Our Story

In 2009, Chris introduced Katie to the world of urban and rural exploration. Armed with cameras, Clif Bars and quite a bit of adventurous spirit, the two headed out into America. From the poverty-stricken streets of Gary, Indiana, to the dusty desert roads of Ludlow, California, every nook they explore has one thing in common: They’ve all been forgotten.

In 2008, Chris published a small book of Route 66 Polaroids called “Fading Nostalgia.” Two years later, while chatting over several cups of coffee, the seeds of a Fading Nostalgia website were planted. Katie snagged a domain and the two began to discuss what the site would stand for and how it would be utilized. It took another year (and the reminder of the domain renewal!) to completely solidify this website, but now that it’s up, of course we both feel like we should’ve done it decades ago. So many crazy stories and wild places we will now have to recount. While we have plenty of old stories to share, we hope to have even more new ones just waiting to be told. So keep an eye out for future road trip news.

So we hope you stick around, check in often, follow us on Twitter and/or like us on Facebook. Road trips are always way more fun with friends, so join us on our search to uncover what this country so desperately needs: to remember and relish in its lustrous past.

On the Road
route66 When we’re not working in a corporate office, we’re clamoring to hop in the car and head somewhere, ANYwhere–day or night, sweltering or sub-zero, near or far, sometimes very far. There is no building too forbidden, farmhouse too remote or road too meandering. Each location is a mini adventure unto itself with stories that need to be shared.
Embracing the Abandoned
abandoned Crawling inside a room coated in grime, cobwebs and perhaps a little animal excrement won’t stop our curiosity. There’s nothing like the rush you get the second you know it’s just you in there…or at least the squatters are keeping quiet! Suddenly you realize several hours have passed and you have only scratched the surface.
Loving the Kitsch
kitsch The plastic icing on the fiberglass cake of urban and rural exploration is stumbling upon a road trip oddity or finally visiting one we heard about only to discover that it truly is THAT odd!! America’s road freaks become our friends away from home. Hoping, of course, that they aren’t one day dismantled and disappear forever.


Meet Chris & Katie!




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