Monday, July 16, 2007

Atlanta Prison Farm

There's an abandoned prison farm in SE Atlanta, hidden in the woods and completely covered by kudzu. I set out with a group of explorers I met on the Interwebs to find it. This was my first time at this location. It's amazing!

According to Atlanta's "History of the Dept of Corrections" page, the prison farm was operated from 1945 to 1995.

19 comments:

  1. I had seen the sign for this place years ago on Moreland Ave but assumed that it was an active facility. Somehow I stumbled upon your site. So I went down there last sunday and checked it out for my own self. Very cool place! Thanks for the tip. Where next? Hmmmmmmm.....

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  2. dj,

    When you went to the defunct Atlanta prison farm did you happen to see the burial site of an elephant named Maude? Thanks.

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  3. The Atlanta Prison Farm caught fire today. No reports yet of how extensive yet - should be out tomorrow. I'm betting they let it burn completely, as the report said they were fighting it "defensively" and letting it burn itself out. They said it "wasn't worth" letting any firefighters get injured over. Probably homeless people trying to stay warm.

    I'm glad you have these photos to preserve it. Good call, great work.

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  4. Its still there, that place was always boring though. The fire only took out the top half it loks pretty cool.

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  5. so is this place still there, or did it burn down completely?

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  6. I can tell you about the prison between 1950and 1956 - Ed was the Asst. Supt. at that time and I worked in the prison as Acct./Sect. In retrospect it was an awsome operation and probably would be invaluable to all concerned if adapted to 2010 Atlanta

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  7. I could not believe the photos of the prison - kudsu in one 1) year is amazing x 15,scarey! Anyone interested out there I can relate a fairly comprehensive day to day operation of the prison and yes the elephant was buried there and the city then collected pennies for a baby elephant they named "Pennie". More?

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  8. Thank you, Mrs. Brannen. Do you know if any other zoo animals were buried there? It is amazing to see the place covered with kudzu. It looks like "The World Without People" movie. I had lunch there, as a guest, on a few weekends in the sixties. It was home to some people that had no other home.

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  9. Mrs. Brannen you mentioned that the prison farm was an aweome operation. At that time I did not know about actual operation/production and I would be interested when you have available time.

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  10. Willie B is buried there adjacent to Maud the elephant.
    At one time the prisoners grew all their own food, had cows and hogs .

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  11. Mrs. Brannen,

    I'd love a chance to talk with you further about your experiences at the Prison Farm. My name is Kate Sweeney; I'm a journalist at WABE. If you would call the station at 678-686-0321 and ask for me, I'd love the chance to chat.

    Thanks so much,

    Kate

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  12. when I lived in ATL in the eighties there was a very old womens prison with a graveyard in back . This place was south of I-20 somewhere west of Grant Park area I believe. It had lots of stone and concrete, there was a flat area inside the entry with wide stone stairs on either side. In the late eighties it was already long abandoned. it was two stories tall . It was older than the "Farm". Does anyone know of this place? Has it been torn down?

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  13. I was sent out key road about four maybe five times between 1981 and 1985. I remember Sunday music performed by inmates, mix of R&R and Gospel, typical souther rock; and old hobos in the maintenance shop keeping warm and telling stories drinking coff, and feeding cabbage to hogs with Maeielito caught smoking dope in Piedmont Park. I was there, according to judge, to take some time off and eat some good food (!) and get my life in order. It worked for some who were sent there, but not many. I didn't get my life together till much later. Many stories from that time. Wayne Williams was in fed facility, our transport passed it in the night after court intown and our dispatch to Key Road ('Out Key Raod' was what I heard it called). Mrs Brannen I would appreciate hearing from you.

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  14. Just visited yesterday. The 3rd floor did burn, but I think it made it even better. (Creepier). Half of the 3rd floor's walls were gone. Very nice trails around it for toys with wheels. Spent about 4 hours just wondering. It's amazing. ******

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  15. HEllo can some give me the address please?
    Thanks

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  16. Hello guys, I am trying to get the exact location of the prison farm? I am looking to shoot a music video on 2/4/12 here. Does it still exist? Need help please?

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  17. The old womens prison was in the area you described, I'm pretty sure it was around 5 stories, it was creepy as hell! It was turned into condos (!) in the late 80's, used to go see hippy bands at the comm arts center next door when they redid it.

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  18. Is it possible to still access this place? I'm looking for a location with lots of personality for an art shoot

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  19. Is it still around today? If so I want to check it out.... Can someone tell me how to get to it?

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