Abandoned "Sonic" Drive-In Restaurant, Clarksville, Indiana

The "Sonic" fast food chain expressed a period of explosive growth in the late 90s, followed by what seemed like a rather quick decline in the late 2000's.  In the southern Indiana, there are now four closed former Sonic locations.  One in New Albany, two in Jeffersonville, and this one in Clarksville.  The buildings are strange and unique, which is why we decided to feature the one shown here.

Abandoned Modern Living Building, Portland - Louisville, Kentucky

 

 Located in the Portland neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, the old Modern Living furniture store building has long been a local fixture of the area.  Long since abandoned, the former storefront building has been turned into a warehouse.

Abandoned Ouerbacker Mansion, Louisville, Kentucky

Crumbling in western Louisville, the abandoned Ouerbacker Mansion is one of the most at risk architectural treasures in the region.  Built in the 1860s, this building is on the few remaining local examples of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. 

Ruins of abandoned industrial site, Louisville, Kentucky

 At one time, Louisville Kentucky was a thriving industrial town.  Even today, there is a fair amount of manufacturing capacity scattered throughout the town.  But like all towns in the rust belt, abandoned factories are scattered throughout its boundaries, like headstones in some industrial-age graveyard.  The set of ruins that we are examining in the photo set are of an unknown origin, but like many others we've seen lately, they are on their way out.

Ruins of the Whitewater Canal - Brookville, Indiana

The Whitewater Canal was a long term project in the state of Indiana, requiring eleven years of construction after the groundbreaking, being completed in 1847.  Spanning 76 miles, the canal required a lock and dam system to raise and lower boat traffic a total of 491 feet.  Many sections of the canal were wiped out later that year after a major flood in the Whitewater Valley.  Today sections of the canal do remain and some of the 56 limestone locks are still standing.  There is also a restored section of the canal with a functioning lock.  A gallery of this restored lock can be found at the end of the post.