If making lace in the early 20th century was like printing money, then the guys will be rolling in dough after they explore the abandoned Scranton Lace Factory in Scranton, Pa. As they cross the immense factory, the guys collect a check protector, a pair of doors and a vintage tampon dispenser. When Jay spots a single shoe and Mark finds a bowling score sheet, the guys follow the clues to a four-lane bowling alley full of American-made bowling pins and balls.
Jay and the team search for forgotten relics in a rare historic gem, an 18th-century grist mill in Westminster, Maryland that’s been abandoned for decades. Jay’s biggest finds include a bell and a collection of tiles. But the property’s owner is on the fence about selling the items until he makes a surprising offer of his own.
With only 60 days to spare before Philadelphia’s historic Church of the Nativity is demolished, the team rushes to retrieve abandoned treasures from the past 170 years. The guys hit the jackpot when they find floral and Tiffany-style stained glass windows in the sanctuary, and a giant rose window worth $10,000 has Jay saying “Amen.”
The guys are watering at the mouth when they get a chance to explore the former Pabst Brewing headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But it’s all a numbers game when the building’s owner will only accept prices that include the numbers in his birthday—February 23—or six for “six pack.”
Jay and his buddies take a ride to rural Lonaconing, Md., where they dig through a shuttered silk mill that’s been abandoned since 1957 in hopes of securing a slew of vintage items. When the guys get in, they discover that the entire mill has been frozen in time, preserved exactly as it was left more than 50 years ago.
Jay, Mark and Dan travel to a property so old, it doesn’t even have an address. The Owens Homestead is tucked away in the backwoods of Fulton, Miss., and the barn, cabin and cottage are rumored to have items belonging to settlers from the 1830s. A descendant of the settlers and his wife are willing to sell many items, but to secure the icebox, Jay needs convince Ricki that the purchase is worth going over budget.
Jay and his team search for treasures in an abandoned cotton gin.
Jay's salvaging crew seeks riches in an old abandoned bank that was built to hold the spectacular fortunes of Americas big oil barons. Since this was once a high-class establishment, Jay believes treasures may still be hidden inside. Top picks include an antique cash counter and an elegant mail chute that extends through the upper stories of the building, as well as a grand, giant flagpole that once stood proudly and prominently atop of this beautiful building.
At an abandoned paper factory the size of several football fields, the guys hope to score a touchdown with an assortment of historic objects. Jay, Dan and Mark find antique fire hoses, a Fairbanks scale, customized lockers and a pair of temperature gauges. Just when the score is in their favor, Ricki warns that the job might get sacked: The property owners are planning to turn the factory into a museum and may hesitate to sell certain objects.
After failing to find valuable goods at a Tappan, N.Y., Masonic retirement home, the team explores two barns set for demolition in nearby Newtown, Conn. Jay is blown away by the automotive relics stored in one barn, including a restored tractor, porcelain signage and a Chrysler Saratoga. Now, Jay must convince the owners that he will successfully restore and resell the entire contents of both barns, but only if they can agree on a fair price.
It's an extraordinary opportunity to explore not just an abandoned building, but an entire town. Johnsonville, Conn., was purchased by a millionaire who planned to turn the mill and the surrounding village into a tourist attraction, only to shut it down in 1994. Jay, Dan and Mark expect to find well-preserved properties, but are shocked by excessive mold, mildew and disrepair. After struggling to negotiate fair prices, Jay decides to make an unprecedented offer to buy an entire schoolhouse.
Known for hosting Babe Ruth and Al Capone, the historic Majestic Hotel closed its doors in 2006. At the abandoned hotel, the guys do some serious room service and find bathtubs, chaise longues and a mosaic tile fountain. When Ricki gains access to what was formerly the tallest building in Arkansas, Jay gives Dan and Mark a $300 budget for bargaining. Now, Jay must negotiate with the owner to take home at least one of his big finds, or hell be in hot water when he gets home to Ricki.
The guys head to Vermont, where marble was processed for the U.S. Supreme Court Building and the Jefferson Memorial. The owners of an abandoned marble factory and a hidden bomb shelter grant Jay access to the property. After finding a huge air raid siren, the guys hop on an elevator that sends them straight to the basement - and to the bomb shelter. There, they find collectibles, including White House blueprints. But Jays in for a shock of his own when Ricki surprises him on their anniversary.
If making lace in the early 20th century was like printing money, then the guys will be rolling in dough after they explore the abandoned Scranton Lace Factory in Scranton, Pa. As they cross the immense factory, the guys collect a check protector, a pair of doors and a vintage tampon dispenser. When Jay spots a single shoe and Mark finds a bowling score sheet, the guys follow the clues to a four-lane bowling alley full of American-made bowling pins and balls
