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bea559
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 457 total posts
Name:
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Kings Park Psych Center
Has anyone taken a guided tour of the grounds? If so, how was it and would you recommend it?
I found that one tour is being offered by 'Angels Without Faces' on Oct 2 and Oct 30.
If anyone has any info or feedback, please let me know.
TIA 
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Posted 9/23/11 1:56 PM  |
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Megs4
LIF Adult
Member since 11/08 1619 total posts
Name:
Megan
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
I've taken a "tour" before but never a guided, sanctioned one! More like the troublemaking high school kid kind, late at night.
I didn't know that there were official tours! Might have to check it out.
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| Posted 9/23/11 1:58 PM |
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cateyemm
Twins!
Member since 7/10 8027 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Posted by Megs4
I've taken a "tour" before but never a guided, sanctioned one! More like the troublemaking high school kid kind, late at night.
I didn't know that there were official tours! Might have to check it out.
haha me too!! but seriously that place was so creepy, im not sure if i could go back as an adult!!
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| Posted 9/23/11 2:11 PM |
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bea559
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 457 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Posted by Megs4
I've taken a "tour" before but never a guided, sanctioned one! More like the troublemaking high school kid kind, late at night.
I didn't know that there were official tours! Might have to check it out.
lol
There is also this one, given by the parks dept this Sunday but I can't make it.
Kings Park Patch - walking tour
Do you think if DH and I went on our own, sometime during the day, it would be ok? We're new to the area, if you can't tell lol
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| Posted 9/23/11 2:12 PM |
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AndreaLMT
:)
Member since 5/05 6856 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Oh cool!!!
But I'm assuming you can't go in the buildings on the tour...
Message edited 9/23/2011 2:45:09 PM.
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| Posted 9/23/11 2:44 PM |
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memi7206
LIF Adult
Member since 3/11 2355 total posts
Name:
Due Dec 29th!!!!!
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Posted by Megs4
I've taken a "tour" before but never a guided, sanctioned one! More like the troublemaking high school kid kind, late at night.
I didn't know that there were official tours! Might have to check it out.
ditto, just the unsanctioned kind - we grew up in KP while it was still open and functioning and its really not that creepy - it was literally in our backyard only separated by a small expanse of forest. the harmless patients would be let out to roam freely around town all day long and sometimes wander onto our street and try to "play" with us, totally harmless but still, our parents would call the hospital and they would come get them. It was just the norm for us. There was a cut through through someones backyard, across the psych center cemetery right to our middle school that we used to walk to get to school.
I dont know if there is anything worthy of going to see on a guided tour but that could be there is no mystique to it for me, since I grew up there, my friends parents worked there, my BF lived in a house on the grounds bc her mom was a Dr there.
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| Posted 9/23/11 2:45 PM |
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memi7206
LIF Adult
Member since 3/11 2355 total posts
Name:
Due Dec 29th!!!!!
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Posted by AndreaLMT
Oh cool!!!
But I'm assuming you can't go in the buildings on the tour...
no, they are collapsing and filled with asbestos.
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| Posted 9/23/11 2:46 PM |
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bea559
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 457 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Posted by memi7206
Posted by Megs4
I've taken a "tour" before but never a guided, sanctioned one! More like the troublemaking high school kid kind, late at night.
I didn't know that there were official tours! Might have to check it out.
ditto, just the unsanctioned kind - we grew up in KP while it was still open and functioning and its really not that creepy - it was literally in our backyard only separated by a small expanse of forest. the harmless patients would be let out to roam freely around town all day long and sometimes wander onto our street and try to "play" with us, totally harmless but still, our parents would call the hospital and they would come get them. It was just the norm for us. There was a cut through through someones backyard, across the psych center cemetery right to our middle school that we used to walk to get to school.
I dont know if there is anything worthy of going to see on a guided tour but that could be there is no mystique to it for me, since I grew up there, my friends parents worked there, my BF lived in a house on the grounds bc her mom was a Dr there.
That's really interesting! I became curious in the center while we were house hunting. We actually viewed a few homes that backed up to the center's grounds, which is why I'd like to learn more about its history. I can't beileve such a once thriving 'community' center could just be left like that, to wither and erode away.
Since the buildings are dangerous, I guess just a simple drive through should be fine (and safe). Thanks for the info!
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| Posted 9/23/11 2:55 PM |
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julz33
i run for bacon
Member since 5/05 20584 total posts
Name:
julz
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Another KPer here. I never took an offical tour but I've been there plenty of times. It would be interesting to know more of the history.
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| Posted 9/23/11 2:55 PM |
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ItsaJoya19
my cup runneth over
Member since 1/10 2949 total posts
Name:
E
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
I remember driving out there when i was a senior in HS. We only drove maybe a quarter mile into the place before we freaked out and turned around. lol
I passed it 2 years or so ago heading out to the Watermill and immediately went home and researched it. Very interesting/creepy.
This is a cool website with pictures of interiors
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| Posted 9/23/11 3:10 PM |
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Leb
LIF Adult
Member since 12/09 4166 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
I have taken many "self-guided" tours into the buildings when we were in high school.
It's pretty awesome in there, definitely creepy. But it was in such bad condition back then like 10 years ago plus I can't imagine it now.
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| Posted 9/23/11 3:24 PM |
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Megs4
LIF Adult
Member since 11/08 1619 total posts
Name:
Megan
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Posted by amL220
Posted by Megs4
I've taken a "tour" before but never a guided, sanctioned one! More like the troublemaking high school kid kind, late at night.
I didn't know that there were official tours! Might have to check it out.
lol
There is also this one, given by the parks dept this Sunday but I can't make it.
Kings Park Patch - walking tour
Do you think if DH and I went on our own, sometime during the day, it would be ok? We're new to the area, if you can't tell lol
The KP Hike/Bike Trail goes through a good portion of the grounds. They don't want you to go too close to the buildings but you can walk through everything easily in that area of the complex.
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| Posted 9/23/11 3:51 PM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
I love these buildings I remember seeing it once and being such a non-long islander I asked what it was and why its not used. My hubby filled me in. I came home and did lots of googling on it. It got a very interesting story.
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| Posted 9/23/11 3:55 PM |
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bea559
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 457 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Posted by Megs4
Posted by amL220
Posted by Megs4
I've taken a "tour" before but never a guided, sanctioned one! More like the troublemaking high school kid kind, late at night.
I didn't know that there were official tours! Might have to check it out.
lol
There is also this one, given by the parks dept this Sunday but I can't make it.
Kings Park Patch - walking tour
Do you think if DH and I went on our own, sometime during the day, it would be ok? We're new to the area, if you can't tell lol
The KP Hike/Bike Trail goes through a good portion of the grounds. They don't want you to go too close to the buildings but you can walk through everything easily in that area of the complex.
Cool - thanks! Bike riding through there is a great idea! Can you please tell me where I would go to access the trail? Thanks!!
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| Posted 9/23/11 4:11 PM |
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peanutbutter2
Carpe diem!
Member since 11/10 5287 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Posted by Megs4
I've taken a "tour" before but never a guided, sanctioned one! More like the troublemaking high school kid kind, late at night.
I didn't know that there were official tours! Might have to check it out.
Same here! We went there and Mount Misery so many times as kids...we scared ourselves crazy lol
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| Posted 9/23/11 4:17 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
For anyone who is interested in more history and interior pics etc this is a great site- they also have a pages on a lot of other places like this- pilgrim state, etc
Long Island Oddities
Look at the list of the building #'s on the right side of the page- you can click on every buidling to see inside shots.
It's amazing!
Message edited 9/23/2011 4:42:03 PM.
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| Posted 9/23/11 4:37 PM |
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memi7206
LIF Adult
Member since 3/11 2355 total posts
Name:
Due Dec 29th!!!!!
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Re: Kings Park Psych Center
Posted by amL220
Posted by memi7206
Posted by Megs4
I've taken a "tour" before but never a guided, sanctioned one! More like the troublemaking high school kid kind, late at night.
I didn't know that there were official tours! Might have to check it out.
ditto, just the unsanctioned kind - we grew up in KP while it was still open and functioning and its really not that creepy - it was literally in our backyard only separated by a small expanse of forest. the harmless patients would be let out to roam freely around town all day long and sometimes wander onto our street and try to "play" with us, totally harmless but still, our parents would call the hospital and they would come get them. It was just the norm for us. There was a cut through through someones backyard, across the psych center cemetery right to our middle school that we used to walk to get to school.
I dont know if there is anything worthy of going to see on a guided tour but that could be there is no mystique to it for me, since I grew up there, my friends parents worked there, my BF lived in a house on the grounds bc her mom was a Dr there.
That's really interesting! I became curious in the center while we were house hunting. We actually viewed a few homes that backed up to the center's grounds, which is why I'd like to learn more about its history. I can't beileve such a once thriving 'community' center could just be left like that, to wither and erode away.
Since the buildings are dangerous, I guess just a simple drive through should be fine (and safe). Thanks for the info!
It is really a shame, its suc h beautiful land. There are a few problems as to why since in closed in 1997 that its been left the way it has. One is bc KP is a very small tight knit community and there is always a lot of opposition and red tape by the community when you try to develop there, especially such a GIANT area. The community does not want the town to be commercialized and overcrowded and I have to say, I agree.
With that said, I do think its a waste. The other problem is the buildings and its series of underground tunnels are FILLED with asbestos, so its an EPA nightmare to safely take down hundreds of buildings and tunnels. The state (the land is state owned) refuses to be responsible for the cost of the clean up and any interested developers dont want to be either. Plus, there have been a few developers who wanted to develop more acreage than the state would allow.
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| Posted 9/23/11 5:45 PM |
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