This Creepy Asylum In New Jersey Is Still Standing… And Still Disturbing
Kristen
Author
There have been several state mental institutions in New Jersey that have closed their doors over the years, each with a chilling backstory. Many of us are well aware of the infamous Greystone Park in Morristown, and Overbrook Insane Asylum in Cedar Grove was used as the set for the screen adaption of Chuck Palahniuk’s Choke. Horrendous things happened at these institutions, among other abandoned asylums in New Jersey, but they are no more. Only a few asylums still remain, and one of the most terrifying is still in use. Let’s take a look at this abandoned psychiatric hospital in New Jersey.
He used surgery as treatment, unnecessarily maiming and mutilating patients, often removing teeth, gallbladders, significant portions of the stomach, tracts of the colon, and various other organs. While he claimed a cure rate of 85%, many of his "treatments" resulted in fatalities. Though Dr. Cotton died in 1933, several of his unethical and inhumane practices remained standard at the facility until the 1960s.
An analysis of state hospital data (by the Express-Times) from 2005 through 2010 shows Trenton recorded the highest rates of violence and patient restraint compared to New Jersey's other state psychiatric hospitals. Additionally, in that same time frame, there were 157 patient-on-patient assaults resulting in major injury at New Jersey's (then five) psychiatric hospitals. This data, which comes from the state's Department of Human Services website, shows that 112 (71%) of these incidents occurred at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital.
Though the abandoned portions of the facility are not open to the public, this video by Abandoned New Jersey will take you through the asylum, providing an eerie glimpse into what life was like at the institution before the onset of modern psychiatric treatments.
There is no denying the horrors that happened here as they were not kept secret; Dr. Cotton proudly published papers on his practices and findings. The history of the New Jersey Lunatic Asylum is truly terrifying and has served as the subject of numerous news stories, books, and even films. Madhouse: A Tragic Tale Of Megalomania And Modern Medicine by Andrew Scull, details the disturbing legacy of Dr. Henry Cotton in depth.
Have you ever seen this abandoned psychiatric hospital in New Jersey up close? If you’re up for an adventure, check out this road trip that will take you to several abandoned places in New Jersey.
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More to Explore
Abandoned and Creepy Places in New Jersey
What are the most haunted places in New Jersey?
The most haunted places in New Jersey include:
- Naval Air Station Lakehurst. This was the site of the Hindenburg disaster and many people claim that those who died aboard still haunt this location.
- Ringwood Manor. This is a beautiful 51-room estate that is currently a museum where people claim to hear footsteps, feel cold spots, and see ghosts.
- Red Mill in Clinton. This picturesque place is a museum and people report seeing someone on the third floor, which the mill says is unoccupied.
- Flanders Hotel in Ocean City. There’s a room called Emily’s Ocean Room where people report hearing laughter out of nowhere and seeing ghosts.
Find out more about the most haunted places in New Jersey.
What are the creepiest places in New Jersey?
The creepiest places in New Jersey include:
- Princeton Cemetery. Rumors of ghosts abound here and there are regular tours for ghost hunters in this cemetery.
- Jenny Jump State Forest. It is rumored that a woman jumped to her death here and that her ghost wanders the forest.
- Widow McCrea House Bed and Breakfast. Guests report hearing strange noises here and believe it to be haunted.
- The Seabrook-Wilson House. Also known as The Spy House, this place was built in 1650 and is said to be quite haunted.
Learn more about the creepiest places in New Jersey.
What are the most abandoned places in New Jersey?
The most abandoned places in New Jersey include:
- McNeal Mansion. This mansion was built in 1890 and was the largest private residence in America. Now it is a decaying ruin on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Trenton Psychiatric Hospital. The mental hospital was known for experimenting on patients who often died from these procedures.
- Fort Hancock. Once an army base, the barracks, and other buildings are in ruins and are a popular place for urban explorers.
- Atlantic City Race Course. This track opened in 1946 and was abandoned in 2015. It served as a venue for the Atlantic City Pop Festival in 1969 but is now already falling apart.
Discover more about the most abandoned places in New Jersey.