Packard Plant

15 treasures every Detroiter must uncover

By Keith N. Dusenberry

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When you say you're from Detroit, all the peeps in whatever town you're moving to will think of three things: cars, "8 Mile," and massive, rotting, burned-out buildings. Of course, you don't have to look too hard for examples of this blight, but some of you may not have made the trek over to the east side to see the Packard Plant in all its gruesome glory. Built in 1903, this Albert Kahn-designed mammoth fell into disrepair years ago. The abandoned interior was even used as a paintball playground a few years back, but has since seen action only from bums, vandals and art school kids. Today, huge chunks of the exterior walls are missing, so you no longer have to make the perilous voyage inside to get the full view. You’ll miss this kind of Detroit grit in your pretty new place.