Into to the Dark
I finally had the opportunity to venture into the old main office building at the Southwestern Portland Cement Plant. I didn’t want to wander around in there alone so I asked a friend of mine to go with me. His only request was that we not get arrested. Given all of the other possible dangers when exploring abandoned buildings, I’m glad he was only concerned about the police. Time to head in!
View Southwestern Portland Cement in a larger map
In the map above the office building is outlined in orange. The stairs to the second story front entrance can be seen from Piasano drive but there is no access there, it’s welded up tight.
- Welded up
The easiest entry point is from a lower entrance at ground level. You have to walk around to the side, looking for a set of stairs that go below grade. In the picture below the stairs are right behind the bush. The stairs to the right, lead up to a door that is locked.
The lower door that has been pried away, exposing a large room that has a bunch of cabnets and work surfaces. It looks like some sort of testing area where they may have preformed quality control on their products.
- Cabinet work area
To the right is another room that has a narrow set of stairs that lead up to a mid level. That is the darkest, most claustrophobic part but once you get to the top, light from the second story windows fill the area. This odd area was in the middle of the building with a second set of wider stairs leading up to the office level.
- Going up?
The building has kind of a weird feel about it. A long narrow hallway runs its length. Offices hang off to each side letting light in but the low ceiling and cinder block walls negate any openness the light provides.
- The Long Hall
the place is gutted with little reminiscent of previous office activity. The offices had wood paneling which has been removed in large sections and in any area where copper pipes may have been, holes have been punched in the walls to remove it. The long hall ends in a large open office area and judging by the largish corner offices, this was the executive area.
- Large open office area
The windows have been broken out everywhere exposing the interior to the elements. It’s also obvious that vagrants have been here making sleeping areas from insulation ripped out of the walls. I though that these offices might have fared better than the rest of the plant but the passage of time and vandalism have really done a number on the place.
- Looking out
Heading back out we passed a curious breaker panel:
- Pulverizer Chipmonk
These little curiosity’s are the best finds when exploring abandoned places. Pulverizer Chipmonk? Who knows what that was but it sounds like a great band name. Once out, we walked around a bit more but time soon found us. We both had 1:00 meetings that we needed to get to so we hit the road.
The full Flickr set can be viewed here: Southwestern Portland Cement 6
The previous Flickr sets can be viewed here:
Southwestern Portland Cement 5
Southwestern Portland Cement 4
Southwestern Portland Cement 3
Southwestern Portland Cement 2
Southwestern Portland Cement 1
I’ve wanted to check that place out for years. Thanks for the cool pics.
Thanks. Its a pretty interesting place, there aren’t a lot of dormant industrial sites like that in El Paso. I’ve been there a few times and always find something new to check out.
I’ve been to this place several times with my friends. We paintball and hang out there from time. At one point we had made a short film there. But I felt kinda weird just standing in the locker room ………didn’t like that much. Other than that I love the pictures. I plan on going back whenever I get the chance and exploring much more.
That locker room is one of the creepier areas for sure.
RE: 2011 old Southwestern Portland Cement Plant office buildin…
I worked in that building for 8.5 years, leaving in 1984 transferred to LA, CA home office. Your suppositions about what was what in the pictures is mostly correct. The lab was the quality control area. The door jams in the hallway, I remember when they were painted & the walls were “Navajo white”. My office, the computer room, is to the left room behind the wall with exposed studs in the last picture of the large office room. I left CA & now live in Colo. Don’t know how I stumbled onto this website, but SAD, SO SAD. It was once a classy place.
Thanks for the info, I can remember driving by and it looked well taken care of till the mid 80’s. Looks like it has been frozen in time, left to the elements since.
Jim,
My father-in-law, Billy Maddux, worked in the lab until about early 1970’s. We still have his 5 & 10 years service pins. Wife with many memories of visits to the plant !!
My father Horace s Moore works out of that Los Angeles office for most of the fifties and all of the 60s I believe he had his own office there in LA I know the secretary newbie my name and she always say oh your dad’s back to his office