Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The doors to this abandoned high school are opening for the first time in nearly 20 years.
In Chandler, Oklahoma, alum Kim Evans bought her old childhood school Chandler Memorial High School to save it from further neglect and demolition. What started as a Facebook comment became Friends of Memorial School, a community effort to keep a WPA-built landmark standing on Route 66.
Inside: original terra cotta tile, student names on lockers, yearbooks left behind, and a roof battle against Mother Nature. Outside: a town that already lost the St. Cloud Hotel… and is determined not to lose this school, too.
We explore how Kim took ownership, the WPA history carved into every stone, how Chandler’s legendary alumni pride kept hope alive, UCO students Tina & Becky’s MAD project with the City of Chandler, lessons from restoring the Route 66 Interpretive Center (the old Armory), and a free roof inspection that revealed steel beams and renewed momentum.
If you or someone you know wants to partner, restore, or take this project on — reach out. This building still has a future.
Our email: board@abandonedatlas.com
Kim's email: Chandlermemorialschool@gmail.com
Partner with Kim! friendsofchandlerhs.com
Watch how Page Woodson / Douglass High School in Oklahoma City was saved and restored into apartments proof this kind of transformation is possible:
youtube.com/watch?v=IG64bFt9q7E
0:00 - Opening the Abandoned High School
1:00 - Meet Kim Evans
2:07 - Historic WPA Stone Facade
2:56 - Racing Against Time
3:23 - Closure & Exploring Inside
5:19 - After St. Cloud: Fear of Demolition
6:34 - How Kim Bought the School
10:36 - Chandler's Early History
11:58 - Built by the WPA
15:49 - Ownership, COVID & Setbacks
16:53 - Two Phone Calls That Changed Everything
18:05 - Tina & Becky's UCO Project
20:36 - Talking With the City
23:46 - Alumni Voices & Future Uses
29:21 - Kim's First Win: Restoring the Armory
31:17 - The Route 66 Interpretive Center Opens
33:15 - Roof Inspection & New Hope
35:00 - A Call to Help
#AbandonedSchool #Route66 #OklahomaHistory #WPA #HistoricPreservation #AbandonedPlaces #SaveTheSchool #ChandlerOklahoma #UrbanExploration #AdaptiveReuse #HistoricBuilding #DemolitionByNeglect #CommunityHistory #AbandonedAtlas #PrairieNationCreative #MemorialHighSchool #SchoolPride #Restoration #Documentary
Find the websites and socials of all 6 states here: AbandonedAtlas.com/links
Feature Documentary on a really cool abandoned hotel!
amazon.com/Forever-Majestic-Caitlen-Taylor/dp/B09VB6R4J7
Sponsor a future episode of Abandoned Atlas!
abandonedatlas.com/sponsor-aaf
Video Produced by: Prairie Nation Creative - prairie-creative.com
Want to support the Abandoned Atlas Foundation? Think about donating to our cause or buying a book as a different form of donating! Our shop is equipped to accept all major credit cards, Afterpay, Cash App, Venmo, and Paypal.
Shop Our Books - AbandonedAtlas.com/shop
Donate to our Cause!
Venmo - @AbandonedAtlas
Cash App - $AbandonedAtlas
Paypal - paypal.com/donate/?token=ovemMoyczre9Oailu8_IMrDXPf8rOergEEnJOhyoJfQ8PN_8aQUEQS0rsQc79EIBHKhzCGBhSXe0lIAS&locale.x=US
The doors to this abandoned high school are opening for the first time in nearly 20 years.
In Chandler, Oklahoma, alum Kim Evans bought her old childhood school Chandler Memorial High School to save it from further neglect and demolition. What started as a Facebook comment became Friends of Memorial School, a community effort to keep a WPA-built landmark standing on Route 66.
Inside: original terra cotta tile, student names on lockers, yearbooks left behind, and a roof battle against Mother Nature. Outside: a town that already lost the St. Cloud Hotel… and is determined not to lose this school, too.
We explore how Kim took ownership, the WPA history carved into every stone, how Chandler’s legendary alumni pride kept hope alive, UCO students Tina & Becky’s MAD project with the City of Chandler, lessons from restoring the Route 66 Interpretive Center (the old Armory), and a free roof inspection that revealed steel beams and renewed momentum.
If you or someone you know wants to partner, restore, or take this project on — reach out. This building still has a future.
Our email: board@abandonedatlas.com
Kim's email: Chandlermemorialschool@gmail.com
Partner with Kim! friendsofchandlerhs.com
Watch how Page Woodson / Douglass High School in Oklahoma City was saved and restored into apartments proof this kind of transformation is possible:
youtube.com/watch?v=IG64bFt9q7E
0:00 - Opening the Abandoned High School
1:00 - Meet Kim Evans
2:07 - Historic WPA Stone Facade
2:56 - Racing Against Time
3:23 - Closure & Exploring Inside
5:19 - After St. Cloud: Fear of Demolition
6:34 - How Kim Bought the School
10:36 - Chandler's Early History
11:58 - Built by the WPA
15:49 - Ownership, COVID & Setbacks
16:53 - Two Phone Calls That Changed Everything
18:05 - Tina & Becky's UCO Project
20:36 - Talking With the City
23:46 - Alumni Voices & Future Uses
29:21 - Kim's First Win: Restoring the Armory
31:17 - The Route 66 Interpretive Center Opens
33:15 - Roof Inspection & New Hope
35:00 - A Call to Help
#AbandonedSchool #Route66 #OklahomaHistory #WPA #HistoricPreservation #AbandonedPlaces #SaveTheSchool #ChandlerOklahoma #UrbanExploration #AdaptiveReuse #HistoricBuilding #DemolitionByNeglect #CommunityHistory #AbandonedAtlas #PrairieNationCreative #MemorialHighSchool #SchoolPride #Restoration #Documentary
Find the websites and socials of all 6 states here: AbandonedAtlas.com/links
Feature Documentary on a really cool abandoned hotel!
amazon.com/Forever-Majestic-Caitlen-Taylor/dp/B09VB6R4J7
Sponsor a future episode of Abandoned Atlas!
abandonedatlas.com/sponsor-aaf
Video Produced by: Prairie Nation Creative - prairie-creative.com
Want to support the Abandoned Atlas Foundation? Think about donating to our cause or buying a book as a different form of donating! Our shop is equipped to accept all major credit cards, Afterpay, Cash App, Venmo, and Paypal.
Shop Our Books - AbandonedAtlas.com/shop
Donate to our Cause!
Venmo - @AbandonedAtlas
Cash App - $AbandonedAtlas
Paypal - paypal.com/donate/?token=ovemMoyczre9Oailu8_IMrDXPf8rOergEEnJOhyoJfQ8PN_8aQUEQS0rsQc79EIBHKhzCGBhSXe0lIAS&locale.x=US
