A History Abandoned: Episode One (Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital)

There's a growing urban exploration movement in American cities today. People are going into abandoned spaces to reclaim their local history. These adventurers find one another online anonymously to trade information about how to locate and enter these off-limits buildings. Vocativ decided to dig into this world and follow explorer and researcher Will Ellis (creator abandonednyc.com) into three deserted facilities to uncover how mental illness and homelessness were handled in the not-so-distant past.
In episode one of this three-part series, we go into Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital on Long Island, New York. The hospital was built in 1895 and became a state-run spillover facility for New York City's mentally ill. Kings Park is known for being an early user of frontal lobotomies, and later for becoming one of the first facilities to administer pharmaceutical treatments for mental illness, thereby contributing to its own demise.
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[@michaeljoseph8674]

Amazing to see. I dam near died in Pilgrim. Used to go into that building many friday nights as kids and go to the crown the top of the building. You could see NYC on a clear night and there where no walls to protect you from falling right off the roof. it was scary. Coming down from the crown you had to jump between the water tanks which where huge. Well I was so bombed I just walked into the gap and fell about a story. How I lived was amazing. I could have hit my head on any of the stone pillars that those tanks where placed on. The gap between them was very small, the width of a body and amazingly I not only landed between them but somehow my body twisted in a way to fall right between them. Nevertheless it was still a miracle I was not killed as I floated down between those tanks and hit the ground hard. I could not see a thing as I descended down it was pitch black. My friends said all they saw was my cigarette. I never forgot that night and the next time I went back just to see what I lived through and it was scary to see how close to death I came that night.. the only injuriy I suffered was a broken wrist. I do not know of anyone else that ever fell between the tanks but I do know someone feel into the elevator shafts. i also went through all the tunnels to the powerhouse and down in the basement. We used to love getting chased by security. Yeah that place was something else to visit, so much fun at night and spooky like. brings back memories for sure, especially of just how lucky i got that one night

[@jonathanlarios925]

I was about to go to the slammer for going there

[@noellynchard4158]

Edgewood rules

[@lotharhamburg5343]

Edgewood state hospital in Deer Park strong island NY I'm 54 from DP lot's of crazy parties on the 12th story ledge mourge side hung out there late 70s all of the 80s until 89 when it was imploded Deer Park WE OWN IT !!!!

[@lotharhamburg5343]

PS the tunnels are still there the state lied they were not collapsed

[@robertshumaker9308]

I worked here in the early 70's during the anti-psychotic drug era not long before they began shutting all these hospitals down nationwide. Most of the patients I attended were from Brooklyn and, the Bronx, housed in semi-violent wards. Such a shame to see all these structures go to ruin. In Buffalo NY, they have, The Richardson Olmstead Campus, one of the first mental institutions in the country. It was completely restored into a beautiful upscale hotel, The Hotel Henry Urban Resort, $500 bucks a night. Too bad they closed these facilities down we probably wouldn't have as many shootings if they still existed.

[@OtesOtesOtes]

👎

[@ellenwachter6127]

I started exploring inside KPPC back in the mid 90's! Crazy to see some familiar rooms, and especially how much more vandalism there has been! Looking forward to the next episode!

[@shoeglueblue]

Its sad what a mess this place is now. I remember going in when there was no fence around 93.

[@popculturevegan]

As someone who lives with mental illness and has stayed inpatient in a psychiatric hospital, I find this uplifting and interesting in a very personal way. Thanks for posting.

[@EternaLivesMatter]

God bless you! Jesus saves! John 3:16-18 KJB He is the light in him is NO darkness. Trust in Jesus...in him is eternal freedom!

[@OtesOtesOtes]

👍

[@NEWYORKER131]

I put the thing down by that grate so you can hoist yourself up haha you're welcome :) awesome documentary and it's cool that I know exactly where you are in all the shots, you should visit more of the buildings!

[@Wildsurf52]

Is that grate for building 93?

[@sarahcolombo1547]

I used to work there...not so "long forgotten"...

[@thorrz47]

we’re the rumors of abuse true?

[@rainmechanic]

I grew up off Landing ave in Smithtown and we used to access the Psych center via St Johnland Rd... Not many people know that you can also access the grounds from the Nissequogue River.... This was back in the late 80's early 90's when parts of Kings Park were still open.... Building 93 was always an iconic building... Sadly in the USA we do not put much value on preserving our historical architecture the way they do in Europe.... The demolition of much of Pilgrim States Gothic Structures is another sad chapter in Long Island inability to salvage its history.... It still holds the record of largest hospital complex ever constructed in the World..... Nassau and Suffolk will never have buildings like these again... and if they ever demolish 93 , they will be gone forever....

[@RobertMauro]

The whole place is open as a park. Just the inside of the buildings are off-limits, and inside some perimeter fences that are around a small handful of them. Most, you can go up to and touch.

[@noellynchard4158]

Edgewood rules

[@MeaghanDowling]

I live about 5 minutes from KPPC and I have to say it was cool to hear more about it :)

[@cecericcardi9060]

Me too and ur right

[@maddixdasilva64]

Me too

[@samsilverman8137]

I went yesterday at like 7pm and no security and a few weeks ago I went at like 11:45pm and there was one security but he said nothing to my friends and I. But i know people who got caught Inside and had to go to court for trespassing. But it's easily the most eerie place I've been to. It's 10x scarier in the dark

[@apeasyyx3]

When is episode 2 coming out?! I love Kings Park

[@Vocativ]

Episode two will be posted on Wednesday June 18th.

[@AlexCell33]

Ahh finally went into 93 and 15 today...doors wide open at 93!

[@eddieg6822]

Been there mid morning and was able to get in, no need to go at 3am....hardly saw any security, good video though, good work

[@MrStGeorgeIllawarra]

Hmm... Preston & Child sent me here. Interesting.... It could go a number of ways.

[@spritenox5986]

Me too and I'm excited!

[@joellenchisholm6657]

Diogenes??? The ending of the last book made me think of him again.

[@minilynnie1]

They sent me here too! It has me wondering. I am behind right now. By I think 1 book..Now it's going to make me crazy till the next book comes out!

[@hsklswthrt08]

Very cool. Can't wait to see more!

[@Vocativ]

Thanks Abigail! Glad you liked Episode one. Look for episode two Wednesday June 18th and episode three Friday June 21st.

[@jordanliles]

+Vocativ What about episode four?

[@mobymobymobymoby]

As of 2021 security here is a joke. It's very easy to get into a lot of buildings still. 93 has a window open on the backside of the first floor, with a giant hole in the fence next to it. Not exactly sealed up tight. The last two times I went I didn't even see a single security truck. Seeing how this place is a normal walk your dog park during the day, you're really not at that much of a risk of getting into trouble if you just walk on the normal paths and look nonchalant. The backpacks are a dead giveaway to security, so i'd stick to big pocketed pants and smaller gopro cameras for concealment factor. It's really fun to walk through here though!

[@Acridobject]

1:38 in 2021 you just park infront of the building and go in now, i see whole families going in sometimes lol

[@mobymobymobymoby]

straight up. I giggled a bit hearing that. It's like baby's first urbex now

[@wes5150.]

You had to be CRAZY to explore this creepy place ! (Surf City, Calif)

[@xtinad2099]

Some of us are super curious lol

[@Th3AngryPooch]

Tight security? Not really I just went without any plan and was fine

[@patrickraleigh4431]

lol same

[@lawnguylanda912]

😆 same! I actually talked to a lady at the front desk of the one building that's in use and asked if I could walk around cause I was doing a story on the buildings and she let me walk the grounds lol

[@samsilverman8137]

Th3AngryPooch same haha at night there's one security car driving around but nothing during the day

[@sasori9624]

Sam Mendes if they see you they will tell you to get out, you can also get a fine. my friends brother got a 400$ fine The other day.

[@rexi7472]

Nowadays it’s very heavy with cops… very. Miss the old day when it was easy :(

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Wow, so cool... awesome explore Vocativ!!!!! :)

[@dimag1120]

Awesome! Thank you for posting this!

[@Vocativ]

We are happy you liked the video Dima! Keep watching... more to come.

[@peacefamily212]

Brilliant video thank u so much!!!

[@Mercedes-benz-g2u]

this building is huge literally it's a colossus of several tons i don't really know the history of this building but i love it that's all i can tell you

[@briansmith2363]

We have improved yes with medications but things are not 100% fixed. When we close down places like KPPC there are less places for patients to go. I have a relative who is schizophrenic and he has been in and out of mental hospital its like a revolving door with some of same patience's because they do not want to take there medicine. It is hard on patient and the family. Allot of homeless people and people in jail are mentally ill schizophrenic and they do not receive any treatment at all they fall threw the cracks of a broken out dated mental health system. Obama promised change yet the mental health system is still broken if he wanted change he would had fixed the mental health system. Also allot of bad things happened at these places but at the same time we waste to many old buildings old buildings like this should all be protected so they can be used again.

[@AlexCell33]

Hey! Nice work! Was just here yesterday and your security was following me around...I didn't see this entrance to the building do you know if it has been closed?

[@debrabensinger1331]

They should have turned it into an apartment complex. Right now New York City is overcrowded and it would really help people. It could be turned in to help the homeless and get them off the street. It would really help to clean up New York City of all the homeless people

[@mocha1886]

Are you crazy? Long Island is expensive, we pay a lot of taxes and vote red to make sure we don’t become like NYC. They want to be a sanctuary city so bad, that’s their problem not ours

[@bings3922]

Have the other parts ever been posted? Having trouble finding anything.

[@dragonmaid1360]

very interesting fair vid - i loved it well done !

[@anthonymusante6594]

I managed to get in mid day this past Tuesday but very scary alone

[@cockaheuck1534]

No 1. You woman folks on any nursing & Psychiatric Hospitals & their history. You are better narrators than men on those topics

[@cockaheuck1534]

I am not saying these men are not good. They're pretty good. I just wish they had more woman.

[@StrangeTickingNoise]

Wow, pretty nice. (= But after finishing Psychiatric Hospitals, would you mind goin on with more Abandoned NYC? I mean like... tunnels and stuff... =D Keep up that good work! Really, i mean it! >=O

[@MichelleYoung]

Check out Untapped Cities for more abandoned NYC stuff! untappedcities.com/tag/abandoned-nyc/

[@StrangeTickingNoise]

Michelle Young Hell YES! Thank you kind Lady! (=

[@Vocativ]

StrangeTickingNoise Thanks for your comment and the suggestions... we are considering producing more in this series. Be sure to share these.

[@lemmythebulldog8812]

I must hike the 396 acres of land there every weekend, the only building I have not been in was the firehouse on the property, and it always piqued my interest as to why this firehouse is boarded up more than the amount the other buildings. From what I’ve gathered is that the hazardous waste sign is all bullshit, a kid I know who actually got in said it was full of old files, like thousands if files. He got caught coming out of it though but what’s on those files that they don’t want you to see.

[@bobertmcboberty1385]

is kings park still standing i know they have done some demolition but idk if anything is still standing? i was lucky enough to have been able to go through the smith infirmity before the fire took place and then its demo. visited sea view many times i would like to see kings park if parts are still standing.

[@theoutlaw8316]

Yes its still there.

[@Blackmagic1o0]

The Outlaw Thanks I think I'm gonna head there and do some shooting.

[@dgwear69]

its still there if they knock it down they will open the whole town up to asbestos

[@lucidloon]

They knocked down the recreation center and a smoke stack, but everything else is still there. Too bad about the rec center, that building still had electric running to it and everything...

[@chelseybenitez6796]

Yes I live in kings park

[@EliteDarkspeakerman.541]

This park had over 150 buildings now some of those 150 sites are gone wonder what happened to them only 29 remain there used to be 30 now there is only 29 buildings left the smokestack was number 30

[@hm033788]

I went to kppc last night but just drove around it due to the blizzard but then later went to pilgrim and we got to the bulding and we saw something and we just left and as we left like the strom got worse and it faded the whole building like they didnt want us there

[@MonkeyManPersonShow]

3:16 ITS OVER 9000... Im sorry i had to

[@JordanR329]

That's a picture from my Instagram of me in a leather jacket outside KPPC from 2006 I just posted like a week ago

[@Wildsurf52]

Anyone know how to get into building 93? Any information would help

[@jakepaper131]

part 2 when?

[@vagpounder1477]

my friend went into this place and fell threw the floor lol

[@jordanliles]

+vag pounder RIP.

[@dgwear69]

there are still crazy people walking around there. i think there are one or two buildings still open or maybe people are just homeless living in the abandoned buildings.

[@lucidloon]

There are two buildings that act as half-way houses. The SOCR (Suffolk Outreach Community Residence) houses. One for men, one for women.

[@Spiritof48]

ECT treatment is still used and is a very effective treatment against deep depression. I think that it scares some people because they somehow associate it with the electric chair that is used to kill people.

[@1996chickenman]

"Nobel Peace Prize for Medicine"? You mean the Nobel Prize for Medicine?

[@PElliTVEE]

You can show up there anytime there’s is no security im from New York trust me anyone can go ! I been there plenty of times

[@reiner5712]

went to 93 today. anymore spots to explore at kings park?

[@patrickraleigh4431]

tons

[@reiner5712]

Eggsplasher Gaming yeah i went a couple more times. The underground tunnels are crazy

[@joemo333]

Is there a tunnel at the bottom of building 37?

[@thc-ashtro6090]

Yes, but there are some patients that have taken refuge in some tunnels. They are crazy, but oblivious people. Just stay calm.

[@realmomsdontclockout]

We have BEEN RYDIN IN A HERE FOR A DECADE SAD STORY HISTORY INDEED.

[@alyssabrielle1516]

I went there but i didnt know how to go inside

[@liamhagen483]

I'm from KP and I've seen the PC

[@jungong]

We went there today. Any one knows what's the tower for?

[@Jesus_P]

+Jun Gong Tower was a smoke house, it's now demolished.

[@jungong]

Oh I see. Thanks!

[@praisekek]

my dad worked there

[@captainmatt8432]

I leave near the building I drive by it every week

[@fulltimebomber954]

is this place still sketchy to get in?

[@OutlawRavers]

Yes i get chased out everytime

[@dgwear69]

not really. parking a car close to the buildings is an easy give away though.

[@robmurphy7490]

does anyone know a good entrance point for building 93?

[@nyrider8238]

no dont go in there creepy as fuck felt like building was gunna collapse

[@lucidloon]

Just keep in mind there's a reason it's the only building with a fence around it. It's the oldest one. The story I heard was that the fence was put up after someone fell through the floor.

[@blarmy827]

Wonder what they think about that guy on tiktok that supposedly found a bag of patient ID cards in a wall in his home. I mean a bag of like a hundred cards that have patient names, Doctor names and even the medicine they were on and when they took them. The cards look old and most have no ink but you can read the indentations when using like a flashlight. It seems kinda real... but of course it could be fake... all the cards say theyre from this asylum... interesting regardless but of course he is dealing with a haunting 🤷‍♀️

[@x20dankshots5]

Go to greystone psychiatric hospital my schools right next to it lol to it would be sick

[@cockaheuck1534]

But when you think of it. Where truly not any better today.

[@cockaheuck1534]

As much as I hated lobectomy & shock treatment then. I hate the drug pusher of today,

[@cockaheuck1534]

50 to 100 years from now. They will look at our generation as a big drug pusher of pure torcher of creating zombies.

[@Chris-zi1we]

Lmao used to do geebs in there

[@sarahcolombo1547]

thursday was ECT day...

[@tomokisakurai7040]

real life outlast xd~~

[@ThePapasBoy]

its all boarded up now and on sat night we went looking for an entrance and got nailed by the cops but they let us go... someone got the shit kicked out of them and was left for dead, and someone got slashed in there alcoholics and undesirable people are in there at night i wouldent go in there but suring the day its cool

[@ThePapasBoy]

Yeah he did lol, it could be possible but people really have been robbed in there. You gotta be careful, kids angry at their lives will gang up on you and do god knows what

[@7b22eeshandubey6]

SCURRY (OMG I'M THE 100TH COMMENTERR)

[@stephaniesmith8396]

Just went into buildings 7 and 21 yesterday. Sick as fuck. As for tight security? Not at all. We showed up at 1pm and walked right in.

[@crispy8026]

True, walked around the perimeter of 93 yesterday, 3-4 different groups of people freely walking around without a problem.

[@stephaniesmith8396]

See what im sayin LOL

[@Big_Stems]

Let's go Brandon

[@noellynchard4158]

found brains in a jar 1981 Edgewood

[@milkylicker6963]

Today we just let sick people roam freely