More than a little sketchy… The Kessler Reservoir KC!
The concrete reservoir in Kansas City’s Kessler Park has been abandoned since 1931.
Over the course of his career, George Edward Kessler created 26 separate park and boulevard systems, encompassing 49 individual parks. His work stretches across 100 cities and several countries. This park, renamed after him in 1971, was part of the master plan he created for the Kansas City area. However, he probably didn’t plan that the reservoir would ever look like this.
In its current state, the reservoir holds its own kind of charm. Two old water towers stand rusting in the center, weeds have sprung up in its many cracks, and graffiti has spread along the basin walls. The entire space runs about the length of a football field. It’s sparse, eerie, and its own little world—entirely different from the park that surrounds it.
It’s huge - but not knowing what I was looking for I drove around it a couple times. Finally I stopped to ask some disc golf guys if they knew where it was. And it was right in the middle of the park surrounded by a fence and over grown trees. They told me that pop up artist sell works there and musicians have concerts there all the time - but it might be illegal to enter. I asked if there were any entrances. They said it’s easy to just jump the fence. I laughed, not for this 61 year old adventurer. I was already in trouble with Margery on this trip for making questionable choices. They told me there is a gap in the fence and I located it. They also told me there were cement stairs that went down into it - perfect.
I went in after, changing into my boots I keep in the back of my car in case it’s muddy doing drone shots. Nothing like a middle aged man, driving his chevy equinox, in a questionable part of a park, changing into his boots, to explore an abandoned and possibly illegal reservoir!
I found the gap and went it! So cool. I kept an eye out for sketchy activities and people the whole time - didn’t see anyone. The graffiti was very cool. I walked along the wall until I found the stairs and descended into a huge space covered in graffiti. Highly recommend. Bring a friend - for safety. And let someone know where you are at before you go! And wear your drone boots!
