If you grew up in the late ’80s and ’90s, you probably remember Lisa Frank. Whether you were in elementary, middle school, or high school like me during that time, you most likely sported some of the colorful (and coveted) Lisa Frank gear. And I bet you felt so cool walking down the school hallways with your Lisa Frank pencils, sticker books, and Trapper Keeper (an item I totally had when I was a kid)!

Did you know those items were once made in Tucson, Arizona? It’s true! Long forgotten amidst the arid desert landscape is the abandoned Lisa Frank Factory. What was once a building with an exterior as whimsical and colorful as its products has faded over time. Yet the allure remains. If you’ve never visited this abandoned place in Arizona, it’s certainly worth driving to just to bring back all those colorful neon memories of when Lisa Frank dominated the pop culture landscape of our childhoods.

Highlighting the beautifully eerie work of Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo, discover more fascinating abandoned locations across America in our Vacant Series. These unique man-made structures have been left abandoned and are slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations. 

The eponymous Lisa Frank brand is a blast from the past. It was the late 1970s when this brand, full of whimsical designs and vibrant neon colors, burst onto the pop culture scenes. These were exciting times, and the company only grew in popularity over the next couple of decades.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
The company certainly reached its peak in the 90s and became a worldwide phenomenon. That is, until, the cultural landscape changed and Lisa Frank products were all but phased out. Sadly, the Tucson factory shut down in 2013.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
Today, you can get a dose of nostalgia if you drive by the abandoned Lisa Frank Factory in Tucson. As with any abandoned place, the Lisa Frank Factory is eerie. However, it may still make you miss those days of shopping for the brand's school supplies in all their colorful glory.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
If you find yourself in Tucson and decide to take a drive down the aptly-named Lisa Frank Avenue, stop and take in the faded colors of the factory's exterior.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
Now a rainbow-colored ghost town, it's almost hard to imagine how busy the Lisa Frank Factory once was. The 320,000-square-foot building once housed its production operations and hundreds of employees.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
While you cannot go in and explore the interior, you can safely marvel at the building at a distance on the other side of the fence that surrounds it.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
And while the Tucson factory has been forgotten by many over time, Lisa Frank will always stand as a symbol of childhood for many of us and live in our hearts forever.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo

Have you ever driven part and taken photos of the exterior of the Lisa Frank Factory? What other abandoned place in Arizona have you visited? Let us know, along with any of the Lisa Frank items you remember owning in the late ’80s and ’90s.

Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. For more images, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife. Discover even more spooky places in Vacant: Inside 13 Eerie and Fascinating Abandoned Locations Across America. 

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6760 Lisa Frank Ave, Tucson, AZ 85756, USA