When searching for a home, some people want a property that's ready to live in straight away, while others prefer a fixer-upper that requires some work. But one family has taken that to a whole new level after buying an abandoned school, which will require years of renovation.
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Sarah Collis shared a video on TikTok (@sarahmcollis) revealing her family's unusual new home which her dad "randomly bought." Footage shows the large gymnasium, auditorium, cafeteria, hallways filled with lockers, and, of course, several classrooms.
Collis, 18, said that her dad, Jason Collis, 43, purchased the abandoned school in Ducktown, Tennessee, just over two years ago, telling Newsweek that it was "at risk of being torn down." He felt that the school, which he attended when he was younger, had "too much potential" to go to waste, and he now plans on renovating the entire building.
Since Collis shared her family's unique home on TikTok, the video has generated plenty of attention online, with over 31.7 million views and 3.9 million likes already.
"It's an important part of our town's history, and it had been sitting empty for years," Collis said. "It has three floors, not including the boiler room, and it's around 75,000 square feet."
The school, which was called Kimsey Junior College, is thought to have been built in the 1930s before closing in 2006. Despite its closure, the building, with its 13 classrooms, has long been an integral part of Ducktown's community, and it's listed on the National Historic Registry.
The school appeared to be fading away in recent years, and it had been heavily vandalized inside and outside. It meant so much to the Collis family and they didn't want to see it gone completely, so it's become their home.
It's certainly a huge project, but in the few years that they've lived inside it, Collis has been amazed to see its transformation so far. It will be several years before her dad renovates the entire school, but it already looks "10 times better," according to Collis.
"I'm amazed at how fast my dad can fix things up," she told Newsweek. "He's managed to do a lot of work on the building so far. Overall, it's been a blessing, but there have been a few ups and downs. Every big project like this has stress that comes with it."
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The family certainly has their work cut out to take this building from an abandoned school and turn it into a home, but it isn't just for them. Collis explained that they want the building to be a community hub that anyone can use.
It's always been a monumental part of the town, and the family plans on keeping it that way. "We use it for reunions, festivals, concerts, let teams use the gym, or some people just to play pickup ball," she said.
Since sharing their story on social media, Collis has been blown away by the reaction she's received. She thought it might get some attention, as it's not an ordinary home, but she "never imagined it going this far."
"There's a lot of mixed feelings on the internet, but most people just want to know how much it cost and whether my dog has ever got lost inside the school," she said. "I didn't expect it to gain as much traction as it got, the internet is wild."
Plenty of TikTokers have asked for follow-up videos showing room tours and asking for renovation updates. She has gladly obliged and even revealed how they turned one of the classrooms into her chic new bedroom.
The idea of living in an abandoned building has astounded many social media users, and the viral TikTok video has received over 9,700 comments already. One person wrote: "Imagine the bills."
Another TikTok user responded: "Hide and seek would be [so much] fun."
Another person commented, "I've always imagined if people could do this and I'm so happy your dad has, it looks like so much fun!"
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