About This Location
Utica State Hospital opened in 1843 as the first state-run hospital for the mentally ill in New York. Designed by architect William Clarke, the Greek Revival building housed patients for over 150 years. Treatment methods that are now considered barbaric were commonplace here, including lobotomies and electroshock therapy. Patients lived in cramped, filthy conditions, and the facility became notorious for mistreatment. The main building closed in the 1970s.
The Ghost Story
The Utica State Hospital is considered one of the most haunted hospitals in New York State. People have seen faces looking out of the abandoned windows, as if patients are still trapped inside. Screaming is commonly heard emanating from the buildings, echoing the cries of those who suffered within. Investigators report cold spots, orbs in photographs, and overwhelming feelings of dread. The spirits seem to be reliving their torment. Some visitors have been physically pushed or scratched by unseen forces. The tragic history of mental health treatment in the 19th and early 20th centuries created a concentration of suffering that left a permanent paranormal residue.