Random photos

Ok, you probably think I'm kidding, right? WTF?! A lost city?? Richmond isn't lost... I mean, lots of people live there.  But wait... you don't know the whole story.

During World War II, frightened Richmonders were sure that Hitler would bomb them.  Richmond is, of course, the former capital of the Confederacy and was therefore quite important to the Nazis (yeah right. ha.).  The alternative theory is that it was a Cold War fear.  Hard to say.  Seriously, there used to be a major air force base here and it appeared to be a threat.  So a LOT of money was appropriated and a second, fake Richmond was built outside of the city.  In the event of an air raid, power to the real Richmond would be cut and lights would go on in the fake city.  Apparently from the air it looked similar enough to the Richmond of 60 years ago that from the sky you couldn't tell the difference!!  Well, Richmond never got bombed by Hitler or the Soviets.... so the question remained: what became of this ghost town?

That question was to be answered this morning when I set off with two friends (Josh & Beth) to find the LOST CITY!

First things first, for those of you wishing to visit the Lost City, you take 64 E to the Laburnum exit.  Bear right at that exit. Take a left on Williamsburg... pass the airport. Pass through Sandston. Eventually you will come to a light and you will take a right on Technology Blvd.  The entrance to the Lost City is off of there.  We compiled these directions after doing some online research and finding accounts left by others who had gone before us.  We also used a tax map of Henrico County, which shows paths corresponding to the main roads of the Lost City! 

The first thing we noticed was that almost all wooded tracts of land in that area are for sale -- including the tract of land that includes the Lost City.

The Lost City's main landmark is an old water tower. It is still standing, but it is difficult to see from the road.  Initially we went down onto Portugee Road (at the end of Technology Blvd.) and we took a right.  There are a number of paths entering the Lost City tract and an electric company easement running through.  We set off exploring from that side.  It was marked as property of Henrico County, so I don't recommend going this way, as you could be caught for "trespassing."

The path at the point of the easement became either overrun or was just plain in disrepair, so we could not locate it.  I wouldn't recommend wandering about in those woods off the path or you could get really lost, like the City.  Also, we were certain to wear jeans, long sleeves, and hats, as there are a LOT of ticks out there.  I already found several (at least 5 or 6 so far) on myself even being dressed so covered! I'm actually really worried I could have contracted Lyme disease because there is a lot of that that goes around.  So be really carefull if you go into these woods.

Having met with no success that way, we went back around to the side of the technology park, on Technology Blvd.  Driving back up, there is a turnoff on the right, into a technology center.  On the left side there are woods and this is where you want to enter.  There is a path leading into the woods and it was blocked off by a couple of roadblock.  Parking in this area is tough.  I suggest pulling off the road on Portugee and walking around.  We tried to park in the visitor lot of a technology center, but were told that we were not allowed to be on that property.  The security guards told us the company owned the whole property and that we should park on the road on Technology Blvd. if we want to check out the for sale property.  Heartening, though, was the fact that we could see the water tower from their parking lot!! We followed their parking instructions and entered the path.

The path is strange. For sure it is wide enough to acommodate large vehicles, like dump trucks or construction equipment.  But clearly this entrance has not been used for that purpose in a while, as there are many tree trunks lying across the path, almost deliberately so.  There are these odd pockmark holes in the ground also along this path, some of which had gathered water.

After going a little ways the road forks.  There is a lot of debris littering the area, including tires, metal scrap, and even things like an old washing machine, not to mention all the beer cans and bottles. 

If you go straight, there is supposed to be a lake on the left side of the path -- a manmade lake since drained and deserted.  We chose to head right, in the direction of the water tower.  As we walked, we noticed chunks of asphalt lining the sides of the path, and remnants of a paved road surfaced... the asphalt so cracked and grown over that it took on the appearance of cobblestones!

Further up were a couple more barriers and another fork in the road! More signs of life and building back here in the middle of the woods!

At this point we even noticed a PERFECT SIDEWALK -- in tact, beautifully paved, looking as good as if it had been put there yesterday, yet somewhat grown over.

A little later on we began noticing gutters and curbs -- grown over but otherwise in perfect condition!

Then we started seeing remnants of an old working sewage system.  Not just drainage ditches -- real working sewars!

Lo and behold just a little further on on the right we spotted a fire hydrant.  It was the first of many and each time it was strange to see a fire hydrant hanging out in the middle of the woods. It was marked with the year 1953 -- exactly the year our accounts spoke of, and appropriate timing for the building of the city. 

We unearthed a manhole cover with the letters VDH on it -- Virginia Department of Health!

We also saw a manhole with the cover removed. Through there you could clearly see the pipes of a working sewar system.

Proceeding onward, we found a fence and barriers, as well as remnants of caution tape. 

There were roads coursing EVERYWHERE throughout these woods. Most of them were completely overgrown and could only be identified by following the curbs, which curved around, forming normal streets and roundabouts... all the normal trappings of the Richmond of 60 years ago!

We went through the gate/barrier (which was open) and followed the path into the woods further. The road forked again and we took a right.  We didn't find much noteworthy out there, aside from running up to the back of one of the companies. We also found a broken down old fence.

We came back and took the other path -- to the left.  We found several interesting things out there, including several test wells.  We also found a rusted up and grown over lawnmower. We tried to start it, but it didn't work.  Guess 50 years out in the woods does that to a lawnmower!  Continuing on, we found more parts of the sewer system as well as some building foundations! From previous accounts, we expected to find them, but I suspect there were many more out there than we located.

We also found other landscaping things, chicken wire, poles, and even salt shakers! We found a lanyard indicating that Valley Crest Landscaping did the landscaping work.  I have yet to call them and ask about their relationship to the Lost City. But it'd be something fun to do. If anybody decides to call, post a comment about what they say! I'd be interested to know :)

Further on, we found a huge dirt embankment. It didn't look like it had been put there by nature, as there were no other signs of storm-related destruction (the only possible other explanation I could come up with).  I assume it had been put up for a reason.  On the other side of the embankment, we found shards of electrical equipment.  We also found tons of piled up building materials!! That included roofing materials, wood, and other things that I am not expert enough to name.  There were more landscaping materials and more sewer system . . . things.  More manhole covers. Those things were everywhere!

Back on the other side of the embankment, we found more housing materials and more sewer system stuff. It didn't make any sense to follow the path any further, so we retraced our steps back to where the gates were, where the road had divided.  The configuration of the road there was identical to Richmond's famous Monument Avenue.  There were roundabouts with evidence of what had once been statues in the center, just like monument. Also, it was one of the main roads in the Lost City, indicating that it was, indeed, a replica of Monument.

This time, we went to what would have been the right (since we were backtracking we took a left, but had we taken the path originally it would have been a right).  It was another significant road.  We found more fire hydrants and more roads going off every direction; far too many to follow.

Further down the road, we found a building!! The first fully intact building we'd seen in the Lost City!  The fence around the building was open and we went inside, to find that the strange building had doors on either side and a wall in the center.  Both doors were open.  There was a small window with bars at the bottom of the building.  When we went inside the main door, a huge rusted out iron door, we found pallets where generators would have been. The generators, of course, had been removed, but it was incredibly creepy being in there.  You could see all the electrical hookups and everything.

It was around this time that I began panicking about Josh's car.  Talk about weird; we parked where the Infineon people told us to park.  I told Josh I was worried his car would get towed.  His reply? "It's Sunday! And we parked where they told us to. It's not even your car, why are you worried?"  Besides, we'd been in the forest for about 3 hours already and nobody had so much as thought of the car. Why was I obsessing all of a sudden?

So we continued on and... found the water tower!! It was our ultimate goal and we achieved it.  To get there you go left off the main road, past the power station, and follow that path until you reach it. From certain points you may be able to see it through the trees.  We were very excited, but we were not able to enter to investigate.  There were fences 9-12 feet high all the way around, topped with barbed wire, and with giant metal barriers chained to the front.  There was no way we were getting in.  We took a photo though, to prove our victory.

At that point I really started freaking out about Josh's car, even though I tried to bite my tongue.  I was able to guide us out of the Lost City with no problem.  I have a great sense of direction -- straight until you reach the power station, right at the power station, go until you hit the fork in the road/roundabout, take a left, go straight until you hit the main fork in the road, take a left, go straight until you hit the entrance to the forest, right until you get to the car.

The car was gone.  There were a bunch of police.  Beth and I kept our distance and let Josh handle it.  I would have spouted a bunch of legal terms ("material misrepresentation of fact!" "invitees!" etc.) at the officers, and I doubt they would have appreciated it.  Well, after a bunch of calls to friends, Rocco agreed to come save us.  He picked us up and took us to where Josh's car was locked up.  Technically, the towing place wasn't even open for him to get his car back, but I called and sweet talked the dispatcher into letting us in to get the car.  He even gave Josh a fairly substantial discount!

So that was our adventure to the Lost City of Richmond.  It was creepy, thrilling, exhilirating.  I wouldn't recommend visiting it, but if you do, be sure to wear insect repellant.  We were all covered with ticks afterwards.  But at least I have a great summer adventure to share!!