Claire Dawson
The United States is home to several abandoned hospitals and asylums, many of which have earned a reputation for being haunted. The reasons for their abandonment vary, including changes in treatment methods, lack of funding, and shifts in medical practices. Some of these abandoned hospitals are located in New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, and California. Many of these hospitals have a dark history, including patient abuse, maltreatment, and even deaths. Some have been converted into apartments, colleges, or sold to new owners, while others remain derelict and haunted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of abandoned psychiatric hospitals | Hundreds |
| Main reasons for abandonment | Development of antibiotics, new medications for mental illness, underuse, lack of funding, overpopulation, understaffing, maltreatment, and change in treatment trends |
| Current state | Some are being renovated, some are being demolished, some are being converted into condos, schools, museums, etc., and some are being left to decay |
| Location | Minnesota, New York, Connecticut, Wales, Venice, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
The decline of hospitals: reasons for abandonment
While there is no clear number of abandoned hospitals in the US, there are several reasons for their abandonment.
Changes in treatment methods and funding
Changing trends in treatment methods for the mentally ill and lack of funding have led to the closure of many hospitals. For example, the Rochester State Hospital in Minnesota, which served as a hospital for the mentally ill, faced closure due to evolving treatment methods and insufficient funding.
Overpopulation and understaffing
Kirkbride-style facilities, which were popular between the mid-1800s and 1910s, often became overcrowded and understaffed. This led to reports of patient maltreatment, particularly with the introduction of sedative pharmaceutical treatments in the 1950s and 1960s. As a result, these institutions lost funding, and many closed during a period of deinstitutionalization.
Gang violence and lack of patients
The Linda Vista Community Hospital in LA, initially serving employees of the Santa Fe Railroad, declined when railroad workers switched to conventional medical insurance policies, causing a decrease in patients. The hospital then became a treatment centre for gang-related injuries, which led to funding cuts, staff shortages, and a decline in the quality of care.
Secret experiments and testing
Some hospitals conducted secret experiments and tests on patients, leading to their abandonment. One asylum, sponsored by Quaker Oats, conducted secret radiation experiments. Another historic mental hospital tested the polio vaccine on unwitting patients and is now abandoned.
Urban development
In some cases, hospitals have been demolished to make way for urban development. For example, most of the buildings of an asylum that closed in 1992 were demolished in 2005 to build apartments.
While the exact number of abandoned hospitals in the US is unclear, there are numerous reasons for their decline and abandonment, ranging from changing treatment methods to unethical practices and urban development.
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The history of patient treatment
The treatment of patients in these hospitals has evolved over the years, with early methods focusing on keeping patients occupied with work and recreation, and restraining violent patients. For example, patients at the Rochester State Hospital, which opened in 1879, worked on the hospital's 500-acre farm. The hospital also offered occupational therapy and entertainment in the form of musical programs. Following a scandal in 1889 where a patient died at the hands of two attendants, the hospital's superintendent was replaced by Dr. A. F. Kilbourne, who served until his death in 1935. Dr. Kilbourne believed in therapeutic occupation and amusement as the most valuable forms of treatment and improved the hospital's program to offer patients more light exposure and interesting work.
However, as time went on, some hospitals became overpopulated and understaffed, leading to reports of maltreatment. The 1950s and 1960s saw the rise of sedative pharmaceutical treatments, lobotomies, electroshock therapy, straitjackets, and drugs to keep patients under control. Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane in Ovid, New York, which opened in 1869, offered treatments ranging from ice baths to electro-shock therapy. The now-abandoned Linda Vista Community Hospital in LA, which opened in 1905, faced a decline in quality of care in the 1970s as railroad workers began using conventional medical insurance policies, leading to reduced funding and staff.
Many of these abandoned hospitals have since been converted into apartments, schools, museums, or demolished to make way for new developments.
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The future of abandoned hospitals
Many abandoned hospitals stand as eerie remnants of the past, their once-bustling corridors now silent and forlorn. Over time, nature reclaims these spaces, with vegetation creeping through broken windows and roots prying apart crumbling walls. These derelict structures become havens for urban explorers, photographers, and ghost hunters, who brave the shadows in search of adventure or traces of past life.
However, the fate of abandoned hospitals is not solely confined to decay and ruin. Some of these structures undergo transformative repurposing, adapting to meet the evolving needs of their communities. Abandoned hospitals can be reborn as public housing complexes, senior citizen apartments, schools, museums, or even upscale retirement homes, offering new generations the benefits of improved infrastructure and amenities.
In other cases, the expansive land on which these hospitals once stood becomes a target for redevelopment. Demolition crews raze the old buildings to make way for modern constructions, reshaping the landscape to accommodate changing demographics and socioeconomic dynamics.
The journey of abandoned hospitals is complex and varied. Each hospital carries its own history, from groundbreaking medical advancements to dark tales of maltreatment and neglect. As communities grapple with the challenges of urban planning and shifting healthcare priorities, the future of these structures remains uncertain. Some may continue to stand as monuments to medical history, while others will be reimagined to serve new purposes, reflecting the evolving needs and aspirations of the communities they once healed.
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The most haunted abandoned hospitals in the US
Hundreds of psychiatric institutions opened in the US between the mid-1800s and the 1910s, most of which were abandoned during deinstitutionalization. Many of these abandoned hospitals have since been converted into condos, schools, or museums, while others are slated for demolition.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, also known as the WV Lobotomy Project, is known as one of the most haunted places on earth, with countless reports of paranormal activity. The psychiatric hospital was originally built for 250 patients, but the population rose to over 2,000. Conditions were atrocious, and many patients suffered. Since closing its doors, maintenance staff have reported ghosts and other paranormal sightings.
Rolling Hills Asylum, New York
Located in upstate New York, Rolling Hills Asylum was originally known as the Genesee County Poor Farm. Throughout its history, it has operated as an orphanage, infirmary, sanatorium, and nursing home. Thousands of unmarked bodies are buried here, and the facility has been featured on many TV shows. Today, it is part of the Haunted History Trail of New York State.
Royal Hope Hospital, Florida
Royal Hope Hospital was a Spanish military hospital in St. Augustine, Florida, in use from 1784 to 1821. The original building was demolished, and a replica was later constructed, at which point it was discovered to be built upon a Native American burial ground. There have been many apparition sightings and reports of objects moving on their own.
St. Ignatius Hospital, Washington
St. Ignatius Hospital in Spokane, Washington, is known as a legendary haunt. In the early 1900s, Washington was home to two mental health asylums that were starting to reach capacity, and the state responded by constructing more facilities.
Waverly Hills, California
Waverly Hills is believed to be one of the most haunted places in America. The hospital opened in 1905 to serve employees of the Santa Fe Railroad and expanded into a large campus. However, by the late 1970s, railroad workers began to use conventional medical insurance policies, leading to a decline in the hospital's usage and funding. The hospital eventually ceased operations in 1991.
These abandoned hospitals, with their eerie pasts and reported paranormal activities, continue to fascinate and intrigue those seeking a glimpse into the otherworldly.
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The number of abandoned hospitals in the US
It is difficult to determine the exact number of abandoned hospitals in the United States, as many hospitals have been converted for other uses or demolished over time. However, it is clear that there are several abandoned hospitals across the country, each with its own unique history and current state.
Hundreds of psychiatric institutions were opened between the mid-1800s and the 1910s, and most of them were abandoned during the deinstitutionalization movement of the second half of the 20th century. This shift towards community-based treatment and the development of medications for mental illnesses led to the closure and abandonment of many psychiatric hospitals.
Some notable examples of abandoned hospitals in the US include the Rochester State Hospital in Minnesota, which served as a hospital for the mentally ill until its closure in 1982 due to changing treatment trends and lack of funding. Another example is the Byberry Mental Health Hospital in Philadelphia, which gained infamy for its patient abuse, unqualified staff, and controversial pharmaceutical experiments. The hospital closed and is now abandoned, with survivors recounting the atrocities that occurred there.
The development of antibiotics also led to the phasing out of sanatoriums and tuberculosis hospitals, with many closing or being converted, such as the Neponsit Beach Hospital in Queens, which became a nursing home. The Saratoga County Homestead in New York is another example of an abandoned hospital that treated tuberculosis patients until 1960 and has been derelict ever since, facing vandalism and decay.
While some abandoned hospitals remain standing and neglected, others have been partially or fully renovated for modern use. For instance, the former hospital campus of the Middletown Asylums now houses the headquarters of the Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Fei Tian College and Academy of the Arts. The Fairfield Hills State Hospital in Connecticut, which opened in 1931 to address overpopulation in mental institutions, was purchased by Olivet University, and parts of the campus have been renovated while other areas remain abandoned.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear exactly how many abandoned hospitals there are in the US, but there are many, especially psychiatric hospitals.
Many psychiatric hospitals were abandoned during deinstitutionalization in the second half of the 20th century. The development of medications used to treat mental illness meant that community-based treatment facilities became preferred over imposing, prison-like Victorian hospitals.
Deinstitutionalization is the shift away from permanent institutionalization and towards a community-based model of care.
Some have been demolished, while others have been renovated and converted into condos, schools, museums, or apartments.
Yes, there are several famous abandoned hospitals in the US, including the Byberry Asylum in Philadelphia, the Rochester State Hospital in Minnesota, and the Fairfield Hills State Hospital in Connecticut.
