Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center
Today, as I was talking an excursion to New England to escape the heat, a construction detour on Route 22 in Wingdale (about 50 miles north of Manhattan ) took us past the frightening Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, closed in 1988. While this facility didn’t do much to help the mentally ill - emptying the inhabitants into the streets of Manhattan , where they still reside today, was not much of an improvement either.
Just today(Monday,july 16th.) I had to make a run from Jacobs Pillow in Becket Ma. to an audio/video supplier in CortlandN.Y. I drove past the facility several times in the past, but only today noticed the sign in front of the place, directly across from the MetroNorth station.
If its possible, I would love to get state permission to actually walk the grounds, and buildings.Would you be interested in putting together an expedition?
I’ve been wanting to explore the buildings and grounds ever since I first saw the facility about 5 years ago. I’ve taken a lot of road trips up there with my freinds and I’ve only gone in through the basement of the old gymnasium twice. We got caught trying to get in the third time by the security service that patrols the grounds… he just told us we couldn’t be there and if he’d been one of the state troopers we would have been arrested.. I’d definately be down to set up an expedition!! How hard would it be to get permission??