The Atlas Obscura Podcast Exploring the Abandoned with Blake Pfeil (Holiday Classic)
Dec 26, 2024
Blake Pfeil, an artist and adventurer known for his podcast "Abandoned: All-American Ruins," shares his passion for exploring forgotten places. He discusses how these crumbling sites serve as profound escapes from reality and reflect on themes of nostalgia and creativity. Blake dives into personal transformation through urban exploration, especially during the pandemic. He reveals emotional connections to community history and his journey of sobriety. Unexpected encounters in these haunting spaces add depth to his explorations, sparking a unique appreciation for the past.
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Childhood Explorations
- Blake Pfeil grew up near an abandoned sanatorium and convent, sparking his interest in ruins.
- At five, exploring an abandoned dairy farm, he imagined the people who once lived there.
Escapism and Fantasy
- Exploring abandoned places allowed young Blake to blur reality and fantasy, coping with family secrets.
- Inventing stories in these spaces offered an escape from the tensions of a deceptive home life.
Family Secrets
- Blake's family presented a perfect image to the public, contrasting with internal turmoil and his attraction to men.
- This dissonance fueled his need to create alternate realities in abandoned spaces.