I wanted to take the time to reflect back on the recent trip I took on my single speed bike to the "Cursed Pyramid Ruins" in Southern Indiana, U.S.A. There were a number of mistakes that I made and a number of upgrades that need to be made on the bike itself that I share with you.
Also a very personal and inspiration event that occurred on the return trip that was not in that video!
When people think of pyramid ruins, it is usually deserts, camels, and ancient mummies that come to mind. But the ruins of the Limestone Pyramid in Needmore, Indiana are of a more modern sort.
Largely forgotten deep in the heart of Indiana, hidden the woods just nine miles north of Bedford, lie the ruins of a monument to poor planning coupled with government spending.
The limestone of Indiana contributed to some the greatest buildings in America: the Pentagon and the Empire State Building just to name two.
In the 1970s, the town of Bedford wanted the world to recognize their contributions and thus began plans to build a set of limestone pyramids of their own based on the great Pyramids of Cheops as a means of drawing more tourists to the self proclaimed "Limestone Capital of the World."
The project was funded heavily by federal grants from the EDA. By 1980 most of the money had been spent for labor and equipment to build about 50 feet of a miniature Great Wall of China, a gatehouse, gazebo, restrooms, gift shop, concession stand and museum, along with about 17 feet of the pyramid.
Seven years and almost $700,000 federal dollars later, officials of the Economic Development Administration, which funded the proposal, called the building project a spectacular failure.
Little more than a disorganized pile of stones is all that remains of the "Cursed Pyramid Ruins" today.
It's easy to imagine how the finished project might have looked and how incredible this monolithic structure could have been.
Join me as I ride my single speed bike to go explore the "Cursed Pyramid Ruins" of Southern Indiana.
The project was the dream of one man, Merle Edington, the garrulous 64-year-old head of the local Chamber of Commmerce.
When Merle Edington returned to his hometown of Bedford in 1969 to take the Chamber of Commerce job, he was looking for a way to attract tourists to this depressed area.
Since his father, uncles, grandfather and great uncles had all worked in limestone quarries or mills, limestone quickly came to mind. His idea was to build a tourist facility that would pay tribute to the limestone industry, where people could see a quarry and perhaps even a demonstration mill.
``It became a mission with him,``
At first, there was no support from either the county or the state, but when 20 acres were donated by the Indiana Limestone Co., Edington was able to get a $500,000 grant from the development administration in 1978. He got free labor through a state training program.
The pyramid, planned to be 95 feet high and 155 square feet at the base, was to use limestone blocks that had been lying around for years. The Great Wall of China and the Mayan Temple were afterthoughts, but he was able to wheedle another $200,000 from development administration to help finance them. There was worldwide publicity and a feasibility study showed the project could draw 250,000 people a year.
Edington managed to build a heliport, restrooms, outdoor pavilion, picnic tables, and even a temporary museum in the park before running out of money. Then he lost the free labor and construction came to a halt.
"The only thing we sent to Washington more than limestone is money," Edington said in 1980. "Now I got some clowns yelling at me because I want some of it back."
Edington was aiming his tart words mostly at Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.), who earlier this month handed the EDA his Golden Fleece Award for approving grants for the project.
But Edington also had local critics -- they called him "the Pharaoh" -- who said that the project seemed a waste of tax money.
EDA officials, who now concede the project was a "long shot"said the potential boon to Bedford community justified the approval of $500,000 for the pyramid in 1979 and another $200,000 for the Great Wall a few years later.
And there was no way they could have done it without Merle Edington, a man who could "sell iceboxes to Eskimos".
Edington was also descibed as having "all the finesse of a slop in the puss with a manure shovel."
Still unanswered was how people would find their way to the pyramid if it was ever finished. Visitors to the site would have had to meander through Needmore on a country road that dead ends at the field.
Edington, however, said he was not worried. "If we bring a million people a year in here, someone will do something about it," he said.
But Edington's engineer, Warren T. Hobson of Indianapolis, said at the time that "At the rate of progress he's making it will take four years. My personal view is that he's going to run out of funds after two years."
Edington had some experience in procuring state and federal grants, having previously obtained $633,000 from EDA for an industrial park in Bedford. It now has only one tenant because, he says, "the interest rates are so high."
Nevertheless, he professes no concern over spending federal money for the project.
"It meets all the requirements that some welfare mother with six bastard children uses to get welfare," he said. "When it's done, there's not going to be anything like it in the history of the world."
By 1980 most of the money had been spent for labor and equipment to build about 50 feet of a miniature Great Wall of China, a gatehouse, gazebo, restrooms, gift shop, concession stand and museum, along with about 17 feet of the pyramid.
Seven years and almost 700,000 federal dollars later, officials of the Economic Development Administration, which funded the proposal, called Merle Edington`s building project a spectacular failure.
Moreover, this small southern Indiana community had been left $55,000 in debt and Edington lost his job as manager of the Bedford Chamber of Commerce.
In late 1982, the Chamber of Commerce told Edington it could no longer pay his salary.
Edington`s story is of a dream that turned into a nightmare. Today, his pyramid and Mayan temple are just piles of ragged limestone blocks in a tourist park now closed and overrun by weeds.
Edington still thought that he had a great idea. ``I don`t talk to people about it much anymore,`` the 68-year-old Indianapolis resident said. ``What can I say? There`s no use getting my blood pressure up.``
Edington never returned to the park since he left Bedford. He spent his days painting pictures of limestone quarries and buildings.
``I`m depressed that people had such a great opportunity and let it go,`` he said. ``How many other opportunities are they passing up?
Merle Edington died of cancer on November 06, 1988 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States.
Situated about 300 yards from the hole that provided all of the limestone for the building Empire State Building, the ruins of the pyramid are fading quietly like a forgotten monolith into the long shadows of the past.
Know Before You Go
From Roadside American: Nine miles north of Bedford (about 14-15 miles south of Bloomington) on Hwy 37. At a very lonely stoplight, turn southeast onto "Old Highway 37." The street sign is very tiny; look instead for the Dollar General, Citgo station, or the BP gas station. Old Hwy 37 dead-ends four miles later at the abandoned park.
After about three miles on old 37 there is a local brewery called the Salt Creek Brewery. Once you pass the brewery, slow down! Way too many people hurt themselves on this road. It's an old highway that ends with a big yellow gate after you round a small turn. To get to the pyramid, you should know that you must trespass onto private property. The area is largely unmonitored by the police. This site is very close to a quarry that is active to this day. When you get to the yellow metal fence in the road, pull to the side of the road. Cross the yellow fence and continue on the dilapidated old 37 and the pyramid will be visible on your right.
Sources;
Indiana`s Pyramid On Rocks
Town Can`t Even Give Away Tourist Colossus
July 28, 1985|By Eileen Ogintz, Chicago Tribune.
This Indiana Attraction Might Have Been The Next Wonder Of The World, But The Ruins Are Gorgeous
August 29, 2016 by Courtney Johnston
Indiana Pyramiders Build a Monument to Tax Dollars
By Kenneth Bredemeier and
Ron Shaffer
October 5, 1981
Hey there folks! It has been a long time since I have actually typed out a legit blog post rather than a hurried re-post of a video or link. What's the big occasion that would inspire me to exercise my phalanges on the keyboard? I have been thinking of going on some pedalin' adventures and I am anxious to share them.
Being a pedal pumping hill punk living in the tri-state area, I spent the Winter of 2017-2018 in a state of anxious expectation for the warm weather of Spring so I could get outside and ride my bike! Now don't get me wrong, anyone who knows me is aware that I ride bike all year round. It is just that I live here in Corn-ville (Indiana, USA) and the Winters are cold and wet. It is the kind of weather that makes even a short bike ride to the local post office seem like more of a chore than a joy ride. So I was one tightly spun WiNgNuT by the time the flowers came into bloom and was raring to hop on the saddle and pedal all of my problems away. Believe me folks, 2017 was filled with it's share of "problems".
Then as I set off on my first little ride of the season I ran into some new problems. The single speed that I had been riding for the past few years, a Critical bike, was causing me some pain due to an improper fit. When I went to make some adjustments I discovered that the seat post was seized up and would not budge. Crap! I couldn't continue to ride the bike as it was, especially not for any serious distances. It was just too uncomfortable and stressful on my body to enjoy the ride. After all, I ride bike because I enjoy riding bike.
Luckily I had a second bike of the exact brand and model in storage. After a quick check to make sure that the seat post was not seized up and could be adjusted I pulled it out of the dungeon here at the Works and began planning the upgrades that I wanted to make on the bike. I was a little bummed to be giving up the bike that I had grown so fond of over the years, but that was overshadowed by the anticipation of having a slick WELL FITTED bike to go out on some longer pedaling adventures and record and share them here and on YouTubes. I was excited again!
I made a list of parts and started saving up. After a few weeks of eating beans and rice and squirreling away every dollar I could, I went to the local bike shop and bought a new chain and cable with fresh housing, I ordered some sweet new platform pedals (it's how I ride) and a brand new sealed bottom bracket. Feeling all stoked I began to do the upgrades. It was then that I ran into my next new "problem".
Everything went fine with the upgrades until it came time to switch out the bottom bracket. The retainer ring/cup was seized up tight on both sides. Now before you even ask, YES I made sure to turn the tool the proper way. I am well aware of that common n00bie mistake. I tried every trick in the bike smith's book. I drenched the entire bracket with penetrating oil. Vinegar. Even went out and got a huge wrench and used cargo straps and a wench system to get nearly 500lb of pressure. The most that I managed to accomplish was to break the forged steel BBR tool!
You can follow the whole horrible escapade over on the Wingnut Bike Works YouTube channel.
In the end I was right back where I started. Two crappy, unreliable bikes and broke as a joke. So it was back to beans and rice for the next few weeks while I scurried to save every dime I could to purchase a new, yes I said it NEW, bike that I could work with and actually do some serious pedalin' on. That's when life came a knocking with not so much a "problem" as a delay.
I spent the next few weeks over on the East coast of the US, the Jersey Shore b@%$h's, helping a beloved family member with a huge project. It consisted of long excruciating car rides and vigorous physical labor on my part. I blew my back out in the process and was in a lot of pain for most of the time there. I was anxious and I was indignant! Apologies to those who were around me at the time. I was not good company.
BUT, the mission was a success, I managed to fill up a 90 square yard dumpster to the rim with unwanted clutter and debris. I also had a moment of clarity along the way that turned my outlook completely around. A small miracle of sorts, if you will, but I am going to keep the details of that to myself for the time being. I did manage to get in some bike riding on an old rental beater of a beach cruiser and squeeze in a couple of good moments here and there. But all that was drilling into the back of my mind was getting back to B-town and ordering the bike of my choice.
I had saved up for weeks and had sold off my personal belongings, including my two practice amps and was ready to press that buy now button. Now that this mission had been completed all that I wanted to do was get back and place that order! Things did not work out exactly like that however.
They worked out even better than planned, for at least once!
The "friend and loved one" that I helped out in Jersey insisted on paying for the bike. Good Dharma! That left the ca$h that I had stashed to be used to catch up on a few debts and use the remaining funds to purchase a few simple items to upgrade the bike. I opted to purchase a universal rear rack that would enable me to carry some panniers on a frame with no mounting eyelets and some fresh panniers as well. I will let you know how these perform and hold up. If I ever get a chance to actually use them that is!
Which brings me back to the point of this post, and that is some pedalin' plans!
For this little excursion I decided to revisit the Cursed Pyramid Ruins! No, I am not pedalin' to Egypt. As a matter of fact I will only need to ride less than two hours South of B-town to reach these ruins. The ruins of the Limestone Pyramid in Needmore, Indiana are more modern.
In the late '70s the town of Bedford, Indiana-- "The Limestone Capital of the World" -- tried to build a 95-foot-tall (one-fifth scale) limestone replica of the "Great Pyramid", and a 650- 800 foot-long limestone version of the "Great Wall". The idea was to open them as a combined tourist attraction named "Limestone Tourist Park."
The town received a large undisclosed sum of funding in federal money to begin the project, and work began. But meanwhile over in Wisconsin, Senator William Proxmire, who at the time was promoting his "Golden Fleece Awards," got wind of the "project" in 1981 and blew the whistle. The project collapsed. You can read more about the whole incidentHERE and HERE.
I have visited the site previously a number of years ago with some acquaintances, but it was during the Winter months and the environmental conditions prevented me from doing any substantial exploring at the time. I had told myself that I was going to revisit the ruins when the weather warmed up. That was nearly ten years ago so a revisiting and proper exploring of the area is well overdue.
There's still a few people in the area that still know about the abandoned pyramid. Some folks can even remember how to get to it, although it's a little confusing as it's not in Bedford, but a couple of towns north in Needmore, IN. To be safe I decided to check with a more reliable source to plan my route by. I opened up Google Maps.
According to trusty ol' Google, it will be an 18.6 mile ride one way on the route of my own choosing. That translates into 37.2 miles in total. If you do the math and translate that into km, this little trip should qualify as a good 50km ride. Not too intense as far as distance and the terrain itself is fairly moderate with only a couple of steep but small inclines. That means I can pack fairly lightly on this excursion. I won't be staying over night or anything like that on this ride so I can leave the camping gear at the flat and focus on utilizing the space in my bag for cameras and accessories, some snacks and plenty of water.
I will be shooting video the entire trip and posting up to YouTube to share with you good people of course. With that being said I am going to get off of this PC and start getting prepared for an early morning start!
Now get out from in front of this screen and "Go Ride Yer' Bike"!
You'll see every sort of bike the human imagination can conjure up racing at this elite track in Kent, England. From lowracers to highracers and from trikes to velomobiles to pedal cars riders come from far and wide to compete against the best.
Building a bush-craft camp from logs as a permanentbush-craft camping base & having a chat about sponsorship & merchandise. the uk bush-craftscene is in full swing so i love getting out into the woods to do some great bush-craft camping.
A real life unsolved MURDER on this installment of Monday Mudd! Come join me for a cup of joe and some catchin' up what has been going on here at the Works!
Hey folks! I tests a couple of camera mounts on a ride to the post office to ship out orders. Apologies for the sometimes terrible angles, I am learning as I go good people! Raising funds to acquire better equipment and will continue to try and improve on the videos.
Anyways, it was such a nice day for these parts this time of year that I could not spend it all working. So I went and got the pack and took Fawn for a walk. I tried to get some video from her perspective and it came out sooo cute despite my lack of skills and equipment!
While we were out walking around and enjoying the day we decided to pop into the local thrift shop as well!
We did not find any treasures on this day but it sure was a good time!
The music/noise in this video is from an old impromptu jam session on a two string home made guitar that I recorded back in 2016. I just threw it in the mix.
It his how I always keep my britches up. Anyways, as requested, I take you through the process that I use to create bicycle tire belts here at Wingnut Bike Works.
It his how I always keep my britches up. Anyways, as requested, I take you through the process that I use to create bicycle tire belts here at Wingnut Bike Works.
This girl is making videos (almost) daily about her life, working as a bike courier, striving to be an actress, being vegan/healthy living, having a positive attitude and becoming a better person, creativity and art, cycling, and you know just cruising around and meeting the coolest people!
The second of two videos in which we go step by step through the process of how to DIY screen print. In this first video we break out the photo emulsion and burn the image into the screen that we built in the previous video. Watch to end for the big reveal!
Please forgive the low quality sound for the first part of the video, we recently received new audio/video equipment here at the Works and are currently attempting to learn how to use it all properly. The first of two videos in which we go step by step through the process of how to DIY screen print. In this first video we use scrap wood and salvaged materials that were reclaimed while riding around on my bike and dumpster diving, and construct frame and build the screen itself.
Bad weather doesn't stop the Works! A long rant about hopes and plans for Wingnut Bike Works in 2018. Update on the upcoming silk screening tutorial video and a conversation over a cup of mudd.
Opening some mail all the way from Poland! I just got some fresh CD's from an awesome independent artist from Poland who goes by the name of Yap Snow. I have been a huge fan for some time now and was ecstatic to receive this special package.
Listen and download all the beautiful noise from this artist HERE!
Saying goodbye to 2017 and hello 2018 with an attack of crows! You might have also noticed that I created a new intro for the YouTube channel videos. Also got a camera upgrade and making noise as always!
