Abandoned hospitals are truly the stuff of nightmares. From the long corridors to the rusted equipment, these sites are laden with paranormal activity. These abandoned hospital and asylum buildings exist across the country; however, there seem to be an unusual amount of them in our beautiful state of New York alone. While these places were all created in hopes of treating patients with all sorts of mental and physical illnesses, oftentimes the care was not adequate and the result was fatal. The following abandoned hospitals in New York have diminished significantly over the past century. We know you won’t soon forget your visit to any of them!

1. Roosevelt Island Smallpox Castle
Roosevelt Island, New York, NY 10044, USA
Amit Gupta/flickr
The first on this list of abandoned places in New York is the Roosevelt Island Smallpox Castle. The name of this abandoned hospital is enough to conjure up intrigue. The structure was completed in 1865 in its unique Gothic-revival style. The hospital was in operation for only 19 years, and in that time saw nearly 7,000 patients. The site was relocated in 1875 due to the growing population and the original building was abandoned. Thanks to the Landmarks Preservation Committee, this is the only landmarked ruin in the entire state. Today, visitors can only visit the outside, as the inside has begun to disintegrate.
2. Creedmoor Psychiatric Center
Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, 79-25 Winchester Blvd, Queens, NY 11427, USA
Nick Normal/flickr
The Creedmoor campus in New York was built in 1912 in Queens Village as the Farm Colony of Brooklyn State Hospital. Building 25 was reserved for the mentally ill. By 1960, the campus housed nearly 7,000 patients. Numbers began to dwindle with the development of medications. Today building 25 (not pictured above) has actually been taken over by pigeons. This peculiar phenomenon is especially troubling.
3. Bayley Seton Hospital
Staten Island, NY, USA
Tommy Miles/flickr
The Bayley Seton Hospital is an impressive 20-acre campus located on the North Shore of Staten Island. Eight of the 12 original buildings have been completely abandoned since the complex opened in the 1830s. Its original purpose was to house sailors who were injured or ailing. The site remains relatively abandoned and a fence protects the property.

Related Stories

Elmira Is Allegedly One Of New York's Most Haunted Small Towns

Elmira Is Allegedly One Of New York's Most Haunted Small Towns

 The Historic Fainting Goat Island Inn In New York Is Notoriously Haunted And We Dare You To Spend The Night

The Historic Fainting Goat Island Inn In New York Is Notoriously Haunted And We Dare You To Spend The Night

 Do You Dare Visit Demon Acres, One Of New York's Most Haunted Attractions?

Do You Dare Visit Demon Acres, One Of New York's Most Haunted Attractions?
4. Seaview Hospital
Staten Island, NY, USA
H.L.I.T./flickr
Built in 1905, Seaview Hospital was one of the largest tuberculosis sanatoriums in the country. It is now registered as a National Historic Landmark and can be found on Staten Island. The district includes 37 buildings, a few of which are still in operation today. Most of its buildings stand abandoned with eerie interiors such as the one photographed above.
5. Buffalo State Hospital
State Hospital, Buffalo, NY, USA
Michael Cramer/flickr
Buffalo State Hospital is another abandoned asylum. This one was designed by the famous Henry Hobson Richardson. The hospital closed in the mid-1970s, although tours are given for those interested in wandering the haunted grounds. The dramatic windows and towers create a particularly chilling vision at night.
6. Rockland State Psychiatric Center
Rockland Psychiatric Center, 140 Old Orangeburg Rd, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
Wikipedia/Acroterion
Rockland State Psychiatric Center was at one time one of the largest in the entire state. The center was established in 1927, and by 1959 had increased its occupation to nearly 9,000. Visitors today will notice that only a portion of this hospital is currently in use. Most of the buildings are crumbling and the rooms are left in eerie abandonment. Like many hospitals of the time, it was not unusual for doctors to perform lobotomies on patients.
7. King's Park Psychiatric Center
Kings Park, NY 11754, USA
Wikipedia/brianwasser
Rounding out this list of abandoned places in New York is the King's Park Psychiatric Center. King's Park was in operation from 1885 until 1996, when the facility was closed down by the state of New York. The asylum took a revolutionary stand against overcrowding and maltreatment of patients. Instead, those who stayed here kept busy with farm work that was considered therapeutic. Unfortunately, the effects of World War II caused a dramatic increase in patients. Dangerous and invasive techniques were used in hopes of providing quicker relief to those suffering from mental anguish. Population eventually dwindled and all that remains today are the abandoned hallways.

So the next time you search for “abandoned asylum near me,” these are sure to appear on the list!

Have you been to any of these abandoned hospitals in New York? Which ones? What did you think? How scary were they? Do you know of any other abandoned asylums in New York we should add to this list? We’d love to read about your experiences in the comments section below.

If you’re fascinated by abandoned medical facilities, you won’t want to miss learning about the 10 Most Haunted Asylums In The U.S.

In a kind of strange non-sequitur, if visiting abandoned places in The Empire State makes you hungry (we know, weird switch, but stick with us!), you might do well to get some of these easy-to-use food containers. You can also use them with our ultimate list of 50 on-the-go food ideas.

If you’re still in the mood for more Empire State adventures, take a look at this video:

 

 

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Out and About in New York

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | September 20, 2023

Where are some fun facts about New York?

  • It is home to one of the world's biggest pet cemeteries, which is located in Hartsdale and dates all the way back to 1896.
  • Adirondack Park is bigger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Olympic National Parks combined.
  • There are more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams in New York, and if you laid them end to end, they would reach around the Equator 2.8 times.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other fun facts about New York.

Where can we find unique museums in New York?

  • The Morbid Anatomy Museum in Gowanus features a wide array of creepy artifacts, exhibits, books, and weird stuff.
  • The Kazoo Boutique Gift Shop, Museum & Factory in Eden is the only metal kazoo factory in North America.
  • The Salt Museum in Liverpool shares the history of the salt industry in America.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other wonderful and unique museums in New York

Where can we find the best hotels in New York?

  • The Amsterdam Castle in Amsterdam is designed with a castle-like exterior and décor and is rated as one of the best top-rated hotels in New York.
  • The Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa in Lake Placid features an indoor and outdoor pool, a private beach, and lots of water sports.
  • The YOTEL New York Times Square in Manhattan is a chic, trendy hotel located close to Times Square, Broadway, and many other city attractions.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other fantastic hotels in New York.

Related Articles

Explore New York