Man Explores the ‘Backrooms’ of Chicago: ‘Thousands of People Walk Over It Everyday Without Realizing It’

The abandoned building exploration genre is a constant in most social media timelines. There has been so much fascination with liminal spaces that Backrooms has gone from being an obscure horror game to now an upcoming movie. But liminal spaces exist in reality, and TikTok content creator Carlos Ty (@cty.visuals) went and explored Chicago’s so-called backroom.

Carlos intends to visit different liminal spaces every week across the United States in the lead-up to the Backrooms movie, coming out on May 29, 2026.

“Chicago may just be hiding one of the most surreal places in America,” Carlos claimed. He showed a location that seems to be the perfect setting for a horror escape game: deep stairwells, sprawling corridors, and a disorienting layout.

He continued, “And thousands of people walk over it everyday without even realizing it.” The location he’s referring to is the Chicago Pedway System. Built in the 1950s, the underground tunnels span five miles. Those who’ve been here would know that the place is massive. It’s almost as though it couldn’t be explored in full for just one day.

Why is the underground network vast?

Every city with a working subway system would have long-corridored subway connectors. But why did the Chicago Pedway become maze-like?

Carlos said that the Chicago Pedway is meant to connect buildings, businesses, and public transportation in downtown Chicago. “It was built originally to connect the red and blue lines together but was built out further as part of the Chicago 21 plan,” he further explained. “That way, people could traverse the city quicker and avoid those cold, Chicago winters.”

There’s no doubt that the Chicago Pedway offers a shaded and relatively convenient way to travel around the city. However, it’s been falling into disrepair. Carlos attributed the decline of the Chicago Pedway to COVID-19. Hence, the once bustling Chicago Pedway has been gradually morphing into a Backrooms map in its own right.

Why is the Chicago Pedway considered one of the Backrooms?

“Many parts of the Pedway feel abandoned, stuck in time,” Carlos said. “Flickering fluorescent lights, the weird stains on the ceiling, and the endless hallways really make it feel like Chicago unintentionally built its own version of the Backrooms.”

Needless to say, the Chicago Pedway wasn’t built to stage horror. Rather, its size and the neglect of the area have given it an eerie reputation.

“What gives it even more of that liminal feeling is the widely different segments of these tunnels,” Carlos says. He went on to describe the seemingly randomized layout of the Pedway.

“At some points, you are in a scary parking garage. Other parts, you’re next to some seemingly defunct businesses, beautiful stained glass windows, a gym, an entrance to Macy’s, marbled staircases, and even a secret golden elevator.” Carlos claimed that even he got lost in the process of looking for where he initially parked. It would be even more surprising if he didn’t take a wrong turn at least once, considering the dizzying size of the place.

Because of the complexity of the Pedway, a social media user suggested adding go-karts to liven up the place. Not only would it be easier to navigate, but it’s sure to revitalize the area—making it feel a lot less like the Backrooms and more like Mario Kart. Jokes aside, the Chicago Pedway is long due for a revival.

There’s so much space, and not all of it is being put to good use.

(featured image: Carlos Ty)

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