Detroit urbex tours! Yay!

[WaCoTS]

Is this really what it has degraded into? A complete Disneyland attraction?



Join Alanna, Jesse and Eric for a Day in the D! Abandoned building bus tour of Detroit! Spend a day with us exploring inside some of the best-known abandoned buildings of Detroit all while riding in a Bianco luxury bus with wi-fi and a bathroom! - the Book Tower, Packard Plant, Fisher Body Plant 21 and the outside of the Michigan Train Station [[locations are subject to change). Along the way to these destinations we will take the "Scenic Route" through some of Detroit's neighborhoods, the Edison District, Indian Village, and everyday Detroit. See Detroit's true beauty. Now that is the way to spend a Saturday!

Lunch will be Included Traffic Jam and Snug at 1:00 pm

[[limited menu provided)

The bus tour will depart from Oakland Mall [[outside Macy's), where we will meet and park our cars. Boarding to the bus will commence at 9:30 am and depart 10:00 am sharply. From there, we will stop at the above listed locations, where you will have the opportunity to take photos. We will return to the mall by 6:00 pm.

*******SAVINGS************************************ ***

The cost of the tour is $125 BUT if you book a space by Wednesday, January 31, the cost is only $100 [[$25 savings!). You can book the bus tour here through PayPal and once the January 31 date goes by, the price will be changed to $125. So don't delay!

__________________________________________________ ___

We look forward to seeing you there, this is going to be one great trip. Let's hit the ground rolling! Revive Detroit!

*ALL participants are expected to be in general good health and must sign a liability waiver. If you require special accommodation please feel free to contact Jesse or Alanna


The Bus

Our trusted vendor Bianco Tours has provided us with the best

◦55-Passenger
◦TV monitors and DVD players
◦Reclining seats
◦Restrooms
◦Public address systems
◦Stereos
◦Individual climate controls
◦Individual reading lights
◦Polarized windows for viewing pleasure
◦Adjustable foot rests
◦Air-ride suspension
◦Overhead storage compartments
◦On-board Internet services
◦Uniformed drivers
◦Fresh Water

Go to FaceBook and like us!

http://www.meetup.com/Motor-City-Pho...ents/99947512/
http://www.meetup.com/Motor-City-Pho...ents/98733272/



seriously....wtf? I wonder what the DPD think of this....lol

[BigChum]

Hey! The bus has wifi so what do you want. This is the future of Detroit right here.

[WaCoTS]

yeah definitely, lol...why not just set up our own version of Disney's "It's A Small World After All" ride through the blighted areas of our city?

ugh, time to go throw up now

[Gistok]

"Michigan Train Station" and "Edison District".... something is amiss here... these tour operators don't sound like they know their itinerary....

[Wheels]

This should be part of the business ripe to start in Detroit thread. There is only one spot left already at 100 bucks a pop. They need more buses! LOL

[Eber Brock Ward]

Let's examine if it's possible to get them arrested for trespassing or some other offense, even if it's just a fine.

I'm not familiar with Detroit/Michigan law, but do private citizens have standing to call the cops and report that folks are trespassing on others' [[i.e., not their) property?

Let's flesh this out and see if there's anything that can be done.

[Eber Brock Ward]

http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...doned-building

It *can* happen. I know a few DPD cops, but don't know their districts or even if they can enforce stuff outside of their districts. Would be nice to alert them to the details of the trip.

[warsaw7]

Let's examine if it's possible to get them arrested for trespassing or some other offense, even if it's just a fine.

I'm not familiar with Detroit/Michigan law, but do private citizens have standing to call the cops and report that folks are trespassing on others' [[i.e., not their) property?

Let's flesh this out and see if there's anything that can be done.

I second this request. Please flush these vultures out!

[ScienceFair]

It would be nice if the organizers would at least donate the proceeds to Preservation Detroit or something. But they don't seem to have that kind of mindset.

[p69rrh51]

It would be nice if the organizers would at least donate the proceeds to Preservation Detroit or something. But they don't seem to have that kind of mindset.

Just out of curiosity why should the proceeds be donated to Detroit Presevation or other groups?

[Eber Brock Ward]

Also, a news article for reference: http://www.topix.com/forum/detroit/T3PLP8LN6KOM37IPU

[Eber Brock Ward]

BTW, it's the "Scenic Route" in quotes that has me this fired up.

Unbelievable.

[Not In MI]

I think a more appropriate name for this tour should be "Explore what 50 Plus Years of a Majority Democrat / Pro-Union / High - Taxes / Anti - Business Government Base Will Get You"

[Goose]

I think a more appropriate name for this tour should be "Explore what 50 Plus Years of a Majority Democrat / Pro-Union / High - Taxes / Anti - Business Government Base Will Get You"

white suburbanites - come see real, actual, live black people from the protection of your first class bus accomodations...


disgusting.....

[daveyarm]

I think a more appropriate name for this tour should be "Explore what 50 Plus Years of a Majority Democrat / Pro-Union / High - Taxes / Anti - Business Government Base Will Get You"

Or.....
"Explore what 50 Plus Years of Automotive Management Mistakes / Republican Neglect / Elitist Lansing Government Base Will Get You."

[Lowell]

Maybe this should be moved to the "What Is A Business That Would Be RIPE For Starting In Detroit?" thread.

There is huge demand for this. Because of "The Fabulous Ruins of Detroit" site, I have been asked countless times over the years for guided trips of the ruins. When I say $500 an hour with a minimum of 6 hours that quiets things down.

Chartering a bus could gross $4-5K at his rates but who wants to deal with the legalities and potential liabilities? Good luck to them. I wouldn't touch that even with signed releases.

[WaCoTS]

Just out of curiosity why should the proceeds be donated to Detroit Presevation or other groups?

notice the part in the flyer where it says "We look forward to seeing you there, this is going to be one great trip. Let's hit the ground rolling! Revive Detroit!"

they could at least do something more than just lip service to the cause.

i think that Detroiturbex.com site also offers guided abandoned blg tours apparently for profit...?

[BigChum]

i think that Detroiturbex.com site also offers guided abandoned blg tours apparently for profit...?

Yeah, they just tend to be smaller and without that awesome bus. And I don't think they include lunch but I could be wrong.

Maybe as a bonus everyone can get to start their own abandoned building fire just like in 8 Mile!

[Király]

i think that Detroiturbex.com site also offers guided abandoned blg tours apparently for profit...?

Not big tours. Small. It's a one man operation. And he doesn't provide transportation. You have to bring your own, you drive, and he rides along. Costs a little more than a spot on this bus for a full day. It's what he does for a living.

But he's brilliant. He takes you where you want to go if you already have an idea, and/or suggests locations based on your interests. Provides the back story and the history of what you are seeing. He spends hours a week at the library researching city history. He pointed me into the Palmer Park apartment district while we were passing by and I got a look at the magnificent architecture, all from the outside. Would have completely missed that had I been on my own. Worth every penny.

[Richard]

Not big tours. Small. It's a one man operation. And he doesn't provide transportation. You have to bring your own, you drive, and he rides along. Costs a little more than a spot on this bus for a full day. It's what he does for a living.

But he's brilliant. He takes you where you want to go if you already have an idea, and/or suggests locations based on your interests. Provides the back story and the history of what you are seeing. He spends hours a week at the library researching city history. He pointed me into the Palmer Park apartment district while we were passing by and I got a look at the magnificent architecture, all from the outside. Would have completely missed that had I been on my own. Worth every penny.

In that context okay and you did say it was from the outside but from their website the following quote.

"Participants should be in general good health and dress appropriately [[layers, boots, etc.) as it could be overly warm or cold inside the buildings. Bring a flashlight. We will provide bottled water."

The signing of the waiver is that to protect the tour operators from liabilities or is that a waiver from the actual property owners so they can be protected from a potential lawsuit?

[Bad Brains]

Not big tours. Small. It's a one man operation. And he doesn't provide transportation. You have to bring your own, you drive, and he rides along. Costs a little more than a spot on this bus for a full day. It's what he does for a living.

But he's brilliant. He takes you where you want to go if you already have an idea, and/or suggests locations based on your interests. Provides the back story and the history of what you are seeing. He spends hours a week at the library researching city history. He pointed me into the Palmer Park apartment district while we were passing by and I got a look at the magnificent architecture, all from the outside. Would have completely missed that had I been on my own. Worth every penny.

Let me get this straight, you actually PAID to have someone take you exploring?

No offense, but please say you aren't serious. Isn't the whole idea, thrill, fascination, and overall point of exploring is to...explore? You PAID someone for this? If you are serious, that's a complete waste of money and rather sad.

You could have easily researched these buildings and found your own way in for free. You even could have networked online a little bit with other people with similar interests who wouldn't have charged you to hang out. It's your money though, you can spend it as you want.....

[Richard]

Let me get this straight, you actually PAID to have someone take you exploring?

No offense, but please say you aren't serious. Isn't the whole idea, thrill, fascination, and overall point of exploring is to...explore? You PAID someone for this? If you are serious, that's a complete waste of money and rather sad.

You could have easily researched these buildings and found your own way in for free. You even could have networked online a little bit with other people with similar interests who wouldn't have charged you to hang out. It's your money though, you can spend it as you want.....

I do not know about that ,I have been hanging out here learning about the city and those who live in it and getting to know it in a different perspective and when it comes time for my first time after listening to some of you guys I would gladly pay for a guided tour and tour guides bodyguards if needed,and I can well take care of myself if needed.

A lot of tourists do not have the time for all of the research and getting to know the intimates of a host city and especially coming from another country ,it is easier to take in the the sites with less stress of ending up in the wrong neighborhood or spending half of the time getting lost etc. it in general becomes a more relaxing and enjoyable experience.

But the one thing is I would never even think of traveling to another city and disrespecting their customs and laws or act any different then I would expect those to act if the situation were reversed.

[Király]

Let me get this straight, you actually PAID to have someone take you exploring?

No offense, but please say you aren't serious. Isn't the whole idea, thrill, fascination, and overall point of exploring is to...explore? You PAID someone for this? If you are serious, that's a complete waste of money and rather sad.

Nope. It's not something to do alone, especially when one is a novice like me. Going with an experienced explorer is the only way to do it with even a minimal degree of safety.

You could have easily researched these buildings and found your own way in for free.

I did research most of them myself and could have easily gone alone for free. But I'm not that stupid. And I wouldn't have seen nearly as much had I not had an expert with me who made suggestions based on my interests. That's what a good tour guide does.

You even could have networked online a little bit with other people with similar interests who wouldn't have charged you to hang out.

Ha ha, right. Good way to get preyed on by criminals pretending to be explorers. Not a chance. Lots of "explorers" are nothing more than idiot vandals anyway who know nothing about the places they "visit." Not gonna take my chances on ending up with idiots like that.

I followed Detroiturbex's writeups for a month and asked for and checked two of his references before I hired him. The references told me that he excels at providing the back story, the history, and the context of what each location. And that was indeed the case. That's what made it worthwhile; I learned something about each place.

It's your money though, you can spend it as you want.....

The money I paid for his services dwarfs the money I spent getting to and from Detroit from the west coast, what I paid to stay at a nice downtown hotel, and to patronize local businesses and restaurants. Exploring abandoned buildings is by far not the only thing I did.

[Bad Brains]

had I not had an expert with me who made suggestions based on my interests.

An expert? You have got to be kidding me.

[Bad Brains]

Lots of "explorers" are nothing more than idiot vandals anyway who know nothing about the places they "visit." Not gonna take my chances on ending up with idiots like that.

You know this exactly how? How many "explorers" in Detroit do you actually know?