GARY: The USA's Most Dangerous City? What I Actually Saw

[@dan-fr9dn]

Chicago is worse then Gary. Chicago in 2021 there were 834 murders.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

That's total murders, however. In a city much larger - Chicago has almost 3 million people to Gary's 69,000. Per 100K, Gary's murder rate is 3 times higher than that of Chicago's.

[@Knd2424]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip I give you all the credit for walking through the church

[@ralphp3057]

Wow!! That Church was huge and I bet beautiful once upon a time !😬I won’t be visiting Gary any time soon. Thanks for sharing!😳

[@alanbstard9301]

One of Geography King's videos pointed out that Gary actually had more murders in total in 2019 than did San Diego that year - a city 20 times larger

[@tylerjones2695]

Democrats/communists at work and look at the thing that was installed as mayor, same thing as what was installed as mayor in DC

[@MagnoliaHoosier]

I had a flat tire on the way out of Chicago just inside of Gary probably 5 yrs ago. A man stopped to help and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be murdered or something else. Instead of the worst, he changed my tire for me and we had a nice chat. I offered to pay him, but he refused.

[@mauibuilder1239]

Well you're one of the lucky ones that made it out alive. Consider yourself lucky.

[@groovelife415]

You should consider yourself lucky. I don't think you realize that death was lurking right around the corner. I live in Chicago and avoid Gary like the plague. At least in Chicago the gang bangers leave civilians alone.

[@robertkeiser8478]

I'm glad to hear of a positive reply by you. At the point of my comment to you there were 45 positives responsive to you. Thanks

[@41663]

That is cool. There still are good people out there

[@powertuber4.068]

The common thread thru all these top 10 lists is the B pop

[@ablethetan]

At 32:08 to 32:18 this video shows what used to be a soft drink bottling company named Superior Beverage. My father managed that company for the owner for 30 years. I began working there each summer starting at age 12 and and by the time I was 17 graduated to working summers in the steel mills because my father could not match what the mills paid. I paid for my entire college education working for US Steel during summer vacation. I am now a retired Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon looking back to where it all began and can only remember the loving and hard working people who once built Gary and made it a safe and successful place to live. It breaks my heart to see what has happened here. I could write a fifty page essay about how and why it occurred. I witnessed the whole process. Gary is the best example in the USA of the American dream turned into the American nightmare.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Great comment. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

[@deeder001]

My father who never graduated high school, was functionally illiterate, could barely read a menu or newspaper, was able to move from the rural South to the North and get a job at a unionized auto factory when UAW members were still divided over whether blacks should be union members. Although the UAW had, despite a lot of opposition, began allowing blacks into the UAW about 10 years before my father got the job, the shops were mostly still segregated and there were strikes or protests over integrating the shops. Along with many thousands of whites, my father got that job over resident black men who lived there and, being from the more developed Northern cities with better funding for schools, often had higher educational attainment than the Southern whites migrating to the North for those jobs. My father retired with a pension and health insurance after 38 years. My mother didn't graduate high school either, though her RWA (reading, writing, arithmetic) proficiency was in-line with an average high school graduate. Without that union job, and the racial discrimination that favored him, I am unsure whether my parents would have done nearly as well for themselves.

[@jeffstanish5920]

so if one was not smart enough to go to college to persue a profession, then what??? Whitout these blue collar jobs why do you think many are doing crime instead............

[@mattmason4589]

Flint. - hold my beer

[@Bayou_409]

I wish you would write the story down - I'd read it. I'm curious.

[@lashlarue7924]

A trucking company I used to work for had a terminal in Gary. I once got lost and made a wrong turn into Gary after dark. I stopped at a stoplight (still working). A cop came along and told me that I shouldn't stop at the lights after dark; the prevailing practice was to just run right through, to avoid getting robbed. Imagine a COP telling you that! 😬

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Wow!

[@maitoojymoua1601]

😮 thanks for that info!

[@PhilRichardson-cp7kv]

You literally stole that story and applied it to this situation. Come on now

[@Roaming_Realms2B]

That's scary😮

[@newwmann109]

The company I drive for won't allow us to park or sleep overnight in Memphis 😂

[@emagneticfield]

I lived in Gary Indiana 25 years. Back in 2014 I moved to Hammond Indiana. Gary has good neighborhoods and bad like any other cities. I am currently 72 years old and white and most times feel safe walking and shopping in Gary in the daytime mostly. My basic rule is spend as much of your income where you live. If you can’t purchase what you need go to a neighboring city. KEEP YOUR MONEY AS CLOSE TO HOME AS POSSIBLE. If everyone did this all of our cities would be thriving.

[@ryanoconnor_guitar]

thats great philosophy.. i also follow this guideline

[@nigelswindles1129]

I am the same , you want local business you've got to buy local , plus people see you as a local , it goes a long way

[@craigknight4836]

Are you kidding? Gary looks like Tijuana. It’s by far the worst city I’ve ever been in and doesn’t seem to be getting much better. It’s hard to believe Gary is in the US.

[@BrandonBell-r8l]

@@emagneticfield ko nah

[@samillerobinson4360]

Thank you 😊

[@ichaffee1]

I suddenly got a horrible feeling that this will be what a lot of this country will look like if we continue the way we are going

[@asshat23871]

I have that feeling too. 100 years ago it was "City of the Century".

[@stickofbutter9733]

It feels like our country is generally heading in a poor direction.

[@MichaelMitchell-dk6hj]

Well that's because of the greed in this country.

[@thedude1982]

Build back better at its finest

[@ionlyreplytosexproposition8972]

@@thedude1982 right. because republicans notoriously put forth stellar infrastructure legistation

[@Th3CrystalFox]

I worked for the local utility company in Gary for 2.5 years, it was such a grounding experience and really put into perspective how little I had to complain about in my life compared to what others deal with everyday.

[@ИгорьДобрынин-ч3р]

Всё верно,мой друг.Все познаётся в сравнении..

[@kimberlybraden3209]

"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life " and "I came not into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through me" This is the truth that Jesus came into the world to be put fourth as a propitiation/ sacrifice for the sins of the world so that all who trust in him shall not be condemned by their sins but be forgiven and receive by him the eternal inheritance of the rightouness of God obtained by faith in God through Jesus Christ and the inheritance of the kingdom of God, and this is life the true life that persists forever and does not perish but to all those who have not believe they are condemned because they have not believed in the Son Of God Jesus but as the bible says "wothout the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins" so then trust in him and be forgiven and "but to those who did receive him gave he power to become the children of God born not od the will of flesh or blood but of Spirit" become the children of God and receive in yourself the gift of the God which is the seal of promise unto eternal life The Spirit of God who indwells every believer and makes them thw righteousness of God, and the children of God and if children then heirs to the promises of God in Christ Jesus.

[@MNye-sx5ke]

I grew up in Gary in the 1950's , early 60's. It was such a great city! I am filled with such fine memories as I see these buildings and streets again. As kids, we were outdoors playing all the time. The parks were nearby with perfect slopes for sledding. Everything was within walking distance and very safe. For one brief shining moment there was a great city there!

[@AlysiaTribeca]

My mom grew up there in the 60's and 70's and she says the same things about how it was back then. She said it gives her a twinge of sadness in her heart seeing what it's become

[@matthewronsson]

Similar to Detroit. Once it was on it's ascent with thoughts towards a world class city, only to all but fold largely from government mandates during the "Energy Crisis" in 1973. The decline was perhaps slower than Gary, which had to be a grand city in its day, but it's been pretty much the same result.@@AlysiaTribeca

[@kenaldri4923]

Because in "The Music Man", there is a song called "Gary, Indiana", I always assumed it was a great town. Back when that musical was written (50's, 60's) likely it was as you said.

[@lindabradford9591]

I grew up there too. I loved it. Its so sad to see what it looks like now!

[@user_abcxyzz]

​@AlysiaTribeca did you go to school with Michael Jackson

[@madelinej17]

I’m from Chesterton, Indiana. I have taken the South Shore train into Chicago all my life and it goes through Gary. Always interesting to see Gary and how different it is from my hometown only 20 minutes away. I’ve met people who recently had to move out to nearby towns because of the corruption with the government in the city of Gary. Schools closing down, mayors stealing money, and not much there for people anymore. Super sad.

[@Myn6211]

Must admit that I found this video heartbreaking. The architectural beauty alone that is rotting away is enough to bring a person to tears but seeing all those vacant homes that once housed families full of dreams, joy and laughter, well, there are just no words.

[@kentwiseman791]

Same here.

[@loriepostlewaite162]

I agree

[@epiclifesociety]

It is sad as far as a town goes, but many of those people probably moved away and have happy homes in other towns now.

[@MollyWarren14]

Trust me it does , Gary was a beautiful place in the 80's and early 90's

[@upon-fe2720]

I live in the UK and buildings like this aren't allowed to be destroyed or amended. Anything over a certain age is considered "listed" and therefore must be protected. Is there any kind of law in place in America that helps to maintain historic architecture?

[@SolSister10596]

As a resident of Indiana, I’ve always had to pass by Gary whenever I went to Chicago. Never been brave enough to actually explore the city. It already looks like a dilapidated ghost town from the outside, but it was kind of crazy to see just how deep it goes. It truly does look post-apocalyptic. Depressing. The church was particularly tragic to see… it must have been so beautiful at one time. Thank you for taking the time to show us.

[@Sol-ps8ox]

But on Google maps...its shows pretty good buildings and all.

[@juliebraden6911]

@dino ooh almost

[@murageful]

@@juliebraden6911 my heart bled when I saw that church

[@davidstout6051]

The last part of the church building you showed looked like what might have been the sanctuary. You are either very brave, somewhat nuts, or heavily armed to have done this video in the first place. Fascinating work though. God keep you.

[@brendacapestany2518]

Well in Michigan has a no go zone. Even the police won’t go.

[@Maladjester]

My dad told me Gary was the saddest, bleakest, most necrotized thing he ever saw. He passed through on a road trip from New England all the way to Nevada. He said it couldn't be called a graveyard because graveyards usually have a sense of peace and dignity. Not Gary. Really stuck with him.

[@neverpc4404]

I learned how bad Gary was in 1978 when Lyman Bostock was gunned down there.

[@choxxxieful]

Necrotized - great word.

[@glizzy2911]

Damn

[@alexlaw1892]

Moral of the story, diversity is most certainly not a strength.

[@neverpc4404]

@@alexlaw1892 Amen to that!!!!!

[@latinwaterpoloperez]

Thanks for being so brave and going into the abandoned church! Just unbelievable the state of parts of America! Sad!

[@omisan771]

It's always surprising to me how fast a house can fall apart because it is not occupied. As if the roof was thinking "Well...there's nobody living in here, I give up!".

[@Shademastermcc]

I've often wandered about this, but I think what's really happening is the windows are being broken and this allows the elements INSIDE where the house is vulnerable. Once mold sets in, it makes quick work of the walls allowing plant life to follow. Additionally, occupants keep the home warm in winter and cool in summer, preventing extremes in temperature from warping the house's foundational wood beams.

[@desecration171]

It's usually longer than 30 years and also usually because of vandals. Bad ass kids busting out windows allow moisture, plant life, and bugs into the home. It expedites the decay process. The overgrown grass attracts vermin. Termites do the rest.

[@naturequeene132]

⁠@@Shademastermcc those are such good points. I don’t think I would’ve thought of that.

[@KoalaAquatics]

Yes like mr magoriums wonder emporium! The magic is gone 🥹

[@Rebecca-dm1co]

People move out when the house starts to become unlivable otherwise they would stay or it would be occupied by somebody else. A building just gets to a state where it’s just not worth putting more money in. The electoral wiring needs to be replaced, a major pipe is leaking and needs to be dug out and replaced, the roof has a leak, the basement floods. Finally it’s just time to move on. Within a year the building becomes a teardown.

[@rebekahjohnson9072]

I was one of the 10% white people who grew up in Gary. That was a trip down memory lane. Loved hearing the train again. We grew up right next to that railroad track. We were robbed often, the house was shot at once. Today I live abroad as a missionary in a place that is considered dangerous. I have never felt I was in danger, probably because of where I grew up. My family still lives there.

[@keithawhosoever5384]

Where may I ask , are you working as a missionary ❓ 🇬🇧🆓✝️

[@daddybandit4431]

@iatealready But your story is one of thousands where it's not a "race" issue, it's completely a "culture" issue. The culture of idolizing ignorance and criminality is what plagues black America today far more than any other perceived reason.

[@joshl6275]

@@daddybandit4431 Race is a cultural construct. And historically in the US it was used to favour one group over another and as a justification for ruthless exploitation. The race problems we see lingering today in America link back to a dark economic legacy. So, you can say it's a culture issue but that's true mostly in respect to our culture having deep racial inequalities as a matter of state policy. Ultimately though, it all boils down to the wealthy versus the working class. It's just that historically, the bottom of the totem pole in the working class has always been people of colour, since race was chosen early on in America as a class marker. This shaped the destinies of millions for generations to come and we're still living in the cultural blast zone of those exploitative decisions.

[@b4ssfunk3d]

@iatealready That's a good take, my grandmother grew up in Gary Indiana in the 1930s when it was predominantly white people before the "white flight" and her family relocated to San Diego, California where my dad was born. After hearing stories about Gary, I'm fortunate my grandma and her family moved to California

[@justaplainspokengirl]

@@bobzacamano658 Get around a little more dude.

[@stevecann3394]

First time viewer from England here...really like your documentary style, and Gary is like nothing I've ever seen. Amazing.

[@bobbybob3865]

I was in LA on business and had just been given a hotel room. In my room I found a rat in my bed. When I went downstairs to tell the guy at the desk, he said I had been given the wrong room. The rat in my bed was on vacation from Gary.

[@ginafleener3962]

😅😅😅😅

[@AlvaBarr]

Not plausible. A rat from Gary couldn't afford the vacation nor the night at the hotel. That rat lied.. The rat was either from LA or a "newcomer" from Venezuela.

[@renaudmichel1]

That rat lied. The rats in Gary all died from starvation. Was the rat really big, well fed? If it was, he was probably on vacation from NYC. If he had a funny accent and smoked reading the newspaper, he was from Paris.

[@bobbybob3865]

@@renaudmichel1 The rats I saw at Gary Works of U.S. Steel looked pretty well fed. I never saw a French rat--smoking and reading the newspaper. (Do they speak French? I do much better in German.)

[@NEELZE99]

As if LA was any better...😂

[@namyzarc6269]

Lived there as a kid. We moved out to nearby Merrillville when I was very young, but many of our friends and family were still there. My parents tell me it was an awesome city in the late 60's and even early 70's. I moved away and now moved back to a nearby town, and I won't set foot in that city if I can avoid it. Not necessarily because of the crime, but because of the sadness it brings to me to see many of the fun/vibrant places I remember, looking so run down.

[@indiasuperclean6969]

WOW VERY DANGEROUS SIR! 😠 😠I WILL NEVER GO TO USA!!😠 BUT THIS WHY IM SO LUCKY LIVE IN SUPER INDIA THE CLEANEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD 🇮🇳🤗 , WE NEVER SCAM! WE GIVE RESPECT TO ALL WOMEN THEY CAN WALK SAFELY ALONE AT NIGHT AND WE HAVE CLEAN FOOD AND TOILET EVERYWHERE 🇮🇳🤗🚽, I KNOW MANY POOR PEOPLE JEALOUS WITH SUPER RICH INDIA 🤗🇮🇳🤗🇮🇳🤗🇮🇳🤗🇮🇳🤗🇮🇳

[@nickeyfynn3270]

​@@indiasuperclean6969 India? Lol, you are joking.

[@richardshiflett5181]

That's what happens when the Rich re-write laws and get away with using cheap slave labor in other countries, so they have no use for american workers.

[@Juck_The_Fews]

@@indiasuperclean6969 kekistan sends its regards

[@kimberlybraden3209]

"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life " and "I came not into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through me" This is the truth that Jesus came into the world to be put fourth as a propitiation/ sacrifice for the sins of the world so that all who trust in him shall not be condemned by their sins but be forgiven and receive by him the eternal inheritance of the rightouness of God obtained by faith in God through Jesus Christ and the inheritance of the kingdom of God, and this is life the true life that persists forever and does not perish but to all those who have not believe they are condemned because they have not believed in the Son Of God Jesus but as the bible says "wothout the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins" so then trust in him and be forgiven and "but to those who did receive him gave he power to become the children of God born not od the will of flesh or blood but of Spirit" become the children of God and receive in yourself the gift of the God which is the seal of promise unto eternal life The Spirit of God who indwells every believer and makes them thw righteousness of God, and the children of God and if children then heirs to the promises of God in Christ Jesus.

[@stalebread5887]

I grew up in South Bend, IN. When I was a freshman in high school in 2011 my football team made the playoffs and had to play a team from Gary in Gary. Their school looked like it hadn’t been touched since 1960. We ended up beating them like 49-0. But the kids on the other team were just happy to have something to do. I felt bad for the conditions they had to grow up in though.

[@kbanghart]

I'm sure they couldn't afford a decent coach, or equipment, no funding.

[@paulhayden255]

So your team is in the playoffs and the team you guys played from Gary was also in the playoffs? That doesn't make much sense were yawl that good or were they that bad?

[@crimsonking440]

If its the school i used to deliever to on 45th avenue( Lew Wallace) they closed it down a few years ago, but yeah walking through there was like going through a time machine. Except they had metal detectors.

[@collinszymanski7126]

@@paulhayden255 it was the first game of the playoffs, in Indiana every team plays in the sectionals

[@indianaroberts5608]

Your probably too young to remember Marquette elementary school in the bend ,the old one off west Hamilton street . I went there lived on north O’Brien a while

[@prfinest07]

Can believe cities like this still exist in America...I'm from NJ and passing through Camden since I was a kid now in my 40's is still the same. We contribute more to other countries then taking care of our own

[@devadii24]

Driven through Camden NJ on a greyhound and was saddened to see the conditions 😢 But one lady got on next to me and was very nice 👍🏼 It’s sad when good people have to live in these conditions

[@leer798]

The USA also goes around the world telling other countries how they should look after their people while clearly not looking after their own too well.

[@stacyrussell460]

I spent the first eleven years of my life in Camden NJ. The day my parents said we would be moving, I was so happy. I have many fond memories of my childhood home but the neighborhood itself was absolute garbage. It hasn't changed much in the 30+ years since we lived there. If anything it's gotten worse.

[@morava122]

Lee R 👍👍👍👍

[@bobbybob3865]

Send as much money as you can to Donald Trump. (He won't send it to other countries. He'll keep it for himself.)

[@karlahiggins5993]

My plane was grounded for 3 days in Gary Indiana because of a snowstorm! Needless to say, I was glad to get back in the air😊 this was a few years ago and I’m sure it hasn’t improved any since then

[@chiefscrubadub3928]

Thank you for not laughing at this sad city as others do. I can tell that you are a good compassionate human being. What happened to Gary could happen to any town that relies on one employer........... "Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee"

[@kimberlybraden3209]

"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life " and "I came not into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through me" This is the truth that Jesus came into the world to be put fourth as a propitiation/ sacrifice for the sins of the world so that all who trust in him shall not be condemned by their sins but be forgiven and receive by him the eternal inheritance of the rightouness of God obtained by faith in God through Jesus Christ and the inheritance of the kingdom of God, and this is life the true life that persists forever and does not perish but to all those who have not believe they are condemned because they have not believed in the Son Of God Jesus but as the bible says "wothout the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins" so then trust in him and be forgiven and "but to those who did receive him gave he power to become the children of God born not od the will of flesh or blood but of Spirit" become the children of God and receive in yourself the gift of the God which is the seal of promise unto eternal life The Spirit of God who indwells every believer and makes them thw righteousness of God, and the children of God and if children then heirs to the promises of God in Christ Jesus.

[@waleyefish9026]

My Uncle gave me the Grand Tour of Gary in his 58 Fairlane. When the Steel plants were operating the sky was a Weird Orange/Yellow, It actually ate the paint off some of the cars. People had money back then you would see Luxury GM cars parked in modest homes. The rest is History, Thanks Lord Spoda.👍👍👍👍👍

[@Maaaattologyyyy]

And they say it was all great and it's bad now. Yellow orange sky. Said it smelled

[@agentofficerthomasa.porter107]

@@Maaaattologyyyy Birmingham, Alabama was once known as 'Smoke City' & Tuscaloosa had Paper Planet & was Orange City At Nights. The Paper Plant closed down & the Skies Of Tuscaloosa were Clear again. Birmingham USS closed & Skies became Clear again.

[@chopperjoe6592]

@@Maaaattologyyyy sulfur and iron oxides…… your cookware is probably doing more harm to you.

[@kimberlybraden3209]

"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life " and "I came not into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through me" This is the truth that Jesus came into the world to be put fourth as a propitiation/ sacrifice for the sins of the world so that all who trust in him shall not be condemned by their sins but be forgiven and receive by him the eternal inheritance of the rightouness of God obtained by faith in God through Jesus Christ and the inheritance of the kingdom of God, and this is life the true life that persists forever and does not perish but to all those who have not believe they are condemned because they have not believed in the Son Of God Jesus but as the bible says "wothout the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins" so then trust in him and be forgiven and "but to those who did receive him gave he power to become the children of God born not od the will of flesh or blood but of Spirit" become the children of God and receive in yourself the gift of the God which is the seal of promise unto eternal life The Spirit of God who indwells every believer and makes them thw righteousness of God, and the children of God and if children then heirs to the promises of God in Christ Jesus.

[@stephenkammerling9479]

Years back Gary always stunk and had foul air when driving through it on Indiana Toll Road. It smells much better today, and the air looks a lot cleaner. However, I make sure I don't exit the expressway when driving through Gary. I even try not to take toll road through Gary. About a few years ago, coming from the east, on the Toll Road I missed the 80/94 exit. I drove through Gary and didn't exit until in Hammond. I had no desire to drive through Chicago South Side on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

[@TrunkyDunks]

I know a girl who grew up in Gary and she said it was really bad. She was constantly bulied for being white, shoes/ backpacks stolen at least once a week if not more and beaten up often. She left in 10th grade with her grandma and moved to florida, leaving her parents behind. Her grandma was a widow of a former steel worker from the 60's and both parents had their own issues....definition of an escape. Very sad...but Im happy to say shes moved and is now happily married with a 2 lovely kids!

[@gabriellehanks6850]

I grew up in Gary, too. We all got bullied growing up there for something unless you were a street kid. Your friend isn't special 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@TrunkyDunks]

@@gabriellehanks6850 wasn't the point 🤷‍♂️ clearly bullies had no effect on ya

[@Fritolay72]

@@TrunkyDunks I wonder why Gabrielle got bullied 🤷‍♂️

[@Elizabeth-xn9rk]

@@gabriellehanks6850 What is wrong with you?

[@berardoferrari]

@@Fritolay72 wrong skin color LOL!!!!!

[@donaldpruett852]

"Gary Indiana", made famous in the musical; "The Music Man" with Robert Preston in 1961.

[@dragon-lf9ow]

Could you imagine if those abandoned houses could tell their stories. About the family's that once lived in them

[@saltydog4443]

Thats what I was thinking, go back to Thanksgiving 1949 Think of all the wonderful family gatherings it must have been so nice.

[@apocyldoomer]

Yes.

[@CalebWilliams2030]

It’s sad you have to go back 70 yrs to see Gary in its limelight. Goes to show the many great cities that got lost to poverty, no jobs, and drugs.

[@jacqui7261]

I would love to go back in time and see these towns, as prosperous towns that they once were.

[@dragon-lf9ow]

I totally agree

[@BillP-kg1yp]

I would drive down the streets of Gary, but I don't think I would walk into the abandoned church by myself. You have the guts to do it which makes for a good video.

[@greg5775]

Yeah, a brave man for doing that. That could have been a real bad move.

[@kathrinekerns8398]

The building itself says, "if walls could talk, I'd have some stories to tell". Very eirie place.

[@FrankRimes]

To be fair, even driving around can be a bit of an adventure in some cities. I was doing a bit of a tour in Detroit, and then found myself in a not so fancy area. 'You take a right turn down a small residential street, drive for a little bit, all of a sudden you have a group of gentlemen having some sort of town meeting in the middle of the road and they all look as if you came in a bit too late to join them.' That's the moment when you realize that you made a mistake and the right turn you were planning on making probably happened a street too soon. Well luckily there was still room enough to do a 180 so I didn't have to get further lost down the wrong path...

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I experienced the exact same situation in Detroit, Dan. :)

[@TinkerTailor4303]

@@FrankRimes That’s humorous, but not...🫣

[@Questionthis1]

I’ve driven through Gary 3 times and what you just can’t pick up from the video is how dystopian and surreal it feels. You feel like you’re driving through Chernobyl if squatters moved in. First time I stopped here was for gas and i didn’t even bother filling up. I got just enough gas to get the hell out.

[@coleket8173]

Fr you can tell it was built by an actual oil company

[@e.s.l.1083]

Trippy. As he was walking through The Church ⛪ i had to keep reminding myself: that *I* was safe... *Trippy* some people haven't waited for 'the end' (reference: dystopian)

[@TheRealMasonYoung]

I messed up on my way back from Wisconsin in my early 20s with an SUV full of my friends and it was low on gas at about 3 AM when I had to pull into Gary to fill up. Most of them were asleep when I went to go in. My girlfriend at the time was in the passenger seat and I woke her up and left the keys and told her to lock the doors when I got out and if anything happened drive away. Scary Gary.

[@blackjam2683]

@@TheRealMasonYoung I live in Gary, and i feel okay with walking alone in the dark (call me crazy) but i do pack some kind of protection. Its not the people of Gary i find a problem, It's usually those from Chitown that want to ruin the peace and fun.

[@mplslawnguy3389]

@@TheRealMasonYoung I did the same thing when I was younger. The worst part is I had no cash and my cards stopped working because my bank saw transactions from multiple states (drove to Toronto). I was running on fumes and had no money and I was in Gary. I scrounged up some loose change in my truck and filled up with what I had and got out of Dodge.

[@billwilson-es5yn]

I grew up nextdoor in Hammond where my parents families came to from the 1870's to 1900. My grandfather was a home builder and land developer that was offered the lakefront acreage that became the site of the US Steel plant. He turned it down since it was nothing but sand dunes with swamps in between them. USS drained the swamps and sold the excess sand to Chicago for filling in their swampy lakeshore to make parks. Thomas Edison saw concrete as the construction material of the future so invested heavily in cement production. His first project to prove his point was the construction of Yankee Stadium in NYC in one continuous pour. His houses used massive set of forms which were filled by a continuous pour using concrete that was mixed on site then taken up by a conveyor belt to the top of the forms. Edison couldn't get contractors to buy his concrete home system due to the cost of the forms and equipment, the time it took to set those up then take down, the hassle of getting the cement, rock and sand on the jobsite to do a continuous pour and mixing it. They also had to wait for a month or more for the concrete to cure out before they could start finishing the interior and exterior. Many contractors were like my grandfather that preferred building Sears kit homes and Mom & Pop stores since they could have those move-in ready within 45 days or less.

[@BenjaminIsreal12]

I was born n raised in Gary, Indiana resided there for 29 years. I left in 94 for Mississippi after 6 mos, back in Gary, after 5 months moved to Minnesota in September 94, been here every since. I enjoyed your video, cause at least you showed some decent parts of the city unlike many. Wishing you all the best on your endeavors. 💯👌😊

[@AdamBiggers81]

Gary reminds me of Flint, my hometown. Rich history and glory years, wealth and quality of living, great neighborhoods... then it all fell apart.

[@Jane-yh3rn]

I appreciate how you give facts about the city and show parts of the city without criticizing the city or the residents who call Gary home.😊

[@babesmariba]

It's really weird, eerie even, that there were no people out and about. Like zero pedestrians.. Also, mad props for going inside the church

[@HighLordBlazeReborn]

Everything that's open and running is probably so far apart that there's no point walking, except for downtown

[@73prd]

Hi mate, I live in Australia and I find this town as many other U.S towns in this condition its so sad

[@curtisroberts5715]

Notice how there isn’t any leaves on the trees. And people were bundled up the ones you did see. This had to have been filmed early spring right after the snow. Makes sense there aren’t many people out and about. Go there today on these hot days and Ian willing to bet those areas are filled with unsupervised children running out in front of cars.

[@Alen725]

Nope, people were out. Scarcely but they did.

[@h.w.4482]

@Loneshark luckily most cities don't get anywhere near this bad because they can keep the gangs somewhat under control, this town's police force must've just been slowly overrun over the last few decades so there's nothing to stop the crime

[@mrstacyj9496]

Grew up just South & a little West of Gary (Schererville). My mom told me she and my aunt would go shopping in downtown Gary after WW2 (1950s) and it was really nice. By the time I cold drive (1974) no one would ever dare go into Gary, especially after dark. There used to be a big Methodist hospital there. And a commuter campus (Indiana University) with a well regarded nursing program.

[@Q1776Q]

I lived in Gary for a while in the 80's. I remember people openly carrying guns down our street. I also remember many houses burning completely down on our block. There were hoodlums constantly trespassing in the yard and trying to steal stuff from our storage shed ....so we called the Gary PD. I remember the officers telling me..if you shoot one of them, make sure to drag them into your house so it looks like self defense. I also remember a few nights laying on the floor of the bedroom from the gunfire out in the street. Good times!

[@PoeticHeart]

Yikes!

[@Roaming_Realms2B]

Omg lol cops telling you that....😮

[@Nat.Dialogue]

Sounds inclusive

[@chrisparker8853]

100% facts and police say the same thing to this day it's wild here but people comment saying Chicago is better not crime wise I'd say we run a tight 2nd

[@cookie_chicken]

@Michael Levay this isn’t a klan meeting bro wyd

[@redrobur68]

I was born in a town in Germany called Georgsmarienhütte. This town was also founded to provide a home for the workers of a new steel mill. In the 1970s there was also a steel crisis in Germany. The steelworks almost perished, as did the entire city. But only almost. A former manager bought the plant for a symbolic price. In fact, one of his first steps was to take out the trash. On Saturdays he helped out himself to set an example. Then he had all the dilapidated parts of the work demolished. The area was sold very cheaply to new companies from other branches of the economy. And he installed a new blast furnace in the remaining area that could fabricate special steels. The steel mill is now making a profit again. The city has been growing again for many years. So it's safe to say, if you need to start over, start by clearing out the trash.

[@kenheisner288]

My old steel mill city has found a major natural gas reserves it has helped Europe stay clear of that horrible man Putin

[@Deetroiter]

Sadly, many of the folks living in this area will typically always remain in ‘victim’ status and never strive for better. I enjoyed your story though, sounds like an admirable man who saved the German town

[@MsTygame]

@@Deetroiter you are right about victim status and like that all over.

[@redrobur68]

@@Deetroiter His name is Jürgen Großmann, he is still alive and is now one of the 100 richest Germans, his fortune is estimated at around 1.35 billion euros. The special thing about him is probably that he grew up in the shadow of another steel mill and simply took on responsibility as a manager. He certainly didn't need to collect rubbish back then, but he didn't just want to make money, no matter how. Rather, it was a personal matter for him. He knew the culture and pride of the steel workers. With actions like this, he freed people from their role as victims and swept them along. Incidentally, this also included the fact that he knocked off rust together with the very simple workers and gave the motto: "Nothing will rust here anymore and no paint will flake off." Fun fact: He bought the Georgsmarienhütte steelworks for EUR 2, which was around USD 2 at the time.

[@Deetroiter]

@@redrobur68 Wunderbar! I'll have to read more about him and the story, thank you very much for sharing it with everyone

[@chrisdean6700]

I was born next door in Hammond. Nobody on our block was well to do; we were all poor but.....we didn't trash our neighborhoods, we didn't steel, loot, or riot. Our parents did the best they could. Our clothes were patched up but were clean just like we were. There's no excuse to tear up your town because of poverty.

[@leerothman7570]

Ahh yes we went to Phil Schmits restaurant near there for special occasions. What a memory.🤗

[@pechaa]

You have no idea what real poverty is or why it’s perpetuated. Educate yourself. Read. Why do you think it’s the fault of poor people that this place is in ruins? Do their landlords not have any responsibilities? What about the owners of the massive abandoned buildings? Someone owns all that property. Landlords purposely buy cheap residences and rent them to people who can’t fight back when the landlords refuse to do even basic upkeep.

[@sixassassin204]

@@pechaa but how does that explain all of the trash being literally everywhere?

[@lisabaltzer4190]

Crime actually went down during the Great Depression. How do you explain that?

[@panhead55]

@@pechaa Agreed, but individuals can still pick up or at least make an effort to keep things in a somewhat decent order.

[@mattst.germain4023]

The worst part of Gary is the climate. It’s always dark there, which is weird since the sun sets at the same time as everywhere else 🤔. There’s no hidden mystery why that city is in ruins.

[@Luke-hs3bf]

That's the first thing I thought of when I saw how small M.Jacksons family home is. All those brothers and sisters squeezed into that little home. WoW🙂 As a long haul trucker I see so much urban decline across America. Is very sad to see. I always try and imagine what it was like to live in these places back in the days when they were vibrant. Gary is one of those places I go to a few times a year for truck loads. Is a city that is really hard on the eyes. Always relieved to get in and out of there without incident. Great coverage of this area! Thanks

[@makdaddy8399]

I would imagine truckers see a lot of the bad areas of every city. So many areas in total disarray and decay. Where is all that tax money going?

[@aSome1]

The music video for 2300 Jackson Street highlights how big that family is haha

[@markneukirch577]

Same with me. I pull flatbed. Every time I hear dispatch say the name "Gary" I just want to get in and out in one piece.

[@Pennsylvaniastrong]

A few years back, my friend's daughter went to Gary with her friend to hang out with this guy. He wouldn't release them, took her truck, and her friend returned a few days later by herself. My friend's daughter was missing for a year until they found her remains. He was later arrested and charged with her demise. Her name was Jessica Flores. 😢

[@msfabre82allday92]

🥺

[@zombiesRUseless6880]

Don't tell me, the guy was blaq? I'd be very surprised if he was another color.

[@geraldwalsh3644]

What they really need to do is level three quarters of Gary and rebuild factories and homes but nobody wants to invest in an area that's controlled by thugs and violent criminals.

[@tazzthedoodle7861]

That's a horrible story. I'm sorry for their loss.

[@adamsaucedo1120]

Rip

[@Dani-it5sy]

The problem with such towns is that they don't demolish the empty buildings. That drags down the value of the rest of the area and you get a downwards spiral. Where I live in Holland they would clean these wrecked houses up and make the place look ok. That makes all the difference.

[@geekers8644]

Banks dont care about making the city look nice. once a private investor is interested in the property, the bank sells it and it's up to the investor if they want to start from scratch or remodel. Tearing down the building and getting rid of the material waste is an unnecessary expenditure for the Bank.

[@Dani-it5sy]

@@geekers8644 You see. You completely missed the point. The value of the land is rock bottom when the whole street is full of wrecked abandoned houses. So the bank looses everything by not cleaning up. Selling a house for 5k dollars is the same as giving it away. This system of is not debatable. They figured this out a century ago and is a well proven system.

[@AldousTyler]

@@Dani-it5sy - you're thinking smaller than the banks do. They don't care about selling individual lots - a bank will own blocks of these, and when they DO sell, the people buying them don't care what's there NOW, as they will level, dig and build a completely new structure or set of structures on that land. Why clean up the old structures when they aren't stopping the bank from selling the land as they want to - in large scale blocks? It's sad and it's sick and it robs the city of meaning anything to those who continue to be there, but the banks don't care about that, as they aren't required to.

[@squidwardo7074]

if they can't clean up garbage like that they sure as hell ain't demolishing and cleaning up an entire house. Best thing people in Gary could do is get out and just let the city die

[@powertothesheeple5422]

@@Dani-it5sy The US banking and housing systems operate nothing like Holland. The US government bails out the banks all the time (not just in 2008). The US banks just write the property off, give it back to the city and then the city becomes responsible for tearing the buildings down - with no tax base to raise the funds to do so. So you end up with a city in continual decline and it stays that way for so long that nobody would ever move back even if it was completely torn down and rebuilt. Not to mention these are all usually cookie cutter cities built after WWII with small lots and small houses for low income people working in factories that don't even exist anymore.

[@thebionicbassplayer]

In my many travels, I've driven through Gary several times, and it felt desolate, yet I met a couple ftom Gary at my church and they were surprisingly hopeful and optimistic.

[@mikaross4671]

Thank you for going to Gary. I wanted to see just how bad it was, especially in 2023. The state of that beautiful church is so sad. It looked like it was absolutely beautiful when it was first build. When you stated the murders rate and income per family, my jaw dropped. So sad.

[@paulhcan]

It's staggering that a church took only a century to decay like that - there are churches over here (the UK) a thousand yrs old in better condition.

[@mikaross4671]

@@paulhcan I can only imagine. America needs to take better care of their older buildings, especially churches, museums, etc.

[@theirmom4723]

@@paulhcan The church was set on fire in 1997. That is one reason the "decay" is so bad.

[@caseyj.1332]

The church stands like a monument of shame.

[@carlosmedlen]

WARNING!!! Hell is real... We can not hide our sins from God. Is your heart right with the Lord? Jesus Christ loves you and He died for our sins. If you reject Jesus Christ, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.. ACTS 2:38 “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit....

[@keichellejordan7709]

Currently a Gary resident. This video focused on downtown and the east side of town where there is majority of the abandoned buildings. There are beautiful homes and communities on either sides of Gary and areas where the abandoned homes and businesses are being tore down. Not condoning casinos but Hard rock casino is in the west side of Gary right off of 80/94 that brought in a lot of business and jobs to the area. The casino is hosting concerts and shows with big names celebrities that I never thought would even be named to be in this area. Gary is slowly being rebuilt but it’s being rebuilt from the outside first then working towards the inner city.

[@HsnzksNxnxksn-sh7kc]

You ain't listening to the statistics

[@kellysanders7857]

I worked at the casinos there..yes brought in jobs but within 10 years,businesses closed down..casinos rake the money,and if you look where casino boats are at in other states,its the same..people get addicted and loose and businesses close down and crime gos up!! GARY was bad even b4 the casinos..I lived and worked all around there!

[@mgtowcowboy8159]

Ms. Jordan, can you explain Gary in less than two paragraphs? Where are the "good" areas? Bad areas? Is the north side "white" and the south side "black" like Chicago? I hear many Hispanic families are moving in too. Any advice would be appreciated.

[@416Mordo]

@@mgtowcowboy8159 I live in merrillville and there are nice houses by the beach in miller which is an area in Gary

[@maryechampagne1736]

Why isn't the blight of Gary torn down and a brand new Gary resurrected?

[@RobJ351]

So sad seeing such an old beautiful church and historical homes being left derelict to deteriorate, due to industry closing down . Thankyou 🇦🇺

[@matchmade44]

That Methodist church made me think of what the great Catholic monasteries of England must have been like in the decades after their Dissolution by Henry VIII in the sixteenth century.

[@SmilingHot-AirBalloons-sp9oe]

IM SO BLESSED I WASN'T RAISED OR LIVED IN A PLAYCE LIKE INDIANA. WOULDN'T WANT TO VISIT EITHER.

[@shandaman40298]

IM SO BLESSED THAT I WAS RAISED IN GARY, INDIANA. GOD IS GOOD BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE THE WRONG PERCEPTION ABOUT GARY.

[@TheReal754]

I grew up 2 towns south of Gary, about 20-30 minutes away. Everyone knows to avoid Gary if they can. I used to work construction and helped remodel a few houses there, so many abandoned and run down buildings that need to be completely gutted to nothing and rebuilt. Most aren’t even worth it, better off bulldozing and starting from scratch. But this is an example of how there is still hope for building the town back up, it’s not on a big scale or anything but work is being done. During the day, not too bad in the more populated areas. But at night, can’t even stop at stoplights. Slow to a roll, look left and right then go. Town is eerie after dark. East and south of Gary are all pretty safe and well established towns. The steel mills still provide a lot of jobs and I know multiple people who work or have worked at them. It’s sad that a place like this exists especially being so close to a place I call home. Feels more like the run down parts of Chicago than anything. But then you drive 10 minutes away and everything nothing is like it. It’s also crazy that so many people know about Gary, never knew it was as well known as it it. Almost 4.5 million views!

[@Smog104]

It’s very sad to see what Thatcher done here and Reagan done over there both their socioeconomic policies were adopted by successive governments

[@Smog104]

@@timmattle4730 79 /80 but I’m speaking in general not if the specific town

[@KarsenKeith]

I feel like Gary is far more known than you think! Here in NW Ohio, most trips out west runs through Gary. Everyone here knows the notoriety of it. I'd love to visit, I'm a hobbyist architecture historian dealing with school buildings in particular and I know the city is riddled with them. Sadly, I don't think I'd have the guts to go.

[@Smog104]

@@KarsenKeith it looks a desperate place indeed , we have some decay in British towns and cities that in comparison to European countries are pretty bad. The UK is a very unequal country in European terms but I’m afraid we don’t have anything as bad looking as Gary . Our old industrial cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds , Liverpool, Newcastle etc while desperate under Thatchers rule as she was the key to their swift demise are now at least in central parts and business districts have turned the tide sure there are still some dodgy estates you wouldn’t want to walk around at night . It’s the medium sized towns and smaller towns that have not been redeveloped that are the worst , even our most desperate seems a couple of leagues away from Gary . A pity , sone lovely looking houses or at least they once were .

[@graemewhalen40]

I feel strongly moved to thank you for this beautiful and powerful view of a place in time. The sadness of the decay and neglect is somehow balanced by a hope for the future. All of these structures were built with such good intentions, people dreaming of a better world and community, and yet not built sustainably, not maintained. What you have recorded and preserved tells me that we can do better. Ruins have always given me hope.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Great comment.

[@richarddavis8863]

Beautifully said

[@stevegorr4262]

In the '70s my aunt and many of my family members lived in Chicago and Gary Indiana. The interesting part is that one of my cousins actually grew up in Gary, Indiana when I was just a child and actually knew all of the Jackson 5 kids because they all went to the same school with the Jackson 5's. I remember how nice that town was and then going back 10 years later and how wiped out it appears as Detroit.

[@juliechurley2716]

Thanks so much. Watching from Australia- really enjoy your tours❤

[@CreatingExcellence]

I ended up driving around in Gary a couple years ago during covid and couldn’t stop myself from driving through the dilapidated residential neighborhoods. Being in real estate I could just imagine how nice these grand homes used to be. You see it all through the South Side of Chicago too. Such amazing history and almost inconceivable to imagine how things became so run down for once thriving communities.

[@smelltheglove2038]

I live in south Philly now, grew up right outside Camden Nj. It’s 100% conceivable why the town failed. Camden used to be beautiful too. Residents move in around the 60s and stopped maintaining properties, the people who lived there before moved, riots happened and they burnt down the city. Huge sections are still burnt out from those riots that happened 60 years ago. No one wants to open a business there because the residents will either rob the place blind or burn it down at some point. Drug dealers on every single corner. Some people refuse to live like civilized humans.

[@threezysworld8089]

It's very interesting, just get out when the sun starts setting 😂

[@MakerInMotion]

I'm hoping for a manufacturing boom in the US after covid taught us to not rely too much on international trade and supply lines. Plus relations with China not being great. Gary needs blue collar jobs that don't require a degree. I'm sure the city would offer up tax incentives on a silver platter to any potential factory.

[@WCWThunderRosa]

@@MakerInMotion there’s not going to be a manufacturing boom in America again because American workers won’t work for the extremely low wages that caused outsourcing to start in the first place.

[@winsweatherupdates6702]

The abandoned architecture almost reminds me of Chernobyl's Pripyat in an eerie sort of way. Except instead of radiation and a government coverup, it was global imperialism through cheap labor that destroyed Gary.

[@dgdave2673]

Either way the end results are almost same and it’s the hard working class of people that struggle. Minus all the English signs etc if someone says this is Bahkmut, would be believable

[@ER-ot4hw]

Can't forget about the redlining and housing covenants that still exist to this day.

[@eshawn97]

I went to Gary to meet my boss' parents in the early 70's. I (from Seattle aged 19) was in shock because of the conditions there. I asked my boss if people just hung out in front of gutted homes and businesses on a Sunday night and he responded saying not just Sunday night but every night. His parents' house from outside looked terrible but the interior was beautiful and modern. P.S., Your video was really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@donaldpruett852]

I was born in Terre Haute Indiana in 1944. Tony Hullman, of Hullman & Company, the makers of Clabber Girl Baking Powder. He pretty much owned the whole town. He also owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and started the annal race each year by announcing to the car drivers; "Gentlemen, start your engines". My father went to high school with him and they stayed in contact into the mid 50's. Nobody got a civil service job in Terre Haute unless you were somehow connected with Tony and his bunch. Terre haute has the dubious distinction of having the highest crime rate of any city in Indiana. My Uncle Russell used to call it; "Little Chicago". We moved to Phoenix in August of 1955. I was 10.

[@rapsody45]

Thank you. You drove past my old house which was somewhat in fair condition and occupied. I lived there in the 70's and though the city was in decline, it was safe and there was much life in the city. Over 20 schools were closed down in Gary and the architecture is fabulous. Worth coming back for but as always be safe. I decided not to come back to Gary after I retired from the military and now reside in South Carolina.

[@JorJorCrelatto]

That’s a fascinating story on your part. May I ask, what has happened to your house now? I take it that the other homes are still having property taxes taken care of since somebody still owns them.

[@JBrd79]

I grew up just a few miles from here, I'm still in the area too - my family actually lived on Grant Street in Gary up until I was almost 5. The main reason you aren't seeing homeless people around those abandoned buildings you were exploring, outside of your vehicle, is because that's not a real safe part of town. I mean, there aren't many GREAT spots to be sleeping unprotected outdoors in that town - but that would be a prime spot that someone with ill intentions might start to look for a victim who won't be noticed missing right away. Sad but true.

[@leadfoot8593]

Homeless get left alone, not like they have anything to take, homeless usually consume from nicest areas anyway,

[@OMEGATECH]

I concur, the homeless know where, and where not to go, volunteering in a homeless shelter in the past I would hear the stories.

[@dpagain2167]

Probably because there are no services for homeless, that costs a lot of money. My city spends $234,000,000 annually on the homeless population.

[@chillywings]

@@dpagain2167 And no one to beg from.

[@chillywings]

Are there homeless at all? I would think anyone that can't afford their mortgage would just move into the nicest empty house.. even just squat right where they're at if it's not a nicer area. Can't imagine the banks have a whole lot of leverage there.

[@johnshonder3750]

I would imagine that homeless people tend to congregate in places where there are people and institutions willing to provide them with free goods and services. You'd be as likely to see them hanging out in Gary as you would see them hanging out in the middle of a desert.

[@kerryberry5786]

They went to LA

[@SouthpawPatty]

They came to Oregon. My town is nothing like it use to be. In fact, the whole state is nothing like it was before. The homeless people are everywhere here.

[@robertn2951]

Hello Joey, I do not comment often but I really love your videos a lot. They are a great insight of what forgotten America looks like. What you do is a treasure!

[@kimberlyp8757]

It breaks my heart and soul to see my hometown like this. The best memories of my life were in Gary, we used to go to Miller beach, Lake Michigan, Lake Etta, the Village mall and had a great childhood. I grew up on 21st and Hendricks, westside tarrytown. Visitng my grandmother next week in Gary. I really appreciate this video showing the good, the bad, and the ugly of my city. Thank you.

[@kimberlybraden3209]

"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life " and "I came not into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through me" This is the truth that Jesus came into the world to be put fourth as a propitiation/ sacrifice for the sins of the world so that all who trust in him shall not be condemned by their sins but be forgiven and receive by him the eternal inheritance of the rightouness of God obtained by faith in God through Jesus Christ and the inheritance of the kingdom of God, and this is life the true life that persists forever and does not perish but to all those who have not believe they are condemned because they have not believed in the Son Of God Jesus but as the bible says "wothout the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins" so then trust in him and be forgiven and "but to those who did receive him gave he power to become the children of God born not od the will of flesh or blood but of Spirit" become the children of God and receive in yourself the gift of the God which is the seal of promise unto eternal life The Spirit of God who indwells every believer and makes them thw righteousness of God, and the children of God and if children then heirs to the promises of God in Christ Jesus.

[@eri020]

@@kimberlybraden3209 what does this have to do with what she said? lol

[@GBR9794]

@@eri020 you know, some religious folks can be a bit nutty

[@WavvyBul]

I still go to miller and Marquette beach every year It’s beautiful over there I love it

[@kansashighlights624]

I grew up going to Gary to visit family. They finally left in the 80s because their son got transferred several states away and he and his wife needed help with the children.

[@fredjohn808]

This blight and decay actually affected me physically, I got a terrible stomach ache. I'm an old man and have lived in many places from one end of the country to the other. It truly saddens me to see both the physical, moral and political demise of the country I grew up in. I have great memories of my travels and life experiences, but glad I am near the end. Rome had nothing on us. Still a Patriot..

[@CS-ox9hn]

Why did it happen? What did go wrong?

[@johnr.b.murray3417]

@@CS-ox9hn Jews.

[@roxanpierson9541]

NAFTA and the Clintons.

[@roadwarrior528]

Hard to be a patriot when half the country hates the other half because they don't vote Democrat, including this current administration.

[@wil7228]

​@@CS-ox9hn greed greed

[@peterwiersma4157]

For a Dutch citizen , it is hard to imagine the decline and decay, of these once florishing american towns. And yet it is fascinating and almost mesmerizing, to behold this utter desolation. Impressive documentary , guys.

[@dianefoley2556]

The American willingness to let financial considerations be our sole decision criteria leads to this situation in every one of our states. Along with the abandoned buildings are abandoned people, even some who have moved away.

[@badgirl44654]

I live in Ohio. One town realized for years they had been overcharging for city tax for like 10 years. They won’t be sending the money back because they don’t have it to send. 😂

[@dudeinacar01]

I've been going to Gary a lot lately this year. From the 90's til now, I've watched a decline. It was crazy how I drove down the streets and the traffic lights don't work, as if they didn't pay the light bill. The many homes I lived in are now, appears to be abandoned. The four that I remember. Tried to show my girl where I grew up, it was embarrassing, because it wasn't like that in the 90s. A couples cities over, and you'll see a world of difference.

[@booboos1111]

It's devastating to see what most of Gary looks like today versus what it once was. A lot of people who are still there do take pride in their city and I feel like it will rise again out of the ashes. I lived in Hobart a city that touches both Gary and Merrillville where you stayed and it is night and day drastically a different place. Good schools low crime rates jobs etc. People from neighboring cities take their trash and dump it in Gary because nobody stops them 😢 and they don't want to pay a dump fee. So the trash is not just from the residents. I wish we could get some sort of initiative to put people to work cleaning up the city and rebuilding and rehabbing the homes and structures worth saving and demolish the ones that need to go. You should also look at the homes in Miller Beach and show Marquette Beach on lake Michigan,they are both in Gary Indiana. ❤️🤍💙

[@thejman5552]

Thats what happens when you build a whole town that relies on one industry. I'm a colorado native and my state was first populated during the gold rush. Colorado didnt end up being one of the best places for gold but they diversified with farmland on the east and mining other minerals on the west. More recently, when colorado legalized marijuana, there was another influx of people. The state parks are well-maintained, there are many universities, taxes are relatively low etc. All these things make a place attractive to live at and keep the money flowing unlike Gary.

[@Australia-ky7kx]

This is tragic, witnessing a city dying through a lack of employment and an abundance of violent crime.

[@American_NightmareTM]

My first experience of Gary was working in the Steel Mills in 2009 as a Union Ironworker from Detroit. I have been able to see many towns that are run down Flint Detroit and Gary. The mills are still running but with less people working. We are in the American Nightmare.

[@xheidix1974]

My ex brother in law worked there as well.

[@MrFatdubyman]

all those words u said is why america is bad again

[@davidkemp3154]

Real estate has bottomed, cannabis not illegal anymore. DOC & town mgrs will save millions not incarcerating little old ladies & peaceful youth like the old days of fascism. Karma for that once grand church for stigmatizing, demonizing & criminalizing pot smokers & dabbers for decades.

[@jeffreykidwell3335]

@@davidkemp3154 wake up call , cannabis is still not legal in Indiana. For that matter , it is still illegal federally and have been a lot of federal raids lately on distributers.

[@idipped2521]

This country is a shadow of its former self. We are headed for collapse

[@kristinekealey1543]

My parents grew up in Gary in the 1940s and 50s and we spent a lot of time there. They were married in City Methodist Church and the pictures from their 1963 wedding are stunning.

[@Candy_Mountain]

I’d love to see pics

[@Sonyad36]

Truly heartbreaking. I was born in Gary and my father worked in the steel mill. He passed in ‘84 from asbestos poisoning due to working there and in ‘85 we moved to Detroit. As a teen, I would go back to visit friends and family and prior to 2019 my last visit was about 20 years ago. Just seems like a ghost town compared to when I lived there 😢😢

[@Mrsmarina84]

What an interesting video! And thanks for all the info about the steel mill, the church, the Thomas Edison Concrete houses, etc. etc.! My grandpa and grand-uncle worked at the mill probably on 1930's; My grandma grew up there and she moved out around 1970. You make it so real and authentic, like if I was really driving through there! Thanks :)

[@mikevincent5606]

As a truck driver, I have gone down IN-53 (broadway) many times. The decay of downtown Gary is both fascinating and sad.

[@Devmac89]

Same man took it as a detour when 80 is backed up. Depressing driving thru it.

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

it's become the set of a zombie movie - crazy stuff

[@kbanghart]

​@@bradford_shaun_murray and they say California is bad

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

@@kbanghart California is the zombie movie comedy meets beach babe film.

[@kbanghart]

@@bradford_shaun_murray excellent

[@jan4222]

I was born in Gary in the mid 50's. My parents were married in the Methodist Church, and I was stunned to see what has become of it. We lived in Glen Park, then moved to Miller and lived only blocks from the beach. And, yes, my dad worked at the steel mill. My grandfather owned an appliance business on Broadway in the 50's and 60's. It breaks my heart to see what has become of a once lovely little city.

[@jilltagmorris]

My aunt and uncle moved to Glen Park as well.

[@lekeiag]

I was born and raised in Gary. Graduated from Roosevelt high school. We lived in Glen park mostly, but we also lived in Marshalltown also. I left in 2002. I know how bad that city was/is. I was scared for this gentleman going in that church. Please be careful going in any abandoned buildings in Gary.

[@TheLonelyPamphleteer]

I live in Glen Park now and use to live in the Miller Atena area when I first came to Gary.

[@jan4222]

@@lekeiag Oh, Caroline, I agree!! I was nervous the whole time he was in there.

[@TayDamage]

I lived in Marshall town there were no more schools for us to go to at a point i went to Bethune elementary the last school in the area

[@riffraff521]

My parents were thrilled when they bought a home in Gary in 1968. I was 16. I felt like a rock had been dropped in the pit of my stomach. Even then at my young age, I sensed that it was a city headed in a downward direction. The desolation you see today began many years ago even before the collapse of the steel industry..

[@ent1311]

Do they still live there?

[@riffraff521]

@@ent1311 They have passed on. Many homeowners, especially retirees are trapped there. Low property values mean they can not sell and have enough money to buy elsewhere. That is if they can sell at all.

[@moxmann]

Interesting I was just mentioning in 1968 Gary elected its 1st black mayor. During this time whites didn't want a black mayor so many packed up their business and left. Taking jobs with them. Once the Steel Mills closed that was it.

[@justaguy-69]

i was born there in 1961,my mom used to walk AT night to and from work as a telephone operator, my dad worked at US steel...we escaped in late 60's when certain kids teens young adults started hanging out on street corners and yards started to be piled up with junk and litter and houses started to have broken windows and boards over them...we knew it was time to get out.. we moved to hobart right next door, after i was in my teens you could tell when you drove across the border of gary and hobart immediately! like day and night

[@theequalizer9154]

What causes that. Yes, we all know when a industrial based economy City loses that industrial base, we see what happens. But, why does the violence, destruction enter into it, the crime enter into it? The neglect of homes, the ill respect of classical architecture, it's as if the people remaining hate where they live, hated the town previously, and now almost hate their existence. Is there no employment in other towns, be it employment at a Walmart, supermarket of some type? I see that many are dancing around the questions, and dancing around the answers. But, we've got to start facing these facts. The number one issue is, the industrial based economy is long gone. That concept is over100 years old, and now at the very, very least it is 60 years out of date. It is time to think of of another economy base for the town, and people need to get out of that state of mind, where the only successful business is apparently the liquor store / bar there. That's the only thing open in that entire area, other than to downtown Supermarket the other necessity apparently.

[@z3p-w6k]

I love it that you went right up to the gates of U.S. Steel Gary Works. As an engineering consultant, I've been through those Gates a few times many moons ago.

[@Mr___f]

Gary is basically the end result of a company town when the company leaves and the people are left alone to pick up the pieces. It's why people are very nervous about volatile companies like Tesla trying to recreate the same thing. We know how this ends already.

[@Reallifesatan]

Great point

[@JamesCrandallPainting]

So because US Steel was eventually going to close, Gary shouldn’t have existed and thrived for over 60 years?

[@billwilson-es5yn]

US Steel never left Gary. All of Northwest Indiana lost population after the steel plants began shutting down departments due to downturns in the industry. Gary had a crooked city government that did nothing about the violent drug gangs that appeared in 1970 then grew in numbers. Stores left the Downtown after shoppers took their business elsewhere where they wouldn't get robbed on the sidewalks or have their cars stolen. Thefts, break-ins and home invasions became a constant problem so residents simply left after giving their property to the city since nobody would buy a house in Gary.

[@wetbadger2]

Tesla towns?

[@Melior_Traiano]

When the company that founded your (company) city is closing its doors, then its time for you to move as well.

[@nathanb.5792]

Thank you for the shout-out to Canada! It made my day somehow. Thanks for the interesting video, too. I have never seen a place like Gary before. So sad, but still very interesting. And that old church still has such grandeur, despite everything. Too bad it couldn't be fixed up and repurposed.

[@brookiebrooke928]

It’s sad to see such beautiful structures in such ruin. The church is an absolute piece of art. The brick buildings are also pretty awesome to look at. I bet this city was amazing in its day. Very sad, I hope we can somehow reverse the course we are on for our country ❤

[@seanm6682]

I've lived down the road from Gary my whole life. Worked at USS for 5 years... Looks like you stayed mostly to the main drags (during the day). You're pretty safe in the populated urban zones in daylight hours, and the area by the baseball stadium is mostly fine. If you go south more than a few blocks from the expressway into the neighborhoods it gets substantially more dangerous. Substantially. Cops will pull "normal" drivers over in these areas because they assume you're buying drugs or guns. If you're not doing illegal stuff they'll tell you to leave. If you go a little northeast you'll run into Miller Beach which still has beautiful homes and trendy businesses. Frank Lloyd Wright has a couple beautiful homes up on the lake shore. Gary isn't a war zone but if you find yourself in the wrong area at the wrong time you're going to be in a world of trouble.

[@billyquinn9378]

I was going to comment on blindly driving around in Gary, he must have had info on the areas to stay out of to avoid being robbed etc.

[@FortisRising]

My heart weeps for the residents left in this city. Those who are trapped by circumstances and those who are trapped by the flame of hope that something good will come…blinding the reality around them. 😢

[@frankpalladino]

As a young guy I bought fixer upper homes in two run down rural towns. Used one as my main residence and the other as my vacation home. Both of the towns recovered after the housing crisis though one town more so than the other. So if you put time effort and energy into fixing a place and helping turning the town around it is a coin flip whether you end up doing OK financially. I also found out that people will get impatient if you try to do it slowly all yourself instead of hiring a crew. Glad I've sold both places now, it just felt like a bunch of work that no one appreciated. Felt like everyone was always mad that the place didn't look good or mad at the noise fixing it, etc. I mean how else are you going to get these places turned around from dilapidated state other than to get some people who have the gumption to do it, have them move in and be patient with them. I'll probably never go to a really dilapidated town again. Not worth the stress and the hassle.

[@Howl-Runner]

Your reality as well buckoo. The wheel of fortunes do change.

[@markpallister9882]

Looks like a war torn third world country...Is this really America??

[@Delilah70]

The church is absolutely stunning! What a magnificent jewel in the midst of all the decay!

[@scottsauerbier1905]

I would venture a guess that you could not have expected 5.3M views in such a short time let alone over 14,000 comments?!?! Thank you for showing compassion during the filming of this eye-opening tour of Gary.

[@dejpsyd0421]

I was born and raised in Gary back in the 50's - the late 60's. The memories of my grandparents, our family, the beautiful city. We'd sit with my mother everyday outside the city hall waiting for my Dad to come home on the South shore line. We'd picnic in Miller Beach. On Holidays there were parades down Broadway. The church you showed...idk if it used to be The First Presbyterian Church of Gary which was just as big. It's so sad to see it as it is now. We lived at 444 Monroe St. Lush green lawns and trees. I wish you drove down Monroe St. There was a section where all the streets were Presidents names. When we finally left the beautiful huge home we had and all the others down our street sold for $1.00. How i miss the old days! 😢

[@aSome1]

I imagine how tired of getting asked if you ever talked to Michael Jackson you are given the date and the place you was born and raised haha

[@dejpsyd0421]

@@aSome1 lol, actually no. I'm the one who has to boast to everyone that i was born a couple streets away from the Jackson family. And we were even all born in the same hospital... Gary Methodist Hospital. Truth be told Joe Jackson accidentally took me home and my Dad Joe Jacob accidentally took Michael home. Then after The Jackson's realized i couldn't sing he returned me to the hospital and complained. They finally sorted it all out 😄! Lol... But seriously we were all born at Gary Methodist!

[@AndreaSimone57]

You could google Earth the address

[@dejpsyd0421]

@@AndreaSimone57 Heyyy, i never thought of that. Andrea...no wonder you get paid the big bucks! :)

[@PeaceToAll-sl1db]

once the whites moved out, the city went to hell - same with detroit many other cities

[@Kitchguy]

As an outsider from Canada, I am speechless. This is not the America people think about, but this is real. It's just sad that the city was pinning its hopes off of one business. America, Canada need to bring all of our manufacturing out of China and give those jobs to our people.

[@tfatalt176]

Lol. Hopefully not to Gary. They would close in a week after being robbed repeatedly.

[@mikelewis9340]

I live about 20 miles from Gary. I wouldn't even drive there let alone get out on foot.. This guy is extremely brave.

[@mikeross4937]

Won't happen. Why pay someone a living wage in America when you can pay someone pennies in China. That is just how corporations think.

[@tonyp.1463]

@@tfatalt176 lol, nothing armed security cant fix

[@tfatalt176]

@@tonyp.1463 True. Lots of armed people around there. Just go ask a few to work a W2 job 😂

[@EustaH]

This is how any place that runs on a single industry ends up if it doesn't diversify in time. I bet that when this place was in it's heyday the idea of it collapsing was as unbelievable, as the idea of Silicon Valley towns looking like this.

[@TadanoHitohito]

Lord Spoda, I have to commend you for having the balls to get off the Indiana Toll Road in Gary and actually exploring the city. Thank you for your service.

[@mbrakes23]

got balls, indeed. grew up in Highland, In. went to IUN right off Broadway. worked at US steel in summers. all I kept thinking is "I hope this guy's packing"

[@ElectricThunder8]

I just assumed he had to be 😂

[@MrFatdubyman]

i would go burn the place down

[@jameshinton429]

No doubt, definitely wouldn’t do that at night.

[@dannycrockett9878]

Great episode! I am a Chicago boy, born and raised and still here. My early memories of Gary would have been driving through as a family on our way out of town. Gary would be about the spot where dad said "lock your doors." After college I joined the Marine Corp, and as a 2nd Lt Platoon Commander during the invasion of Panama, I became interested in Edison upon learning that he'd supplied much of the concrete used to build the canal (seems you don't get rich off quirky inventions) sold to the U.S Govt. So it was in a war zone where I read a book on the life of Thomas Edison. I'd somehow forgotten that Gary was one of the cities that tried out his concrete homes. For what it's worth, all concrete is, unlike us Americans, not created equal. Edison was a stickler for absolute quality, and that is why those homes stand today as they do, cool in the summer and warm in the winter, with very little crumbling or foundational issues. More importantly, the Army Corp of Engineers and Congress bet on the right guy in Thomas E, because the Canal concrete has held like a champ. During the same period of time you will find that nearly all Chinese and Soviet major dam sites have had to be completely refortified. Love your channel. Ps: I felt safer sniper hunting, door to door, in 1983 Beirut than I would have felt going into that church with you. I hope you're armed.

[@jasonhuntchicago]

Read “War is a Racket” by Smedley Butler and work to stop US imperialism from here on out moto.

[@iggyrulz420]

I don't think the church and urban exploration is that dangerous, there in different levels of danger, how you carry yourself, what you're driving (chargers and challengers, trackhawks can draw attention) also weather (whos out and about). I think it's more dangerous of someone knows or is aware of you, (gang or rivalism). Of course living in Indiana we stay well armed.

[@MatthewMarvin]

Chicago is where I lock my doors lol

[@ГалинаК-л2ю]

Какого черта ты поперся в Бейрут? Зачем вы лезете на чужие континенты?

[@sherilee4195]

Looking at that big magnificent church in such terrible shape made me so sad. The whole town/city is very depressing. Thank you Joe, for sharing this with us.

[@kimberlybraden3209]

"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life " and "I came not into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through me" This is the truth that Jesus came into the world to be put fourth as a propitiation/ sacrifice for the sins of the world so that all who trust in him shall not be condemned by their sins but be forgiven and receive by him the eternal inheritance of the rightouness of God obtained by faith in God through Jesus Christ and the inheritance of the kingdom of God, and this is life the true life that persists forever and does not perish but to all those who have not believe they are condemned because they have not believed in the Son Of God Jesus but as the bible says "wothout the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins" so then trust in him and be forgiven and "but to those who did receive him gave he power to become the children of God born not od the will of flesh or blood but of Spirit" become the children of God and receive in yourself the gift of the God which is the seal of promise unto eternal life The Spirit of God who indwells every believer and makes them thw righteousness of God, and the children of God and if children then heirs to the promises of God in Christ Jesus.

[@Ddax-td7qy]

Day after Easter, 2024. So sad. I watch videos of road trips out west where the railroad or freeway went a different way. Gary isn't unique. still sad.

[@Melior_Traiano]

If I was a billionaire, I'd be inclined to restore the church to its former glory. Like Ford did recently in Detroit with the old train station.

[@lucas82]

If you think that's magnificent I advise you to visit Europe. Even in my hometown we have a much more impressive neo-Gothic style church. We even have actual Gothic churches, some of which are more than 800 years old.

[@Melior_Traiano]

@@lucas82 Thats great. In my hometown we have the Cologne Cathedral. You might have heard of it. I still think this church in Gary, Indiana, is absolutely magnificent.

[@rickdavid1795]

I worked in those steel mills in the seventies. They kept us working, they kept us alive.

[@jamestulk5111]

The Palace Theater was designed by architect John Eberson and built in 1925 in Gary, Indiana's Emerson neighborhood. It seated an audience of 3000 and featured live stage shows, vaudeville acts, and motion pictures. John Eberson was famous for creating atmospheric theaters, which became popular in the 1920s. Atmospheric theaters were designed to resemble European courtyards or gardens and to make the audience feel like they were immersed in the scene rather than observing it from afar. The curved ceiling of the movie palace was painted the dark blue of an evening sky and projectors cast wispy clouds onto it.

[@sharksport01]

Remember the Frank Lloyd Wright house in Gary?

[@DanielGarcia-fi8gk]

I was a trucker for 5 years and have delivered there many times i never encountered anything out of the ordinary. I love chicago very much and i absolutely love the midwest . Good luck on your travels and stay safe out there.

[@kimberlybraden3209]

"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life " and "I came not into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through me" This is the truth that Jesus came into the world to be put fourth as a propitiation/ sacrifice for the sins of the world so that all who trust in him shall not be condemned by their sins but be forgiven and receive by him the eternal inheritance of the rightouness of God obtained by faith in God through Jesus Christ and the inheritance of the kingdom of God, and this is life the true life that persists forever and does not perish but to all those who have not believe they are condemned because they have not believed in the Son Of God Jesus but as the bible says "wothout the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins" so then trust in him and be forgiven and "but to those who did receive him gave he power to become the children of God born not od the will of flesh or blood but of Spirit" become the children of God and receive in yourself the gift of the God which is the seal of promise unto eternal life The Spirit of God who indwells every believer and makes them thw righteousness of God, and the children of God and if children then heirs to the promises of God in Christ Jesus.

[@lillysbookcase9682]

I’ve lived in Gary for almost two years now, and the thing about Gary is that there are very dangerous places and relatively safe places. The thing I love about Gary is the people. I’ve lived all over Indiana and never have I had such nice neighbors. The thing I hate about Gary is people’s lack of interest in change in the city. Although Gary has made progress in the past five years it is no where were it used to be. Because Gary has a bad stigma most developers pass by the city. Crime may be high in Gary but Gary also has one of the best hospitals in the area, and one of the best Police Departments(at least from what I’ve seen). Gary has the potential to be great, if only people would care to help.

[@lillysbookcase9682]

I also forgot to mention the Miller beach area were there are half million dollar homes. Also most homeless people in Gary become squatters.

[@jedzy]

Yuck, sorry to hear you live there that place is disgusting.. I live in Brisbane, Queensland Australia, look it up

[@guadaatenea]

@@lillysbookcase9682 That's what first came to my mind when he said he saw no homeless people, "isn't it obvious? with that much abandoned property if someone's homeless they're likely to pick a home that nobody cares about", there seems to be a bunch of those. Also, it's nice that someone who lives there chimes in to talk about the human aspect behind the numbers and the pictures.

[@JD-nr8hf]

Very good point, highlighted by the piles of trash that were passed by. While this is so true, what motivation(s) are the local government performing to help get people involved and care again? It's been over a decade since I worked with the local officials there, I pray most our gone and your once great city can heal once again.

[@huldu]

The crime and murder rate etc doesn't really reflect the reality that well. We're not talking about "common" people getting murdered on the streets for the sake of it like the movie purge.

[@MrMowww1]

Love these little side trips through small U.S towns that I otherwise would never see. Murray from Calgary.

[@niklas6940]

I'm from Sweden and I think it's depressing to see a city just fall apart like that. In Sweden it's mostly small villages that you can say looks the same.

[@Zoubirking-1970]

What’s you village name so I can take a look at it

[@laszlozoltan5021]

"follow the money" - instead of re-investing in the business, the money gets sucked up by the owners and deposited in off-shore bank accounts where it sits to finance their lavish lifestyles elsewhere. residents will have less money to spend, the tax burden for maintaining the infrastucture will be deemed too high and cutbacks will accelerate the downfall of the community

[@karenpierson9841]

Hey Sweden, I'm 💯 swedish and never been, don't speak the language but looks beautiful

[@IspywithmylittleI16]

Jag tror snart Sverige är där snart.Bor i en stad i Västergötland och det börjar bli hemskt.Förfall.

[@niklas6940]

@@laszlozoltan5021 Sadly to say it's true.

[@nikicoklaus8377]

You can see the sadness in your eyes. It's so depressing. This is how we feel when we go back home. It's hard to visit the remaining loved ones that stayed. They dont notice how bad it is until removing yourself from Gary for a while. It use to be a thriving and beautiful city when I was a child. Very well to do individuals and a very happy place to live😢

[@peek-a-boo7877]

30 years ago I remember going to Gary and traveling down Broadway a Wonder-bread wrapper blew into my antenna. It wouldn't let go. It was so embarrassing flapping loudly in the wind. My Great Grandmother had told me it was a beautiful city before the great depression. Out west where I live now people are moving in from all over to work for Tesla and our pristine highway is beginning to look like a trash heap. I don't understand how people can do that to places in such a short amount of time. People have no respect for anyone or anything anymore. 😢

[@justinlanglais9825]

Totally agree... respect for others and their property is lacking today

[@zlum1556]

Pack a Nine with you everytime you get on foot on those places friend. Bless you.

[@erichighsmith7299]

As a truck driver I appreciate being able to see lots of America. And Gary, IN was definitely one of those places. I was quickly in and out only because that’s how I am for most places I go to.

[@Gary-fk9pu]

Unfortunately with the industry gone, the reason for the city existing has gone with it. So many beautiful abandoned homes, all once no doubt the pride of their owners, full of life, happiness and family memories, now just empty desolate shells. I'm glad you showed us the occupied streets and the beautiful houses there, it's a city with so much potential, but without the big employers it's hard to see how that could be realised. I'm originally from the north of England which has also endured , and still endures, this post industrial blight. I can only say I wish Gary, Indiana and all its people well and a better future.

[@stephenalex4345]

Where are you from Gary? Manchester way? I'm from Cardiff, South Wales. I work in the steel industry like many former Gary folk.

[@James-dx8qb]

@@stephenalex4345 I'm from Manchester, but moved south 20 years ago. I've done a fair bit of travelling around the UK and beyond, but haven't seen anything remotely this bad. And of course crime in the UK doesn't compare either. Makes you wonder how this can happen within the richest country on the planet.

[@steiny1724]

@@James-dx8qb Richest country, Luxembourg. USA No7. And falling.

[@claudiameier666]

reminds me of barstow texas. like a war zone. really sad.

[@bradylester-xw5ov]

Why doesn't our media report real news such as this issue? They never report anything of substance. The problem in Gary is widespread in our country. My small hometown has gone through the same problem. Years ago there were so many factories and life was good. Now those same factories moved out to other countries, the drugs moved in and life is bad. Sad.

[@richardblayneamerican8149]

Back in the early 60's we would drive from our home in the Northwest Suburb of Des Plaines, Illinois to Toledo, Ohio to visit our cousins. I remember looking out the car window from the expressway as we were passing Gary. The steel mills were in full operation, and as kids we were fascinated by all the different colors of smoke belching from the steel mill smokestacks in the distance. So sad we lost all that industry.

[@nancyparker9986]

If you go down some rabbit holes on the internet you will find out why so many small towns and industries were moved from US…..America being killed from the inside out ! So very said to see these once thriving towns looking like ghost towns. This has. LOT to do with the elites running our world ! Wake up people !!!!!

[@laszlozoltan5021]

Im sure not quite as sad as the families of the workers who's health deteriorated and eventually succumbed to all the posions they were exposed to in those jobs. catch-22.

[@sweetteagrits3822]

Family worked at the mills for years until they collapsed :(. It was awful to see the abandoned huuuge structures and the ppl who lost their income.

[@leerothman7570]

I hear ya. My family lived in what was in the 60's a "Leave It To Beaver" neighborhood, Jeffrey Manor on the far south side of Chicago. We traveled back to the Buffalo/Rochester area each summer to visit relatives. We passed by those steel mills running full steam in that 1957-1967 time frame. Got out of the South Side when it was imploding and now is a haven for gangs and shootings. How sad how things can and do change when the wrong element moves in.

[@garyjohnson4575]

...sold it!

[@cryptonomous888]

Great video bud…very interesting to see, watching from the UK

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks 👍

[@terry85mar]

I work at us steel. I've never once had a problem in Gary on my way to work or coming home. My parents grew up in Gary though and it's crazy how it went from being one of the nicest cities in the country to being run down with abandoned and broken homes,drugs,murders etc. It's hard to imagine it in my head.

[@kellysanders7857]

That's true..in the 40s@ 50s it was very nice town. 60s it changed and end of the 70s went bad. Around the hospital had beautiful homes..it is sad that the people that moved in ruined that town..

[@glennwall552]

@@kellysanders7857 or the folks who moved out abandoned their homes.

[@kellysanders7857]

@@glennwall552 but who vandalize them? Could have been resold. Who did the crime..come on..Gary was a beautiful town at one time..

[@ytpboss2357]

​@@kellysanders7857 wonder who those people were

[@eklypse69]

I don't know man - you're either incredibly brave or very crazy going into abandoned buildings in Gary! But thanks for the video. Now I don't have to go there myself to see how bad it really is.

[@michaelhunter7040]

While Gary has a high crime rate, for the most part, you don't get in their business, they won't get in in yours and some of the nicest people you will ever come across.

[@1439315]

Always travel with the buddy system. Seriously . . .

[@chiefjamal]

Don't worry. He's from Texas so he probably got his Buddy with him 🔫😂

[@007psyren]

Guy has BALLS OF STEEL👊

[@kiranholt3296]

I can see how beautiful Gary was. The homes were like mansions. Unfortunately, as was mentioned, Gary, Indiana was booming when the steel mill was there. When the mill left, so did just about everyone else. This is what happens to industrial towns. When the biggest employer leaves, it destroys the town.

[@JD-nr8hf]

There are two actions here and the main cog always seems to be forgotten. I only know how their local govt reacted to their pending housing crises - with inaction to form their own actions. Did they try to go after other companies in Chicago or surrounding areas? Did they build office buildings to attract the like at lower cost than their neighbors? What did they do with tax payers money except collect empty houses, crumbling structures and gobbled up land that they once sat on? I honestly don't know as my reactions are from the standpoint of working with them trying to put new home owners and landlords into these structures before they turned to dust. They refused.

[@londonkyguy]

I would love to see pics of how some of these neighborhoods looked compared to today.. So sad.

[@marleennijland4244]

That happened and still is happening in regions of West Virginia, Virginia and the Carolina´s because of the coal miniing being shut down there.

[@JD-nr8hf]

@@marleennijland4244 sad. While we pay China to sell our reserve back to us and they ramp up their coal production. Controlled demo some might say

[@1983Corolla]

The Industrys were just the white people that held it all up, they left when it started to fail because they had the ability too and left all the african americans who worked in the industry to they're own devices with no jobs suddenly in a deserted town, that's what happened to all of these "Booming" towns around that part of the US. Their's a reason why Gary is almost entirely African American.

[@MaryEavey-dc3sk]

my father used to take me with him to visit his aunt who lived in Gary Indiana in the 60's, The air pollution was OVER THE TOP. The sky was a yellowish-gray haze and the air was thick and hard to breathe. Our eyes would burn, our lungs would burn and there was nothing pretty there, as in the fallout of chemicals was on everything. I would ask my Dad why she didnt move and he would just sadly say: because that is where she IS, Unbelievable! I guess that was in the heyday of Gary. I think now there is NO industry. She lived in one of those little pillbox homes.

[@chrismidgley7164]

In the Summer of 2000 I saw the future of US Cities when I stopped for gas and snacks in Gary, IN. I went into the gas station and it took a minute to figure out what I was seeing: The whole store was behind a wall with a large window of bullet proof glass. Through an intercom the clerk asked what I wanted. I asked for $20 in gas on my pump and some snacks. A huge metal box opened, I put in $30 cash, the clerk retrieved my snacks and put $20 on my pump, put the snacks and my change in the giant metal box and sent it all back to me. I was like 'Hope that's not predictive of what's to come...' Now I read they are doing the same setup in D.C. and Chicago. All it took was 23 years....

[@redriveral2764]

You had balls to stop there, the animals run the zoo.

[@1439315]

Norman, Oklahoma was the first time i ever had to PREPAY for gas 1987. Same trip someone sliced my tire so i had to put the spare on. Oklahoma University (OU) is EGO university in my opinion. On one hand they may have a fine college; on the other many of the students are so full of their own ego as to be problamatic. Many former college students from OU either i blocked them or they blocked me on facebook because they are all know it all's. Redmen alumni here. cheers

[@kelvinmartin395]

Just like the chi

[@michaelfitzpatrick4489]

Bullet proof glass was in detroit in 86 in gas stations and liquor stores

[@brad7380]

It’s been like that at all the stores in Gary and on the south side of Chicago since the 1980’s.