Zug Island | Detroit/River Rouge, Michigan 4K Aerial Drone View

[@willkay73]

My grandfather was a pipe fitter. He did a lot of work on Zug back in the day.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

That’s cool! I’m sure he told you some good stories.

[@raysuave20]

Great video. I worked there about 10 years ago as an engineer. Nasty place to work but it was a great learning experience. I enjoyed working on projects to improve and maintain the huge fascinating equipment. Last project I worked on at Zug was refurbishing a steam turbine. This turbine drives a 4 rotor fan assembly that would be used for providing the air blast to "A1" blast furnace. "A1" furnace is the first furnace to the left of the rocker bridge in the video. It had been non-operational for many years and the plan was to bring it back online but was canceled due to the slump in the economy after 2008. I also worked at the 80" Hot Strip Mill in maintenance and was involved in a few other projects at the Cold Mill, the main plant. When I left the company, the two remaining furnaces were still operating. "B2" furnace is the second furnace to the left of the rocker bridge. "D4" was the newest furnace towards the middle of the island and had the highest yield. At about the 4:00 minute mark, you can see "D4" to the left and to the right you can see the Coke Oven gas flare stack. The Coke Battery is operated by DTE. There was a "C3" furnace between A1 and B2 but I was told it was mostly demolished after an accident.

[@Ohgeez-l8c]

Wow 😮

[@kurtboginski507]

A great look at the remants of once great industries now left to rot. Thanks Michael. Keep those great videos coming.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@kurtboginski507 Thank you for watching, Kurt! I wonder if they will demolish this area.

[@kurtboginski507]

@@michaelanthonyvideos Honestly, I think it will be demolished and we will all pay for it! In the end we pay for everything.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@kurtboginski507 As usual.

[@a.d.ggaming1877]

There’s still about 500 people that still work there for the time being

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@a.d.ggaming1877 Is that at the coke plant?

[@Ohgeez-l8c]

That opening is amazing!!!

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@Ohgeez-l8c Thanks! 🙏

[@torchandhammer]

Starting about 4:00 you can see some of the bottle cars (behind the white hopper cars) that would carry molten steel, via the Delray Connecting Railroad, to the USSX plant in River Rouge. The trains would run 24/7.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@torchandhammer Yeah that’s interesting. I wonder what they’re gonna do with all this. They might not be able to recycle all this because of the toxins.

[@relevantinformation6655]

Downtown Detroit has made a heck of a comeback !!! ❤️D

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@relevantinformation6655 yeah it’s amazing! ❤️

[@mortsey]

Zug is kinda like Mordor... Fitting music.

[@scottburns2600]

I was on the Burns Harbor in 1990 when it unloaded at the Zug island Detroit River face dock; back when it was still National Steel. We were covering tonnage of taconite pellets lost when the George A Stinson was broken down with engine issues

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

Wow, that's very interesting. Thanks for sharing that!

[@kimkelly-kline3768]

Wow!! Thanks for the vid..had many friends that worked there...didn't know it was so close to the Gordie Howe Bridge though..great drone footage and excellent music..

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@kimkelly-kline3768 Thank you Kim, glad you like it! 👍

[@joelyons3713]

Cool footage, this place has familiar look to me as I used to haul steel rolls, coils, out of USS in Ecourse, MI.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@joelyons3713 Thank you! I’m sure you drove through this area.

[@thxdts]

Excellent drone skills as usual. You get closer to objects than I feel comfortable doing, but I'm getting better. That wire hanging down at around 3:20 seems almost too close for comfort. Love that shot though!

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@thxdts Thank you! The drone isn’t as close as it looks. It’s kinda of of like the car side mirrors.

[@sparkybluefox]

I approve of this fine example of aerial camera work ! Score audio ! Awesome ! sbf

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@sparkybluefox Hello SBF! I’m glad you like the video and thank you for commenting!

[@wolfiethedog76]

To cleanup Zug Island would be a monumental task!

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@wolfiethedog76 Yes it sure would. Then the land clean up as well.

[@wolfiethedog76]

@@michaelanthonyvideos They would have to dig to the center of the Earth to get to uncontaminated land....woof

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@wolfiethedog76 😬

[@blueman5924]

Imagine the industrial sites nation wide that are destined for revitalization. So much work to be done. Sure hope the companies anti up, and clean up.🙏 Nice flights sir. 👍👍

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@blueman5924 I doubt that the steel company will pay for any cleanup cost. Maybe the government can file lawsuit but I don’t really see how since they allow this. What would they do with all that steel and metal since they probably can’t recycle it?

[@blueman5924]

@@michaelanthonyvideos Should all be recyclable, as the blast furnaces in China that melt it, aren’t picky eaters.👍

[@bulgingbattery2050]

Zug has been around for a long long time.

[@Derpy1969]

The Zug Hum stopped when the plant shut down. It’s also supposed to be locked down unless the cameras and signs have been removed.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@Derpy1969 I wasn’t on the island. I just flew above it.

[@happyhome41]

Your video captured a bit of vehicle traffic, and the rocker bridge would appear to still be active, looking at the barges you showed up river. What is still functioning on Zug for there to be all that traffic ? And it would seem the rail yards are still being used, for storage if nothing else.

[@KAM-zi9zl]

Coke battery is still in operation USS sold it to a division of DTE. Coke went into the once operational blast furnaces, coke gas helped fuel boilers on mainland River Rouge Power Plant.

[@happyhome41]

@@KAM-zi9zl Thank you. 😃

[@TimBarnes-u7v]

Did zug have different union trades or all uaw.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@TimBarnes-u7v I’m think it was union trades.

[@jameslang6767]

Michael and you get inside some of the facilities, ex blast floor, or over where they unloaded the ore ships. I worked there two summers while going to MSU It's not quite like I remember it but it was working then and everything was dirty brown.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

It would be cool to see the inside.

[@louoldschool7047]

I worked there back in the 70's

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

Tell us some stories.

[@louoldschool7047]

@@michaelanthonyvideos , it rained metal flakes all the time, when you blew your nose, black stuff would come out

[@jameslang6767]

A buddy and I climbed up on one of the gas tanks (large round things like you can see from 75), we looked around and then lit up our cigarettes. When we came down there were plant security officers that escorted us to the main office. they were going to fire us BECAUSE these were (methine tanks with breathers I think). Anyway, they told us we could have wiped out the riverfront from Zug to the other side of downtown Detroit. The union stepped in and said, since there were no warning signs, they could not fire us. The next morning when we came to work, there was 6 foot fencing and barbed wire all around the tank and a locked gate. The stupid things summer replacement (college kids) do

[@leeriffee4606]

It's such a contrast between the new construction of the bridge and customs facilities and the gritty industrialized and derelict residential areas. I wonder if any of these areas will see any improvement once the bridge is open. Or perhaps it might just remain an area where lots of people (and goods) pass thru....

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@leeriffee4606 Maybe the USS Stella plant will be demolished at least. Thank you for watching!

[@grafzepplin5944]

This drone footage is beyond expert. Contrats. Born and raised in detroit. Moved out in the early 70's when crime got out of control. The auto, steel, utility, (and others) industries were international giants. So were the unions, and (rumored) political graft. Massive shame this could not be controlled. detroit held so much promise 50+ years ago. What is it now?

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@grafzepplin5944 Thank you so much for your kind words! Half of the city moved out in the 70’s but the downtown and surrounding areas are revitalizing.

[@Diddley-js6lf]

The Whole Downfall of Flint and Detroit Was GM And Ford Felt The Unions Held To Much Power, They Also Knew The South Had Cheaper Wage Average and Albeit No Unions To Deal With. Hence all The Automakers All Went South, Then The Free Trade Act Drove The Last Nail in The Coffin. Detroit was First To Move Into Receivership Then Flint a Few Years Later. They Moved Some To Mexico Then Outsourced Many Parts To China.

[@Diddley-js6lf]

There is One Thing That Happens For The Good Waterways Cleaned Up Drastically.

[@Diddley-js6lf]

Not Many Freighters Float The Rivers Anymore.

[@circleinforthecube5170]

not even rumored, its basically confirmed, detroit fell apart from corruption, bad 40s-80s style urban planning, car centrism, industry dependency and so on

[@whatchaMACALLEM-222]

worked here for a long time lots of good memories. one of the dirtiest places I've ever worked at was here. sad to see them shut the furnacea down though. end of an era for sure.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@whatchaMACALLEM-222 That must have been quite an experience.

[@whatchaMACALLEM-222]

@@michaelanthonyvideos oh yeah definitely and after working here you can work anywhere no problem. some of the hardest work i've ever had to do was here through my 20's.

[@michaeltrousdale2510]

University of Zug Island.. made a lot of money on this Island

[@Pilot_engineer_19]

This is in the downriver area of Detroit or maybe River Rouge area. When it was operating it bilged out a lot of pollution, could be seen and smelled for miles. So it probably would be a good idea to move it elsewhere. Not to mention the effects on the surrounding rivers and lakes. 😮

[@charlesweaver2406]

Clean that up make a formula one style race track with an actual village of homes and condos at street edge like in Monico call it. Ford 1 milinanal village

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

That's an idea!

[@yamac488]

Milinanal??

[@TheInsaneupsdriver]

over a decade ago we complained (windsor) about the incinerator dumping on our downtown, your courts told us to take a hike despite international agreements suppose to be preventing this, then massively hypocritical of the Detroit leadership a few years later when we had a big chemical fire, they complained to us for the smoke. ALSO the local hum is from Zug Island but Bribes kept the people from finding out which company is responsible and is still happening today.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@TheInsaneupsdriver Typical political coverups and corruption. That’s half the reason why half of the citizens left Detroit during the 1970’s.

[@wolfiethedog76]

Zug Island reminds me of the final battle scene from RoboCop between him and Clarence Boddicker's gang.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@wolfiethedog76 Yes it does!

[@MrFullService]

Zug is only zug as long as it stays zuggy. It must stay grimy and forbidding. This Detroit, not Tribal Boston.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

Thank you for watching! 👍

[@TheBaconKing32]

Nice opening. This place would cause a massive hum in the detroit area when operating.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@TheBaconKing32 Thank you! At least USS Steel shut down.

[@yamac488]

@@michaelanthonyvideosno they didn’t lol they just don’t run the blast furnaces or BOP or Hot Strip Mill anymore

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@yamac488 Well yeah, that’s what I meant. Thanks for watching!

[@mrreddog]

Looks like those barges are the Detroit fireworks barges, looks to be the mortar tube racks idling on the barge decks?? Can anyone confirm??

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@mrreddog Yes they do look like the same ones. 🧐

[@themandolinmaniac]

One of the most toxic places in the midwest, sadly. the area will be devastated for decades to come. and who got rich?

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

It’s sad.

[@nickgregg2794]

I worked there till 2019

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

What was that like?

[@RayDAider1]

That's a whole lot of scrap iron sitting there...

[@baronvonfrankenstein6295]

If I was a rich man I'd buy Zug island and build Frigates for the Navy.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@baronvonfrankenstein6295 There’s an idea 💡

[@circleinforthecube5170]

good luck getting to the ocean, those canals aren't big enough for even a arleigh burke class

[@baronvonfrankenstein6295]

@@circleinforthecube5170 Fincantieri is building Constellation class frigates right now at Marinette marine Wisconsin.

[@ElonMuskegon]

So.. Would I be okay, say, just going to check it out on foot? Or is that a no no? I really wanna see it.

[@dCeUtube]

Walking no. Driving maybe.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

Security is everywhere with no trespassing signs and a private road sign.

[@ElonMuskegon]

@@michaelanthonyvideos Damn. I'll settle for the drone stuff then. 😕

[@yamac488]

@@ElonMuskegonthese buildings were practically falling in on themselves when I worked there until 2019, I wouldn’t recommend you or anybody else go near them without the last 5 years of their usual “band-aid” repairs they always had us do lol

[@IRONDAWG63]

i use to haul scrap up there

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@IRONDAWG63 Scrap from there?

[@IRONDAWG63]

@@michaelanthonyvideos NO TO THERE

[@triple6758]

We used to be encouraged to manufacture our own goods. The money people changed that.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@triple6758 💯. It’s sad 😔

[@nedkent5239]

Mother Nature nowhere to be found. Can’t even imagine how polluted that land is. Guaranteed will be a Super Fund site in future. All because of human greed.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@nedkent5239 There are some areas that are fields but it looks so dismal.

[@yamac488]

It’s a steel mill, it’s as polluted as pretty much any steel mill in the world is. None of them are clean places

[@rickrandall3174]

04:35 Look at that oily sludge in the water on the left. Nasty, toxic stuff. Glad that I don't live there! 😀

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@rickrandall3174 The air quality in the area is bad.

[@tcf190]

Didn't see any pheasants.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

Not this time.

[@ericjohnson9356]

zug island sounds like a prison''' alright.

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@ericjohnson9356 And looks even worse.

[@vehdynam]

Then and now , sad really.

[@n1ckender]

I still work there guys 🫣

[@michaelanthonyvideos]

@@n1ckender Do you work at the coke plant?

[@n1ckender]

@@michaelanthonyvideos Unfortunately