Abandoned Observatory

by Kaylah Stroup
The observatory is another building that was on my radar long before I moved to Cleveland. I actually ended up there once by accident when I got lost on my way back from Cleveland. Sometimes the MapQuest app gets me allllll mixed around, and that was one of the times it actually turned out okay. I parked my car, got out and snapped a few photos. Once again, never thought that some day I’d be inside of it with my best friends (check out our super cute group shot here!)

The observatory is probably one of the coolest buildings in Cleveland, in my opinion. Its size is deceiving from the outside. It doesn’t look that large but once inside you realize, it’s quite large and it’s a maze!

In the 1950s Cleveland’s light pollution began to make research impossible from this location. Eventually the building was sold in 1983, abandoned, and remained neglected until 2005 when a couple who planned on turning it into their residence bought the property for a mere 115k. Those plans were soon thwarted when the new owner was convicted of mortgage fraud. Since then the building has just been sitting and rotting.

xoxo

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31 comments

graceforagirl September 3, 2014 - 12:52 pm

Oh this just made me smile.
I didn't know there was someone who loved exploring and old buildings as much as me.

You happy child, you.

dissolvedintosomething September 3, 2014 - 1:10 pm

Very cool! Thanks for sharing. I love the adventures you go on!

Kaylah September 3, 2014 - 3:20 pm

I'm glad you enjoy seeing them! 🙂

thislittlespaceblog September 3, 2014 - 1:53 pm

Stunning.

Kaylah September 3, 2014 - 3:20 pm

It really is!

xabz Mukuba September 3, 2014 - 2:07 pm

i love how you find abandoned buildings and you take great photographs

Kaylah September 3, 2014 - 3:20 pm

Thanks!! 🙂

julia September 3, 2014 - 2:17 pm

nice! i really like the look of the "dome"

zoe September 3, 2014 - 2:29 pm

I think this abandoned observatory is my favorite in your abandoned series. It's such a unique location! I love the crumbling domed architecture, the overgrown greenery, and the bright smears of street art plastered inside the walls. These are beautiful and inspiring photos!

The What's In Between

Kaylah September 4, 2014 - 6:07 pm

Thanks, Zoe! I'm glad you like them!! 🙂

Alexandria Brady September 3, 2014 - 3:17 pm

That looks so amazing, I love seeing abandoned places!

Kaylah September 4, 2014 - 6:07 pm

I'm glad because I sure like sharing the photos here on the blog! 😉

Helena Terry September 3, 2014 - 3:17 pm

I swear you find the coolest places ever. I wish these kind of places were near where I lived! always love reading about your little adventures:)
Helena / helenaterry.blogspot.co.uk

Kaylah September 4, 2014 - 6:08 pm

Helena, I'm sure there are tons of amazing places near you. You just have to get out and look.

Melissa September 3, 2014 - 3:21 pm

Oh wow, this building is so incredibly beautiful!! I wish someone (perhaps who hasn't committed fraud?) would buy it and restore/renovate it. That would be something wonderful to see.

Melissa
WildFlowerChild

Carly Kaste September 3, 2014 - 3:24 pm

The graffiti in these abandoned places you find is always the most inspiring part to me.

jess buckley September 3, 2014 - 4:02 pm

what a gorgeous building! I'm like you, I love to go exploring like this!

Cate Anevski September 3, 2014 - 5:47 pm

Wow, what a great find! As an avid stargazer, I find it a little sad to see an abandoned observatory, but at least it's completely beautiful in its current state.

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of lens do you use for these photos? It works wonderfully for the architectural photos – nice and wide without getting distorted. Very lovely!

Jenn Punsalang-Cloutier September 3, 2014 - 6:10 pm

I'd so absolutely love to have a home like this building someday, it's so neat!
I'm totally digging the ivy grown all over the front of the building, it's definitely a prerequisite for any future home of mine!
You find the coolest places!

Sydney McFerron September 3, 2014 - 8:28 pm

Oh wow that's so cool! How on earth do you find all these places?
Much love,
Sydney
http://indie-and-co.com/

Ellen Bourne September 3, 2014 - 9:13 pm

You always find the coolest places! I love, love that photo of the chair!

Maria September 4, 2014 - 2:04 am

Wow, I wish there were more abandoned places in my city. It is just so eerie and intriguing!

Zorah September 4, 2014 - 4:35 am

Great photos! it's a shame this building is abandoned and decaying it looks like it was a beautiful building. Hopefully someone else will buy it and rehab it. But there's just something so cool about decaying buildings. I love your whole urban explorer series, all the pictures are just so cool.

Kayla Lukawiecki September 4, 2014 - 11:01 am

Man, can you imagine if they had been able to convert it into a private residence? That'd be an amazing place to live in

gunterandbean September 4, 2014 - 6:00 pm

Of all your abandoned building tours, this is my favorite yet! Observatories are so architecturally unique.

Johnna LaFaith September 4, 2014 - 6:33 pm

Abandoned buildings are in my top 5 most favorite things. I love "breaking in" and I love everything about the feeling of a lost building. Wonderful photo set.

Lostvestige September 4, 2014 - 11:52 pm

What a cool place! It's sad that it's wasting away, it would make one amazing house!

Victoria Penrose-Jones September 6, 2014 - 7:51 pm

Oh wow! This place looks amazing. Your pictures are incredible too; that one of the chair is perfect!

Victoria x

Kate September 8, 2014 - 8:13 pm

Ugh. With some TLC, obviously, that place would be the most badass house ever. Maybe someone can make that dream come true someday.

Elif September 8, 2014 - 9:04 pm

The place is amazing but I gotta say I'm really loving the "I lost my mind?" bit. The question mark at the end of really says something about it 🙂

Favorite 10 abandoned spots in 2014 - THE DAINTY SQUID March 25, 2023 - 1:52 pm

[…] The Observatory. Apartment complex. Rochester Subway. Cement Factory. The Rubber Duck Factory. Bombay Beach. Church. Victoreen Instrument Company. Amusement Park. Home, Sweet, Abandoned Home. […]

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