I wrote about this place back in 2015. These are the ruins of a hospital that treated small pox patients back in the 1800s. Today, they’re known as Resnick* Ruins.
The Ruins are located on an island off Manhattan that, these days, is reachable by subway and gondola. However, when the hospital was in operation, the island was only reachable by boat thus the patients could look across the East River and see the glittering lights of Manhattan, but until they were healthy they were basically entombed.
We visited on our way back to Brooklyn from Manhattan and stopped only long enough to take a look around. It was a cloudy, moonless night and we were the only people around. The only living, breathing people that is. A slight breeze carried the moans of those long gone … whose suffering still remains.
In 2018 a group of people decided to try to save the Ruins. They removed the ceilings and interior walls and fortified the exterior walls. They planned to transform what remained into a walled garden. A memorial for all those folks who never made it off the island, many of whom had only just arrived in the United States. Then came the Covid. Now it will be a memorial for all pandemic victims. Their plans look lovely indeed, however, would I want to go back there even during the day? Nooooo.
Is there anyplace so frightening that you wouldn’t go into it, even during the day? And I don’t mean the dentist’s office or the IRS.
*Resnick is the name of the unfortunate architect (James Resnick, Jr)who will forever have his name associated with death and despair.
Saying nothing in particular 
There’s something about abandoned hospitals. They’re just innately creepy…
I don’t understand why the hospital was not torn down long ago. The views of Manhattan are incredible, especially at night. Perhaps no one wanted to enrage all those ghosts!
Every once in a while I’ll see a derelict house on some overgrown weedy lot and think no way would I go in there. I liked the Addams Family’s mansion, but this is different. Rats, rotten wood, cobwebs–ugh!
I love a good haunted house but the Ruins aren’t just scary, they are soooo sad.
Not all that metaphysically in tuned. However, some of the nuclear disaster sites around the world would be interesting to visit, given protective gear. Those might be pretty creepy.
Maybe it’s all in the “being there” — and then not wanting to now “be there”.
Oh, I’d like you to go poke around the Ruins late at night and then tell me out tuned out you are! From what I understand, the area around Chernobyl was thriving without humans.
I’d have to feel it to feel it, if you know what I mean–I’m a Spiritualist medium who can feel, see, hear, be, etc. ghosts. Poor spirit folks there–many are probably confused by their situation.
I don’t see ghosts – it’s just a sad place.
I’m not sure of places I wouldn’t go during the day, but yeah, that place is very sad.
A creepy place to visit. Especially at night.
It was!
Hi Jan, this place does look exceptionally creepy.
You could almost feel the pain and sorrow of all the people who’d died there.
Wonderful pics. Although, I agree. There’s something about ruined or abandoned hospitals that takes creepy to a whole new level. Hugs.
Thanks Teagan! There was a lot of misery at that hospital I’m sure. Scary the way it just lingers.
Great shots! I am with you 100%. I would also NOPE right out of visiting inside.
I avoid car repair facilities. Prefer The Mister do that. Not scary, just nerve-wracking, and usually, replete with misogyny.
I once drove a used BMW – great driving car but always in the repair shop so I know what you mean. I followed up with a cheap Subaru which in ten years only visited the repair shop once! Course it was gutless.
Thanks for sharing this idea Anita
I don’t know of any places I would not visit day or night. Although some places have sad stories, it’s amazing how they still survive, even if they are now in ruins. Seeing the lights of Manhatten from that hospital must have been a wonderful sight, but it’s a view I’d never want to have seen from there when it was used.
The view of Manhattan was amazing and I suppose it inspired many people to get better. As to why the hospital was just left to the elements, the island has been home to insane asylums and prisons and so for years no one wanted to live there. Or even visit. That’s changing although not that quickly considering its prime location. You’d probably find is a fascinating location for one of twisty tales of terror!
Old hospitals and asylums make great settings for horror stories. It may have been overdone, but I may give it a go sometime.
True, but no one can add the special Hugh twist like Hugh!
I saw a documentary about it. It gives you the chill, doesn’t it?
I’m going to have to look for that documentary! Thanks. I doubt if I’ll ever get back there again, but it would be interesting to see what they do to turn it into a memorial garden.
That does look scary!
Yes. There’s a men’s homeless shelter about 10 blocks from me. It’s massive, 300 cots I believe.
Drunkeness & fights are a mainstay (although alcohol is not allowed – good luck with that).
It’s surrounded by maybe 200 tents, over 100 anyway… all homeless adults.
There are no children.
There are shelters for families with children, but mostly it’s mothers and children.
Anyway, I would never go into that building, nor would I walk into that encampment.
This place happened during Covid, and has been growing ever since.
That place sounds more like a prison. How sad … and frightening.
Yes! It’s a huge problem. The area’s residents want them gone, but there’s nowhere to put them.
No one wants them in their neighbourhood.
They don’t want to go.
For a huge variety of reasons… these people do not want to be part of society.
I think it’s that variety of reasons that really makes it an impossible situation!
Yes!
Many ruins have that effect… I have to look the island on the map. I thought I’d seen it once when landing in New York…
Au revoir
An island between Manhattan and Brooklyn? All I could find was Governor’s Island…
Found it. Roosevelt island…
If you’ve ever in Manhattan, there’s a gondola that will take you over to the island. It’s relatively inexpensive and a lot of fun. Particularly at night.
Been to new York twice last two years. Duly noted for our next trip… Thanks.