Once I parked (blue Camry hybrid on the back left) it was all on foot. The beach road still is destroyed nearly 4 years later.

There was one little patch of pavement, then more road construction. Note the free-standing bank vault to the right. That’s where we’re going!

Approaching the vault, notice the appropriate graffiti on the side: “SOLID”

Imagine this vault being surrounded by a big bank until the morning of August 29, 2005.

Heading to the back. . . .

Not much there but the remains of a linoleum floor, and another “SOLID” from an urban artist with a sense of humor.

Now, to get past the timelock movement.

A little rewiring. . . .

Done.

A twist of the magic level. . . .

And bada bing, we’re in as the iron door slowly squeaks open. Actually, it’s been frozen in this position since Hurricane Katrina.

A huge door. . . .

. . . takes huge hinges.

View of the Mississippi Gulf Coast as I enter.

Past the threshold. . . .

. . . and the security gate.

And not much inside this former Merchants Bank vault. To the right, an old safe and some lumber. (Now I know how Geraldo felt when he opened Capone’s secret vault. At least it contained a couple empty gin bottles.)

Looks like the safe had a timelock movement as well. (See the inside of the door.)

A larger room to the left had even more debris—some filing cabinets and lumber.

I have no idea what this could have been. Air holes in case you get locked in the vault?