Exploration of the Abandoned Ruins at Bellevue, MI! 

I'm 46 years old. Bellevue looked way different when I was a child. It's kinda run down now. I used to go there all the time to see my grandparents. They passed 11 years ago, so I don't get through there much anymore. I live 25 minutes away.

I grew up in Bellevue and spent much of my youth exploring those old ruins. For anyone who’s interested, it was the Portland Cement Factory and was built sometime in the early 1900’s. It was a major hub in Eaton county for many years before it finally closed down. I did a bunch of research a few years ago after my daughter became obsessed with the area after a visit. It’s pretty cool, but also can be dangerous as nature has reclaimed most of the area. Definitely worth checking out though.

“I’m proud of you Michigan!” As he stumbles upon a relic that’s spray painted with graffiti.

sadly the root beer place is now fully closed I do think that it was covid that killed it off sooooo sad

Too bad people deface everything, too bad ya didn't bring bag so could help with litter issue

I hope you tell people where you are going before you leave

When you were at the Dyer Kiln the sign made reference to the Portland Cement factory that you were exploring. There are a a lot of images of the ruins and of the factory when it was still running.

You ever wonder where the dogman sleeps at night?

The local kids have totally defaced that area. Such a shame that they have nothing better to do than go around spray painting everything and acting like fools.... there are many videos of kids walking those narrow walls 50-80 feet in the air just to impress their friends. I dont have much hope for the future of this country once they grow up and take charge

It is amazing how people put grain everywhere. Kind of nasty...I couldn't even call it art. 😆. I love in Mid Michigan. I am sure I've been in that area at some point. Thanks for the video. Hope there were not too many ticks! 🙂

I used to go to that A&W drive-in as a child. It's been basically closed for years. Only being open for short stents since its glory days.

I grew up right down the railroad tracks from there. It's an old cement factory complex. We used to play BB gun wars or hide & seek there as kids in the 80s. It was already in rough shape back then, but it really went downhill in the 90s-00s when it was used by adults for paintball. I would be careful back there. It's not what I'd call entirely stable. The area where you entered was one of the two entrances of the Keene Environmental Center... basically just a park with trails and boardwalks winding around the old limestone quarries. Fishing used to be pretty good in there, but it looks all weed choked now.

Railroad or road bridge fell apart? Be safe.

You definitely went it the wrong way. You can park right by the place.

couple more cool places to check out is Fayette in the garden peninsula, and the town site of Marlboro by Baldwin. Especially Fayette though.

Nice video. I been out there a few times find something new every time.

As a amateur photographer I visited Keene Nature area several times some 35 years or so ago. The last time I was there the boardwalk had been destroyed probably by a group of kids. Most of the handrails had been broken and some of the sections of boardwalk knocked in the water. It sure is great to see that it had been rebuilt. Once I took my daughter there she was about 5-6 (40 yrs now) and was going to show her how to catch a fish without bringing any fishing stuff at all. Looked around and found a ball of discarded line. There was a bench and I found a hook some one cut off some more line then tied it to 6' of line I unwound from the ball of line. I got a 5-6 foot stick and tied the line to it. Then we turned over some rocks and found a couple worms. Then we managed to catch a small bluegill then let it go. I was so disappointed that it was tote up that I never went back. Enjoyed your video - one thing i might mention slow pans you camera was all over the place at times.

Fun fact Jeffrey Nothings music video "The Outage" was filmed at the Ruins in Bellevue.

Just a little further east are more ruins

"I'm a masochist, you say😂." I'm an Iron worker, I Quite literally do most of that daily for work😅. Seen some pretty cool stuff, nothing really scary to do, but we are all different people. Detroit local 25 Iron Workers! Love your video though, want to go check Bellvue out now. Not far for me either, I am just north of Grand Rapids.

I have been to those ruins a lot growing up. However, I have to tell you that the ruins are not part of the park. It is actually private property. The first driveway past where you parked is the actual entrance. I still go back sometimes just cuz it's fun. But no it is not public.

So what was this place? I have heard of Bellevue being a mental hospital.