@@corporatemcmahon2815Why would I lie? What sort of proof do you need? 🤔 Thousands of people, military and civilian, were stationed on Adak over the years. We were there from mid 1984 to mid 1986. We also experienced the earthquake that occurred in early May 1986. I was expecting our son at that time and our daughter was 4 years old. We left in June and I was glad to go!
@@corporatemcmahon2815 This was the mid 1980s. Except for a few folks who had camcorders, no one else had anything but cameras. We certainly could not afford a camcorder, so we have no videos to show from that era. My husband is a 20 year Navy vet and I served 6 years. We're certainly not "pretending." Just Google the earthquake on Adak in May 1986 and you'll read all about it. I don't do TikTok at all; I'm 67 years old and don't pay any attentions to "trends." Your remarks are insulting and you can stand by whatever you feel you need to do. We're done here.
@@corporatemcmahon2815 This was the 1980s. Some people had camcorders but we certainly could not afford one, so I have no video to post. We just had ordinary cameras with film in them and we took plenty of photos and slides. I know nothing about TikTok trends. So you believe what you want. My husband served 20 years in the USN and I served 6 years. We're 75 and 67 years old, respectively. We don't lie to make ourselves look good. I think we're all done now.
We lived in Sandy Cove when my dad was stationed on Adak. He made Chief on this little island in the early 90s. I used to ride my bike to this McDonald's with my babysitting money and I always got the two cheesburgers meal! Man, nostalgia hurts so weird. . . Birthplace of the wind ❤
I'm glad you like the more immersive format. 😊 I filmed the same video the day I arrived while it was overcast, more windy, and rainy. This experience with the sun and wind seemed a little more appropriate for the published version.
@@chrisluckhardt Overcast and windy was an every day thing on Adak. It was coined, "Adak, the Birthplace of the Wind". They had a thing called "Sunshine Liberty" where everyone who wasn't absolutely necessary got the rest of the day off when the sun came out because it was so rare. The first time I heard of it, I'd just started high school and a kid came running down the hall yelling about sunshine liberty. Everyone started packing up their stuff and left. The teacher explained what it was to me but I thought it was a joke on the new kid because I'd just moved to Adak from San Diego. 🤣
I pulled into Adak while in the service. We saw those golden arches while pulling in, got excited, then found that it had closed. Total bummer, but was a nice reminder of home in that very desolate place.
I was there in late 1994 when McDonald's Corporate sent a crew to Adak to retrieve the arches that stood by the main road. Once unearthed, they were taken down to Sampson's area and palletized and barged off-island, concrete abutments still attached.
I think the main paranoia McDonald's has is someone setting up the building as their own restaurant and using the MCDonald's name to run the business. Without the signage and no way to get any, it's just a junked building. @@chrisluckhardt
Wonderful footage. My grandfather spent time here in the 1950s. I hope the DoD & Navy consider to reopen this base as a pivot to both the Pacific and the Arctic region. With Russia militarizing in the Arctic and China pushing out to the Pacific having this base (and potentially an icebreaker stationed here) as a practicality.
Thank you! If only the walls could speak and share the veteran's and family's stories about their time on Adak! I read that the Navy went back to Adak in 2019 for the first time since 1997 to do training exercises. I'd rather live in a world without militarization but humans haven't evolved enough yet. I saw a study years ago that stated if the US gave 1% of its military budget to NASA that it would double NASA's budget! Idealist thinking from a space exploration enthusiastic, I know...
I remember that McD's being packed. Too bad you couldn't get inside. And that sun! Very lucky. Surprised to see the houses still standing. They were is horrid condition when they were new - leaky roofs with lots of structural problems. I think people only lived in then 1 or 2 years before the base was closed, then they were used as a 'hotel" for visitors (which was how I got to stay in one.) Not sure if that is still happening (probably not.)
What you've described matches what my host told me about the houses. Some of the houses close to the McDonald's were solid but other houses were built cheap and for a different climate (right side housing at 0:20). I was able to rent an entire house from my fantastic host Steve - it's in the cluster I mention at 5:17.
@@chrisluckhardt how do you not have 100,000+ subscribers my friend? Stumbled onto your channel a few days ago and I’ve watched almost all of your videos and subscribed! Very cool stuff!
@@trainnerd3029 I'm mostly known as a photographer but I've been filming abandoned places for 20 years. My subscriber count is low because I didn't start the channel until 2 years ago. But the RUclips algorithm recently pushed a batch of my videos to a wider audience so I'm guessing that's how you stumbled across my channel. Thanks for the support!!!
I had one of those Bobby’s World toys - number 3. Used to love that show 😊 Thanks for sharing this awesome video. Didn’t know about this island; seems pretty peaceful.
Unfortunately, getting those signs off Adak would be insanely expensive due to shipping costs. The island is further west than Russia’s easternmost point.
Those prices were actually pretty high for 1997, probably because it was Alaska. A small soda was 99¢, but McDonald’s was charging $1 for a small soda in New York in 2020. Small fries were also 99¢, but small fries were on the $1 menu in New York until about ten years ago.
That's what happened to many of these basis after the Cold War was over, it got closed down and many places like this people moved out and fled. These places really are stuck in a place in history.
@chrisluckhardt McDonald's used to have hand cut fries - you got a bag in which they were all the same length instead of the haphazard scraps sold today - and the taste was heavenly. We used to buy extra bags at 5 and 10 cents just to feed the cute little sparrows hopping around in the parking lot !!
It's neat to see they put in the effort to make it look like a MCD's in the building shape too. My friend's dad was stationed at another Aleutian base called Shemya that was also closed down. I can't even imagine being so isolated.
McDonald's dictates the appearance updates of each building based on the franchise agreement. A few restaurants were able to retain older architecture via loopholes. I'm guessing this one would've been updated eventually if the base remained open.
What an amazing place, certainly has a edge of the world vibe to it. Never thought I'd see footage from one of those islands. Keep up the great work showing us highly unusual places we never would have heard of otherwise. Have to say I sort of miss your commentary like you did in the earlier videos.
Adak is beautiful and your description is perfect - "edge of the world" is exactly how it felt being out there. And I loved the beauty and slightly unsettling feeling of being way out there! And thanks for the feedback! The change of format was an intent to provide a more immersive experience for the viewer. I love the art of photography and video and sharing my work everywhere, but I also feel awkward anytime I get too close to the "influencer" vibe. This format is true to myself and how I want to present my work.
The interior (until they gutted it alongside repainting the exterior walls to some tint of yellow) was definitely original/80s along with the fixtures on what their chairs, tables, and others looked like during that time period.
That's all correct! The owners' son commented in a Twitter thread that their McDonald's opened in July 1986 and closed in 1993/94. My host told me the interior was partially gutted around 10 years ago and converted into a lunch service for the nearby fishery plant. It was boarded up around 2019 due to vandalism but the original 1986 seating was still visible near the front windows.
Just imagine living in a small town built on the edge of a active volcano & there's a McDonald's out there. The nearest other McDonald's would be in Kodiak near the Alaskan mainland. I wonder what life would be like there when it was a lively community. I'm still surprised people live there. There's around 171 people currently living there but I think it changed. & most of the buildings are abandoned so it adds a eerie vibe to it & the fact that what's left of the small town could be destroyed by the volcano right next to the town. It's also because it's in middle of nowhere.
The closest volcano is 35km (22 miles) to the west on another island and poses no threat to Adak or its 33 permanent residents. That number was shared by Adak home owner Steven Carroll. He was my Airbnb host in a renovated house and Adak's fire chief in the 1970s.
To the North of the town of Adak there's a volcano called Mount Adagdak. It said on the Wikipedia page that it's historically active. So my mistake by calling it an active one. It's probably dormant currently. I don't know the locals to area know it way better than me. I don't even live there. The reason why I said 171 people live there was because I looked it up. So the source for that information is outdated. I knew Adak existed but I didn't know that there was a McDonald's there.
@@CasuallyIncredible The last estimated eruption of Mount Adagdak is several thousands of years ago according to local surveys. I drove up to it and enjoyed seeing dozens of eagles and other wildlife.
Thanks for posting this video. I know i had talked to someone a year or so ago on twitter that posted something about this, but my parents actually owned that mcdonalds store. We lived there up until the base closed of course and left the island with the others. Fun to see this because i was only 6 or 7 when we moved so i dont remember much
Hey Steve! I saw your tweets while researching the McDonald’s. Your parents opened a couple of restaurants in Oregon after this one, and then did the same in Texas, right? Have you told them about this video? I’d love to hear their feedback and any stories about setting up and running the McDonald’s! Thanks!
I rediscovered two of the interior photos that caught my interest more than 10 years ago: imgur.com/gallery/WVnKGEc Kitchen equipment was removed when the local fish processing plant used the restaurant as a lunch area from 2011-13. They went bankrupt and the building wasn't used again. But the seating area remained intact and appears to be in excellent condition in the photos. Vandals from, surprisingly, the Coast Guard broken windows just before the pandemic. So, the building was sealed with boards on all windows and entrances.
Been over 50yrs since I saw Sanka on the menu, even spellcheck doesn't know it is a word. Except for the NEX and commissary EVERYTHING in Alaska is more $$, still sweet prices.
Sanka amazingly still exists in other parts of the world. McDonald's switched in 2005 to Gaviña Gourmet Coffee in the US and Mother Parker's in Canada.
@@bender7565 Thanks, but it's a coincidence! An urban legend up here in Canada is that our most popular coffee chain, Tim Hortons, swapped coffee beans with McDonald's years ago as the reason Timmies coffee became terrible. The truth is Tim Hortons opened an internal roasting facility. Assuming you're American, now you know 1000% more about Canada than you'll ever need to know. 😂
something about those drive thru windows is so aesthetically pleasing to me, i’m sure they stopped doing that because it was impractical to have something jutting out from the building but i love 80s boxy design lol
Isn’t that strange that places like even exist? Why/how can it just poof go away? Just like nothing was there, and they leave the remnants behind. Just like the housing😦🤷♀️
I worked for ADAK FISHERIES in 05 and i have been inside this building. been all over this island and I wrecked my boat outside the SPIT Julia Ana and was rescued by F/V MISS MARRY. Place is very creepy
Worked at a McDonald's in Illinois in '94/'95. The individual sandwich costs are not very much more here. A big Mac was $1.99, a cheeseburger $.89 where I worked. The value meals are a lot more expensive. Big Mac meal was $2.99 by me. $4.50 here.
I remember crossing the border with my parents and everyone commenting on the extremely cheap McPrices after factoring in the exchange rate. A Big Mac meal in Ontario was nearly double the cost (if I remember correctly).
Former residents I’ve been in contact with said it was always packed during its initial years. But they closed because the base was being decommissioned and business declined accordingly.
Would've been cool if they turned that whole entire area into a resort or a tourist attraction of some sort while it was being decommissioned back then. I always imagined that if I was some rich man and the franchisee of that McDonald's, I would still keep it operating with all the same designs including the mansard roof, bright colors, aesthetics, the golden arches sign, old school technology, old fashion, and affordable prices. 🍟🍟🍔🍔🥤🥤
Adak is arguably exact that now - a tourist resort/attraction. But it's just for wildlife enthusiasts like hunters, fishermen, and birdwatchers. The island's location and climate make it generally inhospitable for mass tourism.
A UK tabloid article from The Sun brought me here. It's crazy how the algorithms work. Subscribed to your brilliant channel. Much love from Scotland. 🥃 🏴
Any vehicles seen in the video are used by Aleutian Outfitters (for hunting rentals), locals, or they're abandoned. The silver truck was my rental from my host Steve. He runs the Adak/Aleutian Experience.
The building's construction seems to be rock solid, at least from my amateur perspective. Most of the houses out there are facing a continual battle with moisture issues (according to my host) but this McDonald's appears to be holding up well.
TDY at Adak for a week in 1991….we were all excited and wanted to go see bald eagles….one of our hosts said OK, follow me….we walked to the back of the McD’s….they had a trash dumpster out bqck….must have been 50 Bald Eagles sitting on the edges, waiting for someone to come outside and dump food scraps!!!!!!
@@chrisluckhardt It's a little over $6 with taxes here in Florida. $8.75 is a lot! When I was younger I remember being able to gorge myself with $5 at McDonald's. Inflation has been so bad.
@@UrbanFury12 I saw a Reddit post where someone ran the numbers. Big Macs are 15% more than the 1990s cost. I wouldn't doubt that 15% is on the low side compared to other inflationary prices. Consumers are being gouged.
Equipment was removed from the kitchen just over a decade ago when the building was being used as a lunch area for a now-bankrupt fish processing plant next door. A new floor was put in around the same time. But the seating is unchanged from 1994. Interior photos: imgur.com/gallery/WVnKGEc
I stopped doing scripts and voiceovers in most of my videos and views/engagement increased 1500%. But I plan to mix in occasional documentary-style videos with voiceovers in upcoming releases.
@@tristanwoodmansee477 No worries - I didn't think you were trying to be rude! Just explaining why I stopped doing voiceovers for most of my videos. People have commented how they like the immersive experience, but I do add info bars and video descriptions for people who want more information. My website and upcoming book will include significant historical, architectural, and socioeconomic information about these amazing places.
Too bad the prices aren't accurate for the time in most places. Being Alaska they were inflated quite a bit. The 1.09 cheese burger was most likely .89 cents in most places.
The prices make sense considering Adak is a remote Pacific island. The cost of living and shipping was much higher than the mainland. Even last summer, I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and Coke at Adak's only bar/restaurant and it cost me $45 lol.
Ah OK, I see that now. That's the one I saw. It appears in the related videos for this video so likely how it got mixed up. But the video from "Ron We-be-bassin" does show the interior and it has the same layout and design style but through the windows. @@chrisluckhardt
@@MrWolfSnack Wow, I hadn’t seen his video! It confirms what my Adak host said about the kitchen being gutted. It was boarded up just before the pandemic because several windows were smashed by vandals during a visit.
June 1994 is the accurate month. I updated the video description several months ago but unfortunately can't go back and edit the video. I learned the exact month after messaging with a couple of former military and residents shortly after this video and my Instagram videos went viral. They were there and helped shut down the restaurant. The owner's son was mistaken on the year. The street sign and other branding were removed around September 1994.
Those prices were dirt cheap even back then that was in Alaska and the freight was through the roof . I was told with the huge hike in wages to $20.00 minum wage in California a Big mac and fries n coke is over $17.00
The prices on this 1994 McMenu were 2-3x higher than mainland USA. It was due to shipping costs to remote and northern territories. The sensationalistic news stories about high McDonald's prices intentionally leave out that those prices are only high in a few markets (although it's still garbage food nobody should eat!). Prices vary ~75% from market to market, so I recommend looking at this Big Mac price tracking website for more accurate insights: pantryandlarder.com/mccheapest
It was a daycare center but is often mistaken for an abandoned Pizza Hut. Now, it's a grocery store named 100 Knot Stop and open a few hours per week. Google Maps shows photos inside the store.
@@chrisluckhardt NSGA was my duty station, I only went into the basement two or three times, I might have written my name in the basement, I don't recall. Yes, I was part of the decommissioning crew, when I was stationed there, between both duty stations there was maybe 40 people.
@@chrisluckhardt You're welcome, please let me know if I did or not. Also, would you please look for these other names as well, David Morton, Michael Seals and Kevin Albert. They are real good friends of mine, we served on Adak together. 😎👍
Understandable, but it's quiet peaceful. I live in the heart of Toronto but grew up on a farm, so I enjoy getting away from humanity and deep into nature in places like Adak. Choices are limited but the three dozen residents love it out there!
A few photos are online from before the plywood was put over all the windows. The kitchen area was gutted but all of the customer seating still looks like 1986.
Adak Fisheries went bankrupt in 2009 and lost the plant. Icicle Seafoods took over in 2011 but closed the plant in 2013. I confirmed the dates via several online new sources.
@chrisluckhardt yes, I went back to Adak on F/V LADY GUDNY in 08 And Piloted a boat called JULIA ANA which was owned by Kjettle The owner of Adak FISHERIES and I wrecked outside the spit
@@mecca6801 Let’s fix up the abandoned DeLorean in one of my other videos and time travel back to 1994. Better yet, let’s go back a year or two earlier for McPizza!
I wonder why people are coming here to Oregon... Anyways, it's depressing and simultaneously fascinating to see that derelict of the past. I wish I could reopen it.
Oregon might've been their original/home state or maybe McDonald's offered the family that specific territory to restart the business. Just speculating.
@@jumanaalomary7895 Thank you! I’ve filmed and shared other abandoned houses on this channel, but that’s the most important video - at least for me. :)
The bollards surrounded a gas tank. It was added when the building was being used as a lunch spot for a now-closed fish processing plant. Photos of it appear on Google Images if you search for "adak mcdonalds".
Been There Many Times, Once when The Navy Base was Up & Running, '' Went Inside & Got A Big Mac Meal'' Returned 8 Years Later , Chief Bos'n Aboard USCGC Storis , The Naval Base was Abandoned, Micky D's ,, Was a Scuttled abandoned Hallowed Building As was Most of the Navy Housing & entire Navy Base, Fuckkkk'n So Sad'' Had A Few Good Times There .
It's wild also to know those 1994 prices were 2-3x higher than mainland US. So, US price increases now (and here in Canada too) have far outpaced inflation. A Big Mac in 1989 would be $4.19 US now but it's around $5.69 on average.
Prices in northern and remote climates are 2-3x higher due to shipping costs. But I’ve heard from people who were there at the time that the McDonald’s was always packed!
Big Mac meal in the continental United States in the early 1990s was $2.99. That's around $6.50 with inflation now. So, it's doubled in price over the past 30 years with most areas charging around $15 for the same meal. Crazy!
Why is it not supported anymore? although it may lasted 8 years wow.... by the end of the year 2053 that steel bar will eventually be decompose itself.
This McDonald's was abandoned in 1994. The family who had the franchise closed it as Adak's military base began decommissioning. The base was finally closed in 1997, and most of the island's population left. Only 33 permanent residents live there now. Also, the brand of weather-resistant steel used in construction there could last well beyond the year 2100.
I checked. I’m sure I could’ve forced my way inside but it’s not my style and I probably would’ve missed my flight back to the mainland. It was leaving in one hour after I filmed this sequence.
A group were caught vandalizing the new church a few years ago and were fined $15000. One could argue that picking locks is fine but those locks were severely rusted.
The US Navy did the minimum legal required cleanup and then transferred it to the local native community. There’s all sorts of contaminants and buildings left all over the island.
Most Fast Food places on military bases are awarded vis bid by the corporations. Think the current FF burger place is Burger King, plus other FF groups.
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We were there from 1984 to 1986. I remember how excited we all were when the McDonald's was built. It was a real moral booster!
It must’ve felt like a little McSunshine from civilization arriving on Adak!
That's crazy!
@@corporatemcmahon2815Why would I lie? What sort of proof do you need? 🤔 Thousands of people, military and civilian, were stationed on Adak over the years. We were there from mid 1984 to mid 1986. We also experienced the earthquake that occurred in early May 1986. I was expecting our son at that time and our daughter was 4 years old. We left in June and I was glad to go!
@@corporatemcmahon2815 This was the mid 1980s. Except for a few folks who had camcorders, no one else had anything but cameras. We certainly could not afford a camcorder, so we have no videos to show from that era. My husband is a 20 year Navy vet and I served 6 years. We're certainly not "pretending." Just Google the earthquake on Adak in May 1986 and you'll read all about it. I don't do TikTok at all; I'm 67 years old and don't pay any attentions to "trends." Your remarks are insulting and you can stand by whatever you feel you need to do. We're done here.
@@corporatemcmahon2815 This was the 1980s. Some people had camcorders but we certainly could not afford one, so I have no video to post. We just had ordinary cameras with film in them and we took plenty of photos and slides. I know nothing about TikTok trends. So you believe what you want. My husband served 20 years in the USN and I served 6 years. We're 75 and 67 years old, respectively. We don't lie to make ourselves look good. I think we're all done now.
Man that menu is such a good throwback, brings back those childhood memories.
I didn’t see it on this menu but I remember the insanity of trying to eat a Jurassic Park themed triple cheeseburger lol
We lived in Sandy Cove when my dad was stationed on Adak. He made Chief on this little island in the early 90s. I used to ride my bike to this McDonald's with my babysitting money and I always got the two cheesburgers meal! Man, nostalgia hurts so weird. . .
Birthplace of the wind ❤
Did this McDonald’s have McPizza?
Hearing the wind blow while watching the grass dance is therapeutic ☺
I'm glad you like the more immersive format. 😊 I filmed the same video the day I arrived while it was overcast, more windy, and rainy. This experience with the sun and wind seemed a little more appropriate for the published version.
There isn’t a day on Adak that you don’t hear the wind while outside. It definitely wasn’t therapeutic while I was stationed there. 🤣
@@chrisluckhardt Overcast and windy was an every day thing on Adak. It was coined, "Adak, the Birthplace of the Wind". They had a thing called "Sunshine Liberty" where everyone who wasn't absolutely necessary got the rest of the day off when the sun came out because it was so rare. The first time I heard of it, I'd just started high school and a kid came running down the hall yelling about sunshine liberty. Everyone started packing up their stuff and left. The teacher explained what it was to me but I thought it was a joke on the new kid because I'd just moved to Adak from San Diego. 🤣
🤣😂🌬️🌬️💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨 I Know Exactly 👍 What U Mean 😭
🤣😂🙀👀
I pulled into Adak while in the service. We saw those golden arches while pulling in, got excited, then found that it had closed. Total bummer, but was a nice reminder of home in that very desolate place.
Amazing! Must’ve happened after 1993 while the base was slowly closing down?
@@chrisluckhardt December 94.
Bobby's world??? That really took me back to the 90's!!
Jurassic Park did it for me! The OG movie still looks great too.
I was there in late 1994 when McDonald's Corporate sent a crew to Adak to retrieve the arches that stood by the main road. Once unearthed, they were taken down to Sampson's area and palletized and barged off-island, concrete abutments still attached.
First, it's amazing that you were there to see it. And second, that's a lot of expense considering they left everything else behind.
I think the main paranoia McDonald's has is someone setting up the building as their own restaurant and using the MCDonald's name to run the business. Without the signage and no way to get any, it's just a junked building. @@chrisluckhardt
They must have really wanted to avoid a "McDowells" situation.
Omg i remember those little swinging doors on the drive thru windows!!!
I lived here for four years in the early 90s as a kid, so weird to see it like this now!
Do you remember how busy the McDonald's was at that time? And can you see your house in the other Adak videos I published?
Wonderful footage. My grandfather spent time here in the 1950s.
I hope the DoD & Navy consider to reopen this base as a pivot to both the Pacific and the Arctic region. With Russia militarizing in the Arctic and China pushing out to the Pacific having this base (and potentially an icebreaker stationed here) as a practicality.
Thank you! If only the walls could speak and share the veteran's and family's stories about their time on Adak! I read that the Navy went back to Adak in 2019 for the first time since 1997 to do training exercises. I'd rather live in a world without militarization but humans haven't evolved enough yet. I saw a study years ago that stated if the US gave 1% of its military budget to NASA that it would double NASA's budget! Idealist thinking from a space exploration enthusiastic, I know...
Your suggestion is possibly being considered as of this moment, pull it up online, the Navy is looking into reactivating this place
I'm here from german newspapers. Really cool footage, it took me back to the good old times a bit.
Die gute alte Bild. 😂
Back when the fries were good! 🍟
I remember that McD's being packed. Too bad you couldn't get inside. And that sun! Very lucky. Surprised to see the houses still standing. They were is horrid condition when they were new - leaky roofs with lots of structural problems. I think people only lived in then 1 or 2 years before the base was closed, then they were used as a 'hotel" for visitors (which was how I got to stay in one.) Not sure if that is still happening (probably not.)
What you've described matches what my host told me about the houses. Some of the houses close to the McDonald's were solid but other houses were built cheap and for a different climate (right side housing at 0:20). I was able to rent an entire house from my fantastic host Steve - it's in the cluster I mention at 5:17.
The menu sign brings back, a lot of memories of my youth…
All it's missing is McPizza!
@@chrisluckhardt how do you not have 100,000+ subscribers my friend? Stumbled onto your channel a few days ago and I’ve watched almost all of your videos and subscribed! Very cool stuff!
@@trainnerd3029 I'm mostly known as a photographer but I've been filming abandoned places for 20 years. My subscriber count is low because I didn't start the channel until 2 years ago. But the RUclips algorithm recently pushed a batch of my videos to a wider audience so I'm guessing that's how you stumbled across my channel. Thanks for the support!!!
@@chrisluckhardt thoroughly enjoy your stuff Chris! Best of luck with the channel!!
I had one of those Bobby’s World toys - number 3. Used to love that show 😊
Thanks for sharing this awesome video. Didn’t know about this island; seems pretty peaceful.
A lot of those old signs and posters are worth they’re pretty penny to the right collector, especially being vintage and original
Unfortunately, getting those signs off Adak would be insanely expensive due to shipping costs. The island is further west than Russia’s easternmost point.
I just wanna keep that menu. The pricing… the Bobby’s World toy line… it screams 1990’s😭
No love for the Dino Sized fries? 😂
Those prices were actually pretty high for 1997, probably because it was Alaska. A small soda was 99¢, but McDonald’s was charging $1 for a small soda in New York in 2020. Small fries were also 99¢, but small fries were on the $1 menu in New York until about ten years ago.
That's what happened to many of these basis after the Cold War was over, it got closed down and many places like this people moved out and fled. These places really are stuck in a place in history.
I've explored a few abandoned military bases. They're all like this - frozen in the period they were closed. Except this base had great french fries!
@chrisluckhardt McDonald's used to have hand cut fries - you got a bag in which they were all the same length instead of the haphazard scraps sold today - and the taste was heavenly. We used to buy extra bags at 5 and 10 cents just to feed the cute little sparrows hopping around in the parking lot !!
I miss the old McDonald happy meal toys. And sure remember those drive through windows. Best days ever.
Let’s not forget those delicious cardboard McDonaldland Cookies!
It's neat to see they put in the effort to make it look like a MCD's in the building shape too. My friend's dad was stationed at another Aleutian base called Shemya that was also closed down. I can't even imagine being so isolated.
McDonald's dictates the appearance updates of each building based on the franchise agreement. A few restaurants were able to retain older architecture via loopholes. I'm guessing this one would've been updated eventually if the base remained open.
Wife and I lived a hop skip and jump from mc ds. Only ate it rarely. We were both on comrats.
Commuted Rations Action?
What an amazing place, certainly has a edge of the world vibe to it. Never thought I'd see footage from one of those islands.
Keep up the great work showing us highly unusual places we never would have heard of otherwise.
Have to say I sort of miss your commentary like you did in the earlier videos.
Adak is beautiful and your description is perfect - "edge of the world" is exactly how it felt being out there. And I loved the beauty and slightly unsettling feeling of being way out there!
And thanks for the feedback! The change of format was an intent to provide a more immersive experience for the viewer. I love the art of photography and video and sharing my work everywhere, but I also feel awkward anytime I get too close to the "influencer" vibe. This format is true to myself and how I want to present my work.
Thank you for taking the time to travel to remote location and document it so well.
Thank you for the great feedback!
USNS OBIS. 5 trips to Adak in the early 90’s. Don’t miss it one bit and I wasn’t even stationed there.
On Adak 90-92 and I have never had a quarter pounder hamburger since as good as what I got on Adak.
I’m going to guess the reason is Adak experience nostalgia combined with McDonald’s being not as good as it was 30 years ago.
The interior (until they gutted it alongside repainting the exterior walls to some tint of yellow) was definitely original/80s along with the fixtures on what their chairs, tables, and others looked like during that time period.
That's all correct! The owners' son commented in a Twitter thread that their McDonald's opened in July 1986 and closed in 1993/94. My host told me the interior was partially gutted around 10 years ago and converted into a lunch service for the nearby fishery plant. It was boarded up around 2019 due to vandalism but the original 1986 seating was still visible near the front windows.
that was the best now it's almost dystopian looking
One of the most strategic places in the world.
Adak or the McDonald’s?
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
Just imagine living in a small town built on the edge of a active volcano & there's a McDonald's out there. The nearest other McDonald's would be in Kodiak near the Alaskan mainland. I wonder what life would be like there when it was a lively community. I'm still surprised people live there. There's around 171 people currently living there but I think it changed. & most of the buildings are abandoned so it adds a eerie vibe to it & the fact that what's left of the small town could be destroyed by the volcano right next to the town. It's also because it's in middle of nowhere.
The closest volcano is 35km (22 miles) to the west on another island and poses no threat to Adak or its 33 permanent residents. That number was shared by Adak home owner Steven Carroll. He was my Airbnb host in a renovated house and Adak's fire chief in the 1970s.
To the North of the town of Adak there's a volcano called Mount Adagdak. It said on the Wikipedia page that it's historically active. So my mistake by calling it an active one. It's probably dormant currently. I don't know the locals to area know it way better than me. I don't even live there. The reason why I said 171 people live there was because I looked it up. So the source for that information is outdated. I knew Adak existed but I didn't know that there was a McDonald's there.
@@CasuallyIncredible The last estimated eruption of Mount Adagdak is several thousands of years ago according to local surveys. I drove up to it and enjoyed seeing dozens of eagles and other wildlife.
Oh okay. If it's under 10,000 years, than that means it's still active but if it's higher it's either dormant or extinct.
@@CasuallyIncredible Sounds right! But some people might see "active volcano" and think lava is flowing into Adak lol.
Thanks for posting this video. I know i had talked to someone a year or so ago on twitter that posted something about this, but my parents actually owned that mcdonalds store. We lived there up until the base closed of course and left the island with the others. Fun to see this because i was only 6 or 7 when we moved so i dont remember much
Hey Steve! I saw your tweets while researching the McDonald’s. Your parents opened a couple of restaurants in Oregon after this one, and then did the same in Texas, right? Have you told them about this video? I’d love to hear their feedback and any stories about setting up and running the McDonald’s! Thanks!
I would really love to know what’s inside. Maybe some old cups or toys. That would be cool to see!
I rediscovered two of the interior photos that caught my interest more than 10 years ago: imgur.com/gallery/WVnKGEc
Kitchen equipment was removed when the local fish processing plant used the restaurant as a lunch area from 2011-13. They went bankrupt and the building wasn't used again. But the seating area remained intact and appears to be in excellent condition in the photos. Vandals from, surprisingly, the Coast Guard broken windows just before the pandemic. So, the building was sealed with boards on all windows and entrances.
Holy cow ! Those prices !! Please bring me back ! not even 3 bucks for a full breakfast lmao
Those prices would have likely been the highest in the entire United States in 1993
Been over 50yrs since I saw Sanka on the menu, even spellcheck doesn't know it is a word. Except for the NEX and commissary EVERYTHING in Alaska is more $$, still sweet prices.
Sanka amazingly still exists in other parts of the world. McDonald's switched in 2005 to Gaviña Gourmet Coffee in the US and Mother Parker's in Canada.
@@chrisluckhardt You know your McD's decaf!! You reply to many of your comments, good man.
@@bender7565 Thanks, but it's a coincidence! An urban legend up here in Canada is that our most popular coffee chain, Tim Hortons, swapped coffee beans with McDonald's years ago as the reason Timmies coffee became terrible. The truth is Tim Hortons opened an internal roasting facility. Assuming you're American, now you know 1000% more about Canada than you'll ever need to know. 😂
I'm here from Reddit. Thanks for the tour!
Greetings! And thanks for watching!
I was stationed there in 89 for eighteen months. I was glad to leave. Harsh weather.
Find any gold?
something about those drive thru windows is so aesthetically pleasing to me, i’m sure they stopped doing that because it was impractical to have something jutting out from the building but i love 80s boxy design lol
It felt more personal too, didn't it?
Bobby's World wow that's fond childhood memories.
Very soon, they might want this base to be reopened . what a waste to close in the first place
“Inside Edition” brought me here 😊
LOVED those Jurassic Park collector cups! Never could get the T-Rex one, though!
Cool, my brother managed to get all the cups!
Isn’t that strange that places like even exist? Why/how can it just poof go away? Just like nothing was there, and they leave the remnants behind. Just like the housing😦🤷♀️
It's surreal, isn't it? My channel is an example of documenting humanity's trascient creations as the planet fights back and wins every time.
some potential mint condition Bobby's World happy meal toys in there
Yum mountain rasberry .. nowadays, the flavors are purple and green
I worked for ADAK FISHERIES in 05 and i have been inside this building. been all over this island and I wrecked my boat outside the SPIT Julia Ana and was rescued by F/V MISS MARRY. Place is very creepy
Worked at a McDonald's in Illinois in '94/'95. The individual sandwich costs are not very much more here. A big Mac was $1.99, a cheeseburger $.89 where I worked. The value meals are a lot more expensive. Big Mac meal was $2.99 by me. $4.50 here.
I remember crossing the border with my parents and everyone commenting on the extremely cheap McPrices after factoring in the exchange rate. A Big Mac meal in Ontario was nearly double the cost (if I remember correctly).
Seriously it’s kinda cool McDonald’s would even attempt to put a restaurant there. I wonder how busy it got. 🤔
Former residents I’ve been in contact with said it was always packed during its initial years. But they closed because the base was being decommissioned and business declined accordingly.
Would've been cool if they turned that whole entire area into a resort or a tourist attraction of some sort while it was being decommissioned back then. I always imagined that if I was some rich man and the franchisee of that McDonald's, I would still keep it operating with all the same designs including the mansard roof, bright colors, aesthetics, the golden arches sign, old school technology, old fashion, and affordable prices. 🍟🍟🍔🍔🥤🥤
Adak is arguably exact that now - a tourist resort/attraction. But it's just for wildlife enthusiasts like hunters, fishermen, and birdwatchers. The island's location and climate make it generally inhospitable for mass tourism.
Omg the Bobby's world toys. The nostalgia. Where did all the time go.
A UK tabloid article from The Sun brought me here. It's crazy how the algorithms work. Subscribed to your brilliant channel.
Much love from Scotland. 🥃 🏴
Thanks for the source info! You might be interested in some of my more intense adventures too! → ruclips.net/video/e9H0O-gxJ4Y/видео.html
Man good stuff ☝️🥃🇺🇸
The video or the McDonald's? 😂
Why there still so many vehicles there?
Any vehicles seen in the video are used by Aleutian Outfitters (for hunting rentals), locals, or they're abandoned. The silver truck was my rental from my host Steve. He runs the Adak/Aleutian Experience.
Those roofs look to be in perfect shape. My next roof will be metal like these!
The building's construction seems to be rock solid, at least from my amateur perspective. Most of the houses out there are facing a continual battle with moisture issues (according to my host) but this McDonald's appears to be holding up well.
TDY at Adak for a week in 1991….we were all excited and wanted to go see bald eagles….one of our hosts said OK, follow me….we walked to the back of the McD’s….they had a trash dumpster out bqck….must have been 50 Bald Eagles sitting on the edges, waiting for someone to come outside and dump food scraps!!!!!!
50 bald eagles?!?! Amazing. I saw many bald eagles but they were all up at the decaying NSGA buildings.
I wonder if you can get in from the roof. It looks easy enough to get up there.
You’re right - it’s not too difficult to get up there and check if the hatch is sealed. I may or may not have done that… 👀
@@chrisluckhardt Right on! No stone left unturned. ")
Wish McDonald's brought those prices back! We're past Adak prices here in Florida.
What’s a Big Mac meal there? It’s US 8.75 in Canada. And it’s $4.59 on the 1993 Adak menu ($9.69 today).
@@chrisluckhardt It's a little over $6 with taxes here in Florida. $8.75 is a lot! When I was younger I remember being able to gorge myself with $5 at McDonald's. Inflation has been so bad.
@@UrbanFury12 I saw a Reddit post where someone ran the numbers. Big Macs are 15% more than the 1990s cost. I wouldn't doubt that 15% is on the low side compared to other inflationary prices. Consumers are being gouged.
I wish we could see inside, it’s probably untouched.
Equipment was removed from the kitchen just over a decade ago when the building was being used as a lunch area for a now-bankrupt fish processing plant next door. A new floor was put in around the same time. But the seating is unchanged from 1994.
Interior photos: imgur.com/gallery/WVnKGEc
Seeing those old prices at McDonald's brings a tear to my eye...😤
Let me add to the tears lol. Those prices were 2-3x higher than mainland USA due to the shipping costs to Adak, a remote island in the North Pacific!
Jurassic sized fries. I feel like if you actually went inside there would be a raptor or 2 living in there and they’d attack you.
What was with that storage tank by the back door?
Fuel tank? I believe it was installed to supply the kitchen after it was gutted for the fisheries workers.
Please talk about the places you explore..
I stopped doing scripts and voiceovers in most of my videos and views/engagement increased 1500%. But I plan to mix in occasional documentary-style videos with voiceovers in upcoming releases.
@@chrisluckhardt Ok. Sorry. Not trying to be rude. I just like hearing info on places people go to.
@@tristanwoodmansee477 No worries - I didn't think you were trying to be rude! Just explaining why I stopped doing voiceovers for most of my videos. People have commented how they like the immersive experience, but I do add info bars and video descriptions for people who want more information. My website and upcoming book will include significant historical, architectural, and socioeconomic information about these amazing places.
@@chrisluckhardt Thank you!!
It’s like exploring Shackleton’s Hut at the south pole
Ah, so you’ve seen my bucket list!
In Alaska and I bet that their ice cream machine is broken.
Check out mcbroken.com for a laugh!
Too bad the prices aren't accurate for the time in most places. Being Alaska they were inflated quite a bit. The 1.09 cheese burger was most likely .89 cents in most places.
The prices make sense considering Adak is a remote Pacific island. The cost of living and shipping was much higher than the mainland. Even last summer, I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and Coke at Adak's only bar/restaurant and it cost me $45 lol.
@@chrisluckhardt yes that was exactly my point!
Wow, me encantaría conocer ese lugar, ojalá en el futuro vuelvan a vivir allí. ❤
🇨🇴
Adak es una isla hermosa y tranquila, a pesar de todas las ruinas en deterioro.
There's videos of the inside of this place. Someone took the boards off and went in and filmed. It is exactly as it was.
That’s a different McDonald’s on the US east coast, filmed by the “Triangle of Mass” channel.
Ah OK, I see that now. That's the one I saw. It appears in the related videos for this video so likely how it got mixed up. But the video from "Ron We-be-bassin" does show the interior and it has the same layout and design style but through the windows. @@chrisluckhardt
@@MrWolfSnack Wow, I hadn’t seen his video! It confirms what my Adak host said about the kitchen being gutted. It was boarded up just before the pandemic because several windows were smashed by vandals during a visit.
The Bobby's World toys were in the happy meals in 1994 when googled. SO it closed in 1994 at some point.
June 1994 is the accurate month. I updated the video description several months ago but unfortunately can't go back and edit the video. I learned the exact month after messaging with a couple of former military and residents shortly after this video and my Instagram videos went viral. They were there and helped shut down the restaurant. The owner's son was mistaken on the year. The street sign and other branding were removed around September 1994.
The cars are abandoned too ?
Yes, most of the cars are abandoned. There's also a huge car yard at the north end of the town filled with abandoned Navy and civilian cars.
Those prices were dirt cheap even back then that was in Alaska and the freight was through the roof . I was told with the huge hike in wages to $20.00 minum wage in California a Big mac and fries n coke is over $17.00
The prices on this 1994 McMenu were 2-3x higher than mainland USA. It was due to shipping costs to remote and northern territories. The sensationalistic news stories about high McDonald's prices intentionally leave out that those prices are only high in a few markets (although it's still garbage food nobody should eat!). Prices vary ~75% from market to market, so I recommend looking at this Big Mac price tracking website for more accurate insights: pantryandlarder.com/mccheapest
Retro recipes made me aware of this McDonald's.
Hi, can you elaborate? Who is retro recipes and where was this video mentioned?
At 0:50 , near the center of the screen, is the smaller of the two red-roofed buildings a Pizza Hut?
It was a daycare center but is often mistaken for an abandoned Pizza Hut. Now, it's a grocery store named 100 Knot Stop and open a few hours per week. Google Maps shows photos inside the store.
I served on Adak from December 1994 to January 1996 🏔️🦅👍
You were part of the decommissioning crew? You didn't happen to be one of the people who wrote their name in the basement of NSGA?
@@chrisluckhardt NSGA was my duty station, I only went into the basement two or three times, I might have written my name in the basement, I don't recall. Yes, I was part of the decommissioning crew, when I was stationed there, between both duty stations there was maybe 40 people.
@@ericallen1046 Thanks, I’ll check my photos. Walls down by the chapel and bowling alley are covered in signatures from those two years.
@@chrisluckhardt You're welcome, please let me know if I did or not. Also, would you please look for these other names as well, David Morton, Michael Seals and Kevin Albert. They are real good friends of mine, we served on Adak together. 😎👍
There is power, water and sewage for the people that are living there?
Yes, the original Navy infrastructure is operational for the cluster of housing still in use.
That’s Looks Creepy
Understandable, but it's quiet peaceful. I live in the heart of Toronto but grew up on a farm, so I enjoy getting away from humanity and deep into nature in places like Adak. Choices are limited but the three dozen residents love it out there!
so it didnt even stay open 10 years 86 to 93
They started closing the Bases down on Adak. That's why it Closed.
Wish there was a way to see inside!
A few photos are online from before the plywood was put over all the windows. The kitchen area was gutted but all of the customer seating still looks like 1986.
Was stationed there in 1988-90
Any stories you can share?
NSGA or NAS?
@@jebbthetrainkid1281 NAS Public works
It's Amazing The Mc Dic WIGGLES Drive Thru Menu Board Is STIL 🆙...There Prices Wer Damn...Cheap..Bac Then...!!!!!
@@snakeboren4814 Those prices look cheap in 2024, but they were 2-3x times higher than the average US mainland prices in 1994!
I wonder if it’s haunted the town itself
McDonald’s only haunts people’s arteries
😂😂😂
Back in 2013 it was the cookhouse for icicle seafood.
My host (Steve Carroll) mentioned the kitchen conversion but no specific dates or company. You've filled in a few info gaps for me, thanks!
I was working at the fish plant in 05 it was called ADAK FISHERIES
Adak Fisheries went bankrupt in 2009 and lost the plant. Icicle Seafoods took over in 2011 but closed the plant in 2013. I confirmed the dates via several online new sources.
@chrisluckhardt yes, I went back to Adak on F/V LADY GUDNY in 08 And Piloted a boat called JULIA ANA which was owned by Kjettle The owner of Adak FISHERIES and I wrecked outside the spit
Can we go back to the 90's, please 🥺?
@@mecca6801 Let’s fix up the abandoned DeLorean in one of my other videos and time travel back to 1994. Better yet, let’s go back a year or two earlier for McPizza!
Hello, your video is a report in the German newspaper. from 01/29/24, best regards
Thanks for the source!
I wonder why people are coming here to Oregon... Anyways, it's depressing and simultaneously fascinating to see that derelict of the past. I wish I could reopen it.
Oregon might've been their original/home state or maybe McDonald's offered the family that specific territory to restart the business. Just speculating.
I am blocked from tagging you... Not sure if you'll see this. I just want to say, this is an interesting story
@@crusiethmaximuss I haven’t blocked anyone so it must be a glitch in the matrix. 👾
@@chrisluckhardt I'm most likely still shadow-banned from some features
Now this feature works.
Any gold out there still buried?
I don't watch television so I learned about "Pirate Gold of Adak Island" after I arrived. A couple of locals told me the show was faked.
@@chrisluckhardt definitely seemed unrealistic when you watch it and then think about what they where doing
What about abandoned houses?
I’ve explored several abandoned houses, including my childhood house: ruclips.net/video/MK--V_Q1YdA/видео.html
@@chrisluckhardt thank you for posting the link
@@jumanaalomary7895 Thank you! I’ve filmed and shared other abandoned houses on this channel, but that’s the most important video - at least for me. :)
I wonder why bollards were placed in the drive-thru lane. Someone thought it was necessary for some reason.
The bollards surrounded a gas tank. It was added when the building was being used as a lunch spot for a now-closed fish processing plant. Photos of it appear on Google Images if you search for "adak mcdonalds".
They closed all the fast food after they shut down the Air Force Base where I grew up in the mountains of upstate New York too
Sogar in der Eiswüste gab es diesen Dreck
Been There Many Times, Once when The Navy Base was Up & Running, '' Went Inside & Got A Big Mac Meal'' Returned 8 Years Later , Chief Bos'n Aboard USCGC Storis , The Naval Base was Abandoned, Micky D's ,, Was a Scuttled abandoned Hallowed Building As was Most of the Navy Housing & entire Navy Base, Fuckkkk'n So Sad'' Had A Few Good Times There .
USCGC Storis was decommissioned in 2007, so you were there just after the base was abandoned. Very cool. Also, kudos on the unique typing style lol.
Soooo….Im guessing they’re out Bobby’s World toys??? 😂😂😂
Lucky it ain't in Birmingham al. They would've gutted it for its copper wiring 20+ years ago.
And it would’ve taken less than a week!
@@chrisluckhardt 3 days top! 😂
That moment when you realize the prices listed are literally about half what they charge now.
It's wild also to know those 1994 prices were 2-3x higher than mainland US. So, US price increases now (and here in Canada too) have far outpaced inflation. A Big Mac in 1989 would be $4.19 US now but it's around $5.69 on average.
@@chrisluckhardt Dang! Fast food really isn't the cheap option any more 😅 I swear that you can get restaurant food that's better for the same price
Damn.. Prices kind of high for early 90's.. Somebody lost their ass.
Prices in northern and remote climates are 2-3x higher due to shipping costs. But I’ve heard from people who were there at the time that the McDonald’s was always packed!
@@chrisluckhardt. True
Man, back then, a big Mac cost $2.45. Now it costs $7.
Big Mac meal in the continental United States in the early 1990s was $2.99. That's around $6.50 with inflation now. So, it's doubled in price over the past 30 years with most areas charging around $15 for the same meal. Crazy!
Gods can we go back to these prices please? McDonald’s has gotten pricey. 😢
Cheap food should be cheap
I just watched the whole video and the man didn’t even break in…. Shameful we must see the inside!
Locks were too rusty to open by unconventional methods, if you know what I mean. 👀 I also checked the roof for access before filming.
Why is it not supported anymore?
although it may lasted 8 years wow....
by the end of the year 2053 that steel bar will eventually be decompose itself.
This McDonald's was abandoned in 1994. The family who had the franchise closed it as Adak's military base began decommissioning. The base was finally closed in 1997, and most of the island's population left. Only 33 permanent residents live there now. Also, the brand of weather-resistant steel used in construction there could last well beyond the year 2100.
@@chrisluckhardt will that make since. thank you
Maybe there’s a way in thru the roof
I checked. I’m sure I could’ve forced my way inside but it’s not my style and I probably would’ve missed my flight back to the mainland. It was leaving in one hour after I filmed this sequence.
@chrisluckhardt what were you doing there in 2013? I abandoned ship there in 05, F/V JUILIA ANA and I worked for ADAK FISHERIES.
@@xChromerSatanasx I was on Adak in the summer of 2022.
@chrisluckhardt that is awesome, I really enjoyed your video thanks for publishing it
@chrisluckhardt LOL we actually have been inside that building. there was access back in 05 through back door
Probably not many reprecussions if you broke in
A group were caught vandalizing the new church a few years ago and were fined $15000. One could argue that picking locks is fine but those locks were severely rusted.
Being able to cut the neighbors yard and eat at Mc donalds with your ten dollars was real surviving.
Couldn't even be arsed to clean up after themselves, classic Americans
The US Navy did the minimum legal required cleanup and then transferred it to the local native community. There’s all sorts of contaminants and buildings left all over the island.
Most Fast Food places on military bases are awarded vis bid by the corporations. Think the current FF burger place is Burger King, plus other FF groups.