These 4 Creepy Asylums In Southern California Are Still Standing... And Still Disturbing

The most infamous abandoned asylum in California is likely the Linda Vista Community Hospital. But a lot has changed since the state’s original mental hospitals were first opened back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During those times, the mentally ill were often treated with disregard, disrespect, and neglect. Many of the treatments that were used in these facilities to attempt to “cure” mental illness are things we consider incredibly inhumane practices today. But back then, it was standard operating procedure. If you have a fascination with the past then take a look at the history of these four once and partially abandoned asylums in Southern California. Each of these mental institutions has quite an interesting story, and often some haunted lore.

Stephen Schafer/Wikipedia

Camarillo State Hospital served as a psychiatric facility for 61 years from 1936 to 1991. The hospital received national attention for being one of the first mental institutions to develop therapy for disorders that had previously been thought of as untreatable, such as schizophrenia. As the need for these types of treatments grew, the number of patients admitted to Camarillo State Hospital also grew. At its peak, the hospital had 7,000 patients; up from less than 1,000 when it first opened.

CSH was eventually accused of patient neglect and patient abuse related to the treatments they were conducting including lobotomies, electric shock and isolation in restraints. These accusations, along with a decrease in patient numbers, influenced its eventual closure in 1991. After sitting abandoned for quite some time, the building was converted in 2002 to what is currently part of the California State University campus.

California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA

flickr/Grendl

Pictured is one of the buildings from the former Camarillo State Mental Hospital that is in use today as part of the California State University campus.

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flickr/Don Barrett

You may also hear this abandoned hospital in California referred to as the LA County Poor Farm and the Hollydale Mental Hospital. Opened in 1888, it became well known for being its own functional "town" with onsite amenities including a mini zoo, working farm and its own post office. It was also a World War II Army base.

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Downey, CA, USA

flickr/Don Barrett

By the 1980s it fell into disrepair and the location was closed down, although reports of spooky happenings are still common. Check out the video below by Californiography to get a closer look at this piece of SoCal history.

Norwalk, CA, USA

Wikimedia Commons

Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk opened in 1916. In 1975, this Southern California facility was featured in a documentary that made claims that the hospital was drugging its patients with heavy doses of sedatives. A year later the hospital received more attention when it became the subject of a news story on patient deaths. It has since made significant changes to improve its standard of care.

Metropolitan State Hospital's most famous patient that is often considered to be Marilyn Monroe's biological mother. It's believed that she was admitted to this hospital after a mental breakdown; it is also where she later died due to natural causes. Marilyn Monroe made regular visits to this location to see her mom. But you won't find this mental facility on any lists of abandoned asylums in California - in February 2016, Metropolitan State Hospital celebrated its 100 year anniversary.

Patton State Hospital, 3102 Highland Ave, Patton, CA 92369, USA

Mohammed ALJirjawi/GoogleReviews

The Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino was opened in 1893. Originally named the Southern California Asylum for the Insane and Inebriate, it was renamed in 1927 after Harry Patton who was a member of the first board of directors. Although it had an official name change, over the years it became known to the public as simply "The Insane Asylum." By 1898 the hospital was so overcrowded that the staff was unable to properly care for its patients. Between the years of 1893 and 1934 it is believed that over 2,000 patients died onsite and were buried on the hospital grounds. Today, rumor has it that this is (or was) one of the most haunted asylums in California that is still in use.

While not all of these abandoned asylums in California are still “abandoned” in the traditional sense, having been converted to other uses, sometimes simply abandoning the old practices of the past is a good thing! It’s interesting to hear about the history of these buildings and find out the stories behind them. It makes me realize how much progress we’ve made in our society in how we engage and treat mental illness. Have you heard any other interesting facts about these locations that are worth noting?

If you’re intrigued by the concept of haunted asylums in California, then we also have a list of some of our state’s most well-known and ghost-ridden local haunts. Or, skip the traditional tours and stay the night in a haunted cabin in the trees – at least, according to its guests and hosts.