I gotta admit, when I see a pair of worn iron gates…
…what looks like an abandoned property in the distance…
…and the side entrance slightly ajar…
…ancient, rusted-over NO TRESPASSING signs might as well say ENTER HERE.
What I didn’t realize is that these gates surround a massive, 600 acre insane asylum from the 1920’s – and nearly all of it abandoned.
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This is the Rockland County Psychiatric Center, built in 1927, and “sprawling” does not do it justice. Here’s the facility in its heyday, and yes, that’s its own power plant in the distance:
At its peak year in 1959, Rockland Psychiatric had 9,000 residents and a staff of 2,000. Today, most of the facility is empty, left to decay as roots and vines slowly overtake it.
Rockland Psych is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever visited in New York, if for no better reason than it set my imagination firing like crazy.
Though the buildings may be boarded up, the place is heavy with history, and you can feel it in the air.
Visiting Rockland Psych is also like taking a trip back in time, as so wonderfully little has changed. Even little details, like these awesome street lights…
…made me feel I should be driving an old jalopy to pick up my buddy Norman Bates from his weekly session.
Very few places I’ve been to have offered such an all-encompassing out-of-time experience as simply driving down this long, snow-covered road past boarded up buildings:
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I couldn’t stop thinking of questions: how many thousands of patients had passed through Rockland Psych during its operation?
How many had been subjected to primitive, often barbaric treatments like electroshock and lobotomization, both of which were employed at Rockland as “state-of-the-art”?
And man did it set the mood when I climbed up on this heavily gated porch and peered through a window into a shadowy room…
…and saw this on a chalk board:
Please don’t think I’m giving this property a hard time – the architecture is absolutely gorgeous, and it’s only the disrepair and neglect that gives it that haunting feeling. And enjoy it while you can…
It seems that Orangeburg has basically agreed to tear a massive amount of it down in favor of senior citizen condos…
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…as seen in this lovely picture below, which I’m sure absolutely mimics the reality of the project (does anyone else get the feeling The Smurfs are about to walk into the frame?):
I’m not going to get into what a loss this would be in terms of both history and craftsmanship. I get way too passionate about these things when it seems like so few care – hell, I couldn’t even find a mention of the demolition on the Rockland County Historical Society website (though if I missed it, please point me in the right direction).
Instead, I’ll just take you on a tour of what I had the pleasure of seeing.
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The Rockland complex literally has secrets at every corner waiting to be discovered…
Not only is this window-lined hallway fascinating in itself…
…Later, while processing the pictures in Photoshop, I noticed something amazing: hidden in the shadows along the upper walls are these hand-painted scenes from NY history:
Another, showing Henry Hudson’s Half Moon ship:
More windows, and a forgotten pirate hat:
Many of the ends of buildings have little pavilions. Seems pleasant, until you notice the heavy bars preventing escape (note the little trap door for deliveries on the right):
More barred windows. You weren’t going anywhere…
A forgotten table:
Judging by the wall art, I’m guessing this was a school at one point:
Not many remain, but I love the gold and brown carved signs around the complex, which remind me of the National Parks motif:
As you can see in these satellite pictures, the buildings are all constructed in very interesting patterns…
Another:
Many of the buildings in the north-east corner meet in a cross, which seems to me like a ton of space for hallways:
But space was clearly a luxury here, and the windows must have really opened the place up, especially for patients who weren’t allowed out much:
A door that hasn’t been opened in some time, judging by the trees that have grown in front of it:
As you make your way to complex’s center, the buildings feel more austere, as if this is where the real treatment took place:
Many of the buildings have beautiful terra cotta entrances…
…which I’m sure the town is going to recycle when they tear this all down:
Inside, lots of chipped paint. I love the enormous wooden glassed door:
Another room, with chipped paint in the way that Hollywood loves to fake in all of its run down asylums. Note the plaid curtains on the rear window:
Another building:
Love this fire escape…
…Especially when you get up close:
I suppose it was a better sign if you were put in this ward…
…as opposed to this one:
I thought this was incredibly cool too: this building (which feels like a dorm to me) is U-shaped, and if you look into the middle…
…you’ll see what has to be one of the coolest parking spots in New York, lined on both sides with 30 foot trees:
Another beautiful building:
The stairway:
Nearby is the classroom with the “I’m Scared” chalkboard…
I love the whimsical eyeglasses-wearing mouse…
…and these other animals…
…which include probably the most psychotic looking bear I’ve ever seen (those rabbits are a little creepy too).
Haha, that bear makes me laugh every time I see it. Look at it again! Hee hee…
Another arched building nearby…
…has an awesome pair of doors (“yes, we’d like the triangle wedge design, please”):
Inside, more ruins (though the wood-paneling looks like it was purchased yesterday!):
Does someone out there knows what this device does (I’m guessing sterilization)?
A pool table:
Think you’re done? No one gets out of Rockland Psychiatric that fast! CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE TOUR!
Also, if you grew up in the area, I’d love to know any legends you used to hear about the place as a kid!
-SCOUT
PS: More Rockland Psychiatric Center history here!
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