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In 2013, I explored an incredible abandoned time capsule house hidden deep in rural Canada.
Frozen in time, it was filled with belongings left untouched for decades, offering a rare glimpse into the past. Eventually, the woman who grew up in and owned this old abandoned house would return to reclaim and restore her family home.
I stopped by the location many times over the years, always wondering about its fate—until recently, when I was finally able to return.
What I discovered was nothing short of amazing: the house has been lovingly restored and brought back to life.
Stick around to the end of this post to see the dramatic before-and-after transformation photos of this unforgettable place.
First Discovery – 2013
Back in 2013, an Urban Explorer stumbled across something truly rare—an abandoned time capsule home along the quiet backroads of Ontario.
While abandoned houses aren’t too hard to find if you know where to look, finding one completely untouched, with every belonging still inside, is like striking gold in this hobby.
The home had an eerie charm to it: sagging floors, holes in the roof, and peeling paint—yet inside, everything was perfectly preserved, like the owners had just vanished.
Urban explorers were buzzing about it, and photos began circulating online.
My good friend and fellow explorer RiddimRyder and I managed to track it down after a little digging.
We arrived early one winter morning, a fresh coat of snow blanketing the yard, and stepped into what felt like a frozen moment in time.
A House Left Behind
The smell of decay, the sound of creaking floorboards, and a family of raccoons rustling above our heads welcomed us. But what struck me most were the untouched details—silverware polished and tucked neatly into display cases, teacups arranged just so, records stacked beside record players, and photo albums still resting in their drawers.
The living room told its own story. Musical instruments, heavy wooden furniture, stacks of vinyl, and a once-cozy couch beneath a collapsing ceiling. A vintage gramophone sat quietly in a corner, complete with crank, spare needles, and cleaning cloths. I regret not playing it. That missed moment always stayed with me.
Upstairs, we found hundreds of books—everything from encyclopedias and religious texts to poetry, war history, and addiction recovery. The bathroom, hidden behind heaps of clothing and forgotten toiletries, revealed a 1950s color scheme and a treasure trove of vintage grooming kits and perfumes. Every drawer held something surprising, every corner told another chapter of the home’s long history.
A Reason to Return
For six or seven years, I returned annually, quietly respecting the property from the outside, always hoping to meet the person behind the restoration.
Year after year, I kept coming back. Not just for new photos and to see this transformation, but in hopes of a conversation with the woman who owned the home. The once-abandoned house had clearly begun its transformation. Renovations were happening. The place was coming back to life.
Finally, In 2025 – We Meet
April 2025, twelve years after that first visit, it finally happened. I pulled into the driveway once again. Finally, this time, there was a truck in the driveway; however, after several knocks at the door, no one answered. I waited in my car for a while, then in decided to write a note to the owner, explain who I am and leave my number.
Just as I placed the letter at the door and walked back to my car, a red truck pulled in with a man driving and a small elderly woman in the passenger seat.
I waved, they waved back, I asked the woman her name to confirm I had the right person, she nodded and shook my hand. Finally, I would have my chance to meet this woman.
We stood in the driveway and shared a long conversation. I introduced myself and told her my history with the house, from my first visit to my many respectful returns in hopes of meeting her and seeing the home.
I showed her and her companion my photos from 2013, they were amazed, as if they had forgotten how bad it was. She was also struck with a sense of sadness as she started seeing images of items that had been stolen over the years. This sparked a whole discussion of the ethics of this hobby and how while most people abide by the unwritten rules, there are some who don’t. She also mentioned how bad it is in the country for break-ins, and that many years prior she had allowed a film crew to use the home for a movie and when she returned when filming was done, much of her stuff was gone, somehow placed in garbage bags, tossed out in the back and left for junk.
I could see that she was (rightfully) hesitant to have me inside, she and her partner headed inside to discuss, they called a good friend nearby who is a retired OPP officer. She said if he felt OK about it, than she would feel okay about it.
A short while later, after more pleasant conversation, the man pulled up and joined in the discussion. I told him who I am, why I was here, why I was here in 2013, and I told him my stories of finding and returning money that I found in an abandoned house, as well as my story of finding and trying to return war medals as well.
Everything checked out with the retired OPP, and with that he left and we headed inside for a tour!
A New Life for an Old Home
Stepping back inside was surreal. Gone were the raccoons and the signs of decay. The sagging floors had been repaired, the roof restored, the walls painted, and the entire home had taken on a new life. What once stood as a fragile relic of the past was now a stunning, modern farmhouse—full of warmth and character but still echoing its long history.
The woman had done a remarkable job preserving the soul of the place while making it her own. As I walked from room to room, I recognized the bones of the home, but the transformation was incredible.
Most interesting, aside from seeing all of these familiar pieces of furniture, was the 2nd floor which they had not yet renovated – other than the bathroom and cleaning/emptying some of the rooms. The bedroom with all of the books was exactly as it was in 2013, with some more items being stored inside – the books were in the same spot, everything looked exactly the same in this one room.
This room was now the time capsule, within the former time capsule.
Full Circle
This experience meant more to me than just another exploration. It felt like closure. I had documented this house in its darkest hour and now, over a decade later, I got to witness its revival and meet the person responsible for giving it a second chance.
Urban exploration is often about decay and loss, but sometimes, it becomes a story of restoration and renewal. And I’m grateful I got to be a small part of both chapters in this home’s life.
