

Heeey, my mom went to school there! Graduated in the 60s. I have her class ring.

[@NoonerAbadoo]

You should check out Cleveland Ohio, I have some decent locations that you could check out but should be wary

[@RemainsOfJersey]

That’s insane

[@naturalborn1212]

I just tried to go there today. & yes they did lock that entrance…. 😞

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Yeah, me getting in there was a once in a lifetime bit of luck

[@naturalborn1212]

@@JaredCokerUrbex you inspired me to go into Paul Robeson & this one so thank you. Keep the videos coming!

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

@@naturalborn1212 Glad you like it, just be careful!

[@4inbeatz763]

This is cool, love from MHK

[@TressedOut]

At 5:29 that chamber leads to the old dark room for photography class.

[@legokc1149]

The room you were in was a photography room. If you go through the chamber it’ll take you to a dark room to develop film.

[@jerrydavis3577]

Awesome exploration! I wonder why there's still electricity on in there if it's been abandoned since 2010? Also, really glad that vandals haven't gotten in there and really tore the place up.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Thanks! It's because there's some renovation going on there now. There hadn't been too much done, but there was work beginning in there, which is why it was still in good shape and why I was extremely lucky to find a door open.

[@tysoncampbell5457]

I live in the Kansas City area we should go somewhere some time! There’s plenty out here!

[@tori0452]

Class of 04 👌🏽

[@MsMonniDanielle]

I graduated from there in 2002

[@TressedOut]

My high school! Class of 1998!

[@gregb6469]

You can't believe it was so easy to get into WHS? This is the KC school district, where incompetence is on daily display!

[@2Consumed]

No reason for Westport to be closed

[@raymondfeaster7236]

Thank you

[@raymondfeaster7236]

As a KANSAS City taxpayer who is paying for those lights in a school with no kids in it

[@2Consumed]

I was more or less referring to the reason behind the closure. We'd rather turn this into a multiplex or living space purposed for our preferences than risk educating thousands of youth who don't look like our own.

[@WillPhoneman]

Cool find! Do you ever worry about gangs, or are there areas you won't go into? BTW, That alarm is toast, it can't function normally in that condition.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

I've never really heard of Kansas City having much of a gang problem, but I suppose it's possible. There aren't really areas I'd refuse to go to per se, but if actively saw trouble brewing in an area, I'd probably call off whatever I had planned.

[@WillPhoneman]

@@JaredCokerUrbex Good to know, maybe I'm thinking of KC Kansas. I remember going up there as a kid in the 90's and seeing graffiti for bloods and crips. I also always trust my intuition, or "spidey sense" if you will, if something's telling me to leave, I don't ignore it.

[@makaylaeva]

what school is this?

[@alexiakelley6563]

What school is this

[@mishthegreat1214]

That one room that you didn’t know what to the stuff was that is a dark room

[@dwilburn]

That black cylindrical door is for a dark room. Also, I attended that school for a year in 1991. One of like 10 white kids...not-so-fond memories of other kids calling me a devil worshiper for listening to Metallica. :(

[@cassie6492]

Yes there were few white kids and we have several not so fond memories of that place. One of the only other students that got to come with me when they closed East to full day highschool was Hispanic and we got so much hatred thrown at us for sitting together at lunch and were both so happy for lunch to end so we could attend the second half of the day at East for our agribusiness classes. We also got to see all our other friends who had spent their morning at Van Horn. I never understood why that was you would of thought all of us would have been moved to the same highschool together.

[@dwilburn]

@@cassie6492 I should have went to Paseo lmao

[@macmaull8634]

It’d been the same if a black kid went to lee summit in 91

[@bighuncho5210]

I was here the last year it was open I believe 2011

[@henryumscheid5393]

Is it still abandoned?

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Nope, under construction now

[@funnyelevators4087]

I Wonder What's Going To Happen To That Place

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Most likely will be turned into apartments.

[@SamuelDHertz]

Address someone pleaseee

[@richardcrows7245]

so far I'm loving your videos but why must you go alone you should take friends I'm trying to get into stuff like that and I wish I had a group of friends that were down to do this just to take photos to photo shoots in there really fast and just explore the place to see the history on it

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

I've never been too adverse to going alone, despite it being a little more risky, but I've developed a pretty close group of friends that I go with sometimes, they're in a lot of the more recent episodes from the past couple months.

[@cookieplush4535]

How does a school go out of business?

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Can be a number of things, sometimes it's a lack of funding, sometimes it's a lack of students or students from 2 schools combining into one, sometimes the building just gets too old to maintain.

[@preciousthomas8009]

You didn’t go to the cafeteria

[@macmaull8634]

I was the Last class to graduate there 2010

[@megiloth3634]

Sheeesh, that constant BZZZZZZZZZZZ sound. Would drive me crazy. That place is about 1/2 mile from the former location of Bob Berdella's house. If you've never heard of him, he was a very naughty man. His house at 4315 Charlotte has since been torn down.

[@guybanner3612]

Interesting

[@katelynnhanesack1670]

Hi 👋

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

Hey

[@andrewbrain4821]

There may have been no one at the door but we are aware of this now. That door is being locked down and secured now.

[@JaredCokerUrbex]

That's good, I was obviously just there for video purposes, but I'd hate to see vandals or thieves get in and start trashing it.

[@Gemini_89]

@Andrew Brain I'm curious to know what your plans are for the building

[@raymondfeaster7236]

Close down. Raytown south or blue springs high school. And make a loft or condo... We need OUR SCHOOL BACK FOR THE INTERCITY YOUTH.... IM GONNA HAVE TO TALK THE MAYOR ABOUT THIS

[@gregb6469]

@@raymondfeaster7236 -- Why would you want to close RSHS or BSHS?

[@raymondfeaster7236]

@@gregb6469 why not they closed almost all of intercity schools. So close some of the urban schools.