Exploring Huge Abandoned Rayon Plant - WWII Fabric Factory

My trip to explore this abandoned rayon plant is definitely one of my favorite explorations to date. Who knew there could be so much history and interesting items left behind at a simple fabric factory? With rayon's historical significance during WWII, this abandoned factory had a more profound impact on me than my typical urbex experience. At points, it felt like I was stepping back into another world, to a time when this industrial rayon plant was still buzzing with activity, long before it followed suit with the dozens of other factories that closed in the rust belt. A time when rail cars full of rayon were constantly shipped out and this rayon corporation stood proudly behind America in World War II. While manufacturing fiber may sound like a rather lackluster task, I quickly found that a better understanding of the rayon manufacturing process led to a greater appreciation of this beautiful abandoned building.
While the history and background definitely add a lot to this WWII factory, no day of urban exploring would be complete without some interesting, abandoned finds. After looking past the empty hallways and rooms that make up much of this factory, I was very excited to find several areas full of old machinery, equipment and other tools. I don't want to spoil all of my discoveries, but some of the highlights include blueprints of the factory, some rayon spinning machines, and a massive steam generator. I spent well over three hours exploring this abandonment, and I'm sure I could've spent even more if I'd had more daylight. It was easy to get lost photographing and filming all of the forgotten stuff that was left behind here. It was truly amazing that some of the original equipment and machinery has managed to stay mostly intact after spending over 40 years in an abandoned factory. This was truly an urban exploration trip that I will never forget.

[@whynotride327]

I worked here in the labor gang (mostly clean up of everything all over the plant) in the summer of '69 before going to college. It made me realize that this was NOT what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, a very valuable lesson. The actual process of making rayon fabric started on the 4th or 5th floor using some kind of pulp and chemicals. I was in the basement and those tunnels a lot and it was creepy even then. You were afraid of all the things that dripped on you. No one knew or cared how the chemicals might affect you, it was a job. BTW, the northern most building was the power plant for the facility.

[@cindybates5975]

Da❤te 5/11/2024 . I live close to this abandoned plant and have wanted to go inside . I have a friend that used to work there. Thanks for sharing

[@thompsongjr]

I used to work at the active part of the building. Most people just park on the road in front of the building and walk in through the old plant entrance. There is a guard that patrols the area. The hopper cars are actually not abandoned but staged for the active plant. They are used to haul plastic pellets. The area surrounding the property is owned by Lake County and is protected as a wild life preserve because of the pair of nesting bald eagles on the property. The active part of the plant also used to house the old offices for the building but there was a fire that destroyed the offices and was torn down.

[@StonedSoup]

I used to work here in the 1990s. I worked in the room where rayon was made. The had these huge spool machines where rayon came through an acid bath onto spools. When those spools filled up we took like a plunger tool and took them off and put them on carts which was attached to a track. They would then be pushed into a drying room. It had a huge cafeteria. We worked 12 hours shifts. You had to learn a special way to put the rayon on the spools. You got really good at it by the time i left i could do it one finger. The filters in the bath were made from gold and had to be replaced often but where always counted. They even made rayon for nasa that went on the end of booster rockets. That acid would burn through your clothes and the smell never seemed to leave your skin. Was a cool place to work but didnt make good money. You were supposed to wear respirators but nobody did. The room was too hot. You would get these red welts on your skin if didnt wear a shirt. What a trip down memory lane. Thanks for checking it out.

[@MakeshiftMickey]

Thanks for sharing! It's interesting to hear a firsthand account of how it actually was working here.

[@JesterOTL]

Best urbex vid I’ve seen. I learned something and it was super engaging. Makes me want to break out my rayon bowling shirt...

[@MakeshiftMickey]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@dejaval143]

Glad you didn't get caught by the patrolling security or homeless man and his dog lol good video, I've always loved exploring this place

[@CxleRxss]

How good is security and how recently was this?

[@dejaval143]

@@CxleRxss theyre not great at all but u do have to rely on luck a bit as ur out in the open for a run across the street to get inside and through the field. This was years ago though

[@CxleRxss]

@@dejaval143 how do you recommend going about getting into the building? Did you walk through the woods or come from the entrance road south of the building?

[@dejaval143]

@@CxleRxss Park at the bluffs and walk thru the woods from the east. Theres a barbed wire fence but with some holes in it so avoid the open field with the railroad tracks and stay in the wooded areas

[@CxleRxss]

@@dejaval143 ok thank you!

[@tomopoms]

Dude I love your channel! It’s so interesting.

[@MakeshiftMickey]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@jennifernicole7010]

I remember living in a hotel up the street from there that place at night time would freak me out bad

[@davecasto1905]

I grew up about 3 miles from this factory a lot of my neighborhood were employed there was a busy place in 70s

[@Jacksxb]

Bro you could’ve just parked up front nobody is around you didn’t have to take a 2 mile hike lmao

[@bernardmacarius2635]

The Rayon. Royonview Inn. Drinks after work!

[@joanncowell4179]

I worked there. My mom and dad both retired from there. My husband worked there for a short period, before I knew him

[@paulvideo05]

Where is this factory?

[@StonedSoup]

@@paulvideo05 Elizabethton,TN

[@theepicoutdoors6418]

how do you find stuff like this?

[@MakeshiftMickey]

Lots and lots of research

[@timothyharrell6071]

Is that a real snake??

[@cheriepie5645]

They need to make it so that it can do this with hemp hemp grows really fast it grows really cheap and it grows abundantly and that's what we should be using instead of trees that's destroying the climate of the planet

[@lucindamccloud7956]

Did everyone just walk away

[@StonedSoup]

The company moved manufacturing to Mexico.