Kings Park Psychiatric Center

Pulling into what was once the Kings Park Psychiatric Center, you are greeted by what’s easily the most recognizable structure in the compound. Building 93 defines what most would picture a typical psychiatric hospital to look like; a looming, ominous building, seemingly shadowing the town. It’s no surprise to hear countless paranormal experiences and stories of hauntings. Whether some, most or all are true, is yet to be determined. Paranormal groups from TAPS to local Long Island groups are constantly denied access by the state to investigate. Some believe it’s because of asbestos concerns, while others think there’s more meaning. Suffice it to say, if you plan on doing your own investigating, it is trespassing and if you are caught, there are consequences.

Built in 1885, Kings Park opened its doors in 1895 to help relieve some of the surrounding psychiatric hospitals with over-crowding. By 1900, the hospital hosted 2,697 patients and the number was growing rapidly. Soon enough, Kings Park became a compound of over 150 buildings, including their very own farm. By 1954, the hospital population had more than tripled at 9,000 patients. Due to the cost of running the hospital and lack of funding, Kings Park started slowly closing it’s buildings in 1970. The hospital officially closed in 1996. Some patients were transferred to other hospitals while others were just simply released.

Because medical science wasn’t advanced enough, patients were victims of experimental treatments. Electro-shock therapy and lobotomies were main sources of treatments for people with anything from paranoid schizophrenia to homosexual tendencies. Pills were given without knowing the full extent of what side effects can occur or how people may react. Nurses not properly trained to deal with specific needs for certain illnesses often disregarded patients’ claims. Thus, the stigma of psychiatric hospitals and the stories that come with them.

One of the more horrendous claims about Kings Park is the underground tunnels that lead to a field behind what is now a high school. Many patients had families that would literally dump them off at the hospital and never return. Apparently, if a patient passed away and no one came to claim them, their bodies would be carted underground to the field and dumped in mass graves with other unclaimed patients. Again, whether this is true or not remains to be determined.

Since the hospital closed, there have been many debates sparked on what to do with the land. Knocking down the buildings showed to be much too costly with the careful removal of asbestos, as did renovation and rebuilding.

While the Kings Park Psychiatric Center awaits its fate, thrill seekers and paranormal investigators all around will continue to enjoy the history and visual stimulus this once flourishing “mini city” has provided.