Abandoned Opelika: Special Photo Series

Urban exploration of abandoned properties has become a tourist opportunity for cities like Detroit. Photographers have found great interest in visual exploration of forgotten places. Local photographer, Brenton Stringfellow, has shared some of his photos with the Observer.

Opelika and the surrounding area are rich in history and interesting architecture. From pre-Civil War era homes to the cotton mills of the early and mid-19th Century to modern tourist attractions abandoned for economic reasons we get a glimpse through his lens and find beauty in the decay.

Opelika’s historical preservation is managed by Lisa Thrift at the City’s Community Development office. She says some of these buildings are already receiving approvals for restoration. Thrift said studies show historical buildings such as those in downtown Opelika can drive tourism and economic development and our current downtown has shown they can restore these buildings successfully.