Ohio is a beautiful place that tends to be largely overlooked by far too many. Sure, there’s tons of empty space in the state, can’t argue with that – our corn is on point though.

Now, I’ve been to Kansas – and I can tell you one thing for sure – I’m not going to make a ridiculous joke about no longer being there – we were somewhere a great deal stranger tucked away in these North Carolina mountains.

I have watched it for years now, deteriorating in such an incredible, beautifully destructive way. From the initial abandonment when all was still fairly pristine – shop windows intact – to looking like a bomb dropped – windows smashed and glass tossed all around as trees begin to grow wildly throughout. This is definitely one of the most bizarre “forests” you will ever take a hike through.

How can we care about something so much for a moment, but in a moment’s notice just drop it like we never even owned it? How can we continue to leave so much behind and broken when there’s 3.5 million homeless without a place to even feel safe or call their own when they’re out in the cold frozen? Life is a fragile topic…difficult to grasp and nearly impossible to open…

Over the course of the last few weeks, myself and a group of friends have accomplished so much. I could not have asked for a better group of friends and people to help in the creation and completion of this project, turning it into something truly awesome. A vision has become a reality, and I will now be able to share it with everybody. Without this amazing group, this would not have come together in such an incredible way, and I can’t thank them enough for being not only an amazing and talented group, but amazing friends. Thank you all.

Cleveland’s former aquarium – built in 1954. This space, formerly full of family fun now remains empty, sat quietly, hillside to a park directly off of East 72nd street. Driving along I-90, you may not even notice this once well-visited structure, even though it practically towers at the freeway’s edge. From what I have noticed through conversation, most people around do not even know that Cleveland once held another aquarium. Once again, another grim reminder of how quickly and easily we toss our creations aside, simply forgetting them.

Sweat continuously fell from my face as I walked alongside cacti and crumbling adobe homes, kicking up dirt and stones with each step. I could swear I heard at least a few drops sizzle as they hit the hot ground – though it’s possible that could have just been my mind fizzling out. It was like tiny people were working a sweatshop inside my head, powering a bullet train by hand.

Nature can be so beautifully destructive with our construction. Though, when you think about it – is nature actually being constructive with our deconstruction? We abandon things far too easily.

The Abandoned Geauga Lake pre-demolition

Hopes remain strong of sharing its legacy for years to come, bringing attention to the importance of why we must save this staple of Ohio’s history.