Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Die: Your Next Romantic Getaway
Disclaimer: The following post contains satire and mature images. Reader discretion is advised.
The courtyard. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
Tired of the beach and its pristine sands? Bored of the cities that exude charm at every corner? For your next romantic Halloween getaway, consider Concrete City in Pennsylvania! Just miles away from the majestic Poconos, this former neighborhood is nestled deep in the woods of Nanticoke. It’s so hidden that it might as well hide you once you get there!
Concrete ruins. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
Why go on a trip to Greece when you can see 100-year-old ruins scattered around Concrete City? Once known as the "Garden City of the Anthracite Region," the employee housing of the Delaware and Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company has so much for adventurous couples. Take a stroll over the courtyard, reclaimed by nature, and admire the industrial strength concrete housing.
The courtyard. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
Made possible by hard working Americans in 1911, Concrete City was lauded by people like Thomas Edison for being a novelty at the time. Constructed mainly by immigrant and first-generation workers, these houses were exclusive to the upper levels of society whose first language had to be English so that it could be a proper “community of the future.” Ironically, that precluded the very people who made these buildings from ever applying. Tale as old as time.
Concrete City's ideal household. | circa 1915 / Public Domain
Man oh man, a lot has happened since its construction, but it certainly has arrived into the future. For a truly enchanting experience, walk the concrete corridors of the heavily eroded buildings. Who says pulverized concrete can't be delightful? Debris and rubble line the halls, and the many hazards give couples a chance to hold onto one another for dear life. Dreadful.
One of many duplexes. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
Concrete debris. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
Enjoy the edgy artistry spray-painted upon the concrete canvases. Some areas of the world call it graffiti. Putting a modern twist to the long-abandoned walls, the strokes of clashing colors speak volumes about the angst and distress former residents had to deal with during harsh winters that froze their closets back in the day. As the walls primarily feature phallic symbols, it’s no wonder this is a chosen spot for local couples!
Neon graffiti practically glows. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
Fan of escape rooms? Get lost in the rooms whose floors might give way any minute. Take steep staircases that lead to nowhere. Wade in the calm waters that have been trapped in the basement levels for who knows how long. But don’t take too long! Concrete City was built so robustly that it was impossible to install sewage lines without spending $200,000, which in 1924 was the equivalent to the small sum of $3,431,179.19 today! That means, no septic amenities for you!
We seem to be missing one of the ceilings. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
That's more like it. I think... | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
I was never a fan of basements. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
For this reason, only 13 years after its construction, the Garden City was stuffed with dynamite by the Glen Alden Coal Company. But even dynamite couldn’t blow away this mind-blowing getaway. One building even managed to survive undamaged after 100 sticks of Acme attempted to implode it. As you gaze into the eyes of better half through a hole in the wall, just remember, those holes might not have been there if it were up to nature.
Talk about a hole in the wall. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI
No longer a gathering for the upper-lower class, you can still partake in exciting undertakings like archery, paintball, and paranormal activity documentation. Some of the more recent trends include spotting the ever-so-invasive red spotted lantern flies, which add a natural touch to the scenery. So if you’re looking for a frighteningly romantic escapade this Halloween, look no further than Concrete City. Happy Halloween!
Just as in Steamtown, this destructive fly seems fond of concrete. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI