The old Flintkote Plant in Lockport remains a mystery to most explorers who attempt to look into its history. While bits of its past are known, large segments of its existence are missing. It is known that the plant was originally a paper mill, and later moved in the asphalt shingle manufacturing business. Following that, the plant was involved with asbestos production, before finally fading back into nature following a fire at the plant, forcing it's closure.

No one, at least online, knows when the Flintkote plant was built (the brick age and style suggests early 1900's); however we do know it was shuttered in 1971, following a fire at the plant. Shortly thereafter in 1979, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) removed drums of cresylic acid and PCBs from the site; and in 1999, the Niagara County took possession of the land with the hopes of cleaning up Eighteen Mile Creek, which borders the plant. Plans exist to demolish the remaining structures and convert the eventually rehabilitated property into parkland.

The site is heavily contaminated in the soil, but the air doesn't appear to be filled with little particles of asbestos goodness, at least in the more open parts of the plant. And the fact that flora is beginning to move back in is a positive note. That said, I highly don't recommend touching everything at the plant, either.

Other than the possible nosy neighbours across the street, there really isn't much to stop access to Flintkote. And the fact that the plant is extremely photogenic due to the way nature is reclaiming makes it worth the drive to northern Lockport.