The Amphitheater Drain has been known by taggers & explorers alike for years. It has an unique feature unlike other drains, namely, an above ground Amphitheater. Im not sure why it does however its a great place to chill and watch the river from.

Not only does it sport the above but it also has a lift gate which I haven’t come across yet at other drain sites.

The drain itself is relatively plain. Featuring a few side tunnels and a healthy amount of tags. The walk is also unexciting. At the end, if you travel all the way you’ll discover a dropshaft that boasts a waterfall. Beyond that I havent heard anything.

If ya do, let us know.
I’m curious.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Members: Neur@l, ToXiC, and DoC
Photos by: ToXiC w/ Sony Cybershot DSC-H9 8.1
Written by: Neur@l
October, 2009 Trip #2

It was starting to get chilly out here in Minnesota when DoC had the night off from work to do some exploring with ToXiC and I. ToXiC really wanted to redo the amphitheater trip so he could get some better shots with his camera so he invited us along. DoC and I waited for ToXiC to finish up at work, then we all piled into DoC’s car. As we were driving to the location we did the usual briefing, shot the shit, chit chatted, and all the way kept our eyes peeled for potential new locations to explore. Finally we had arrived to our destination.

We hopped outta the car and started walking down the path. Eventually, we came to the point where we were required to make our descent into the abyss. As we approached the amphitheater everyone agreed to have a smoke before entering the drain. I walked around puffing on my cancer and smiling at the random graffiti and tags spread around the stones. We chatted a bit, relaxed, and breathed in a mixture of nicotine and the night air. A harbor boat passed along down the Mississippi while we were chilling on our stone thrones. At the point that the boat was out of eyesight we had finished with our cigarettes and collected our bearings to enter the drains. Our approach to the entrance was amusing as DoC tried lifting the iron gate and started to slip on the wet concrete beneath his shoes. He really needs to get a pair of boots for these adventures.

ToXiC lifted the gate as DoC and I entered. I turned around and held it open for ToXiC to get through as he handed his gear to DoC so it wasn’t so much a tight squeeze anymore. Slowly I lowered the heavy iron rods as not to damage anything then turned around and flipped the switch to my headlamp. ToXiC began setting up his camera and DoC was looking into this pool of water at the beginning of the tunnel. It was deep and full of dark water. I was reminded of NSP and the gross nasty water that might be radioactive X-D. I chuckled at this thought, as well as the lingering menacing thought of pushing DoC in the pool to see if he could swim to the bottom. At this point we were all ready to climb the stone steps up into the bowels of this place. Water damage, mildew, and algae lined the walls and floor of this drain and we ascended into the darkness.

Upon reaching the top I looked around and smirked at the graffiti, as with all drains the graffiti is usually the best part. I mean, it’s a fucking tunnel with water how exciting can these places really get? Yeah sure there’s potential secrets to be discovered, but some of the crap these people with spray paint cans come up with is pretty entertaining, well that and the possibility of animal carcasses; which at the end there was a dead possum :-/. We began to hobble along the the sides of the tunnel as to avoid stepping into the run off water that was trickling towards the dark pool DoC was initially looking at. Eventually DoC and I came to a section that branched into a whirlpool that seemed to be water draining from the streets. ToXiC stayed back and took photographs of DoC and I as we explored this little branch off. The water was spraying down in droplets and mist into a pool that was obviously intended for run off so as not to flood the drain itself. After a bit of a photo session we ventured further into the tunnel. While I was jumping diagonally down the drain, left to right left to right, I came to yet another branch off. It was the same thing so no need to elaborate. We continued further from that point reading graffiti as we went. I started humming to myself thinking of Alice in Wonderland and how deep does this fucking rabbit hole; correction drain tunnel, go?

Around this time is when ToXiC called everyone to a halt so we could set up for a shot of the tunnel. He whipped out a pack of tea candles and gave a handful to DoC and I. All three of us started lighting them and lining them up along the drain tunnel. ToXiC then set up his tripod and started the long process of capturing the perfect photo while DoC and I chatted and smoked and rested our weary legs.

A bit thereafter we were ready to get moving again, the end was near. I mean literally, the end is extremely fucking neigh, 2012 is not a myth it is real I swear, one of the tags in the tunnel said so. Don’t believe me? Go look for yourself.

We ventured further as the tunnel started to curve at an angle and in the dark distance we could hear water rushing down as if it were a waterfall. “Is this where they hid one-eyed Willy’s treasure?” I thought. Nope, upon further examination and finally reaching the end of this, for the most part, straight hobble down a tube we had reached the end. Here lied the carcass of a dead possum and behind it was a vortex to another world (I guess the possum didn’t make it, PETA don’t sue).

After attempting to convince either DoC or ToXiC to hop in and let me know what was on the other side, they didn’t buy it, ToXiC yet again started snapping photographs, this time instead of solely taking pictures of the crew/solo picture taking, DoC and I got to wave our flashlights and headlamps around like a bunch of crazy people for a slow shutter effect. The end I feel I should leave as a surprise, because no one knows what happens in the end, I sure as shit didn’t…. Oh wait, I did, it’s another street run-off tube, except this one is the mother load compared to all the others. Hence why if you jump in you get sucked in through the vortex to another dimension, been watching way too much sci-fi.

So after a few chuckles and photo snapping we headed back to reality. The tunnel vision was getting to our heads. Skipping along at a fast pace we finally got back to the entrance/exit. Here we set up the tea candles and ToXiC took his last shot of the night, which was the stairwell leading to wonderland. I didn’t stick around and instead walked through the iron gate out into the mysterious night-time air. Soon we all got back to DoC’s vehicle and went off for some late night diner food. Then we all got dropped off and went our separate ways. Amphitheater, you took my mentality. END!