all photos: Dakota Fine
all words: Jeff Jetton
Dakota Fine. Adventurer, photographer, enjoyer of fine foods. I called up this Dakota fellow a few months ago and told him about a rumored 'insane asylum' that my roommate had visited. She had brought back some strange poetry and journals and a few other mementos from what she described as an 'abandoned insane asylum for retarded children in Maryland'. I was pretty skeptical until I saw her pictures.
I did some internet research and enlisted the help of Dakota and my brother, Ryan, to make a trip out to the spot and get some photos. I only hope that these pictures can do a little bit of justice to what we saw that day. It was without a doubt the most interesting, yet terrifying, experience I've ever had. I've been trying to figure out a way to describe the facility. Here goes: if you took the state penitentiary from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and removed all of the patients and staff, did a really shitty job locking all of the doors, left it to rot for twenty years and then had Ivan Albright reimagine it as a watercolor painting, it would be sort of like what you come across.
Portrait of Dorian Gray (Albright):
We have been sitting on these pictures for a while, trying to figure out a good time to put this piece together and how to best capture the mood of the day. Last week, Dakota put his foot down and gave me a deadline of last Friday to have the written work finished.
So imagine my surprise when I rolled into work on Wednesday to find that DCist was tracking an article from WJLA regarding the search of Forest Haven for bodies buried in shallow graves.
Below is a map that identifies the entrance road to the main gate. From Balt-Wash Parkway, exit onto MD-198 towards Fort Meade. After about 1.2 miles, make a left onto Old Camp Meade Road. If I remember correctly, there is no street sign, but there may be a sign that says Children's Center or something along those lines. This is actually one of the entrances for D.C. Training School, an active facility that happens to be located adjacent to the abandoned site.
After about a half mile, the road dead-ends into a manned check-point where we were stopped by a cop or security guard (can't remember which). If you reach this guy, you've gone too far. If you are looking at the map above, just beyond the (A) marker you can make out some tire tracks that pull off the road into a grassy area. This is where you want to be. Drive down the dirt path until you reach a wooded area (your car should be mostly out of sight from the main road). From this point you'll need to get out and walk. It looks as if there is another main entrance a little bit further up 198, but we didn't check that out. You will see a foot path through the forest. Follow it until you reach a clearing in the forest. You'll walk by the ruins of a really old building in the forest with collapsed floors. Stay away from it, it's extremely unsafe.
As you reach the clearing, you'll come to a big brick building that looks to be some sort of receiving center. there are old cargo trucks parked at the docks. This is where you'll want to enter Forest Haven. It is a shocking introduction to the facility. Two baby cribs dress the main room of the building, one overturned. The building is badly fire-damaged. Piles of patient records litter the hallways and main areas, half-burnt.
Carry on through the building and out the back and you'll reach an open area with a rusting basketball court. This is the center of the facility. There are abandoned buildings on all sides, overgrown with weeds, teeming with mold and asbestos, haunted by the ghosts of those who lived and died here. This is not a place for the faint-of-heart (or lungs for that matter). It is a sad place, heartbreaking, and made worse by the years of decay that followed years of neglect. That article is a 1999 Washington Post piece detailing the lives of those patients who were moved to various care facilities following the demise of Forest Haven in 1991. It's shocking and depressing and is a must read before visiting the site. The article is probably the most detailed sketch of what life was like during Forest Haven's heyday and then it's tragic aftermath.
Forest Haven was opened in 1925. The history of the facility is pretty well non-existent (at least on the internet) until 1991 when it was shut down by the DC government after a 15-year legal battle. I've heard various reasons as to why it was shut down, most have to do with neglect of patients, improper care, and a number of mysterious patient deaths and improper burial on the grounds.
An obituary I came across gave the following description: "Vinner's personal story began before his earliest memories when, at age 5, he was committed to Forest Haven, the District's now-closed mental asylum in Laurel. About that time, in the mid-1950s, about 700 people lived at Forest Haven's various complexes, some as young as 2.
Growing up at Forest Haven, he would later say, he witnessed nightmarish scenes, including staff beatings of residents and sexual abuse. He also said that a dentist who treated the residents was actually a veterinarian."
Regardless of the reasons, the closure took place in 1991. It doesn't seem like anything was removed. Shoes sit exactly where they were discarded. Paintings still hang on the walls. Vandals, arsonists, drug-users and graffiti artists have all made their way through the buildings for the past 17 years, accelerating the decay in many places.
|
 |
By my count there are about 24 different buildings on the property. We probably made it through 7 or 8. Most of the buildings are pretty similar in layout. The structures damaged by fire have subsequent water damage from holes in their rooves. In turn, there is a serious mold problem in at least several of these buildings. If you are going to visit Forest Haven, it is recommended to bring some sort of face mask or gas mask. Between the mold and the asbestos, it's not a particularly healthy place.
The video below gives an indication of the state of the buildings. This was probably the worst of the bunch that we visited:
I'm not kidding when I say that there were patients' records everywhere. File cabinets have been emptied over time and the trials and tribulations of daily life in the home are strewn across the different buildings.
Here's a small sample of the clinical evaluations (some hundreds of pages long) that now act as a recorded history of the long forgotten lives that once occupied this place and called it home:
M.T. was born on 2/4/47 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There is no prenatal information or information concerning his birth. M.T. returned to the hospital at 3 1/2 months of age due to lack of development. At that time he was diagnosed as having Down's Syndrome. He sat unsupported at 1 year 5 months and cried when he was in pain. There appeared to be a hearing deficit, however this was never confirmed.
Present Social Situation:
M.T. is a profoundly retarded Caucasian male with Down's Syndrome. He requires supervision and assistance to perform self help skills and is able to follow simple commands. M eats and drinks independently with some spillage and will snatch food from his peers if not closely supervised. He also tends to finger feed and eat at a fast pace when not closely watched. He does not form meaningful relationships with his peers due to his functioning level.
That particular habilitation plan went on for hundreds of pages. The patient was admitted shortly after birth in 1947 and was still being looked after at least until the file ends on June 28, 1989. The patient spent his/her entire adult life at Forest Haven. No further records seem to exist as far as I can tell.
|
 |
Forest Haven is mired in graffiti. Much of it MS-13 related. Some of it cryptic and disturbing. Walking into a darkened room and seeing something like this will send shivers down your spine.
This was one of the most frightening moments of my life. We came to a staircase that was pitch black and a cold wind was coming up from whatever basement lay below. Without a flashlight, the only light we had to use was Dakota's flash, which only produced in a spastic strobe that he controlled from behind me. In hindsight, knowing that there are possibly unmarked, shallow graves in some of these basements, there's no way in hell I would have agreed to pioneer the expedition down those stairs.
In all honesty, we were trespassing. But we were able to walk right up to these buildings and right into open doors. There was no fence surrounding the area, very little posted signage, and very little obstacle to getting pretty much anywhere on the grounds.
I have a feeling that with all of the recent attention paid to Forest Haven in the past few days it might become a bit more difficult to access the area. Possible corpse discovery is not the type of press that the government wants regardings its public lands. Who knows, though? While I wouldn't go back, it's definitely something that we all agreed we were glad that we experienced.
One final note. I don't believe in ghosts. I know that it was the wind that did it, but at one point, in one of the creepy basements, I watched my brother attempt to walk into a particularly eery room only to have the door slam right in his face. It sounds like a movie, but it was one of the strangest damn things I've ever seen. Definitely the wind, though, I don't believe in the supernatural.
Previously in I Heart DC:
- 2/10: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/9: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/8: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/8: Perfect Date Outfits + Outings
- 2/7: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/6: DC News You Can Maybe Use:
- 2/2: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
- 2/1: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
- 1/31: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 1/30: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
God loves a cheerful giver.
Jealous.
Weren't you guys scared shitless to be there? Also why weren't you wearing masks? There was probably all sorts of mold and dust in there!
Definitely got the chills was reading/viewing. Amazing write-up, and killer photos!
Er, WHILE viewing. My bad.
The saturation on these photos is PERFECT!
This is not a place where a person with a brain would wear flip-flops... WTF, baseball cap guy? Unable to imagine wearing grownup shoes, ever?
Next BYT party should be here. "Crazy Camp."
I wonder how many people have snuck in there and done it. You know, it. The sex. That it.
I've always wanted to do something like this, but I am way too much of a pussy. This is incredible, I'm glad you guys were able to share this with us.
And I do believe in the supernatural. So I would probably shit my pants if I went somewhere like this. This is also why I've never made it out to Bunnyman Bridge.
Hey Shrake. Have you ever noticed that comment areas on the internets are filled with a bunch of haters? Congratulations on being part of those ranks. I do possess 'grownup shoes', my name is not 'baseball cap guy', and I have a brain (last time I checked). I didn't know where we were going when my brother picked me up, otherwise I would have prepared a little better. I definitely would have worn shoes and long pants (and a mask). But you probably aren't even going to read this, as you are probably busy leaving racist comments on someone's youtube video right now.
Amanda. That's nasty.
whatever. it's true. like jeff said, this isn't for the faint of heart.
somehow it doesn't surprise me that jeff didn't tell ryan where they were going.
awesome, awesome. i might have peed a little due to fright, but still awesome and worth it.
By far one of the coolest pieces on this site to date.
Although, it would be funny to have Brock and friends do a "Forest Haven in 15 Minutes" as a follow-up.
Love the double chin Ryan. Jeff was smart enough to cover his. hehe
A) Best piece I've ever seen on BYT, by about a million miles. I expected it to be snarky, and then, once I started reading, feared that it would turn maudlin. Jeff's incredible control of tone kept it from turning mawkish, which is probably the only reason I didn't burst out in tears reading this. The very idea of insane asylums - well, there's just too much to say here. Brilliant, thought-provoking, yet minimal and non-judgemental. Jeff, Ryan, Dakota, thank you.
B) Ryan, that's the best take-down I've ever read on the webs. Hat doffed to you, son, take a bow.
That is all.
In hindsight, there were a whole lot of free shoes there. I should have just borrowed some.
Wow. I am going to have nightmares from this post. Seriously eerie photos, Dakota. Especially the lone shoe. Where is that mix CD of happy music when you need it...
So do you guys know anything about St. Elizbeths? That place would be awesome to walk around but I can't figure out if its abandoned, partially abandoned, or what is going on. Does anyone know?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7689055@N05/456829917
This dude broke in. So cool and in better condition that this one so much more to. . . Discover. . .
there was a tradition of hunting around an abondoned children's asylum near where i grew up outside detroit. it was torn down by the county when they got wind of it being the hip thing to do ... i also saw one in west virgina that was torn up on the insides from paintball wars between the sheriff and his buddies
Beautifully and scarily done you guys
worth the wait.
also see: Glenndale. *shudder* I toured that thing by myself. scared shitless.
Dakota, you must take me to this place.
MS-13 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_Salvatrucha
"Definitely the wind, though, I don’t believe in the supernatural." lies! you totally believe that a ghost hospital staff dude slammed the door right in your bro's FACE for interrupting his ghost sex with ghost retarded kids.
i wanna go. really great write up and photos.
i wonder how many of the shallow graves there are filled ms-13 victims.
amanda, "bunny man bridge" is tied to a completely fictional story fyi.
*filled with
Amazing. And terrifying. Great photos.
eddie - i know. and it's not completely fictional. there was a dude, and bunnies. mutilated bunnies. and i'm pretty sure he hung himself off the bridge or something.
Go to the abandoned Walter Reade Medical Center. Apparently that place has also been an insane asylum, a children's camp, and a crematorium. I think it's a different place than this, near Kensington, MD. It is truly horrifying and I'll never go back... but since you're into this stuff... you should really check it out.
didn't Dead Meadow do an album cover at this place?
Jeremy- I think this is what you're talkign about: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Seminary
Place is FaaahREAKY.. I use to go up there with my buddies, back in the day, and sneak around the outside. Never had the cohones to actually break in (plus the junt was boarded up anyways). Beautiful architecture. It even has a chinese style building chillin next to the main structure.
watch out for turkey buzzards though. There are some that live in some of the surrounding stone monuments (near the 495 side). Scare the crap out of snoopy lil kids up to no good...
Jeff, Ryan and Dakota...so absolutely fascinating. Even though I cannot be considered a Brightest Young Thing anymore, your incredible depiction of Forest Haven beckens me. What a fabulous presentation.
I thought the video was kind of funny when Dakota mentioned some writing on the wall, asking if anyone knew that that meant, and Jeff brought out a do not do drugs poster and Dakota commented he did not know what it meant. I am not sure if it was supposed to be funny or if I have an odd sense of humor. Made me laugh nonetheless.
As for double chins - I thought fat was where the flavor was?
i think i would have been more concerned about running in whoever put up those MS-13 tags than anything possibly supernatural.
I think maybe a couple of you hot young coeds should go there at night. maybe camp out or something. what could possibly go wrong?
awesome. and so scary. but totally fascinating.
this ranks as one of my favorite things on BYT, ever.
Fascinating and eerie. Not a place I'd like to visit after dark, although some night-vision shots / video would have been icing on the rusted cake.
Wow. Nice work, guys.
I think I spent some time in that place. Do you think they have room for Tony? He deserves a private room. Does it look like anyone is living/camping there. Keep in touch.
wow, so good! I bet sometime in the foreseeable future someone will make a documentary/horror film on fort haven...
Chilling...
Great photography.
OMFG! Yeah, you guys have definitely earned EVERY bit of respect I have for this. MF'in brilliant stuff honestly. ...and as always DOPE azz flicks Dakota.
how did you not eat all those delicious paint chips?
This is going to give me nightmares for sure.
"the wind" Pfff. i really enjoyed reading this, big ups jeff. actually got a lil sad till i read the hilarious comments. and dakota, you got talent man! cant wait for the next piece.
I've been there a few times when I was back in high school. I first went there on halloween at midnight with a couple of friends. That place is one of scariest places I've been to.
Great pics , it brought back memories I've long forgotten....minus the MS Tags
there was a place that looked so similar to this in tallashassee, fl called sunland. it was part of a chain of children's tuberculosis hospitals back in the day. really creepy place. i never went very far into the building before punking out. they tore it down a few years ago and built what else....condos over it.
I go to forest haven almost every weekend with my friends and we have been threw all of the building. There is a lot of sick shit that u mst not of seen like the steel baby cribs with lids on them that take masterlocks. Also there is a janitors closet that is filled with homosexual porn. My friends and I have found a book with pictures of mutated limbs and other body parts something has really went wrong there in the past.
wow..great photography and write up...that place is creeeeepy
O yea there are military police still there I some areas but they won't go in the buildings after you but if u are outside and run from them they will send a dog to get you. Its easyer to just get caught they have caught me about five times all they do is tell you to never come back your commiting a crime then drive you three miles down the road drop you off and say have a good night. The best place to park is remmintons bar then walk threw the woods. Watch you back tho cause you never know who's who up there. There's another place like forest haven on marriotsville road has anyone been there if not I got directions its a lot better I think cause no police and your way back in the wood about ten buildings but not that scary
i misspelled eerie. oops.
O yea there are military police still there In some areas but they won't go in the buildings after you but if u are outside and run from them they will send a dog to get you. Its easyer to just get caught they have caught me about five times all they do is tell you to never come back your commiting a crime then drive you three miles down the road drop you off and say have a good night. The best place to park is remmintons bar then walk threw the woods. Watch you back tho cause you never know who's who up there. There's another place like forest haven on marriotsville road has anyone been there if not I got directions its a lot better I think cause no police and your way back in the wood about ten buildings but not that scary
Thanks for sharing. Very cool place to take some fashion pictures. Anybody not scared of going with me?
im officially in love with dorian gray.
and dakota fine.
Did you see the church that has what it looks like in the basement as prison cells and about a million needles all in one cell that it locked. Also we have seen many books in some sort of library about human body parts and how they work and if you go to forest haven you will hear girls scream all the time cause there is a womans prision near by and on the weekend them bitches scream as lod as they can
Oh, I want to go there! You wrote about some "strange poetry" that your roomate found? Could you post some of it? I'd love to read that..
Not that I didn't love to read this. I did love to read this. I'd also like to read strange poetry though.
wow...unbelievable pictures. great piece guys.
we went there last night saw almost the same things you saw and came back to the internet to look up more info on the location we went at night though. some things expierenced were unable to be explained we plan to go back after research is done
What an absolutely hellish, hellish place, And the hole looks like an entrance to hell itself.
"She bled from every fucking hole" is Sludge City lyrics.
You know everybody that goes through there is trying to scare the pants off of those coming after them. Heh.
the place in marriotsville is henryton sanitarium. its much smaller and a lot worse off in regards to people tagging it and leaving all sorts of trash. one of the best parts of the main building got burnt down as well. you just have to walk down the train tracks for about 10 or 15 minutes
"Shrake Says: This is not a place where a person with a brain would wear flip-flops… WTF, baseball cap guy? Unable to imagine wearing grownup shoes, ever?"
Yeah, seriously. Abandoned spots are no joke. However his site in my travels so far seems to regularly feature grown men doing random things in inappropriate attire.
I was talking to a co-worker the other day about this place and when I googled it, I came across this site. When I was a stupid teenager (we're talking 15 years ago, ah the good ole days), I visited this place. Even back then we saw remnants of drug activity everywhere, along with clues to various other seedy activities. I only went twice and that was more than enough. This place is UNSAFE, and it sounds like even more so than back then. I love the piece you guys did on this, it was very well written, but I can't blame you for never wanting to go back.
THIS PLACE NEEDS TO BE TORN DOWN!!!!! It's a slap in the face to the poor people who suffered and died here that it even remains standing. I completely regret going to this place and if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't set foot there. One day "nick g" will regret it as well, if he hasn't already.
Before I step off my soap box, I have one more comment to add. This place is not "cool." It's a tragedy and is a sad reminder of the abuse people have been victims of (and still are) due to inadequate medical care.
I cant believe you were walking around their in flip flops!!!
and thats the saddest "peanuts" drawing i have ever seen !
i visited this place a month or two ago and it was really hard to get around. there was security vehicles driving around and security personnel walking the campus regularly. I am not one to be easily stopped by a "no trespassing" sign BUT because of its close proximity to the NSA headquarters and other government activities I would discourage anyone who doesn't want to be arrested by the military to think before visiting this place. It is definitely one of the most interesting and extensive campuses I have been to but I just thought I would share my experience as a warning. you better be ready to be sneaky and sprint from building to building if you want to visit anytime soon.
Reminds me of Camp Muscatatuck (now an urban training center), which was an Insane Asylum shut down by the state of Indiana (in the 60s). Everything was left as is and all the workers just didn't come back to work. Even dental tools were left in drawers at the Dentist's office. Strange and weird.
Very cool... There is a similar abandoned Insane Asylum in Australia that I went to to take pictures, but they didn't have as much junk lying around as this place does... Would love to go check it out some time... Thanks for sharing!!
does anyone know which building has all those desks piled in that room? It's about the middle of the article. I'm going to be visiting this place in May when I visit my friend (who has been there) in MD and I want really badly to take photos of the room with all the desks in it...
as you face the basketball court it's the building directly behind the basket.
If you're going to visit, watch out for ticks. I have taken several trips to Forest Haven in the past couple of months, there is a lot more fire damage and graffiti. It's a shame what all happened here and how some people find the need to destroy it.