Ep 3. End Times on Lake Michigan

Mysteries of the Abandoned season 7 episode 3 called 'End Times on Lake Michigan' explores the desolate and eerie settings of crumbling buildings along the abandoned coastline of Lake Michigan. The episode begins by highlighting the once-bustling industrial city of Gary, Indiana, that is now dilapidated and forgotten. The team of experts investigates some of the most sinister and haunting factories and plants lying abandoned, which still gives us a glimpse of the booming steel industry.

As the episode unfolds, the crew ventures into the dark and rusty maze of the deserted manufacturing units, investigating their decaying infrastructure and abandoned machinery, which at once was responsible for driving the economy of the region, now rendering it a barren wasteland. The sites were once considered triumphs of modern engineering, but now they significantly display the harsh reality of sudden industrial decline.

The team also explores the hidden secrets and fascinating stories behind an old, rusted tower that is part of a decommissioned power plant located on the coastline of Lake Michigan. With its decaying interiors and collapsing foundations, the tower offers a mesmerizing view of the city's skyline with the lake in the foreground. However, experts have discovered that this structure was used for a much darker purpose during the 1950s and the 1960s. During this time, the plant was used to knock down enemy planes and other targets during the Cold War and was equipped with some of the most advanced missile technology of its time.

Furthermore, the show reveals the remains of Michigan's once-largest blast furnace, situated along the shores of Lake Michigan. Constructed in 1919, the furnace was part of the largest steel mill in the world, with a capacity of making hundreds of thousands of tons of steel. The furnace was closed in 1982, and since then, it has been reduced to rubble. The crew investigates the ruins to learn how this mammoth structure, which once supported a thriving community, is now in such ruins.

The episode also includes a story of the remains of a concrete tower that stands on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The tower was built for the purpose of detonating large quantities of explosives, such as dynamite, to blast away rock and create a shipping route through the lake. Experts reveal that this once-revolutionary system functioned by laying explosives on the rocky lake bed, and then detonating them from a safe distance. This allowed for an easy passage of ships through the water, thus increasing trade and commerce in the region.

In conclusion, 'End Times on Lake Michigan' is a captivating episode that explores the myths and mysteries associated with abandoned buildings alongside the coast of Lake Michigan. The team of experts reveals the stories behind each structure, and how it contributed to the area's rich history. However, with their crumbling infrastructure and overgrown landscapes, these once glorious structures now only serve as a reminder of the mistakes of the past and the potential for the future.