It's Time That We Talk About The Abandoned "Insane Asylum" In San Antonio, Tx

A comprehensive history lesson on the truth behind the mysterious abandoned "insane asylum" on farm and southton rd in San Antonio, Tx
#sanantonio #abandonedinsaneasylum #historylesson

[@thesaexplorer]

I just wanna say that I am aware that I said "Tuberculosis" wrong in this video...I'm sorry this word is not in my everyday vocabulary and was saying it based on how I spell it in my mind.

[@victorialopez6172]

you did great on this video!

[@thesaexplorer]

@@victorialopez6172 thank you!

[@dollyhorton2579]

@@thesaexplorer Very well done, I hope you do many more videos like this. You did a lot of fascinating research, and that's pretty uncommon in historical videos like this. Keep up the good work!

[@thesaexplorer]

@@dollyhorton2579 thank you so much! I hope you've checked out my other videos on my channel where I explain the history of well known places in San Antonio!

[@thesaexplorer]

@rescue270 the video is over 2 years old and it's not part of my everyday Vocabulary. At this point, I don't care.

[@marib7912]

My husband and I were lucky enough to explore these building back sometime between 2006 and 2007 ish. It was gated like it is now. I do have photos from our adventure.

[@thesaexplorer]

It'd be cool if you can share that on my KZbin channel's Instagram? @thesaexplorer

[@user-rk4zm3nb5f]

In the 1920's my mom was orphaned as a little girl. An older lady took her in and raised her. This facility was an old folks home sometime during the 50's. I remember visiting the older lady a few times.

[@MAVtheSlacker]

I support all local San Antonio content creators! Keep up the great work

[@michaelhudson2066]

The building is now used for law enforcement swat training … I’ve been in it many times .. I will say it’s a little spooky

[@ChiralSpirals]

I guess it's fair to assume that you were apart of that training and that's why you've had access numerous times.... Dang... I want in. The building or swat, I'll take either one.

[@itsoliviarose]

omg it is in use now during business hours?? I need to know because I have wanted to go back for a while! my and my now fiancé went exploring there.. and with the gate open at the time we went right after the sunset.. we went in and tried to find a way inside, exploring the buildings from the exterior first - we ended up meeting random people there who I guess had the same idea we did that day: to go there, at that time, and explore long story short, we were able to get inside (not easy and involved some squeezing maybe haha), and indeed was pretty creepy.

[@deusprogrammer_thekingofspace]

Leave it to the cops to ruin everything.

[@gabrielmunoz987]

Me and my buddies visited there a couple times. The last time we visited we saw a shadow at the window that just lowered itself straight down lol. Then to top it off, 2 rocks where thrown at us the closer we got.... we booked it out of there lol.

[@joemamaluke]

Thank you so much for this well researched and amazing vid! It made my heart nostalgic for my hometown, especially seeing the 281 St. Mary's access road and hearing the name "San Antonio Light" AND I learned about something I never knew about back home.

[@michellenowicki8181]

I feel the same. San Antonio is a great place to be from.

[@victoriaespinoza1280]

This was interesting. I’m a San Antonio native and enjoy learning about the city’s history.

[@thesaexplorer]

@@victoriaespinoza1280 thank you for watching! This was probably the best video I did by really digging through actual old newspaper articles to figure out what these buildings really were. You should follow my channel's Instagram if you haven't already @thesaexplorer

[@cestlavie6719]

My understanding is that this area on southton was known as boysville or Boystown in the 70s. The insane asylum was the one on South Presa the San Antonio State Hospital. Enjoyed your video on how the Southton location came to be. Sad that cemetaries are moved for progress, it does make you wonder if anyone was left behind. 🤔

[@thesaexplorer]

I know about the san antonio state hospital being on S presa, but I couldn't find any info about other institutions being on the old county farm in the 70s other than the rehab place I mentioned

[@scarlettjoehandsome6130]

Cal Farley's Boys ranch is something entirely different and not located in San Antonio, but in old Tascosa. Boysville, founded by Rev. Don Holiman was originally located on Avenue A then off of highway 35 north of San Antonio and is still operating in Converse, Texas. Boy's Town is a euphemism referring to the red light districts just across the Mexican border. We always called the reformatory off of Southton Rd. just "Southton" or "Southton Reform School". When we misbehaved we would be warned that we could wind up there if we didn't change our ways. I once rode my bike out there to see if I could spot any of my juvenile delinquent friends. I know that some of them are still alive. I still have old medicine and pop bottles from the school's burn pit.

[@hildahilpert5018]

Been down there in Southton .Never been in the buildings.But that was many years ago.Wr used to get the San Antonio Light and San Antonio Express News.

[@jajajajenny6428]

I never knew about the historic aerial viewing website thing . Thanks . This was a very interesting video . You put it together very well. I grew up in San Antonio and I never knew any of this . It is creepy and I feel a lot of disrespect has been overlooked

[@thesaexplorer]

Yes it's very helpful in seeing what existed before google maps/earth was in circulation. You can go back all the way to 1955 on historic aerial. Only thing that sucks is that you have to make a purchase of what you're viewing to get a more clearer view of what you're wanting to see...but thanks for your comment! Really is a creepy place regardless!

[@AndrewSavage_Music]

My friends and I explored it two times in either 2009 or 2010. It was very spooky. We’re we able to get onto the roof and use the fire escape slide to get down. It’s right around the “haunted train tracks” and I feel like it’s near the “china cemetery” as well. Excellent video, thank you for doing the research. I attempted researching this back around the time we visited but couldn’t even scratch the surface. Keep up the great work!

[@K9nkitty]

I'm so happy you made this video. So may have explored and made videos about this area but never gave a full truthful explanation to this area and its sad past. Well done.👏

[@thesaexplorer]

Thanks just trying to be different from the rest!

[@210angel1]

snuck in here with some friends in 2011 and man it was a night to remember

[@isaacortiz4728]

Totally forgot about that place. My dad was there for a few months. He was not a good man tho.

[@LONELYSTARURBEX]

this was an awesome video - really thorough and well-researched!! my friend and i were able to explore the entire property (somehow without getting caught despite seeing MANY cops) last week, and i just posted the vlog if you're interested! :) i actually cited your video in my description - keep up the great work!!

[@thesaexplorer]

Wow I'm amazed that you didnt get caught! I've always wanted to check the place out for myself, but I know with my luck I'd run into a squatter or get arrested lol I'll definitely be checking out your video!

[@debbiebelden4359]

Thank you for all your research, that was very interesting. It would be nice to see the buildings cleansed and blessed, then put to good use.

[@Squid666]

Watched this twice so far 👌🏻 you really did your research AND delivered the information in a way that didnt have my adhd brain wandering!

[@thesaexplorer]

That's awesome I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@frankietorres5442]

Before they closed it up I remember my friends and I would go there often at night!! Real spooky and creepy! Good times!!

[@jesseleal9350]

Like your videos ....I love san antonio history...I'm also from san Antonio...lol

[@thesaexplorer]

Hey that's awesome I appreciate the appreciation!

[@CA_0341]

This is so nuts. I was among the first of teens who started walking these grounds in 1995. You could still find rolls of film stainless steel medical devices strewn about. I heard about this hospital from my aunt, who is a paranormal enthusiast and believe it or not, was the Director for the CDC in the the late 80’s early 90’s. If you look, you’ll find who she is. My friends and I walked these grounds when there were no signs and little to no graffiti. I want to know what was on the roll of film, this guy found on the basement in the fall of ‘95. Didn’t know his group, but I kicked it, he picked it up and left with it.

[@marygrace8932]

This was an awesome video. I often wondered if there are people still alive who were once housed there.

[@thesaexplorer]

The place closed in 1969, and according to articles it served as a sanatorium and convalescent home in its later years, which was like a nursing home/physical rehab facility. It said it had patients that ranged from 18 years old to 100 years old averaging patients around 70 years old. Anyways, it could be possible that younger patients are still alive from the place, or juvenile inmates that were there

[@cadillacblades]

If you could interview someone who's still alive who lived thier. Would be killer

[@thesaexplorer]

@@cadillacblades that would honestly be a good idea for a follow up video! Would also be cool if people had pics of this place back when it was in operation

[@johnnymoreno5065]

Nice video man and I've heard of this place lot of times from the internet and my father who ended up visiting this place back in the 90s when it wasn't covered with barred wire and stuff. As I recall from his experience as a young man. He say the place was very creepy and had an evil vibe to it like literally. The documents which are still there not touched at all were scattered around the offices I'm guessing according to him. He was young n stupid of course at that age and wit friends too. Now the part gets creepy and I do recommend don't even try visiting if u wanna be brave for good reasons. He went up to the second floor of the building not sure which one cuz he hardly remembers fr vivid memories, but he walk up and enter the door and next thing he notice the door disappear on its own. That's when he notice that place had an evil vibe and he didn't stick around. Overall the place is haunted due to patients being mistreated or who died in there not to mention it has asbestos contamination on the property. Hope this message gets to you and share this wonderous story how my old man decides to go there anyway lol:)

[@spankynater4242]

Your dad is quite the story teller.

[@lucioussmoothy]

Great piece - really appreciated the time and attention to detail you put into the story. News paper clippings were great

[@thesaexplorer]

Thanks I appreciate it!

[@bettyfourman5438]

Very well documented. Eloquently presented. Well done. It is very interesting how city government muddles and fumbles for years and we still don't know how many bodies are remain there. And there it sits still. Rotting.

[@thesaexplorer]

Thank you so much! Yea records were pretty bad back then, so who knows if they got all the bodies out from both former poor farm sites.

[@camerastooge]

Awesome documentary. Really enjoyed this and hope you can do more deep dives like it in the future.

[@thesaexplorer]

Thank you, I had fun researching the history on this place! Now I need ideas on what other place to do a deep dive history search on lol

[@rosgill6]

This is a damn good video! great research. i've heard about this place and seen it many times but never thought about it having a dark history

[@thesaexplorer]

Thanks! I was hoping to make it like a history lesson with a bit of interesting stories about actual events that took place

[@LaDeLaO]

I don’t know how I hadn’t found your channel before but so glad I did!

[@thesaexplorer]

Thank you for the support! I do my best to get most accurate info when doing my videos

[@hjahansouz]

Great documentary! Thank you,

[@thesaexplorer]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CULATER1960]

I guess SA Explorer never heard about the story behind MILAN PARK. MILAN PARK and the surrounding area was once a City of San Antonio cemetery for minorities and poppers. The City of San Antonio contracted out to have the bodies and grave markers moved but just like in the move "Poltergeist" only the grave markers were moved but not the bodies. Whenever there renovations done at Milan Park or Santa Rosa Children hospital skeletons are always found.

[@thesaexplorer]

Hey there. Yup, I know about this story. The bodies were moved to San Fernando 1 but of course not all bodies were moved. Bones were found at the children's hospital during renovation but were put back in place.

[@pameladee5685]

Great video!! Loved all this information. Very interesting. Thanks.

[@Steph-hs5jd]

Another great and informative video! Enjoyed it!

[@jamesgarcia8354]

Just found this channel i love San Antonio just so much to see there i even have ghost pictures on my phone from the old governor's palace

[@itsoliviarose]

omg it is in use now during business hours?? I need to know because I have wanted to go back for a while! my and my now fiancé went exploring there.. and with the gate open at the time we went right after the sunset.. we went in and tried to find a way inside, exploring the buildings from the exterior first - we ended up meeting random people there who I guess had the same idea we did that day: to go there, at that time, and explore long story short, we were able to get inside (not easy and involved some squeezing maybe haha), and indeed was pretty creepy.

[@thesaexplorer]

Well, theres some kind of training facility past these abandoned buildings for the sheriff's dept. They use the old building for swat exercises or something. I've seen other youtubers get in there recently with no problem though. Knowing my luck, I'd get caught lol but I've been curious in checking it out for myself lately.

[@andonihernandez10]

Thank you so much for making this video. I have been so curious about this place since hearing about it when I moved here 6 years ago.

[@TexasGarza]

Very informative. Great documentary.

[@GothicPrincezz]

Awesome vid and great research.

[@patrickgarcia1588]

Great vid bro

[@alyrios]

The algorithm brought me here. I've been living in SA since 2003, and I have never heard of this place. Very interesting video. 😊

[@Hahadonkeypunch]

I learned of this place while going to that youth facility. Been to the 'asylum' twice, but always in the dead of night. For all legal reasons this is a joke though

[@reyduran6325]

Awesome video love all the history and the factual research behind it great job 👍 👏

[@elscorchoTX]

great work!

[@sylviamoreno687]

I really enjoyed this video because I've always had an interest in cemeteries I used to work at San Antonio state hospital a friend of mine who has worked there for about 45years told and showed me the paupers cemeteries that buried patients who's relatives never claimed or some that didn't have relatives. One is behind the tuberculosis hospital which you can see from a side street that runs into South Presa The other is behind the DPS on S.New Braunfels. and if you want to talk about spirts,ghost whatever you want to call them they have been seen and heard at San Antonio State Hospital I can personally attest to that.

[@thesaexplorer]

That's cool. I did a video on one of the cemeteries of the state hospital a while ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2XCh5qfmpuYbpo

[@joyfleming1385]

Do you know of Twin Cedars Sanitarium from 1938? It is on my grandmothers death certificate and we are trying to track it down but doesn't seem to exist. I've checked Google and even public library online with no luck.

[@deniseackermann7116]

In the mid to late 1960's my alcoholic father used to go there to dry out... visiting hours were interesting... my father swearing he was sober now and life would be wonderful again... after visiting, we used to drive around to the back gate and park... there a Don's & Ben's liqueur van would pull up... the drunks would stager out of the back door, almost knocking each other over to buy their alcohol... my father would turn up his bottle, guzzling it down in one long swig... oh yeah, father was sober again and life would be wonderful again... in 1969, he died... good times...

[@user-hb3rb1iz5r]

Amazing video you done today love this piece of history. It never gets old . . That would be cool if they build the farm back up and I'd totally live there lol maybe

[@BocitasToys]

Back when I was 18 years old we went in there and walked around there at night on Friday the 13th

[@ziplockbaggies8707]

My friends and I explored this place back in the late 90s. I remember we had a party with like 50 people on the rooftop lol. One dude found some pictures of burned bodies in the Firestation evidence room.

[@ChiralSpirals]

I've been wanting to check this place out for awhile now....but I rather not end up in the facility next door...or even at Bexar County for that matter. But maybe one day...

[@thesaexplorer]

Trust me I wanna check it out for myself too. I've studied other ways to get into the property but I'd need a bike and to be dropped off. I wouldn't want to leave my car behind

[@ChiralSpirals]

@@thesaexplorer I've considered the what to do with the car thing as well, it's kind of a pickle. Also like Mr. Hudson said in the comments, It's used as a training facility and I would hate to be there at the wrong time ... regardless, I'd still love to do it, but it has to be perfectly executed. Not a good place to get caught and make a run.

[@stonerboytoke2954]

Me my brother and friends broke in there in 2003 and got in a bad car wreck outta nowhere on the way home.

[@Lee3Booker]

This is a brilliant video. You made this video on your own initiative? This could well serve as a resume' if you wanted to go professional. Very well done!

[@thesaexplorer]

Hey thanks for the comment! Yes I made this video on my own initiative, mainly because there isn't a video like this about this place and I myself was curious on what this place really was. Upon research I found out that the history didn't start on the property where these buildings were as you saw in the video. Thanks again for watching!

[@paullerma4700]

There was a cemetery on Daughtry drive off Evers Rd. just inside loop 410. A church/school sits on that land now. Can you tell me anything about it? What years?

[@rodneyadamson8270]

I work real close to five points Fredericksburg Road and many old places around downtown 😮

[@skiesofthesouthwest]

Great video! I’ve been emailing for years back and forth with Dan Curry the asshat that keeps denying me entry to make a documentary. If I am able to finally get in, I’d love to bring you along.

[@thesaexplorer]

They probably dont want to be liable for any accidents, so they deny access to anyone asking for permission...they should at least allow access if a waiver can be signed...anyways I'd be down to check it out if you eventually get access!

[@skiesofthesouthwest]

@@thesaexplorer cool man! Keep making content!🤘🤘

[@isaacdonitz9506]

Visited recently this year, hard as hell to break into but really cool

[@driftyjeff3985]

How did you get in

[@Project.Lonestar]

@@driftyjeff3985 id assume he just jumped the fence when no one was looking and sent it.

[@josette9494]

Cool video so it's all fenced off now. When I went you could just walk in but the neighbor would call the cops

[@HiHi-dd1xi]

I think my great grandmother died in the Home for the Aged in 1919 I have no clue how she ended there.

[@thesaexplorer]

@@HiHi-dd1xi perhaps she was poor and lived there

[@johnnymann5679]

I visited the place before the fence went up. Pretty creepy place.

[@kimberlymoxley104]

Oh hell ya! That's the old south side nut house aka poor house work farm. They were burried out back. Most of the graves were unmarked

[@thesaexplorer]

I'm curious on where they moved the bodies to

[@kimberlymoxley104]

Honestly? They didn't. Ground penetrating radar will show it

[@thesaexplorer]

@@kimberlymoxley104 there's newspaper clippings showing that it was. Is it possible that some bodies were left behind? Sure.

[@richarddegen6184]

It needs to be re-opened again!!!!!!!!!

[@felishathemom7393]

Dope!!!

[@dztxtea]

Well done.

[@James-cs2wi]

Do a video on the orphan train kids millions of orphans parentless for some unknown reason

[@AdrienneReneau-ky4sc]

1912. BEEN A SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT SINCE 1973 BEEN TO ZOO

[@spankynater4242]

I would assume it is referred to as an asylum, because people conflated that with sanitorium.

[@spankynater4242]

Back then, "imbecile" was a clinical term for people who today would be said to have severe mental retardation.

[@AdrienneReneau-ky4sc]

POOR FARM OK S. PRESA MENTAL HOSPITAL I THINK

[@user-cg1ch4zs2d]

❤❤❤

[@mikewilson9236]

Jr great channel lets talk

[@jarahlee7954]

this was an old folks home

[@thesaexplorer]

Yup...that's why I called it a "home for the aged" and later on a "first rate nursing home" sanatorium/convalescent home later on in the video

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

Being a pauper equals Homeless 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@thesaexplorer]

Yes

[@Danyoo178]

#5 Martin weidlfeh 188 Most likely didn’t cook the buckeye right that’s unfortunate. He most likely didn’t commit suicide but instead died by accident😮😢 if you’re gonna commit suicide, I’m more than sure you wouldn’t pick that way to suffer.

[@monicamarieadams717]

That's down the street from my moms

[@thesaexplorer]

That's awesome. I'd be down at this place all the time if I lived near by

[@nikon6163]

RIP St John Seminary, another victim of gentrification

[@kimberlymoxley104]

Yorktown Hosp took many of their patients

[@thesaexplorer]

Oh really? Didn't know that

[@DownAroundSanAntonio-ik4ek]

Great presentation. However, the name is pronounced Sah moo dee oh. Accent on second syllable.

[@rePeteSanchez]

👍👍👍💯💯💯

[@blorac9869]

Why not cremate remains? They weren't too swift, were they?

[@spankynater4242]

Sensibilities of today are different than they were back then. It's not too swift to assume what is common today has always been the norm.

[@gigi_michelle]

They should repurpose this building to house homeless

[@spankynater4242]

You think homeless people want to adhere to any rules?

[@kimberlymoxley104]

Certificate of need

[@mariomadrigal441]

Turn it into migrant housing!😂

[@cadillacblades]

This was a bad ahz video

[@thesaexplorer]

Thanks I appreciate it!

[@texasgina]

I've seen other videos on this property but yours was very well documented. And I'm glad you made the comment about your miss pronunciation of the word tuberculosis. I can get a little nuts when I hear people pronouncing words incorrectly LMAO but sometimes words that aren't used every day to the younger generation are probably pretty hard to pronounce.

[@thesaexplorer]

Haha thank you for the compliment and understanding my mispronounced word 😂 you're right I don't use that word often and was pronouncing it on how I thought it was spelt at the time. Wish I caught it sooner

[@texasgina]

@@thesaexplorer you did fine. I'm a new subscriber and enjoying your videos. I've been living in San Antonio for 10 years now and there's still so much for me to explore

[@thesaexplorer]

@texasgina that's great, thank you for taking interest in my channel. If you haven't already, follow my Instagram page @thesaexplorer