Ruins are often thought of as a tourist site such as the Ruins of Pompeii, the Acropolis or Delphi of Oracle. These are in distant places many of us can never see. They do have one thing in common and that is they were places mankind gathered. The area is imprinted with that activity with not only the remains of the structures but of the vibrations that do not dissipate over time. In some cases they become more powerful and draw us to them.
Longacres has been a ruin for only about 20 years. A horse racetrack of fame built in the 1930s and leveled due to economic hardship in the early 1990s. This place carries many good and sad times. It has heard the cheers of victory, the cries of defeat and the thundering of hooves. The humans and animals cross over many generations, fashion, and even war and peace. If you would like to read more about the history of the racetrack here is a link to HistoryLink.org –History of Longacres
When I started documenting the two entrance units that are visibly standing there was a huge interest in the site. These two units are the only real standing things that are visible to those that casually pass through. With that in mind I returned with my camera and a few reference photos to see what I could find. Not much unlike an archaeologist seeking a long-lost place or time to investigate.
What I found surprised me and it will you too. So, come along on my quest to find the lost Longacres Racetrack. There is so much to see that I have broken it down into three parts:
- The Foundations
- The Green Wall
- The Track
To give you an overview of the site, I took a video from the raised platform on the Light Rail Station. It faces east and starts with the south end panning to the north. You will see several areas that will be covered starting with the two old poplars next to the Jockey House and the rock pile which is where I found a tile where the Club House is. It then moves over the original grandstand area. Notice the black fencing which is a Boeing built path from its campus to the Light Rail Station. Then in the distance you will see jersey barriers of the North Grandstands. In the distance to the north is the parking lot and freeway. Under the freeway are the entrance units where I started my investigation from. (here is a link to that post – Longacres Relics)
To start the foundations adventure we will go to the parking lot. When you drive down into this area behind the Boeing Campus you will see what is called overflow parking and some construction around the light rail station. Do not be fooled. This is the original Longacres Parking Lot.
To give you some bearing on where this is I took a short 360 degree video. Note the two entrance units under the interstate freeway (I-405) as a way to get your bearings.
Walking south towards the fence that separates this parking lot from the light rail station you will come upon concrete slabs hiding in the underbrush and small trees. This area is protected from the thoroughfare by jersey barriers but one can easily walk around and on top of the area. To the naked eye it looks like just another piece of the parking lot but you will notice it is raised in several places.
As I walked to my surprise I found the first of several patches of red tile. Yes there was something special in these places that the tile is still attached to the concrete slab. Now you can imagine the footsteps that trod over these tiles and see in your mind how it was a place of excitement instead of this desolate neglected site.
Traveling south I come across an area that is white modern concrete. It is the North Grandstand built in 1982 that replaced temporary bleachers and helped capture the overflowing crowds that thrilled to the horses blowing by them. It goes on for many feet but is very intact in its cement foundation way. I like to think of Longacres to be like an add-on house that grew as the family blossomed. This north end is the add-on in multiple stages to accommodate everyone.
As I walked back to my car that day I took this video walking north from this staircase towards the entrance units. This will give you a good idea of how the overall appearance of the foundations on the north side appear today (Spring 2016).
This is where I mistakenly thought I had been on the original grandstand and turned my attention elsewhere in the ruins. I was so wrong. When I got home and did my research comparing photos I realized my mistake and went back to the site. That second visit I found the real Longacres Racetrack of old.
This grandstand is almost 80 years old and Boeing has built a path from its campus to the Light Rail Station that carves through the north edge of it. Here you are surrounded by more red tile. Bill Taylor gave me a little bit of info on the red tile after I posted this. Here is what he said – “A lot of the red tile was at the entrance to the main office area, Morrie’s office and atrium, the family conference room and some of the main line.” That sure dispels what I heard someone say.. “it is the bathrooms”. I never believed that. This area sure makes one has to realize you are in a place of another time. Some may not even know the history nor care but to ponder what was lost and gone is important. Yes, how could we so quickly discard our history for being modern or make more money?
I wandered around in the bushes trying to get the bearings of what was and followed along the edge of the area behind a fence but in an old parking lot. There was a pile of rocks on an area and more red tiles. My gut tells me I am now in the old Clubhouse. One of the tiles had been pulled up and so I picked it up. To my delight it was made in Italy.
This tile is made in an area of Italy that is famous for tiles and I am going to send a picture to one of the manufacturer to see if they can confirm the date and maker of this tile.
As I worked my way around I came to two old lombardy poplars and some more cement items left hanging out.
As I neared the track I encountered more of the green railing and decided I must be down by the Jockey House. That was when I met Tina and her dog. They were walking along like they have for years. She sort of adopted me and my quest and showed me more things that I had missed. We walked up the racetrack back to the Boeing path and then came back to where I found the tile.
She next showed me more tile around where the Jockey House was. Different than the red tiles and I think they are bathroom and shower floors. At least that is my assumption.
At the end I got up on the Light Rail Station and took a series of photos from south to north. This slide show will give you a good idea of what this older end looks like. For reference first look at an aerial view of the buildings.
Now that I have set the foundations out for you I am going to move to the green wall. This is a huge piece of the ruins that are still standing. They are buried in the woods now and one has to get into the brambles to find. You can find The Green Wall at this link Longacres Ruins Green Wall
Crows of Arroyos 
A lot of the red tile was at the entrance to the main office area, Morrie’s office and atrium, the family conference room and some of the main line. Great job!
Thank You so much for the kind words. I will add this little tid bit in the post. Hope this brings interest to the site and Boeing maintains it more than less. r
I had been to the track and saw the wall while taking a break from a training class for Boeing. That was about 10 years ago. Seeing the wall, the weeds growing up through the track, the infield area (and your story) leaves an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. My entire family worked there. My grandfather from the start. Like ghosts, I recall the sites, sounds, and smells. Horses steaming from the sweat of an early morning workout, the geraniums planted around the infield, the hanging baskets, large barn owls in the rafters, riding on the tractors…
My grandfather, Thomas (Tommy) Teasdale, helped plant the poplars with Joe, built barns, and later managed the Jocks room, while my grandmother, Meda, ran the Jocks room café. Grandpa later would sell mutual tickets. He was good friends with, and, rode along side of Red Pollard (Sea Biscuit) in Canada, New Mexico…
On the off-days, I’d play in the dirt on the track with some of grandmas kitchen utensils. Got to watch the races from the upper deck of the jockeys room. My Father Merrill was leading rider in 1956 and set the record for most wins @ 6, until broken by Larry Pierce (as I recall).
A family friend and riding partner of my father’s “Jimmy Craswell”, whom I worked with at one time, told me this hilarious story…
Jimmy mentioned that my mom (Gloria Teasdale at the time) owned
a race horse called “Gloria T” and that Jimmy was the mount. He told me: “Gloria T only won one race!” I told him that I knew that, then he starts giggling and said: “slowest time ever recorded at Longacres!”
If you read between the lines, and, not knowing how many horses were in the field that race… It was all the jocks could do to hold there horses back to allow that plug to cross the finish line! My mom said that all the remaining jockey’s up on the jocks room sundeck yelled “Boat Race!” I don’t remember what the exact odds were, somewhere around 15 -18 to 1. I suppose a few bucks were made that day.
Anyway, it was a great place to grow up, and I miss it all so much!
Thank you for the great article!
Regards
Lamont Faulkner
You touched my heart today. This is why I documented what has happened to it. Longacres is maybe gone but not forgotten. My blog post hopefully will live on and help carry all these memories
question for you? Do you know if the entrance units under the freeway had flowers or were gas flames? No one seems to know that? Go to my Relics of Longacres post to see them. Thanx again
I do not recall gas flames. As a young boy, that would’ve been a detail I would remember.
I love how you put it, as a child flames would be cool. Bill Taylor thinks it was plants too. Mystery solved.
I was with Longacres for 10 years and as I recall they were only used as planters.
Hi – funny think both you and Lamont Faulkner who’s family was very involved in the track told me he would have remembered flames as a kid. He thinks they were planters too.
Mystery solved 🙂
I have several aerial photos of Longacres that were taken in the 60’s….would you like me to scan them for you and if so, an email address?
Thanx Bill – I sent you an email with my address. Your help on the Longacres history is so wonderful
[…] Ruins of Longacres – the Foundations […]
Thank you so much for this. I met my husband, jockey Hugh Wales, at Longacres in 1986. He was eighth all time leading rider there and well known by many. We were both jockeys at the time and rode together for a few years. I will never forget this magical place. This place and my memories will be etched forever in my mind, swift horses beneath me, the people, the barns, the poplar trees….my list could go on forever. Those responsible for its demise should be so ashamed of themselves for what they have done and although another racetrack was later built and in its modern way is nice, it will never replace Longacres Racetrack with its rich history. It will never put a spell on those who enter like Longacres did for so many of us. Thank you again.
Thank You – it made all the honorable effort worth while when I get a response like this. If you have anything to add to the posts do not hesitate to send it to me. I am thinking of doing a 2017 update. Again thanx
Thank you so much for your efforts. I feel like part of my life died with that place. All of my racetrack family was dispersed across the U.S. or got out of the business altogether. I don’t think that the people who did this will ever fully realize (or don’t want to) what they did. It was all greed driven, all about the money. It is so sad to see all the jobs that were lost, all the good horsemen and women gone, the breeding industry in shambles. It is so sad for me to see all of the farms in Enumclaw and surrounding areas gone, bulldozed down for real estate endeavors, housing complexes, commercial buildings, etc….Just like Longacres…and for nothing. You know what every person says to me when they talk about it? “It’s so sad. They tore the place down for nothing and aren’t even using that property. It’s true. Something else could have been done but the deal was made on the sly before anything could be done.
There was such a romance about horse racing in Washington that has never returned and that was because it was Longacres that created it, that fed the people, that flourished with the great horses. Race trackers are like gypsies, traveling from race meet to race meet, always following the horses. I rode the last horse on the track the morning that Longacres ended. It was always about them…the horses…for they made us all better people. And I felt the wind in my face aboard a fast horse leave me forever…
I still exercise horses in Arizona in the winter time. It isn’t the same. No matter what track I go to, it will never be the same. I went to the old site and saw a lot of the same things that you photographed. I cried a thousand tears, thinking of meeting my love there, riders in the jockeys room we were, sitting above on the terrace of the jocks room in the sun in the shade of those tall poplars, watching the horses thunder by…
Kimberly – if you have any photos or stories to share do send them to me. I can always add to this tribute and preservation of the past.
Thanx again Robin
One more thing – be sure to go to the third post I did called Ruins of Longacres – The Track. This has a small movie I made plus other video and good pictures of the real track. I also did one on the actual track composition. They had dug a chunk out and I was able to look at the layers put down to form it.
This is amazing. I used to go every week back in high school for my history reports to do as much research as I could. I wish my reports were as great as this. I took pieces of tile & green wall back home as a memory but never found an Italy piece. And I always wondered what the black rubber pieces on the walls were when I went. It’s amazing to know where I once stood & seeing pictures of what was once the building. Thank you for this. I was 4 when it was torn down so I have no solid memories. All I have is google for pictures & the ruins to try & piece together the place that my parents claim made me very happy. Thank you for doing this & sharing it
HI – It is a pleasure to help preserve this wonderful place for everyone. As time goes by it will slip further & further in the earth.
We can’t bring it back but this research project was one of my all time favorite in my blogging history. That started documenting my local crows but grew into just rambling around the area learning all kinds of things.
As I tell all Longacres alumni, if you have anything to share please send me an email. More photos and stories can only add to this tribute.
One more thing – be sure to go to the third post I did called Ruins of Longacres – The Track. This has a small movie I made plus other video and good pictures of the real track. I also did one on the actual track composition. They had dug a chunk out and I was able to look at the layers put down to form it.
Thank you for the photo history, I walked those areas many times during the course of 3 decades and was there on September 21, 1992 for the Au Revoir Purse. It is a shame to see want has happened to an icon of Puget Sound history!!!
I am so glad you found my site. As I tell all those who lived and breathed Longacres, I would be happy to include any photos or tidbits you want to share. At some piont this spring I will do a re-visit to see if there have been large changes.
Thanx again!!
[…] Number 2 – Ruins of Longacres – The Foundations […]
[…] it is time to make a directory post of them like I did Duwamish & Green River Adventures. Foundations link & Aerials […]
I also have many fond memories of Longacres, my Grandparents both worked there, Grandma Was the head nurse and Grandpa was one of lead landscapers, they knew Joe Gottstein along with Morie, I started working there at 15 1/2 in clubhouse- fun times and great friends back then- Hugh went out dancing with alk of us a few times
Thanx for visiting!! It was a magical place!!
[…] If you are interested in the Longacres Racetrack Ruins here is a link that will get you started on that series of investigations. Longacres Link […]
I’ve just read your writings about Longacres. I recently read your coal mine series. Thanks again for these pieces. I’ve learned a lot.
I’m researching the area just northwest of Longacres, about where present SW Grady Way and Interurban Ave S intersect. In 1956 may dad operated a Texaco service station there. I’ve become intrigued in trying to find out when the Green River was redirected in that area. It used to make a sharp bend north right there. You can still see a portion of the old riverbed behind the two motels that are in the area now. Your maps helped me confirm that the change happened in the 1960’s. The old river channel is missing in the pictures you’ve published. I’m trying to narrow it down further.
I’ve secured a map from the Renton Historical Society that confirms the river took a different course in 1956.
I remember Longacres as an 8 year old; we would pass it whenever coming north to the service station on the West Valley road. I also went there once in the 1980’s with colleagues from my work.
I lost track of the area after the 1980’s and it has been enjoyable reading your articles.
Rick – me again. I just sent to your email address several aerials I found of that Grady/Interurban Longacres area. Check you junk mail if you don’t see it.
Enjoy!!! Batgirl aka Robin
I am so glad you found my Longacres series. It sure got me hooked on investigating old place that seem gone but their ruins are there if you look.
The coal mine research has taught me how to find old maps. Have you gone to the USGS site where you can pull old and new pdf maps of an area? Here is a link if you have not. This might help you some.
Plus I will check what maps I put up on the blog posts. I might have a few more that will help.
https://apps.nationalmap.gov/downloader/#/
Thank you. This is a new map source for me.
Excellent work. I grew up in Shoreline ‘72-‘88) and had heard of Longacres and my parents took my two older sisters there a couple times (I guess I was too young) and I remember feeling left out. Even as I was older, I never actually went there, or thought about it, but now, as I get older, I think of it with some sort of nostalgia, as it was in my consciousness at one point (especially as so much of the old greater Seattle area disappears). I was very interested in reading your product and think you did an excellent job. Thank you!
Thanx for visiting my blog. It is right next to the Sounder Rail station or you could drive there. Very interesting place. I have been thinking of re-visiting it now that Boeing has the property for sale.
[…] Robin Adams of West Seattle certainly hopes this is true. She invited KIRO Newsradio to visit the edges of old Longacres site with her on Thursday to take a look around. […]
[…] #3 is Ruins of Longacres Racetrack – The Foundations – 2,901 views since 2016 – This was the first post in my series on what was left of the old horse racing track called Longacres. I had split my research into three parts; the foundations, the green wall and the track. Link to this article on our local ruins […]