Check Out This Once-In-A-Lifetime Abandoned Tour For An Unforgettable Arkansas Adventure

The history of the Center is pretty fascinating. Before becoming part of Arkansas Department of Human Services for individuals with developmental disabilities, the building originally opened in the 1930s as the McRae Memorial Tuberculosis Sanatorium for Negroes. The initial construction began as a solution to the overcrowding of the Sanatorium in Booneville while also during the midst of segregation.

The facilities were similar to those of Booneville's, albeit a bit smaller scale. The campus had a chapel, school, fire station, water supply, the Chambers Building for performing surgeries and that also functioned as a dining and craft hall, and auxiliary nurses’ home building. At its peak, the sanatorium held 411 beds.

In 1968, the campus became the Alexander Human Development Center due to the decline in the TB disease. The Center offered occupational, physical and speech therapies and provided psychological assessment, medical care and rehabilitative services. Unfortunately, the facilities closed in 2011 after failed inspections, loss Medicaid certification, as well as misconduct allegations. The buildings are still standing but are dilapidating rapidly. Which is where AbandonedAR comes into action.

These cool guys are (left to right) Eddy Sisson, Michael Schwarz, Ginger Beck, and James Kirkendall. Michael was kind enough to reach out to us and invite me to tag along to see the Center. The day was part interview, part exploration, and the most unique bonding experience I've ever been part of.

He's always held a fascination with abandoned structures and took his first exploration around an abandoned circus in Oklahoma. He's now documented more than 300, with the Majestic Hotel in Hot Springs being his absolute favorite.

Micheal pointed out as we were exploring, "We have the rare chances to see the physical layers peeled back to reveal more than just decay. We get little clues about past architecture and what stories these places held."

For instance, each floor has two sun rooms. The Center used these as community game rooms. When it was the Sanatorium however, these were essential parts of treatment since fresh air and sunlight were routinely prescribed to patients.

I had to keep reminding myself it only closed in 2011. Stepping into the different rooms triggered all sorts of emotions. I was thrilled for the unique opportunity but nervous whenever I heard a creak. (I have a mild fear of buildings collapsing on me.) I was hoping to feel any sort of ghostly presence but only had the somber realizations of what abandonment does to a place. There's no need for spooky spirits when the building itself is a ghost full of memories.

Dust and graffiti. The graffiti really snapped me back into the present time. Nearly all of it was too graphic for our site, but you can see some of it on AbandonedAR's site.