A family in Tennessee has purchased an old, abandoned school and is turning it into their dream home, but skeptics are fearful of the renovation project.
High school student Sarah Collis uploaded a video to TikTok with the caption: “POV: Your dad randomly bought/is fixing up an abandoned school and now you live here.”
The video shows the transformation of Ducktown School from a creepy old-fashioned and dilapidated school to a slightly more homely and livable building.
Previously called Kimsey Junior College, Ducktown School was built in 1933 with the original purpose of furthering the education of miners in the town.
In 2021, Jason Collis and his wife purchased the historic building and are still working on its restoration – all the while living in the gigantic abandoned school.
A Tennessee family has bought an old abandoned school and is turning it into their dream home, but skeptics fear the renovation project
High school student Sarah Collis uploaded a video to TikTok with the caption: “POV: Your dad randomly bought/is fixing up an abandoned school and now you live here.”
In 2021, Jason Collis, seen here with daughter Sarah, purchased the historic building and is still working on its restoration – all the while living in the gigantic abandoned school.
The school was abandoned in 2006 and was vandalized and neglected for years, Collis said ABC.
Collis attended Kimsey Junior College from kindergarten through seventh grade and he, along with other community members, were not ready to see the school disappear.
He said he wasn’t prepared for the amount of work the transformation would take, but his family is determined to turn the old building into their unique dream home.
In Sarah’s most recent video, posted Wednesday, many rooms of the school remain untouched — including the gymnasium, auditorium, hallways and lockers, stairwells and some classrooms.
The paint is badly chipped and the floors and walls are worn and damaged, while much of the old-fashioned school furniture remains in the rooms.
Sarah insisted that the family had not just moved in and that most of these rooms have now been refurbished.
She also mentioned that they hold reunions at the school and use them for community outreach all the time.
However, a recent clip of Sarah’s room shows some of the progress her family has made in the renovation.
In Sarah’s most recent video, posted Wednesday, many of the school’s spaces remain untouched — including the gymnasium, auditorium, hallways and lockers, stairwells and some classrooms.
The school was abandoned in 2006 and was vandalized and neglected for years
Sarah’s spacious room is nicely decorated and undamaged – and seemingly updated with new flooring and paint jobs
Her spacious room is nicely decorated and undamaged – and seemingly updated with new flooring and paint jobs.
Although some features, such as the windows and baseboard, remain untouched, overall the room looks much better than other parts of the house.
The school-turned house features an extensive lawn, originally a playground, surrounding the property.
The playground still features swings, roundabouts and rocking chairs – setting a nostalgic and slightly creepy tone for the now backyard.
TikTokers flocked to the comments to discuss the unique home, with many agreeing that the vintage abandoned school was creepy.
“Why does it scare me,” one user commented, while others begged for updates on the renovations and room tours.
Other rooms in the school/house are much creepier than others – especially the boiler room, where Sarah posted a tour on TikTok.
The broiler room – which is accessed via a very disturbing staircase – is full of rusty junk and worn-out machinery.
Collis attended Kimsey Junior College from kindergarten through seventh grade and he, along with other community members, were not ready to see the school disappear
Sarah insisted that the family had not just moved in and that most of these rooms have now been refurbished
The playground still features swings, roundabouts and rocking chairs – setting a nostalgic and slightly creepy tone for the now backyard
Collis said he wasn’t prepared for the amount of work the transformation would take, but his family is determined to turn the old building into their unique dream home.
TikTok users were quick to point out how creepy the room downstairs is.
“If I knew this was my basement I would be shocked,” said one user.
“Hide and seek would be so hard,” another joked.
“It’s definitely haunted,” one user commented.