You can tell this was once a beautiful home. All of that wood detail that is now in ruins. I myself could never enter a property like you did, but I thank you for doing so. I enjoyed seeing your footage.

My family used to travel through Cairo on our annual car trip to Florida. It was a vibrant, small city that offered all of the amenities available in mid-twentieth century America. I remember vividly a main thoroughfare alive with commerce, and the Hotel Cairo, with its historically appointed lobby and spacious dining room. To view the city shown in this video is startling, but thanks for your clear-eyed presentation.

I lived in Bardwell Ky, and went to Cairo in the 1970s to hang out. So sad that our memories are the only thing left...

Nice video, though hard to watch a nice, well-built house degrade to a burned out, sad mess. Thanks for sharing

Cairo was mentioned in some of the stories written by Mark Twain. Judging from just his writings along, it was once a vibrant river town that sadly declined after the steamboats were replaced by the railroad I believe.

Cool explore! That Victorian mansion you explored must have been amazing when it was prime. It's a great place it UrbEX. I remember when it was going downhill when I was a kid. My mom used to collect shoes, coats and clothing for the children in Cairo for her church (the people who live there call it "Kay-ro.") It was really a depressed area even 25 or more years ago. I hadn't realized it was virtually a ghost town in the present. Just a hint: Always bring masks when you UrbEx, things like Black Mold and even char from fires can do a number on your lungs. Wear shoes that can't be pierced by nails (there are nails sticking up all over in abandoned buildings) and just be careful. But, have FUN! UrbExing is a blast! Great job. Mary in Chicago

@frossbog

14 күн бұрын

Not Kay-ro. They call it "Care-O".

Cairo was the most wonderful place growing up for me in the late '70s and into the '80s.

@synergy120light2

5 жыл бұрын

I'm sure it was. I would love to get a copy of any photos you might have of the town. I was back in Cairo a few months ago and so many of the original buildings have been torn down. If you have any please email them to synergylight@outlook.com Thanks!

@gfexc

2 жыл бұрын

It must have been, if you were a Klan person. White hats, hatred, keeping other human beings segregated, and it was the most wonderful place to grow up? En serio?

@GranMia1

2 жыл бұрын

@@gfexc At that time we were all just out for a good time, we did not see color. To be honest, most had no clue what took place a few years earlier and if they did, they didn't seem to care.

All the towns in Southern Illinois peaked during the 60s. Then began the era of out sourcing factory jobs to other countries. This is what is left.

My family has lived there all their lives, My great grandmother worked at the River Lore.. so sad to see this one beautiful place go down like it has... such amazing history here..

So many beautiful old structures. It's heartbreaking to see them falling apart.

I can't believe almost every parts of America has come to this, so long to the American Dream that once existed.

You got balls to walk into a abandoned house like that. cool video. I was by there last yr and drove thru on my motorcylce.

@synergy120light2

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks. My curiosity got the best of me.

Once beautiful new homes

😩 This just makes me incredibly sad. 😖 💔

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

It hard not to be.

Wow really creepy you got followed around there. Glad you did not have any issues from that...it's not a very big town with not a lot of places to hide lol. Nice video...I made a video there several years ago too and several of the buildings I took pictures of are now in severe states of decay or are completely gone.

Crazy to think I was born and lived in cairo. There was so much there.

Nice video

Hi there! Not sure if you'll see this comment or not since this video is 2 years old. However, I was in Cairo recently myself back in April. My friend and I were taking pictures and driving around. We noticed a white pick up truck following us. Luckily, the owner of the B&B we stayed at in Mound City, informed us of a friend of his who lived in a big Victorian house with a pretty garden in Cairo, (I think on 9th st.) and that he'd be most likely outside working. So we circled around there and hid from the guy for a while. Not sure if it was the same dude. But yeah.. There are some watchers out there.

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

Hi there. Yes I still monitor the comments. I’m working on second video on Cairo. I would have liked to have already posted it but I was unable to get the drone footage I thought it needed. Pls subscribe so you can see it when it comes out. Not surprised to hear your story but very interesting none the less.

It’s sad to see how a town become a ghost town I use to visit family in Cairo they use to live in the projects I wanted to take my kids but my grandma told me Cairo is gone kinda sucks it’s so much history

Im from SE MO and in the 13yrs my sister has left that place has gone to even worse condition. I dont even like driving thru it esp at night, i always have 1 speed and that go when i come thru Cairo.

To bad these beautiful old homes are just rotting away or burned up. So sad! So much history in these homes that we're loved by someone once!

@synergy120light2

5 жыл бұрын

Yes I really only saw a small percentage of that place. So much had been burned and leveled in the last ten years I hate to think what was lost.

At it's peak It had 15K residents living there now there's around 2,800.

@roberthboyd6073

Жыл бұрын

Sad

@ericpeltz9928

Жыл бұрын

I read that it is down to 1,500

The wood work in that house is awesome. A shame someone didn't at least take the wood work form the house before it went bad.

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

The doors and staircase is incredible.

That follower was probably just curious. Probably would have given you a quick tour of the town. Or what it use to be. Cairo folks are friendly.

Great video sad to see that town like it is too bad they can't get it to come back

I remember seeing photos of that town back in the 40s and 50s when it was vibrant some beautiful buildings what a shame to see it now I drive a truck and go through there quite often

It's was very wise of you to have your conceal/carry permit and your 9mm while you're snooping around. Good for you. You were carrying... weren't you?

@badxradxandy

11 ай бұрын

Stupid question to ask because Illinois has their own permitting system and don't recognize other states so unless he's an Illinois resident you're putting him at risk by asking that

Some of the small towns got hurt when the interstate highway was built. Travel,tourist, by pass small towns. That’s tough.

@frossbog

14 күн бұрын

That may have contributed, but it's hardly the reason. Hate tore up Cairo, IL.

Cool 😎 place.an spookey.

Man you got balls walking in those houses and streets I passed by today 12/11/18 thats one of the worst place ive ever seen Worser then Detroit no cops make sure you eat fill up with gas before driving threw those streets cleanest place is that ford dealership surprised they didn’t go out of business

@synergylight3606

5 жыл бұрын

I was there last month. It hasn't gotten any better. Seems like they are removing a lot of structures. Sad to see the history being erased.

@59ogre

5 жыл бұрын

There's quite a few farms to the north of Cairo,that's probably where the business comes from.

I beat a speeding ticket in Cairo.

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

That seems like an easy one. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an officer there.

after doing research, i found out that Cairo is the southernmost city in Illinois and the entire city was evacuated in 2011 when the Mississippi River flooded. Cool video.

All those abandoned places are creepy

I'm going to Cairo for my Urbex channel next month. Any advice?

@heathwagner6351

5 жыл бұрын

I visited Cairo in Sept of 2016. Unfortunately with it being my first time to the city I didn't bring proper supplies (masks, and proper foot attire) for exploring some of the buildings. The former hospital (closed in 1986) can be entered via an open door in the back. Trespassing signs are up, but I am certain it holds a lot of cool video footage to be had. I myself wont enter an abandoned property for safety reasons but I do completely understand why those that do. Just make sure you take a friend along with you for safety reasons.

Man that is sad once vibrant town now it's a hulled out ruin of a city looks like Detroit

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

It's difficult to capture how much of Cario has already been knocked down and hulled away. I'm over due to record a follow up video here.

Does Cairo still have an active police force, churches that are still in existence, schools, gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants? I think I saw on another video that they once had a very fine public library. I have to think that that is longer open. I'd love to check this out, but can't really justify driving several hours to do so.

@synergylight3606

3 жыл бұрын

I’ve never seen police or a police station while I was there. I did see one church that looked to be still in use and there may have been others. No grocery store or gas stations. I believe there is a restaurant. There is a dollar store. I didn’t go in the dollar store but I’m told the prices are very high. I don’t believe there are any schools. The hospital that was there has been abandoned for years. ( It’s shown in the video) It is a fascinating place. So much history but literally blocks of houses and building either abandoned and demolished.

@demeishacarlton-brown9279

3 жыл бұрын

There's an active police station and fire department, quite a few churches, a dollar store, a convenience store, a library, a counseling center, a grade school, a high school, and a community center. There are a few local restaurants ran from home. No gas stations, no grocery stores, limited economic opportunity within the town.

@IAMBENNYBLANCO.

2 жыл бұрын

Ghost town needs to be totally gutted.... there's NOTHING there.

I'm sure locals know people come to explore and unfortunately some look to take advantage of it, and not in a good way.

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

I'm very surprised people havent stripped more of the buildings.

That is what alot of people wanted.

Cool, creepy place

Awesome video, but please be careful!

@synergy120light2

4 жыл бұрын

Thnak you!

@zacharyscott9871

4 жыл бұрын

@@synergy120light2 You're welcome!

I would imagine it would be expensive to tear down all the houses and businesses that need to be removed and considering how poor the region is that probably won't get done. I use to live in the Cleveland Ohio area and I had read back in 2012 there where more than 50,000 houses in the city of Cleveland alone that needed to be torn down and it would cost millions of dollars and they where seeking federal monies to do that. I don't know if they gotten any help with that or not. I must admit I avoided going into Cleveland for anything because of safety concerns. It's to bad Cairo couldn't get some help. The biggest shame is that Cairo got to this point it looks like it was a really nice place.

You could write a horror story about an abandoned town

Love

Your attitude was kinda crap but I liked being able to see inside that house. It's right next to the Riverlore and always I wondered what it was like inside. It looks like it has 10 bedrooms! I live a couple blocks down the street and my house has the wood sliding doors too. Very cool.

@synergy120light2

4 жыл бұрын

I don't think my attitude is crap. Why are you so hurtful?

@chaosdemonwolf1

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, aka pocket doors

@chaosdemonwolf1

4 жыл бұрын

@@synergy120light2 I don't think it is.

Cairo had to be vibrant at one time. The Ohio river meets the mighty Mississippi River in Cairo. It had to be a booming city with a nice economy at one time. Sad.

Here we are in 2023 I'm certain that it's much worse , I had lot's of fun there on a camping/ Fishing weekend excursion At Fort Defiance federal Park , Sad DAZE 4 American people ‼️

No people live in Cairo. There are still quite a few animals there.

@marlonjohnson9113

4 жыл бұрын

Yea especially the ones that murded Froggy and drugged his remains all thru Cairo. What a shame want them animals did to that innocent black man.

A few of the places you showed aren’t abandoned. Most of the places you showed are now gone as well

@synergy120light2

4 жыл бұрын

This was filmed two years ago. I was there about a year ago and some of the buildings were in the process of being removed. Hate to see them go. Seems like a lot of great history is being erased.

I saw a few good fixer uppers.

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

For sure. The wood work alone is worth salvaging.

@mikekeeler6362

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah it would be great to fix them up but it would be quite expensive and with nobody to buy them or rent them you'd have to have deep pockets if they had jobs coming back to that area it would be worth the time

I was in Cario last year and just by passing through on US 51, you could tell that town has seen MUCH better days. BTW, never and I mean NEVER enter abandoned buildings. You have no idea how bad the conditions are. You risk getting charged with trespassing or getting hurt.

@synergy120light2

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment. Good advice for sure.

@badxradxandy

11 ай бұрын

That's why it's fun

The American Dream, Was just that ... A dream ...

I live in this area.

Live close to this worked there from 1974- 1996

@synergy120light2

4 жыл бұрын

How much has changed since you remimber it?

@janetfarris9198

4 жыл бұрын

@@synergy120light2 It is terrible and a shame my husband was raised in Cairo. Class of 68, Marine 68-72. The people killed it, that is what they wanted. It is a shame. There were building all down 8th street, a lot of stores, also Commercial ave. did also. Pepsi had a place coke-cola has a plant there. Nabisco had a place, state police were in Cairo. My husband and I counted just to half way to 51 through it there were 39 buis gone. Had Sonic and KY chicken. You could not go to the car wash cause be a lot of people there to avoid terrible you just did not go. There 3 lge grocery stores. You did not have to go any where else to buy cause could get in Cairo. A lot of Doctors and had hospital where most of us were born. Factories that left. What killed all sml town was when the interstate came passed, People did not go through little town nomore. So they died. Hope this helps you understand. Also there was 2 housing projects, one blacks and one mostly white. You could tell the difference between liter and trash. If people are always looking for a fight you can not help them, I know housing did wrong but used to them would check the apartments, and I bet they were unable to do that anymore without problems.

@kingbeezy7396

2 жыл бұрын

@@janetfarris9198 no what killed this town is racism!!!!!!

Taxes have driven business and people out of this area they go across the line in the missouri or something done where it's much more business friendly

People always come to Cairo make videos and documentaries and then call it abandoned. People do live in Cairo Illinois.

@synergy120light2

5 жыл бұрын

There's a clear reason why people have that impression

@INSTAGRAMCLIPSDAILYGogetem

5 жыл бұрын

@@synergy120light2 yes, but most people come and what they think is an abandoned building or house is actually owned by someone and pay taxes on their properties such as in this particular video @:46 that's someones property its not abandoned. I you may have miss communication what it is I'm saying...everything that looks abandoned isn't.

Total Silent Hill vibe or for you older folks...Children of the Corn maybe that was Malachal following him😮

@gregmartin2473

Жыл бұрын

Sad though if you think of the life and death that happened in these homes, the happiness and sadness, the love and the stories of the people who once lived there. They had hopes and dreams and the other things that go with life..good and bad. They were alive once and had a life and a story to tell.

A lot of peole from far away buy the old houses and redo. The riverboat captains build them.

@synergy120light2

4 жыл бұрын

Amazing craftsmanship in those old houses. Hate to see them burnt or knocked down.

Sooo fooocking sad it's unbelievable what's happpened to myyy home state smh

Needs some TLC!

i was born in cairo 62 years ago is st marys still there

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

Hello Lavada, thank you for your comment. After a little research, I learned that St. Mary's name was changed to Southern Medical Center; however, the building was abandoned in 1986, and Cairo has been without a hospital ever since. You can see St. Mary's (Southern Medical) at about 1:30 in the video. I drove past it. Part of the building has already been demolished, and it's "rumored" that the rest will be soon. Sorry for what I'm sure is bad news. I want to go back to Cairo soon and do a follow up to this video. So many historical buildings in Cairo are being erased.

@lavadazenor

3 жыл бұрын

@@synergy120light2 thank you for careing i live in indiana now my gma lived in grande chain i miss little egept shit spelled wrong lol

I've been in there

@KATY03160

Жыл бұрын

Why for

Don't think I wanna be there when the sun goes down.

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

For sure! It’s sketchy enough in the day time.

Soon to be kankakee

House was probably built in 1905

THINK OF THE RATS.

Is this still here????????????????????

@chrismhowell1

3 жыл бұрын

I assume you mean the house at the end of the video? if so, it was about a year ago. I may be heading down there this week and I will check.

I have been trying to buy all these building a sinceb 2000 city would sell them too me

@KATY03160

Жыл бұрын

They wouldn't sell???

Watch Between Two Rivers. It explains what happened to Cairo.

@cherrysmart3500

3 жыл бұрын

Yes... great documentary indeed!

Who owns the abandoned properties?

@synergy120light2

Жыл бұрын

I think the town owns a lot of them. I've seem auction notices for many of them but no one bids on them.

@maryellengabler802

Жыл бұрын

@@synergy120light2 That town looks like it would come back to life with a lot of love and, well, a lot of hard work. It would be great to live on the water.

@synergy120light2

Жыл бұрын

@@maryellengabler802 I would love to see it happen. There is a lot of history there unfortunately not all of it is good.

I live in Illinois and agree that the taxes are high here, but I don’t think taxes are the cause of Cairo’s decline. End of the steamboat era on the rivers didn’t help. End of rail traffic through Cairo didn’t help. I-57 bypassing Cairo - eliminating any reason to pass through - didn’t help. Race riots and white supremacy groups in town didn’t help. (There was also a lynching downtown that isn’t mentioned, too.). The white business owners packing up and leaving didn’t help either. The state could pour money into Cairo, but fixing the roads in a ghost town won’t get people to move there. Cairo’s just lost its economic reason for existence. Been a while since I was there, but it does look like the city has been knocking down some of the abandoned buildings. Good to see that. Lots more to do. Those places could never have been rebuilt. Cairo’s a sad, sad place.

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

People got bent out of shape because I called Cario "abandoned" but I'm not sure how else to describe it. Yes, people still live there but it's a fraction of how many used to. Sad. So much history and the town is being erased.

The cold hard truth of the matter is that race relations got worse. As a result the crime rate reached unprecedented levels so the more affluent residents and business owners simply said enough is enough and closed down businesses and went in different directions to escape. Some migrated to Kentucky...some elsewhere...anywhere but Cairo. The feeling at the time was 'let them have it...it's ruined now and we will do better elsewhere."

@marisela7825

2 жыл бұрын

"Let them have it!" Just curious, who is "them" that you refer to?

@terrybane6206

2 жыл бұрын

@@marisela7825 The people who burned, looted, rioted, and trashed the town. Some of their offspring are among the few remaining residents.

All buildings should come with expiration dates. If it has been abandoned longer than it has be occupied and no longer serves the local community it should be demolished and hauled away making the area appear useable for the 21st century.

@synergy120light2

3 жыл бұрын

I think a lot of the town is worth salvaging.

Isn’t Cairo notoriously dangerous?

@synergy120light2

2 жыл бұрын

With a crime rate of 62 per one thousand residents, Cairo has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 16.

Rumor has is, Cairo was recently chose as a future site, for The Walking Dead

@synergy120light2

4 жыл бұрын

I so hope you're not joking.

Ballad of William Froggie James: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qZ2KlbysfpmvnJM.html

I must have missed the part where you were being followed. What happened? I always wanted to check this place put but it's a 5 hour drive and no brave souls to go with. I don't think that anyone said that it was a complete ghost town but with no real police.. it looks like Detroit and only very low income people live there. Very unsafe. Unless someone can prove to me that college educated middle class white families live there.. but they don't and it has about 200 residents and there's a warning about crime there. I still want to visit but don't blame not having anyone willing to go. Just like my Irish family once lived in cabrini greens but once it became very urban.. I knew I couldn't safely see it

@synergy120light2

5 жыл бұрын

The same car followed me twice for a few blocks and then turned off. No idea what that was about. They may have just been curious because they saw the camera but my first thought was they wanted to rob me. Cairo is an amazing place and is rich in history but, it’s buildings are being erased. It’s hard to estimate, but if I had to put a number to it I would say 70 percent of the town buildings have been torn down and 90 percent are abandoned. If you decide to go, I would recommend going with at least one other person and in the day time of course. I have never seen police officers (that doesn’t mean they aren’t there). I’ve been there twice and both times I ran into locals who were friendly and happy to talk about what Cairo once was and their hopes for its future. I really want to see those hopes become a reality.

Abandoned buildings burning down there-No fire Dept and NO one to report the fires!

@synergy120light2

5 жыл бұрын

And as clear as I could tell, no one cares.

The destructive power of hate

This is what racism does to civilization.

What part of Cairo was that house in? It is so pretty. I've only passed through... Too nervous to get out of the car, aside from going to the park where the rivers meet.

@synergy120light2

5 жыл бұрын

This house was off Magnolia Drive which is West of the main street I believe. There are a lot of abandoned homes there. Such a shame to see a town with so much history turn into this. I understand why you would be nervous. I don't have any idea why I was being followed but I'm pretty sure it wasn't the Cairo Il Tourist Association welcoming me.

Why do people come to Cairo to film all the downsides of the town and be scared of the people who live there. Cairo blocks are short, so chances are you were going in the same direction as the person you thought was following you. Just say you were afraid of the people because you see them as poor. Yes, Cairo is in bad shape, but not for the reasons you outsiders want to make it out to be. People there are nice and will educate you on Cairo if you actually care to know about it

And the house fires you shower were bad ones I helped fight them

@synergy120light2

4 жыл бұрын

Are you a firefighter in Cario?

Place just sucks that's it you can blame all the no good greedy rocket scientists and unfaithful jerks and jerketts well-done man hope your proud guess what you loose...