UPDATE: This property has now been demolished. RIP Fort Chiswell Outlets. ua-cam.com/users/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wdbj7.com%2Fcontent%2Fnews%2FThree-arrested-in-Fort-Chiswell-structure-fire-489692561.html&redir_token=7ldMNUKA8CEHtEnmm6hRp5cm2uN8MTUzNjQxOTc5OEAxNTM2MzMzMzk4&event=comments
I wondered how long before it caught fire with the power still on. That one lone light pole was still lit and on the side the fire was on best I could tell. I looked for it when I passed by. I would suspect the transformer to considering how loud one was buzzing. But me and a friend rode by it and into the inner sections back in early February and that buzzing could no longer be heard. We would have walked around some (can't get into much as it had been boarded up) but there was a guy parked near the entrance but he was up at the cemetery. I'm betting the whole place will be knocked down now. Dang I wanted to use it as a subject in some night shots. Will keep you updated
Hey man the store you stepped into at minute 15:41 was a Bugle Boy. I worked there when i was a senior in high school. Its also part of the mall that burnt the other day. Its crazy how when i worked there in 1998-99 that mall was crazy busy especially on the weekends and just over a decade later from then there was only a few stores left and then just a couple more years it was completely closed.
When I was little my family would always stop here coming home from Myrtle Beach. My mom would catch sells at Bugel Boy and a shop that sold Disney clothing for that years school clothes. The store with the painted wall around 10 minutes into the video if I remembered from the last time I was there which was like 15 years ago give or take sold ice cream. Can't remember what else it had to offer.
This mall was designed poorly with no easy way to get to it and back onto the interstate, so it slowly but surely died. It's also just in that funky zone where you'd think stuff would prosper (because of the major interstate junction) but it just doesn't.
1.6 mile from the nearest cross street to the first store -- probably contributed to the site's lack of success. I'm guessing losses were in the tens of millions, even in 1989 dollars. Someone is probably on the hook for electricity costs, although I doubt the freeze protection and exit lighting still function.
That passageway stayed locked until sometime after Oct 2016. It was locked when I went down then but when I came back in Feb 2017 it was to finally open
I love this place.. I sometimes drive 5 hrs to sit in the lot and take in the mountain scenery.. For everyone looking for info, check out the internet way back machine site and put in ftchiswelloutlets.com and it will bring up the old site from the days the mall was open. The guy that owns it is in talks to turn it into a retirement community. The state promised to build a direct exit ramp to the mall.. never happened and the last store, bon worth left in 2012
Reminds me of the dead outlet mall in Arizona that was on Ace's Adventures. Started out as a Tanger Outlet Mall, died as Casa Grande, with only one tenant.
Creepy, erie place. It was scary, especially when you ran into that other person. I was glued to the video, very interesting video. Well done. That is depressing what happened to that place. Thanks for filming.
I know I'm a month late Brandon, but he didn't say all that much. He says he used to go there all the time. Believe me when I say he had a crowbar and gloves on. He didn't strike me as someone who was there to reminisce. Hell, I'm just glad he didn't strike me at all. Sure scared the shit outta me though.
Ft. Chiswell Outlets was one of those outlet malls that was trying to cash in on a lot of the road trip traffic coming in off I-81 and I-77. The hope was to eventually build more roads to connect to the mall, Ft. Chiswell, and the various sites like Truck Stops, Hotels, and so on. Plus there were farm lands belonging to families that didn't want roads coming through there. Near by was a Snoopers Antiques, Western Store and so on. Eventually commercial zoning for business was favored for Wytheville, VA and so on as well. Which well started the decline for Ft. Chiswell Outlets.
Cool you did visit this place. You found a room that had power I didn't. I found another one that I guess you didn't. That power box is buzzing louder than when I as there in May. Prob only a matter of time before it shorts out and the place goes up in flames. I found some pictures from when the place was in operation in a back room
yea thats where I found them. I grabbed several hand fulls. Been trying to get back there again if I can ever line up someone to go with me. Your run in there I'm not going alone
Well, both of us may have been right on that power box's buzzing. www.heraldcourier.com/news/abandoned-outlet-mall-on-fire-in-fort-chiswell-virginia/article_9e5b8c3e-3995-11e8-819f-efe3075c7a42.html
I recall stopping by here many years ago to shop at the Polo Ralph Lauren store. With the heavy traffic volume during the summer months even today it seems like an outlet mall this size would have survived into the 2020s. However, after listening to the video and doing research it's not a surprise to see the demise.
Awwww, man....Doomie, I'd been at least a couple times to Ft. Chiswell some years back. Even if it wasn't fully occupied the times I visited, it still had enough places to make me want to come by and shop. Hanes Mill Outlet, Bugle Boy, a couple shoe outlets, and even a decent book and music store were among the tenants over the years. I think a friend of mine even found some bargains at a Kitchen Connection shop on the lower level. The fact it was at US 52 and I-77/I-81 should have gotten people up there, but I guess the fact there was no "big name" anchor, even a nearby Walmart or whatever, is why the demise. Ft. Chiswell and the nearby area (including Wytheville, just down the road) deserved better than this.
When I passed last night I thought I saw a light on outside. Today I passed on the daylight and yes at least one light on a pole is lit up. I so wanna explore this place again
Great video. What a waste. Does the grass not grow at this place or is someone still maintaining the property? Hard to believe the owner would pay for grounds maintenance while the buildings are in horrible shape.
UPDATE: This property has now been demolished. RIP Fort Chiswell Outlets.
ua-cam.com/users/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wdbj7.com%2Fcontent%2Fnews%2FThree-arrested-in-Fort-Chiswell-structure-fire-489692561.html&redir_token=7ldMNUKA8CEHtEnmm6hRp5cm2uN8MTUzNjQxOTc5OEAxNTM2MzMzMzk4&event=comments
I wondered how long before it caught fire with the power still on. That one lone light pole was still lit and on the side the fire was on best I could tell. I looked for it when I passed by. I would suspect the transformer to considering how loud one was buzzing. But me and a friend rode by it and into the inner sections back in early February and that buzzing could no longer be heard. We would have walked around some (can't get into much as it had been boarded up) but there was a guy parked near the entrance but he was up at the cemetery. I'm betting the whole place will be knocked down now. Dang I wanted to use it as a subject in some night shots. Will keep you updated
It hurt my heart to see about the fire. I know it was abandoned but I think it's a beautiful place. It's too bad it never reopened.
"Hey, what's in here" are what I fully expect Doomie's last words to be
Hey man the store you stepped into at minute 15:41 was a Bugle Boy. I worked there when i was a senior in high school. Its also part of the mall that burnt the other day. Its crazy how when i worked there in 1998-99 that mall was crazy busy especially on the weekends and just over a decade later from then there was only a few stores left and then just a couple more years it was completely closed.
When I was little my family would always stop here coming home from Myrtle Beach. My mom would catch sells at Bugel Boy and a shop that sold Disney clothing for that years school clothes. The store with the painted wall around 10 minutes into the video if I remembered from the last time I was there which was like 15 years ago give or take sold ice cream. Can't remember what else it had to offer.
I can't find any footage of this outlet mall on UA-cam when it was open for business. It would be pretty cool to see the stores in the 1980s.
I'm a local. The outlet mall burned down last night!
This mall was designed poorly with no easy way to get to it and back onto the interstate, so it slowly but surely died. It's also just in that funky zone where you'd think stuff would prosper (because of the major interstate junction) but it just doesn't.
Dude, total spook zone! Looks like nothing nearby besides the cemetery from what I can see? Nahhh I ain't messing with that place. You're a brave guy.
There's a fine line between brave and foolish. I think I crossed that line here.
That big house they passed was Major Graham's mansion and it is supposedly haunted.
1.6 mile from the nearest cross street to the first store -- probably contributed to the site's lack of success. I'm guessing losses were in the tens of millions, even in 1989 dollars. Someone is probably on the hook for electricity costs, although I doubt the freeze protection and exit lighting still function.
That passageway stayed locked until sometime after Oct 2016. It was locked when I went down then but when I came back in Feb 2017 it was to finally open
I love this place.. I sometimes drive 5 hrs to sit in the lot and take in the mountain scenery..
For everyone looking for info, check out the internet way back machine site and put in ftchiswelloutlets.com and it will bring up the old site from the days the mall was open.
The guy that owns it is in talks to turn it into a retirement community.
The state promised to build a direct exit ramp to the mall.. never happened and the last store, bon worth left in 2012
Reminds me of the dead outlet mall in Arizona that was on Ace's Adventures. Started out as a Tanger Outlet Mall, died as Casa Grande, with only one tenant.
When were these outlets built and what outlets stores were here?
Retail is really changing, thanks for your adventures!
Creepy, erie place. It was scary, especially when you ran into that other person. I was glued to the video, very interesting video. Well done. That is depressing what happened to that place. Thanks for filming.
What did that person tell you about the building when he asked u to shut off camera
I know I'm a month late Brandon, but he didn't say all that much. He says he used to go there all the time. Believe me when I say he had a crowbar and gloves on. He didn't strike me as someone who was there to reminisce. Hell, I'm just glad he didn't strike me at all. Sure scared the shit outta me though.
Thanks for sharing. I lived and shopped there back in 2000. I loved the sports store for my cheap Reebok's.
Ft. Chiswell Outlets was one of those outlet malls that was trying to cash in on a lot of the road trip traffic coming in off I-81 and I-77. The hope was to eventually build more roads to connect to the mall, Ft. Chiswell, and the various sites like Truck Stops, Hotels, and so on. Plus there were farm lands belonging to families that didn't want roads coming through there. Near by was a Snoopers Antiques, Western Store and so on.
Eventually commercial zoning for business was favored for Wytheville, VA and so on as well. Which well started the decline for Ft. Chiswell Outlets.
Cool you did visit this place. You found a room that had power I didn't. I found another one that I guess you didn't. That power box is buzzing louder than when I as there in May. Prob only a matter of time before it shorts out and the place goes up in flames.
I found some pictures from when the place was in operation in a back room
yea thats where I found them. I grabbed several hand fulls. Been trying to get back there again if I can ever line up someone to go with me. Your run in there I'm not going alone
CamperMike been there 3 times alone.. next time I'm taking someone lol. Yea the office has tons of stuff
Well, both of us may have been right on that power box's buzzing. www.heraldcourier.com/news/abandoned-outlet-mall-on-fire-in-fort-chiswell-virginia/article_9e5b8c3e-3995-11e8-819f-efe3075c7a42.html
Great video.. little spooky!
I recall stopping by here many years ago to shop at the Polo Ralph Lauren store. With the heavy traffic volume during the summer months even today it seems like an outlet mall this size would have survived into the 2020s. However, after listening to the video and doing research it's not a surprise to see the demise.
It was Sal hiding behind the wall... that goofy rascal!
Awwww, man....Doomie, I'd been at least a couple times to Ft. Chiswell some years back. Even if it wasn't fully occupied the times I visited, it still had enough places to make me want to come by and shop. Hanes Mill Outlet, Bugle Boy, a couple shoe outlets, and even a decent book and music store were among the tenants over the years. I think a friend of mine even found some bargains at a Kitchen Connection shop on the lower level. The fact it was at US 52 and I-77/I-81 should have gotten people up there, but I guess the fact there was no "big name" anchor, even a nearby Walmart or whatever, is why the demise. Ft. Chiswell and the nearby area (including Wytheville, just down the road) deserved better than this.
does anyone know what's going to happen to the land now that the property has been demolished?
I want to know also!
That tools shop was a black and decker store and one of the last places that was open.
Gonna go ahead and pack the 9 when I check this place out. Hell to the No. The way he snuck up on you? smh....
The biggest promise was by the state to build a direct exit ramp to the property.. That never happening is what really sealed the fate
When I passed last night I thought I saw a light on outside. Today I passed on the daylight and yes at least one light on a pole is lit up. I so wanna explore this place again
It's a nice building it looks like the keep it semi maintained
Sir you were right the mall burned down last night. Check the bristol harrold carrier.
Great, job, would like more history dates, opened closed, thanks
i freaked out at around the 11:49 mark lol
Me too
Did you find his leg? In the lost and found. Did you give it a good looksee?
Great video. What a waste. Does the grass not grow at this place or is someone still maintaining the property? Hard to believe the owner would pay for grounds maintenance while the buildings are in horrible shape.
Robert Smith someone still cuts it in addition to the power still being on despite the fact that every single light bulb is broken
I used to shop threre . Wow
Just creepy is the word for it. I get a weird feeling from this video.
Cool
Wow creepy but a cool place too
What’s up with the horror movie music?
Aviva: Roanoke, Virginia 8/5/13
anyone looking to go, it is all boarded up and secure now. don't waste your time.
My home town
I also see a lot of vandalism makes me sick.
I see black mold.