Ethan Rhodes
The State Hospital South in Blackfoot, formerly known as the Idaho Insane Asylum, has a long and eerie history. Established in 1886, the hospital has served as a psychiatric institution for over 130 years, with nearly 1000 patients buried in its adjacent cemetery. The site is known for its horror stories, with reports of patient torture, dangerous experiments, and hauntings. Many believe that the ghosts of those who suffered within its walls still wander the grounds at night. With its forgotten cemetery and history of mental illness, the State Hospital South in Blackfoot has gained a reputation as one of the most haunted places in the area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Blackfoot, Idaho |
| Type | Psychiatric hospital |
| Former name | Idaho Insane Asylum |
| Year opened | 1886 or 1887 |
| Number of patients when opened | 36 |
| Gender of patients when opened | 26 men and 10 women |
| Current number of beds | 90 psychiatric adult beds + 29 skilled nursing beds + 16 adolescent beds = 135 |
| Reports of hauntings | Yes |
| Number of people buried in the cemetery | Nearly 1,000 |
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What You'll Learn
The Idaho Insane Asylum
The asylum is the most well-known and feared of Blackfoot's many eerie locations. The large building is foreboding on its own, but the stories of its permanent residents are even more disturbing. There are reports of hauntings within the main building, with many believing the ghosts are those of former patients who were tortured and buried in unmarked graves. People have reported seeing these ghosts wandering the grounds at night, and eerie orbs and noises have been reported coming from the cemetery.
In 1966, Terry Bateman, a psychology major, visited the asylum as part of a class field trip. He recalls seeing adults talking to invisible people and a patient in a straitjacket to prevent self-harm. Bateman also witnessed a large, violent man who was exercised by two employees, each holding a leash attached to the patient's neck. This patient destroyed a sink and a toilet and smeared faeces on the walls and himself.
State Hospital South Administrator Tracey Sessions prioritised the cemetery in 2008, beginning fundraising projects in 2012 to beautify the space and show respect for those buried there. Sessions helped coordinate donations, raffles, and volunteer projects to raise funds for improvements, and today, every grave has a headstone. The hospital has come a long way since its early days, now providing psychiatric inpatient treatment and skilled nursing care for Idaho's residents with serious mental illnesses.
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Torture and unethical treatment of patients
State Hospital South in Blackfoot, formerly known as the Idaho Insane Asylum, has a long and troubled history of patient mistreatment and unethical practices. The hospital, which opened in 1886, was home to what were referred to as "inmates"—a term that reflects the inhumane nature of the institution. In its early years, the asylum was the site of dangerous experiments, animal-like treatment, and hauntings.
One of the most disturbing aspects of the hospital's history is the way patients were buried. Nearly 1,000 men, women, and children were laid to rest in the State Hospital South Cemetery, many in unmarked graves, with no formal services or funerals. The cemetery was largely forgotten and neglected, with only 15 graves having headstones out of nearly 1,000. This changed in 2008 when Tracey Sessions was appointed administrator and made it her mission to honour the dead. Through her fundraising efforts and the help of volunteers, every grave eventually received a headstone, and the cemetery was transformed into a place of beauty and respect.
The living conditions within the hospital were also disturbing. Patients were subjected to dangerous experiments and treated like animals, with one former visitor recalling seeing a person in a straitjacket and adults talking to invisible people. The patient that stood out the most to this visitor was a 20-year-old male who exhibited extremely violent behaviour. Rather than being treated with compassion and proper medical care, he was subjected to further dehumanization, with two large employees exercising him on a leash attached to his neck.
The Idaho Insane Asylum, and later State Hospital South, represents a dark chapter in the history of mental health treatment. The inhumane treatment of patients, including torture and unethical experiments, has left a lasting impact on the community. Today, the hospital provides psychiatric inpatient treatment and skilled nursing care for Idaho's adult and adolescent residents with serious mental illnesses. While it has made strides in improving patient care and community integration, the haunted memories of its past continue to linger.
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Reports of hauntings and ghosts
State Hospital South in Blackfoot, formerly known as the Idaho Insane Asylum, has a long and troubled history. The hospital, which opened in 1886, was home to many horror stories of patient mistreatment and dangerous experiments. Nearly 1,000 patients who died alone at the hospital were buried in a forgotten cemetery on its outskirts, with no formal services or funerals.
Today, the hospital is reported to be haunted by the ghosts of its former patients. Strange orbs and noises have been reported, and some believe that the ghosts of those who suffered and died in the hospital wander the grounds at night. The building itself is described as ominous-looking, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
One former patient described seeing a "person in a straitjacket to protect her from harming herself and others". He also witnessed adults talking to invisible people and recalled a violent patient who was restrained with a leash attached to his neck. These stories add to the dark reputation of the hospital and the reports of hauntings.
In recent years, efforts have been made to restore dignity to those buried in the cemetery, with volunteers working to place headstones on previously unmarked graves. This project has helped to transform the forgotten cemetery into a place of beauty and respect.
While the hospital continues to provide psychiatric treatment and nursing care for individuals with serious mental illnesses, the reports of hauntings and ghosts persist, keeping the memory of its dark past alive.
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State Hospital South Cemetery
The State Hospital South Cemetery in Blackfoot, Idaho, is the state's oldest mental institution. Originally opened in July 1886 as the Idaho Insane Asylum, it was home to many horror stories. The patients were subjected to dangerous experiments and animal-like treatment, and they were buried in unmarked graves, left to decay. Nearly 1,000 men, women, and children were buried here, with only 15 graves having headstones.
In 2008, Tracey Sessions was appointed administrator of State Hospital South, and she made the cemetery one of her key priorities. Despite having no budget, she began fundraising projects in 2012 and recruited volunteers, including her husband, Jim. They coordinated donations, raffles, and other events to raise funds for improvements, and eventually placed headstones on every grave.
Today, the hospital provides psychiatric inpatient treatment and skilled nursing care for Idaho's adult and adolescent residents with serious and persistent mental illnesses. It has 90 psychiatric adult beds, 29 skilled nursing beds, and 16 beds for adolescents. The facility is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations and is certified by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The hospital has come a long way since its early days, but the hauntings within the main building and the cemetery continue to be reported. Many believe that the ghosts are those of the tortured souls who once resided at the institution. There have been reports of these ghosts wandering the grounds at night, and eerie orbs and noises have been known to come from the cemetery.
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Psychiatric inpatient treatment and nursing care
State Hospital South in Blackfoot, formerly known as the Idaho Insane Asylum, has a long and eerie history. The hospital, which opened in 1886, has been the site of many horror stories, including patient mistreatment and dangerous experiments. The cemetery adjacent to the hospital, which was established in 1890, is the final resting place of nearly 1,000 individuals, many of whom were patients at the asylum.
Today, the hospital offers psychiatric inpatient treatment and nursing care. Inpatient mental health treatment centres provide a safe environment for individuals experiencing an acute mental health crisis or those at high risk of harming themselves or others. The treatment is typically short-term and focuses on stabilization and crisis management.
Nursing in psychiatric inpatient care is a complex and multifaceted role. Nurses are responsible for responding to symptoms and behaviours, planning and administering treatment, supporting vulnerable patients, motivating patients, and adopting a holistic perspective on mental illness treatment. However, nurses in these settings often experience moral distress due to the perceived loss of the therapeutic relationship and the prevalence of risk management practices, which can be dehumanizing for patients.
To address these challenges, nurses should strive to provide individualized and flexible care that balances safety measures with meaningful support and treatment. This may include empowering patients and adopting a patient-centred approach, as seen in facilities like the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) at the University of Utah Health.
In conclusion, while the history of State Hospital South in Blackfoot is haunted by stories of patient mistreatment, the current focus of psychiatric inpatient treatment and nursing care is on providing safe, compassionate, and effective support for individuals experiencing mental health crises.
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Frequently asked questions
It is rumoured to be haunted. It is the most widely known and feared location in Blackfoot. The building is ominous-looking, and there are reports of hauntings within the main building.
It was previously known as the Idaho Insane Asylum.
The Idaho Insane Asylum opened on July 2, 1886.
There were 36 patients (26 men and 10 women) who had previously resided at an asylum in Oregon.
The State Hospital South Cemetery in Blackfoot is Idaho's oldest mental institution. Nearly 1,000 men, women, and children are buried here.
