Why The Last Private Subway in America was Abandoned | Leonard’s Underground Transit

Hidden beneath the streets of Fort Worth, Texas, lies the story of America’s only privately-owned subway—a transit system unlike anything else in the nation. Built in 1963 by Leonard’s Department Store, this free underground shuttle carried thousands of shoppers from a 5,000-car riverfront parking lot directly into the store’s basement.

In this episode, we uncover how Marvin and Obadiah Leonard turned a bold idea into a reality, why it became a hit with customers and office workers alike, and what ultimately led to its quiet closure in 2002. From golden spikes to abandoned tunnels, this is the forgotten tale of Fort Worth’s Leonard Subway.