A Comprehensive Historical Reconstruction (1990–2026)
THe GaRBaGe DuMP BBS is documented in Boardwatch directories as operating since 12/90 (December 1990) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, founded by Dean Kerl, David Kerl, and Simon Clement. From the beginning, it embraced a bold, adults-only identity that set it apart from other regional boards.
By the mid‑1990s, the operation was closely tied to DataSafe Publications, Inc. (DPI): Boardwatch describes DPI as having grown out of efforts to customize “THe GaRBaGe DuMP, our own 135‑line nationwide BBS,” adding that they wrote software and “thoroughly test it all on our live system.” Boardwatch also notes “THe GaRBaGe DuMP” as a trademark of DataSafe Publications, Inc.
This multi-city footprint provided a reach far beyond the New Mexico market.
The system originated on Galacticomm Major BBS v3.51, later upgrading to v5.3 and v6.21. Hardware utilized Dual Intel 80486 servers. Storage expanded from ~600 MB to 10+ GB by 1994.
By the mid-1990s, The Dump operated an estimated 110–125 incoming lines, ranking it among the largest MBBS systems in the United States. Industry listings in Boardwatch and BBS Magazine consistently placed the board in the Top 100 BBSes nationally.
“Caution! Adults at Play”
On November 2, 1996, The Garbage Dump transitioned from a BBS into a commercial Online Service Provider (OSP). The earliest archived snapshot of dump.com (Nov 2, 1996) reveals a fully commercialized portal using a hybrid BBS/Internet model.
The system migrated to Worldgroup 2.0, integrating Telnet access, web-based account management, and integrated Internet features. By the late 1990s, the user base had reached tens of thousands of registered subscribers.
In the July 7, 2000 dump.com homepage capture, the service described itself as “one of the largest online services in the world,” based in Albuquerque, NM with offices in Denver, Dallas, and Phoenix, and claimed over 16,000 subscribers with support for 170+ simultaneous users via TELNET and local access numbers in four cities. The October 7, 2000 snapshot confirms the move to Metropolis branding and centralized account management. Stewardship was held by Sysop Scott Blake, with support headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas.
The original commercial incarnation concluded operation on December 24, 2003.
Records are sparse for 2004–2008; no verified public snapshots or operator statements have been recovered for that gap.
A revival attempt was announced on March 9, 2009, by a sysop known as Stomper. This revival was distinct as it utilized the original activation code from the 1990–2003 system, making it a direct licensed continuation. It operated at dumpbbs.com, providing a classic MBBS/Worldgroup environment via Telnet.
Between 2010 and 2024, the system was dormant with no public-facing nodes. Community continuity was maintained through a dedicated Facebook group (est. ~2009–2010). This group served as the primary gathering place for former users to preserve the board's memory.
In 2025, a clean-room restoration launched in Richmond, Tasman District, New Zealand. Unlike previous revivals, this is an independent rebuild using a new activation code. It is engineered for multi-version compatibility across MajorBBS 6.25, Worldgroup 3.2, and MajorBBS v10.33.
The project utilizes modern networking, RLogin, and GHost3 configurations. The restoration aims to preserve the 1990–2003 culture while documenting the board's history for the first time.
| Years | Operator | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–2000 | Dean & David Kerl, Simon Clement | Albuquerque, NM | Founders era (pre-Metropolis) — original licensed system |
| 2000–2003 | Metropolis (Scott Blake) | Overland Park, KS | Corporate era |
| 2009 | Stomper | Online | Revival via original activation code |
| 2025–Pres | Allen (Ramius) | Richmond, NZ | Clean-room restoration (New activation code) |