Farrar Elementary School, an abandoned educational building shrouded in mystery and tales of paranormal activity, has recently captured widespread attention. This isn’t just due to its alleged hauntings, but also thanks to popular YouTubers Sam Golbach and Colby Brock, who have taken up residence to explore its ghostly secrets. If you’re intrigued by the paranormal or the adventures of these online personalities, you might be asking: Where Is Farrar Elementary School located? Let’s delve into the location of this Iowa hotspot and the story behind its newfound fame.
Discovering Farrar, Iowa: The Home of the Haunted School
Farrar Elementary School is situated in Farrar, Iowa, an unincorporated community nestled in Polk County. For those unfamiliar with Iowa geography, Polk County is in the central part of the state and includes the state’s capital, Des Moines. To pinpoint where is Farrar Elementary School more precisely, Farrar itself is located approximately 26 minutes northeast of Des Moines by car. This makes it a relatively short drive from the larger city, yet Farrar maintains its own distinct, quiet community atmosphere.
To find Farrar Elementary School, you would head northeast from Des Moines, venturing into the more rural landscapes of Polk County. While Farrar might be a small, unincorporated area, its proximity to Des Moines makes it accessible for those interested in visiting or learning more about the school. It’s worth noting that across the street from the former school building lies a 150-year-old cemetery, a detail often mentioned in connection with the school’s haunted reputation, potentially adding to the eerie atmosphere of the location.
Farrar Elementary School: From Education to Eerie Exploration
While the current interest in Farrar Elementary School is heavily focused on its paranormal claims, the building has a history rooted in education. Constructed in 1921 and opening its doors in 1922, Farrar Elementary served students from both Farrar and Bondurant areas for many decades. For nearly 80 years, it was a pillar of the community, educating generations of local children. However, in 2001, Farrar Elementary School closed its doors as part of district consolidation efforts, with students being moved to Anderson Elementary in Bondurant.
After five years of abandonment, Jim and Nancy Oliver purchased the school in 2006. It was under their ownership that the school’s reputation for being haunted truly solidified. They reported numerous paranormal occurrences, including shadow figures, disembodied voices, and mysterious orbs. Their experiences attracted paranormal investigators and even led to the school being featured on Discovery Channel’s “My Ghost Story.” Before Sam and Colby’s purchase, the school had already become a destination for ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts, with stories and supposed evidence being shared in online communities like the “Farrar Schoolhouse Evidence Page” on Facebook.
Sam and Colby’s “Hell Week” at Farrar Elementary
The recent surge in interest in Farrar Elementary School can be directly attributed to YouTubers Sam Golbach and Colby Brock. Known for their haunted exploration videos on their popular YouTube channel with over 13 million subscribers, Sam and Colby purchased Farrar Elementary School in July. They chose this location due to its strong claims of paranormal activity, aiming to understand the reasons behind these alleged hauntings.
Their project, dubbed “Hell Week,” involved living inside the abandoned school for an entire week, filming their experiences and reactions. Videos documenting their time at Farrar Elementary began airing in October, quickly amassing millions of views. The first video alone garnered over 5 million views within days, and their series became a trending topic on YouTube. This intense interest from Sam and Colby’s massive online following has brought Farrar Elementary School into the spotlight for a new generation, blending the intrigue of paranormal investigation with the reach of social media influence.
Ownership and the Future of Farrar Elementary School
Currently, Farrar Elementary School is owned by a limited liability company linked to Sam Golbach. Their purchase price for the 17,000-square-foot building was $260,000, according to Polk County records. While their initial focus has been on paranormal investigation and content creation, the long-term plans for Farrar Elementary School remain to be seen. Given their large platform and entrepreneurial ventures, it’s possible they may further develop the location as a paranormal tourism destination or continue using it as a base for their explorations into the unknown.
In conclusion, Farrar Elementary School is located in Farrar, Iowa, a short drive northeast of Des Moines in Polk County. Its location in a quiet, rural setting adds to its mystique, while its history as a former school building and its reputation for paranormal activity make it a compelling place of interest. Thanks to Sam and Colby, Farrar Elementary School has transitioned from a local abandoned building to a nationally recognized haunted hotspot, drawing attention from both paranormal enthusiasts and curious onlookers alike.
