Kings Park Psychiatric Center

Sean Hopkins: 14th Feb 2009 - 06:09 GMT

Heres another from winter '09

CartLegger: 14th Feb 2009 - 16:35 GMT

Great shots, sean. Been meaning to get in there, but don't have a car. glad its on citynoise!

Incidentally, I am now in love with film. So what type did you shoot there. And where did you get it developed. I like the light saturation, though the colors are a little weak--could be from the developing?

anon (cpe-68-173-181-52.nyc.res.rr.com): 14th Feb 2009 - 16:44 GMT

Thanks! I got them developed at a local CVS, but I doubt it's the developers fault. I'm still getting used to all the different settings on the camera. It's a 30 year old SLR camera. It really makes a photograph more gratifying when you work for it. I don't think I'll ever go digital again.

CartLegger: 15th Feb 2009 - 02:56 GMT

I dig ya, I'm one week in but I ain't turnin back to pixels.

but that said, I still haul a digital point and shoot around to get a preview of what I might have captured on the real camera. But a digital can't do anything with light like real film. I'm with ya man!

hope we can get together sometime with our cameras for some urban adventure. There is a similar site in Staten Island, I've been wanting to explore. You can reach me or Peter @citynoise.org

Peter: 15th Feb 2009 - 17:42 GMT

oh wow, awesome! im really glad you shot some film in there- looks good. this is such a fantastic spot. i really need to get out there sometime, for sure...

Kei.: 16th Feb 2009 - 07:53 GMT

I'm surprised that you guys were allowed to take photos there, last time i tired to do so, a cop came up to me and made me delete all my images. if you don't mind my asking, when did you take these photos?

Sean Hopkins: 16th Feb 2009 - 20:48 GMT

This was just last September. That's messed up that you had to delete your pics! A cop did approach us about being too close to the main building, but surprisingly he didn't exhibit the typical douchebaggery I was expecting.

Michael Glennan: 18th Feb 2009 - 01:55 GMT

Great pics, I beleive that this building is state property. There has been cases of homeless people living in these buildings in the past. With many people facing economic hardships currently, to me it would be nice to develop the building into a homeless shelter or treatment facility for substance abusers. The value of this land is in the many milions of dollars. With the economic stimulus package signed into law by President Obama maybe some money can be set aside to refurbish this property. MG

Leo: 14th Mar 2009 - 21:31 GMT

I want to go when it gets warmer. I can pull my camera out and get started.

Jaliey: 30th Mar 2009 - 05:10 GMT

wouldn't this place be haunted? my friend kind of broke in went inside and he saw the first floor was like new or something. & he told me about the stories & what happened there. so sad.

Caesar: 30th Mar 2009 - 05:27 GMT

What a fantastic post. Kudos. These photos are great, and you guys look very in your element in some of those photos. Thanks for sharing such an exciting adventure!

Cliff: 2nd Apr 2009 - 08:57 GMT

What a great building and history. I'm from Syracuse and friends visited the site earlier this week, I would love to go see for myself. Amazing.

Chris: 19th Apr 2009 - 02:43 GMT

This whole place has such a presence... imagine just looking at old buildings... how exciting is that? But there is something else going on here... and as you spend a little time on your website, you become aware that you are being joined by a feeling almost like a ghost or resident Spirit of the place. I felt the same thing when I visited the Danvers State Hospital site, as well. At first, you are just glancing at a series of interesting pictures; but then, this multipersonal psychic bass note starts to make itself felt... and I think one of the reasons I love to come here and just stay and look for a little while is to tune into that bass note. It is like a bygone collective unconscious. KPPC is still vast, and it takes more than just one visit, viewing all these great photographs, to fully appreciate the work you have done documenting all of it. What an expansive project this has become. Thank you for making this really important contribution to our American History. Right now it is just a collection of photos of old buildings, but in time it will become the history of how we treated members of our great human family. It is a priviledge to come here and rest for a few minutes with invisible surrender and a sense of calm which steps outside language and comprehension. It heals us to be in the presence of something we cannot easily put into words. It stops something inside us from labeling stuff. Again, thank you for this amazing and significant contribution to our collective history. Your website will increase in value as time passes. I am frankly astounded at the precision of the brickwork everywhere present throughout this vast settlement of buildings for the care of the mentally ill. The tunnels, with their curved brickwork - what amounts to miles of it, and the time it must have taken to do all that by hand. Every time I visit this site my appreciation for what you have done deepens. Thank you from Chris in South Portland, Maine.

Sheryl: 28th Apr 2009 - 00:19 GMT

My Grandmother lived here from 1933 to 1994 (?). I never met her. I was just trying to make some visual contact with an unknown past. Interesting stuff.

I also like to revert to film use sometimes. Digital does spoil one for instant gratification.

Sean Hopkins: 28th Apr 2009 - 00:32 GMT

More photos here...

Sheefa Roshan: 28th Apr 2009 - 05:05 GMT

Ya,nice photoes.im very interested on old buildings.but i think it should be rebuilt.there is no use of keeping this building in this condition.it is better to reuse it as we have more need of buildings

anon (ool-4570e478.dyn.optonline.net): 6th Jun 2009 - 03:08 GMT

it is very interesting!

anon (pool-141-157-207-176.ny325.east.verizon.net): 9th Jun 2009 - 17:25 GMT

So, can the Long Island Paranormal Society do an investigation there now,or what?

Nikki: 20th Oct 2009 - 02:49 GMT

How do i get into the underground tunnels, preferably ones that arent blocked off after walking like 100 ft. i love it there, even if it didnt have some sort of unworldly presence, i like going through old abandoned places; plus, the fear of getting caught is always a little added fun.

V-san: 2nd Nov 2009 - 16:02 GMT

ON passing through and reading this, I have to say to anaon, the Paranormal society IS doing research. Me an' my friends ran into them while running through the place a few days ago. THey had suits and equipment. It was Awsome, made my day (=