Has anyone every heard of Picher, Oklahoma?

[Emileel]

On the latest episode of "Life After People", they documented the town of Picher, Oklahoma, a town that was abandonedafter the lead and zinc mines were closed down and because of groundwater poisoning from the mines.

Is this a place accessible to the public? There were abandoned picnic grounds and baseball fields, stores, etc.

Can one metal detect there?

 

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[kenley]

The last time I was through there, 6-8 yrs ago. The only business left was a gas station/convience store.

 

[warsawdaddy]

Been through there many times in the early 50's.

 

[camcolo]

Yea, I have been there and Treece, KS. I did my master's thesis up there when i was in college (OSU). We were the first ones up there after the mine water started surfacing. I believe that you can still get near buildings in the area. The only downfall from a metal detecting standpoint is that much of the ground in some areas is covered by chat. Also, since these were lead and zinc mines, you are going to get a lot of hot rocks. Ground balancing could be challenging. The mines covered about 60 sq miles underground. Semi-trucks with stoplights down there. Mines filled with water and began surfacing in the early 80's. Government is relocating people. As a note, the existing downtown was not the original one. They moved it because of the threat of a subsidence (mine collapse) under the original downtown. If you see a water fountain that is stained orange, I would not drink. The orange stains indicate contaminated mine water. Curt

 

[tlowery04]

On the latest episode of "Life After People", they documented the town of Picher, Oklahoma, a town that was abandonedafter the lead and zinc mines were closed down and because of groundwater poisoning from the mines.

Is this a place accessible to the public? There were abandoned picnic grounds and baseball fields, stores, etc.

Can one metal detect there?

did anyone ever go check this place out? I am thinking of going in the spring if it is accessible

 

[Mackaydon]

As of January 2011, only six homes and one business remain, their owners having refused to leave at any price; the rest of the town's buildings (excepting designated historical structures) are scheduled to be demolished by the end of the year.( per Wiki)
Don.....