In 2009, a fire swept through the building and it was left abandoned. Just before the turn of the century, the building was converted to the Abundant Life Christian Center and later, The Greater Faith for Deliverance Church. Throughout the 20th century, attendance dwindled due to changing neighborhood demographics and Calvary Presbyterian moved out of the building. Dedicated in 1918, it was once the Calvary Presbyterian Church. Just over a half mile away from the Grande Ballroom, the Abundant Life Christian Center also dates back to the early 1900s. Today, it’s near-impossible to get in, but fascinating to witness knowing the history the building has witnessed.įind it at 8952 Grand River, Detroit, MI 48204. In the years since, the building has fallen into disrepair, though intrepid explorers continued to sneak in to see its iconic dancefloor. It played host to iconic acts like the Velvet Underground and Pink Floyd alongside local up-and-comers until its final closure in 1972. In 1966, the Grande Ballroom reopened as a rock venue, and quickly became a standby of the local psychedelic and garage rock scene. This era was less successful, in part due to its alcohol-free policy, and the club was turned into a roller-skating rink and temporarily, to a storage facility. In the 1950s, the jazz ensembles gave way to bands as the Grande Ballroom became a dance club. Agree in an Art Deco style, the building was originally a jazz dancehall with a unique “floating” floor that raised revelers up on springs, giving the illusion of weightlessness. Designed in 1928 by Detroit architect Charles N. This boarded up building on Grand River Ave has an impressive nightlife legacy spanning almost half a century. Explore them with caution or research from afar! Grande Ballroom Though a few of the properties on this list are perfectly legal to check out, others were just too interesting not to include. Others are all about documenting what they find. Why is this even popular? Well, there are a lot of urban explorers who are interested in the historical significance of old buildings.

Have you ever heard of urban exploring? It’s a subculture of people who love exploring old, abandoned buildings.

Abandoned detroit