The unincorporated town of San Haven, North Dakota – short for “sanatorium haven” – has been noted over the years for hosting a long-abandoned building with a storied past. Allegations of ghosts of past patients have swirled around the property for years. Rumors of Satanic rituals taking place at the site also have arisen.

San Haven has a long and winding history. The sprawling facility was built in 1912 and initially treated tuberculosis patients. When an effective vaccine went on the market in the 1960s, San Haven shifted its focus from a sanatorium to an asylum.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
The massive facility remained in operation for 75 years. San Haven closed in 1987 and has been abandoned in the decades since.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Since its closure, the deterioration of the San Haven facility has progressed. Portions of the building have collapsed.
Andrew Filer/Flickr

Related Stories

8 Terrifying Places In North Dakota That Will Keep Your Light On Tonight

8 Terrifying Places In North Dakota That Will Keep Your Light On Tonight

 5 Truly Terrifying Ghost Stories That Prove Fargo Is The Most Haunted City In North Dakota

5 Truly Terrifying Ghost Stories That Prove Fargo Is The Most Haunted City In North Dakota

 You Won’t Want To Visit The Notorious Riverside Cemetery In North Dakota Alone Or After Dark

You Won’t Want To Visit The Notorious Riverside Cemetery In North Dakota Alone Or After Dark
San Haven has gained notoriety over the years. The site was featured on The Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures” TV series. The show’s hosts reported “a slew of disturbing energies,” according to a description of the episode.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Throughout its years in operation, San Haven established a reputation of mistreating patients. Overcrowding was cited as the reason behind the facility’s closure in 1987.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Today, the San Haven area is sparsely populated. The town once hosted a U.S. Postal Service branch, but it was shuttered the same year as the asylum.
Andrew Filer/Flickr

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa purchased the asylum from the state of North Dakota. Since the land is privately owned, entering the area is considered trespassing.

What is certain is there has been at least one tragedy at the site. In 2001, a 17-year-old-boy trespassed inside the building and slipped at the edge of an elevator shaft. He fell 40 feet to his death.

 

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

Related Articles

Explore North Dakota

Featured Addresses
San Haven, ND 58329, USA