The forgotten tunnel system under downtown Dallas
Conceived in the late 60s into the 80s, Dallas built an elaborate 3-mile underground tunnel network that connected most of the key buildings in the downtown area at the time. The result was a sprawling underground mall that kept pedestrians air conditioned as they transversed through town.
In the early 90s, the coordinated project was mostly abandoned as the lack of street level traffic was making it difficult to sustain more visible businesses. Pressure to change the perception of a “dead” zone outside on the streets left downtown with a bespoke series of tunnels often owned independently by the buildings sitting above them.
As the years have gone on, the network has been disconnected by closures, decay and abandonment. It’s like a bizarre secret. Even long-time Dallas residents don't really know it exists.
But if you live or work in a Dallas building with a basement food court, chances are you can find a doorway to the system. If you do, you can explore for hours.
There have been talks of repurposing sections as part of Dallas' much delayed D2 subway project, but for now, it just sits. There are sections that still have power and upkeep by various groups but it’s almost entirely deserted and you’ll see signs for businesses that haven’t existed in decades.
Some sections (photographed publicly here - as far as I can tell - for the first time in nearly 20 years) have been sealed off…and have apparently flooded.