The Detroit Packard Plant 2022 - Exploring The Largest Abandoned Building in the USA

[@Freaktography]

See my Packard Plant photo gallery here: freaktography.com/abandoned-detroit-packard-plant-2022/

[@karenmilligan5597]

The shots are awesome.

[@davids9520]

Old news. See it now.

[@wwilliam51]

Very interesting The Packard plant is the reason I exist, My Mom left South eastern KY during World War 2 to work in Detroit in the Packard Plant, My Dad also came to Detroit to work as A securty guard at the Packard Plant, I was born in september 1944

[@Hey_Its_J_ay]

I don't know if you will get this comment. It's gone now. Demolished. Your video is even more important to us who never were able to see this once amazing automotive plant. Forever here on KZbin. Thank you

[@Freaktography]

Thanks for watching, it's great to know this video will preserve it for future generations.

[@whiteumbrella9344]

There is something oddly beautiful about these places. Such interesting history too. I hope someone like a photographer documents the graffiti and overall sites. I would absolutely buy that book. Put current pictures next to the photos of what it looked like when it was in use.

[@Freaktography]

I totally agree!

[@christopherfortunato6018]

I could see bringing stylish old Packard autos to photograph among th ruins.

[@christopherfortunato6018]

This is like going to Rome to see the Colosseum or other ruins.

[@wildestcowboy2668]

​@@Freaktography You don't have to be afraid in Detroit however if u go to Memphis TN you could get ur AZZ whooped just walking up

[@earthraindove2870]

Detroit will always be The Car Capital of the World 💚😍😍😍🙏☀

[@nicolecrawford4228]

I love how you give a narration during the video and also the music for this fit it perfectly. What a great video Dave. Keep these ones up

[@Freaktography]

thanks so much Nicole!

[@pattigolden1]

I think the coolest thing was the tree growing around the fire hydrant. I remember seeing this place on "mysteries of the abandoned"

[@rachelgervais1971]

This place is amazing and I love the pictures that showed the old days thanks again for your amazing work

[@Freaktography]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@forterierocks]

I found Detroit to be a very sad place, to know it was once a thriving place and now it looks like a nuclear explosion went off, it is definitely cool to see all the abandoned buildings and imagine what it once was.

[@ClaytonHartin]

Detroit made the US win WWll. GM produced tanks,jeeps,guns, and large trucks

[@wildestcowboy2668]

​@@ClaytonHartin true that but then the baby boomers ruined the country.

[@aimeekrieg9932]

Detroit was so awesome years ago, mainly the Auto industry made us. The Motor City was all that with the Big.3

[@davids9520]

Things have changed.

[@LaniseLashae_]

We’re fine! 😂

[@amberlautaoja6541]

Been to detroit many times when i was a kid. My great aunt lived close to detroit. I heard of this packard factory where homeless were living. Read it online somewhere. Thanks for the video

[@Freaktography]

Thanks for the info

[@williammontana3895]

Very nice video Dave. Photography and narrative and even the background music captured the sadness and the ambiance very nicely. Man can be so wasteful. Well done.

[@lorrainebryan7552]

Exactly

[@Freaktography]

Thanks William

[@colebearden95]

I really love the documentary style narration you did for this video! It makes it seem like something on National Geographic!

[@Freaktography]

Hey thanks so much

[@ceejay960]

Very nicely done! Good narration and subtle background music. I like how you included photos of the plant in its heyday juxtaposed with current footage, as well as the inclusion of things that happened there over the years. Good job!

[@CandyLitCrystalz]

Super awesome and amazing video ❤🤗❤

[@Freaktography]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@carvalhoribeiro]

Great content. This place has as many interesting stories as the Colosseum in Rome. I would really like it to become a museum on day. Thanks for sharing this.

[@clairefunnell8481]

Fantastic historic explore Dave. Wow! I love ruins and this is the ultimate ruin. Any updates about the demolition? 🤪 😜 gotta be careful here. Awesome Dave.

[@Freaktography]

thanks so much Claire

[@too2great8]

The shot of the construction hat on top of the recliner is such a great shot. It's something hauntingly, beautiful about abandoned things, especially houses and buildings.

[@jimzielinski]

Incredible video and great narrative. Thank you!

[@Freaktography]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cherryspiker4426]

i loved this one it was cool and the drone was perfect.. thanks for sharing ❤❤❤❤ stay safe love ya

[@Freaktography]

Thanks a bunch

[@rickrandall3174]

Excellent video. You did a great job with both the photography and the narration. Now your work is a historical record! The plant complex is being demolished now in 2024, erasing the legacy of Detroit's industrial past.

[@margannaful]

Scariest night of my life: 1985- LONG before Google maps and even cell phones, I took a wrong turn on my way to Ann Arbor and ended up right in front of the Packard plant in a pretty shady neighborhood late one night. I have no idea how I made it home that night. Bad memories for me haha

[@youcomic247]

You were lucky

[@Freaktography]

Wow!

[@youcomic247]

@@Freaktography please feature: Galactic Coin GLXT on your channel. They are building a crypto exchange soon

[@lorrainebryan7552]

I wouldn't have wanted to be in your shoes! Terrifying!!

[@verlaine4u]

You 42 😨

[@silverado9947]

Been watchin your channel for about a year now great stuff me and my wife would love to explore thanks for the videos great job

[@Freaktography]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@theronman714]

Awesome video and photos. This location is now one of my favorites. Thank you for your work.

[@Freaktography]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kimberlyclayton4985]

Crazy thank you for sharing about this lost history

[@Freaktography]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@munroborisenko7278]

Some shots really look like an empty city. Haunting and beautiful too.

[@MysticWolfAZ]

Great explore and commentary Dave! 👍

[@daniellek1191]

I realize I’m probably overthinking it, but I work in the automotive industry and seeing this video, makes me feel a little sad, thinking of a place that was once thriving and provided 40,000 jobs is now nothing a empty shell of its former self

[@nancyison1070]

Yeah Detroit is coming up though!! Some places you don’t want to go but others are being put back together. A change in leadership and money coming in the area has changed a lot. There are big cities that have crime and vandalism everywhere

[@Dallas_K]

Detroit has been "coming up" for 50 years. I got over it and left for Florida 15 years ago.

[@mollendinousa]

Detroit coming up? 😂 some areas are nicer because it's getting gentrified.

[@karenmilligan5597]

You did apocalyptic Detroit proud. 👍🏻

[@Roobitz]

Absolutely gorgeous video. I've explored a few abandoned factories, but they completely pale in comparison to this monolith.

[@Kevin_Bemis]

Wow, glad to see it is not quite as bad (yet) inside as it looks from the outside on the street. My wife and I took a paid/guided tour of the buildings in 2018 when they were still trying to refurbish parts of the complex into office buildings. It has a fascinating history and you did a good job with your video! When we were there they still had a full time security presence.

[@kennethsonier1766]

The Packard plant is one amazing structure, should I say several 😂 that's beautiful and sad at the same time 👍☮️

[@Freaktography]

It really is!

[@jonterrett]

Very informative thanks

[@Freaktography]

Thank YOU

[@TEXASBABYDOLL13]

wowwww so beautiful 🥰 imagine all the memories made there... So sad how it just sits abandoned now 😪

[@ladygray7028]

beautiful video

[@Freaktography]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jerroldmcley4347]

So cool 😎😎😎 wasn't sure I was going to like but loved the history and some of the art work keep it up your killing it

[@Freaktography]

hey thanks

[@leonelgaldiano326]

Parabéns pela incrível capacidade industrial de seu povo.

[@jamesholt7612]

This is an awesome video Dave. Myself I wouldn't want to live in Detroit. It's sad that those old vehicle manufacturing plants went out of business as well as several houses that sit abandoned in Detroit.

[@HardcamFrio]

I’m near Detroit and always want to explore Packard

[@michaelwutka9714]

That is haunting video. Grandpa is smiling at a place in Americana ...here but long forgotten.

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

Looks like a good time.

[@RGDYouTube]

Hopefully there is enough time before the demolition for someone to go through and get footage of every part of this huge complex.

[@michelleomer1047]

Really enjoyed this one 😎

[@suzannewojtkowiak4329]

loved this one - what absolute desolation!! Quite a history associated with it. I'm so glad you got this great video in case it does get demolished. My family had an old Ford 'woody' that I vaguely remember then after my brothers birth my Dad came home with a big, black Packard with red leather seats. Wonder whatever happened to that............

[@vincentconsolo5782]

I have to correct you on a couple of points.The last car to roll out of this plant was 1954 . The car's then rolled out of a leased plant from Chrysler that was a single story plant in 1955 and 56. Starting in the 1950s, the auto manufacturers were starting to pull away from multi-story plants as they were less efficient . Although , the big three did have a handful of multi story plants that were operated into the 80's and 90's . This original Packard plant actually turned out cars of better quality than the single-story plant that was leased from Chrysler . The plant that Packard leased from Chrysler had many quality control teething problems , and they were not corrected until it was practically too late . By then , Packard was almost out of business. That is when those issues were finally worked out . But as I said it was too late.The tenants that were in this plant we're forced out by the city of Detroit because the then current owner then owed a great deal of back property taxes. The City of Detroit wanted to demolish the entire plant even then , and , has wanted to do so since the early 90"s . Now this debacle with Mr Palezuelo is once again making this a mess .Those tunnels you were in were made for supply of hot water for heating , bathrooms , and manufacturing processes . Also electric power from the powerhouse across the street . .

[@Freaktography]

thanks for that info!

[@vincentconsolo5782]

Oh you're quite welcome ! 🙂 GREAT video ! I wanted to make a disclaimer that I didn't mean for that to sound critical . You did a great job ! I interviewed Mr Pajezuelo's Project Manager at their Detroit office in 2015 for my masters thesis about how the small american car car companies called " independents " impacted the city of Detroit , and other states and cities for generations to come to the present day . I flew all the way from Los Angeles to Detroit for this .😄

[@brewcrew5854]

nice bonus info ! i recall hearing that the Studebaker merger was a bit of a complication as the wheel base widths were different and they wouldnt properly ride on the tracking system at the plant. i operate a shop for perhaps the largest Packard collector in the country if not the world i have seen the best of the best that exist today .literally maybe 100 yards from where i sit

[@kategulick4781]

One of the prettiest cars ever is a '39 Packard.

[@OriginalSlimLee28]

The first house you see in this video that’s abandoned was my cousins house that sits on Webb St right off the Lodge Freeway. So many memories in that house. That whole block used to be beautiful when I was much younger. Pretty sad to see pretty much the whole city is looking bad like this now…

[@connorweis330]

I work in Detroit at a warehouse and it truly is sad passing all the abandoned homes that were once cared for by so many and all the empty lots and streets

[@bluezndance]

Thank you for not making the music overpowering over the narrator

[@Megabean]

Nice coincidence, I was reading through historical documents in my home town of London Ontario. Apparently a sales manager at Packard moved from Detroit to my home town and built a short lived car brand. London Motors LLC. I believe was the name. Sadly it didn't appear to be do to well but its fun seeing the history connect.

[@shawnamcdonald2463]

Omg I was scared for u being there and I would never go there looks scarry great place foe a Halloween haunt

[@maximuswedgie5149]

Sad. Look what opportunities we had here. Imagine getting a job right out of high school and then a car and a house. Just like that.

[@bucktis9]

yea what happened to those days

[@terriarnold4364]

The wonders of "Outsourcing can do for our "Beloved country😭

[@TatTwerp369]

not due to typical automotive outsourcing we think of today, which is a result of globalization. two major factors that point to the downfall of packard are the manufacturing processes of the big three and the uaw. the big three simply could produce more with competitive prices. the uaw strikes caused the plant to shut down for ~1 month altogether - which is catastrophic for automotive manufacturing. packard was forced to accept the uaw’s price hike of $9mil/year (~$113,574,399 adjusting for inflation) when the company was already running on margin thin profits. essentially, the uaw was a large, final nail in the coffin.

[@VikingDudee]

I mean it sucks to see a piece of history go like that, but I think it would be kind of neat in a way to allow local scrapers to come in and scrap what they can if they want it to go that bad, then just finish the rest with a demo company. Save money while helping someone earn a little bit of money. Had a small city do that here, they knocked an old factory down and allowed people to some in and load up their trucks and trailers with metal or well anything, City said it saved them more money than what it would of cost them to hire a demo company and then get rid of the stuff that could be scrapped. They had another company volunteer and clean up the stuff that wasn't able to be scrapped, kind of neat thing that most places wouldn't even allow you to do.

[@dev1360]

The engines you pictured being built during WW2 were the Rolls Royce Merlin engines they were contracted to build for the P51 Mustangs. Amazing history.

[@charlesking8943]

When I lived there in the 90s. We would go to underground house parties there. A ton of fun. There were a lot of cool things, one building had a bus at the top floor and a tree growing out of the bus. There was a cool deer sculpture above the door where we used to enter. Almost died twice exploring in the dark. Too big to explore in the night, dangerous. But I wish I had taken photos back then. They had one last party back then before it was to be taken down. That was 98 I think. They didn’t take it down. It is dangerous though.

[@BrianWD75]

here in 10/2024... any update to the site and the demolition? a pt 2 with some aerial drone footage would be amazing

[@rodgerpetrick6502]

They need to tear all of those unsightly buildings down. This will deter scum from living and dealing drugs.

[@Nocturnal2010]

There's nothing there anymore. I grew up over there. We explored all the factories in the early 90's. There were still factories on the riverside of Jefferson, up and down Mack, and best of all was the train tracks below ground and the factories that connected to them like the Rickle Malt Co I think it was called. Theres also a river that ran under Mt Elliot by the cemetery, its prob still there. Theres a lot underground everywhere around downtown

[@frankpaws]

I mean to still be standing over 100 years later is pretty impressive.

[@benjamindehr3179]

Welcome to the States! If you ever make it to Utah let me know, I won’t try to convert you.

[@marclaporte3710]

2:09 I have to dispute this. I'm born and raised across the river and frequently explore Detroit alone or with a buddy. And no, not just the downtown, New Center or Mexitown areas. Detroit is a city built for 2 million people but only has about 650K. I'll explore large treks of land/area and not encounter a single person.

[@bluezndance]

what was that tunnel for at 6:31, i could not hear what you said?

[@christopherburns6194]

That tunnel is a service tunnel for the electrical heating steam utilities

[@MightyWhiteofYou]

I used to be one of those people who partied at the Packard . The best times were had there. I have a romantic relationship with it. Watching nature take it back is bittersweet.

[@theurbanlandscape1820]

there's been lot't of demolitian at that place since this video was posted, updates please.

[@joluijten6313]

What is the background music from about 7.30 min ??

[@jamesjohnson7266]

When I explored it in 2002 there was a huge pile of shoes all in boxes similar to what is in this video also must have been a dumping site for tv's in another part just hundreds of tvs stacked up

[@roddycreswell8613]

This is what evil politicians can do to a thriving city.

[@slickdetroit8157]

Had many good and also bad times at the Packard Plant.. So sad to see it in the state it's in..

[@youmakemelaugh222]

3:24 👁👁 Damn I had to go back three times, I've never seen a🌳with a fire hydrant poking out, or a branch holding a pole...

[@GenXandProud]

I live about 45 minutes north of Detroit. Like everything else that is "ordered" to be demolished, this place is not coming down anytime soon. Detroit can't get around to tearing down all of the blighted houses it needs to...sure isn't going to get this huge job done in a reasonable time frame.

[@Freaktography]

ya i laughed at that 90 day deadline!

[@xPower4Goodx]

I work in that building with the white roof at the end of the plant. They’ve been making progress, but weather and crap like that has been putting some delays on it.

[@oliverb.6332]

We are all Detroit

[@handle2033]

Going to be a sad day when it finally comes down. Neat place, though.

[@bulgingbattery2050]

Maybe they could turn the packard plant into a museum of some sort?

[@gerardoavban7469]

Se les olvidó mencionar que Royksopp utilizó también ésta instalación para la grabación de su video The Drug 👍

[@saugasauce]

I went there today. They are starting to take it down.

[@samgorin9836]

if you listen quietly, you can still hear people saying "ask the man that owns one" ....

[@noahneutral7557]

I can't believe it's been torn down now.

[@letsbefruitful5457]

There was a man that had a real estate office in there while it was a banded back in 1994, my parents use to pay bills there , and I used to be creeped out when they used to drive us through there😂I was about 8/9 years old 😊

[@plymouthmechanic3423]

14:50 a pile of shoes? That looks really out of place

[@matthewsanders1486]

I would like to know more now😂

[@davidpowell3347]

Wonder if the Proving Grounds and the "New Engine Plant" (produced the v8 engines for the 1955 and 1956 model years,also some engines installed in Studebaker "Skypower" are somewhere nearby the Packard was probably the best American car during its heyday,although the last years seem to have had terrible problems with their underdeveloped automatic transmission which probably contributed to the demise of the brand,also the failure to update the old but good plant in favor of trying to assemble the cars in an undersized facility that was leased from Chrysler

[@andypandy9931]

It must have been a fantastic place to live in the 1950's

[@williambaribeau6518]

Heading there for 3 days on the 10 of October wanna meet up and explore?

[@Spiritofthewild-d9o]

KZbinrs should start exploring the abandoned romeo ford plant, its been closed like 6 years

[@jeff022889]

go a half mile north east and see the GM EV plant that has been producing millions of vehicles since 1980. It also has been converted to EV. You must understand the auto industry is fluid. Henry Ford founded two failed auto companies before opening Ford Motor Company.

[@jameseastwood4984]

I visited the plant in 2018, it was being guarded by security and a big redevelopment was planned. I guess the redevelopment never raised the capital to start, which isn't surprising to be honest, the site is too big.

[@goodnight3663]

they say they're destroying it now but from what it seems they've only done 1/8 of a block so far

[@4knanapapa]

Packard was a integral part of the arsenal of democracy during WW2, their engines were used in untold eguipment, and their manufacturing capacity built all types of equipment used in the war, they definitely played a big part in the war effort, sad.

[@jcee2259]

Visiting the city owned property once was enough to buy my own piece of disused industry. A former brewery. Only yhre freight elevator was functional. Had a good time cleaning it, doing repairs, and out doing solo recreational walks amid the ruins. After a few years I swapped the title and got a fishing shack with a white trash bass boat on the Arkansas River. Why wait for anything better?

[@jcee2259]

Ruin Porn - As art it solicits a judge from within us and a ruling. Any degree certification I leave to others.

[@Jacobsparks]

We have an open carry law here in Michigan, you'd have to pay a fee being a non resident of the state, but I'd recommend protecting yourself if you're worried about thief's :)

[@loriepostlewaite162]

Sad to see such once a grand place come to what is now this

[@mistergoodcitizen9914]

Taxes are too high making us uncompetitive even with superior quality. Blame your government.

[@bucktis9]

why is this still standing?

[@verlaine4u]

Bro found da hood irl 💀

[@Mira-cf9ek]

It just tells you how long that site has been abandoned for when a tree has grown around a fire hydrant.

[@titusrider7948]

Blade Runner Dystopian complex 😮

[@adammiller2246]

A question I have is , Why is the Packard plant so big? It seems that G M or Ford should have a site as big as this. Packard was not making a huge profit during its entire life. It is sad to see a site like this to rot away. Just think if we stopped buying all of the Chinese crap that is imported, ( there is no chance of cutting back on Chinese buying. It is all we have now ). There would be many companies that could move in the plant.

[@yoranw4608]

Awesome footage. *But I would strongly advise you to:* 1. Wear big and tall leather or rubber boots. Scorpions and eventually snakes could live among the trash. 2. Carry a gun. Beyond being within a big abandoned place, you are also in Detroit, a no man’s land.

[@matthewholtz8830]

Scorpions? Michigan? No. None of those there. I wouldn’t even worry about venomous snakes either.

[@yoranw4608]

@@matthewholtz8830 Well, you never know if someone dropped one there and they did reproduce... LOL

[@matthewholtz8830]

@@yoranw4608 that would cool to see it reproduce by itself. Lol

[@xPower4Goodx]

Yeahh you’re not from around here are you lmaooo

[@seano2178]

It's really sad to see a piece of American history disappear due to vandalism and lack of care. This could have been a museum. At least a piece could have been.