A fascinating vlog takes viewers into one of the most remote towns in America, dubbed “the city under one roof” because most residents live in one large apartment complex.
YouTube creator Nomadic introvert ventured to Whittier, which is located in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness and just over an hour’s drive from Anchorage.
In the introduction to her video tour, the adventurer gives viewers a brief summary of the place. She explains: ‘[Whittier] is one of the most isolated cities in America. There is one way in and one way out, and that is through a tunnel.
‘This city is so unique… [because] a majority of [the people] lives under one roof and one building.
‘In this building there is a post office, a supermarket, tunnels that connect schools… laundry… housing of course. There is everything in [so] “There is literally no reason to leave the building.”
YouTube creator Nomadic Introvert ventured to Whittier, which is located in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness and just over an hour’s drive from Anchorage
The Begich Towers were originally built as army barracks that served as a ‘secret’ military facility for the US Army during World War II, before later being converted into a residential unit
‘[Whittier] is one of the most isolated cities in America. There’s one way in and one way out, and that’s through a tunnel,” Nomadic Introvert tells viewers
Before entering the building, the content creator explains that there are currently about 120 to 150 people living in Whittier, and “90 percent of those people live in this building.”
After driving through the city’s tunnel—at 2.5 miles, the longest highway tunnel in North America—Nomadic Introvert parks his car and ventures into the infamous apartment complex.
The Begich Towers were originally built as army barracks and served as a ‘secret’ military facility for the US Army during World War II. In 1974 the building was converted to residential space.
Before entering the building, the content creator says a local resident told her there are currently about 120 to 150 people living in Whittier, and “90 percent of those people live in this building.”
She adds that visitors will only have access to the ground floor of the 14-storey complex, with the remaining floors open to residents only.
As the content creator walks inside, she says the aesthetic reminds her of an “old school” building with billboards at the entrances with all kinds of messages on them.
Some of the public amenities she mentions include a small post office, a “very nice” supermarket with a wide range of products, an ATM, a launderette, a toilet and a notary.
Back in her car, Nomadic Introvert tells viewers she would have liked to give a “more in-depth tour” but didn’t want to invade people’s privacy.
She explained: ‘Yes, the first floor is for tourists, but there are also facilities that [residents] use daily [basis] and I just didn’t want to invade their privacy.
Some of the public amenities she highlights include a “really nice” supermarket with a wide selection of goods
The camera pans around to show the community’s small post office
Back in her car, Nomadic Introvert tells viewers she would have liked to offer a “more in-depth tour” but didn’t want to invade people’s privacy.
Next, Nomadic Introvert takes viewers on her city tour through the city’s pedestrian tunnel that runs under the railway
‘I would have loved to show you the inside of the laundry room because it looked pretty cool, but someone was doing laundry and I didn’t want to go in there with my camera while they were folding laundry.
‘I [also] I wish I could have shown you the inside of the supermarket. I mean, I showed you the inside, but I wanted to show you what was around the corner, where the checkout was.
‘It was so cool, but there were people shopping again and I didn’t want to violate their personal space.
I can only imagine living in this building and ‘Tourists with cameras filming you when you go shopping and things like that.’
During her next tour of the city, Nomadic Introvert takes viewers into the pedestrian tunnel that runs under the railway.
The enthusiastic traveler says, as she drives along the main road, ‘Okay, it’s lit… it’s not dark.
‘This is probably one of the craziest tunnels I’ve ever walked through.
I hope the restaurant is open [on the other side] “When we’re done exploring, because I’m hungry.”
When she exits the tunnel, Nomadic Introvert heads to a shop famous for its fudge, but instead orders a French vanilla latte.
The YouTuber ventures into a restaurant at the Anchor Inn and she’s happy to find it’s open
She gives a general assessment of the restaurant and says: ‘I like the food, the atmosphere was good… the ambiance. It was very peaceful, very quiet, very serene’
After hearing it’s the best place to eat in town, the YouTuber opts for the halibut fish and chips, which costs $23.95
The next day, before leaving the distant city, she looks at a building on the edge of town that was never finished and stands abandoned
Next she goes to the Anchor Inn restaurant and is glad to find it open.
After being told this is the best place to eat in town, the YouTuber opts for the halibut fish and chips, which costs $23.95.
She really likes the seafood dish, with ‘tender’ fish and a ‘crispy’ batter.
She gives a general assessment of the place and says: ‘I like the food, the atmosphere was good… the ambiance. It was very peaceful, very quiet, very serene.
‘[It had a] ‘A bit of a hometown feeling, where everyone knows each other.’
Instead of checking in at the Anchor Inn, Nomadic Introvert decides to sleep in her car, as it has become quite cold there at night.
The next day, before leaving the remote town, she visits a former American military building on the outskirts of town that was never finished and stands abandoned.
As she approaches the eerie-looking structure in her car, the urban explorer says, “It’s called the Buckner Building… [and] this is an abandoned building.
‘According to what’s online… they never tore this building down [and] ‘They were never converted into homes because they contained so much asbestos.’
The filmmaker summarizes her visit to Whittier, concluding, “I hope you enjoyed the video. It was a pretty cool stealth overnight in one of America’s most remote towns.
“It was just amazing to see such a unique little town like Whittier…. as many as 90 percent of people live under one roof and they make it work… I I thought that was cool.’