Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center

CartLegger: 30th Mar 2009 - 00:56 GMT

Thanks for taking one--and destroying more--for the team, Sean! Great photos...so of course, we need to ask if you think its worth going back?

Peter: 30th Mar 2009 - 01:13 GMT

fantastic! now i definitely want to go...

p.s: fuck the police.

Sean Hopkins: 30th Mar 2009 - 01:14 GMT

It's pretty hot over there man. There's actually a State Trooper's headquarters right nearby, which I discovered a little too late, lol.

I was snapping photos (in TMax!! I'm pissed I had to destroy those!) and Carolina is like 30 feet away from me and a trooper spotted her, came driving down the hill past her and right towards me. He was telling us he could arrest us for trespassing and I did the obligatory, "Oh, gee, I'm sory officer" bit. He told us to erase the pictures from our cameras, so therefore I had to explain that we were snapping photos with relics. He then ordered us to take out the film, that bastard.

It's a risk. However, it can be done as you can see.

Being in that building was quite a rush man, and obviously the danger of it adds to the allure.

All depends on how brave you are :)

On a safer note, Saturday April 4th there's a Ft. Totten tour.

Peter: 30th Mar 2009 - 01:22 GMT

these days, being able to quickly and unobtrusively eject/pocket a memory card without looking at the camera is a good skill to have ;) unfortunately, not so easy with film... lol.

i see the energy in your shots. no doubt you got a rush!

perhaps dusk would be a better (and more creepy) time to plan the next trip there...

Sean Hopkins: 30th Mar 2009 - 01:28 GMT

LOL yes I know man. Actually in hindsight, we were like "Damn! We shouldve just handed him a roll we hadn't shot with yet cause he probably wouldnt know the difference." Don't you love how after the fact you always think of something you SHOULD'VE done?

Dude it was DARK too! I was using my flash in there. It's a crazy combo of the darkness acting as a wall to hold you back, but the insane rush from the excitement and curiosity pushing you forward.

Peter: 30th Mar 2009 - 01:40 GMT

yeah, now you know for next time. the average person can usually outsmart the average cop, but it does take some practice and forethought, hahaha.

wow, yeah, loking back at the photos, i can see the flash now... must have been dark, indeed. i thought maybe late afternoon sun. imagine what sort of shots you could get there on a moonlit night with long exposures and a tripod!

creeeeeeepy!

David: 30th Mar 2009 - 02:29 GMT

Nice pics.
Another psych hospital in Long Island? Seems to be a lot on this island!

Peter: 30th Mar 2009 - 02:36 GMT

hey, they had to have a place to stash all the allegedly crazy folks from nyc... the wiki is a fascinating read: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrim_Psychiatric_Center particularly the bits about the "farm colonies" they envisioned...

BZZZP!: 30th Mar 2009 - 09:00 GMT

this guy used to crawl all over the thing with his camera
b.f11.org
(the 2003 pilgrim's hospice sets)

Mo_OsE: 30th Mar 2009 - 13:37 GMT

I used to go to a day care that's in the center of that place....when I grew up and learned what it used to be I was pretty shocked.

Sweptawaybayou: 30th Mar 2009 - 13:46 GMT

Wow. Those are excellent and rather spooky. :) Thanks for sharing.

Peter: 30th Mar 2009 - 13:52 GMT

Mo_OsE: wow, how did you end up going there for daycare? whats that all about?

Mo_OsE: 30th Mar 2009 - 13:53 GMT

My family lived in Brentwood and the day care was called something like "Small World Daycare" I think. It was just a regular daycare amongst the buildings. There are still a few used buildings on the compound, mostly just halfway houses and there's another building that does some psychiatric work for recovering addicts but its very small. I remember I was working at the Target by the Commack Movie theater and someone came in and said someone had escaped from the center and that he had an aggression problem and liked shopping. It was pretty crazy with all of us on the look out for a potentially aggressive shopper but I think they found him up the street an hour or so later. They came in to let us know which was pretty nice of them.

little ukraine: 30th Mar 2009 - 13:58 GMT

glad you were able to get these shots! this place is slated for some pretty massive redevelopment, no telling when it will actually happen. story goes that when they shut this place down, they literally dropped busloads of patients off on street corners in nearby Bay Shore.
Hope you can make it to Central Islip Hospital and complete the trilogy!

Dimka: 30th Mar 2009 - 17:03 GMT

brrrrr, frightening, as if it was built to destroy souls, not to cure them...

~Nick~: 30th Mar 2009 - 17:04 GMT

I have the urge to break into that abandoned building and just sneak around. Unfortunately I would be afraid that some evil spirit would sneak up behind me and strangle me. Urgh...

Mary: 30th Mar 2009 - 17:30 GMT

Great shots! The building is so massive and ominous, I'd never dare to enter it - abandoned or not :)
Thanx for posting!

I wonder what the authorities want to do with this building if it is still under police protection.

Unaria: 30th Mar 2009 - 17:35 GMT

I just realized that this is a place I'd get freaked out in, but the bravest people tag the dumbest graffiti.

Love the pictures though!

Elektronymph: 30th Mar 2009 - 18:25 GMT

pretty interesting place. i live about a half hour from there. kings park psych isn't as grand a spread but for some reason i think kppc is cooler than pilgrim. nice shots though.

Peter: 30th Mar 2009 - 19:31 GMT

elektronymph: then you might dig this post or this followup post on kings park psychiatric center...

Peter: 30th Mar 2009 - 19:37 GMT

also: heres an interesting link about pilgrim state, with lots of background info: www.opacity.us/site23_pilgrim_state_hospital.htm

GJ: 30th Mar 2009 - 20:07 GMT

So thaaat's what it looks like. I drive by the exit for it every day on my way to school.

Creepy.

joey b: 30th Mar 2009 - 20:44 GMT

They shouldn't be able to arrest you for photography!

carlosmiller.com

Pygmy: 30th Mar 2009 - 22:52 GMT

Wow*. The weather was really on your side for this one, on top of the gorgeous photography.

lalalalee: 1st Apr 2009 - 06:51 GMT

yessir! the chance of getting caught makes the hobby even more worthwhile, youve got to do it when you can! ahhhh excellent pics, you should try light painting in there...

keys: 4th Apr 2009 - 13:41 GMT

I have heard stories that pilgrim state is haunted. When you drive through at nigt you hear people screaming and lights flicker in buildings. I have experienced that myself. It s a very a scary place at night. If your interested in that kinda stuff thaer are lots of intriguing places on long island that are haunted. Just search on google.

fearlessdoberman: 11th Apr 2009 - 03:03 GMT

this place is kick ass. this was my first out of state exploration and certainly not my last. if you want to see this place get there while you can,cause they already demoed some of the buildings.

Resortliz: 24th May 2009 - 11:46 GMT

They should really make this land a huge resort/club,fishing,horseback riding,hunting
People would pay a pretty dollar for memberships to this club.

Frank from Queens New York: 13th Jun 2009 - 18:56 GMT

Just got back from driving around Pilgram State. What an awesome place. took some digital photos on the outside of the buildings. Would love to get inside & explore.

Jacqueline from North Babylon: 24th Jul 2009 - 16:44 GMT

I drove by Pilgrim State last October, we got lost on our way to try and make it to a PRS event. Even driving by, in the middle of the day gave me the chills. It's like there's this energy there. I would love to go inside and take some pictures, but I'm not keen on the idea of getting arrested for Trespassing.

firefly: 5th Aug 2009 - 01:58 GMT

i work for a cab company i bring a group there on a daily basis and i still get freaked out

alpha-omega: 7th Aug 2009 - 02:13 GMT

Hideous place. Just image yourself being committed to either Building 81 or 82 that are still working. You go through a sally port just like a jail. The place is unfortunate and sorry.

c. nella: 21st Aug 2009 - 01:07 GMT

i was just there last night, went in and everythin cuz i'm a ballsy girl hehe..freaky shiit, deff haunted.

Ponyboy: 7th Sep 2009 - 20:07 GMT

I use to enter these buildings but with the police around these around the clock I can't anymore. I use to get such a charge out of being in these buildings. On time I was in a building with my girl friend. She use to get unbelievably sexualy charged. We were just walking around when I turned a corner and right into a cop. We scared the crap out of each other he even dropped his gun. Thanks God.. Unfortunately I got a ticket and fingerprinted. The Cop was a real Jackass with a bad hair piece.

Ponyboy : 7th Sep 2009 - 20:08 GMT

This is a building I ran into one day on a wrong turn and since wanted to enter. So I was googling it and came to this page. Still want to go. I'll have to figure something out.

laneawitz1: 25th Sep 2009 - 19:03 GMT

I enjoyed the pictures, Sean, now go back and get more. Why did the "trooper" give a shit about the pics (sounds like a good joke in there)?

nyko: 7th Nov 2009 - 13:24 GMT

ive been in many times both day and night, i havent encountered anything paranormal. i have tones of pics,and nothing strange. awesome place though cant wait to go back. never had problems with police, next time doing some evp, maybe ill catch something.