AAR Team

Michael Schwarz

Starting from a young age, I’ve always loved exploring. I can remember venturing off and scoping out the houses being built in the developing neighborhood right behind my house. As I got older, I found myself appreciating the work and love that went into architecture and just being excited to pass by the beautifully designed places in downtown. That’s why when I found out there were historic properties all over Oklahoma that were just sitting abandoned, I couldn’t help but wanting to do something about it. In high school, I discovered the website AbandonedOK.com and started exploring these places and taking pictures to contribute to their large online database.

Upon graduating, I moved to Arkansas to attend college and started my own version, AbandonedAR.com. It wasn’t until I came across the Majestic Hotel in Hot Springs, AR that I started to fight for the preservation of buildings. Unfortunately, we lost the Majestic and in honor of what could have been, I am committed to continuing that fight to try and save these forgotten places before it is too late. If we can’t physically save them, I hope that their history and the memories created within their walls can live forever on the internet. Find out how you can help us fight, donate and/or volunteer here: AbandonedAR.com/support

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Ginger Beck

Throughout my life, I have never passed an old house or building and not wondered what it looked like inside. Raised in the Mississippi Delta, where dilapidated and derelict buildings and homes are plentiful, I allowed my imagination to run wild; the call to explore always beckoned. Being an English major with a MFA in creative non-fiction, it is my nature to absorb and create stories based on real life. Studying the history and seeing the remains of structures that held that history is a gift that not many take the time to experience.

Since joining Abandoned Arkansas, I have been able to feed my lifetime obsession with what once filled the emptiness of these buildings. Capturing the essence of the structure, be it a loving home or a fancy hotel or a sad hospital, is an honor.

When I’m not out exploring, I teach high school alternative students, operate a private tattoo studio, read tarot cards, and watch too much YouTube. I have a fascination with dinosaurs, namely the T.rex, outer space, slow heavy metal music, and thrift store shopping. I’ve lived in Little Rock for over ten years now and love every minute of it. Visit me on instagram @highfiveg

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Eddy Sisson

Nicknamed “Local Guide,” Eddy Sisson joined Abandoned Arkansas in 2013 and was so moved by the locations that he has since volunteered tirelessly to help restore life to Dogpatch USA and other locations. He started the official Facebook fan page for the old park. Eddy later joined AAR in September 2013.His starting of AAR’s group “Arkansas History Rescue” adds life to forgotten and abandoned properties.

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James Kirkendall

 

My name is James Malone Kirkendall. I am a published writer, award-winning photographer & best-selling co- author. My work has been featured in news outlets including magazines, newspapers, blogs and websites. Through historic preservation, I have had the opportunity to document over 30 locations through the partnership of the Abandoned Atlas Foundation. One of my greatest feats has been co-authoring a #1 new release book titled Abandoned Arkansas: An Echo From The Past. My writing talents have also lead me to share my autism story through different platforms including Autism Speaks, ADAA, Beyond Autism, Autism Around The Globe, and Madison House Autism Foundation

https://kirkexploration.wixsite.com/jameskirkendallphoto

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Grant King

Grant loves history of all forgotten places, but stresses his focus in the town “Hot Springs,” where he grew up. He started his own group called “Forgotten Arkansas” back before contributing to AAR.

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Jared Holt

Jared Holt began shooting in 2009 and has since won 17 Arkansas Scholastic Press awards, been featured in 3 galleries, and has since.

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