New Jersey State Hospital for the Insane

Youre a great photographer, i admire your courage, over here old building are quickly demolished, its he Dutch nature to tidy up everything, but it takes away a very preciousdimension in architectural history and plain storytelling. I frequently whatch sites like this, but this asilum is the bes, and if we would have ruins like this in my country I surely would explore them, you can clearly see the difference between the Netherlands, and fi Belgium, wich is our neighbouring country ; they leave buildings decay in peace, a good building deserves it.
Keep up the good work, ill be watching
regards
jan wiedemeijer

I visited Greystone last weekend with my twin sister. We recently started our own paranormal research team, T.W.I.N.S. . We drove up on the site via the back, which also passes by the "new" Greystone Mental Hospital, called Greystone Park. We drove along the side of the main building and saw the warning signs that it was the property of the State of New Jersey. We hesitated, turned around, then saw a sign saying Central Park, so we went in. The entire front part of the property is now a town park, with baseball fields, ice hockey rink, etc. It's kind of strange because there's even a bus stop there, which is right in front of the mainl building, no fences. We parked in one of the lots in the public park, then walked along the left side of the buildings along an access road. We walked alongside the buildings on the left and found a courtyard that was fenced, but the fence was open at the back. We peeked in and I saw two doors. I walked in a little ways and saw the door ajar. Every door and window before that had been nailed shut. I couldn't believe my eyes. We went up to the door, and found it open. We then entered and spent a few hours, which wasn't nearly enough, only got through the first half and only a few floors and got as far as the main entrance building and the chapel. There's lots of asbestos tiles that are littering the floors, so wear a mask if you go. Wear good closed shoes, bring flashlights and necessary recording equipment if you're serious about ghost huntiing. We will be going back again soon, and will be spending much more time there, hopefully getting through to the other half we didn't get to. It's very creepy, very old. I want to go into the basement and check it out. Yes, it's patrolled, we saw a cop car pass, but if you're discreet, look lke you're at the park, you won't have a problem. Of course a night time visit is different as the park closes at dusk unless there's a event going on, your parked car would set off alarms. Now, if I can get my pictures uploaded to this site, I'd love to share. I've been a professional photographer for 22 years so I did get some great shots. The thing is, I was so entranced, I didn't take half as many as I should have. It was very overwhelming first time through.

Voy a dar mi opinión en español, la podría dar en inglés, pero en la red hay gente bilingüe: la sugestión es poderosa y puede más que la realidad; si el marco es suceptible incide en la percepción por alta sensación produciendo apariciones a la misma persona pero nunca en el medio. No vean más allá de donde en términos globales no hay nada.

Well, as of this year, supposedly most of Greystone has now been renovated by the state or been demolished (if not being used). After watching Ghost Adventures, I researched it and found this out. So if you trespass now, you're doing so on state property. Just thought I'd warn y'all.

Simply spectacular photography. The old TV in the hall got my attention and got me wondering what major events were watched on that set. It appears to be from the early 60s so it broadcasted the Vietnam war nightly. The Kennedy assassination? Probably. The assassination of Martin Luther King & Robert Kennedy? Yep. The Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spaceflight programs, the moon landings, Watergate & the resignation of Richard Nixon, Disco, American Bandstand, ABBA, M*A*S*H, All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore, The Waltons, Gilligan's Island, Bonanza, the Reagan years, the list goes on and on.

I've visited Greystone a couple of times back in 2001-2003. We went very late at night, dressed all in black and only brought flashlights with us. One person had a backpack. We were able to enter through a very small broken window on the first floor which put us into a round room completely covered with windows, so I'm guessing it was a sun room of sorts. Leaves scattered the floor.

We walked down the hallway and noticed an open room to our right. It was filled with filing cabinets and a really old light-box.. Within the filing cabinets and strewn about the room were hundreds if not thousands of manila envelops with numbers on the outside of them. Those numbers were the patient's identity and within the envelopes were large negatives of photos. From what I could tell there was on taken when they entered the hospital and one taken when they were finally released. Some envelopes contained more than one set of photos and some only had the admittance photo so you know they either died there or were never released. It was very ominous being in that room. It was like their souls were in those envelopes...

We walked around a lot of the hospital..but i know we barely covered half of it. Everything there was intense. Things left just as they were when it closed. Very old wooden wheel chairs, iron singer sewing machines on their wooden tables, operating tables, water-electroshock therapy tubs... So many things.. The peeling lead paint and scent of mold was overwhelming but we were so curious and intrigued by everything around us.

At one point we were on either the second or third floor and came across records strewn across the hallway corridor floor. I thought it was records of people that worked there, but I cannot remember. Full identity information was on them including name, date of birth, full sets of finger prints, date and some even stated "colored" or "negro" depending on the year. Some of these were as old as the 1930s from what I remember.

Walking further upstairs which in some stairwells was a bit of a dangerous feat, There was an old piano decaying in what almost looked like an attic. Going through the underground tunnels was musty and wet. But they were definitely there and very confusing. It would be very easy to get lost in them.

I really wish I was able to go to Greystone during the day as I would have loved to take pictures for myself, but these on your site are absolutely wonderful and bring back many memories. Thank you for posting this site.

You did an amazing job on this! The pictures are outstanding! You truly captured the disrepair of the hospital in a beautiful way. Thank you for sharing!

For any urban explorers interested in going to Greystone you might want to get on that. Most of the buildings in the park are being demolished to make room for dog parks, skating rinks, play grounds ect... I think only one building remains. Be VERY careful the park police, human services and morristown police. They will throw the book at you if you get caught "snooping" around. I learned the hard way @ 14.

anyone with information on Greystone? Does anyone have any documents from it?

Mike

When I saw the episode of Ghost Adventures I knew I had been there. Wow I remembered walking through the arches, through the wide halls. My poor grandmother died there from Alzheimer. Pretty creepy....I have no doubt the place is haunted by some very troubled souls.

Greystone is a very cool place. I been there about 3 times. I wouldn't enter during the day due to OMH PATROLLING around the back of the building. The safest location to enter from will be given upon request. Don’t be an idiot and enter the building during the day. This is a Pre Dawn gig only ladies and germs.

Okay so i saw the Ghost Adventures episode when they came to he Northern NJ phsyciatric hospital and i thought it was awesome! I love all the ghost shows and everything, I am a total beliver in ghosts no joke. I hope one day i can actually go on an investigation some where haunted, I wouldn't mind coming to the Northern NJ phsciatric hospital some day either.

It looks like there is maybe a nurse standing at the left of the blowing curtain. Seems like she steps up then back, then turns right and walks away.

hey guys. was just watching ghost adventures, and im a ghost researcher freak. im overcome by these places. This is one I have never been to. Does anyone have any information for me about it further, I.E. how to get in, exact location, etc? I also am lookin for some new friends to chill with and maybe go ghost hunting with. I have a passion for this stuff. I am located in hightstown, NJ. Exit 8 off the turnpike. Hit me up on aol at kyleb481. look for me on facebook too. Cant wait to hear about this place. Ill talk to you all soon. Thank you.

You can find a list of (they called them inmates) in the Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County, NJ US 1930 census. It showes their names of more than 3,850 inmates and and about 700 employees, date and place of birth as well as their parents place of birth.

hey gabbie,

Ive only been to Marlboro, in Marlboro, NJ. the rest of my group havent been up to going out anymore. It took some time getting in around security, but easy enough as they were a bit lazy. I was there at night, si red flashlights are a must otherwise you will just announce yourself with regular white. Jit me up at prairietanranger@yahoo.com and ill tell you how i went in.

hey everyone, I'm trying to find one of these abondend asylums to go to, which are the easiest to get in? (ie less patrol/cops) and it's location??
thanks =]

the new season of house they used this as a model for there "hospital"

Me and a few friends tried going there tonight but weren't sure where to go in. If anyone has any advice please let me know. Also is it better to go during the day or at night. Any help would be appreciated.

A group of my friends and I recently paid a visit to this notorious place twice. The first time we just pretty much walked around the building, we wound up on the third or fourth floor. Unfortunatley we didnt find what we were looking for until the second time we went back. WE all rounded up enough guts to go into the basement, it is very dusty and moist and i duggest bringin a mask of soome sort to keep yourself from breathing in whatever it is. If you continue through the basement you will find stone stairs leading into a tunnel. the tunnel goes for a while then you end up another hallway of some sort, we did not want to get lost so we turned back. We were all happy however that we proved that the myths of an underground tunnel system was true

Absolutely beautiful photos of some awe inspiring buildings. I especially like the hospitals and I love those old wheel chairs.

I ventured nearly two hours to the Greystone buildings Sunday afternoon, and almost immediately saw a police officer parked at the top of the hill, in front of the building. My buddy and I decided to walk the perimeter of the asylum, hoping for an entrance. We got into the courtyard, but unfortunately all 4 doors were locked. However, we eventually got into the front of the building, and the cop left. We noticed a door propped open, an elevator door actually. The lights were on so we almost didn't go in, but I convinced my buddy to try it out. I walked in hoping to see another living person due to the lights being on. "Hello, hello" until we got to the 2nd floor and realized we were alone. I later got into a church on the 4th floor as well as explored the entire facility. I GOT LOST ON THE WAY OUT! So beware that it is a maze in there, as well as asbestos and peeling lead paint everywhere. I'd go in with a mask, but don't listen to whoever says the cops will arrest you in 30 seconds, because that isn't true. Just don't be stupid, but everybody slacks including police. So be careful and you can get in

Hello fellow adventurers... for those of you interested, I have an update on the status of Essex County Hospital aka Overbrook in Cedar Grove, NJ: Cops are patrolling very heavily, almost got caught last night (Monday night, believe it or not). The right-hand side of individual buildings is very exposed and most of the first-floor windows and doors are boarded up/sealed shut - you are better off sticking to the complex on the left-side. If you get in one building or door, you can traverse nearly the entire place from building to building and tunnel to tunnel. However, be advised that the place is choked with asbestos, dust, mold, mildew, fungus, peeling lead paint, etc etc.

On a sadder note, Overbrook will be razed for parkland and more bullshit suburban sprawl by 2011/2012. They seem to be taking their time, but ultimately, one by one the buildings shall fall :*(** This depresses me endlessly as I have a very bizarre love and fascination with the place. I have been trying to document it and explore it inch by inch, I wish the rest of you luck as well.

As for Greystone, many friends including one state trooper and one county cop have told me not to even bother trying, that we would be caught in 30 seconds. The place apparently has their own cop station down the road and they swarm the place and hide out regularly. I circled it endlessly with a friend and there is literally nowhere to park unless you park a mile away in a neighborhood and go through the sparse woods surrounding it. If you think you are ninja and stealth enough, well, I wish you luck. Will I give it a try? Maybe,... with a little more research. If anyone has any tips or tricks, I'd be most appreciative.

Hey, my national guard unit is going to be in morristown, can someone tell me where this old hospital is and the best way to enter it to explore, thanks

I worked on a TV show that shot at Greystone in '09. Because we needed to duplicate the style of the interior architecture as a stage set, we were allowed in, for several days to measure, draw, and photograph. (I have over 1000 pictures). The site of the old hospital is completely non-functioning. The new Greystone Hospital is up the road, and is a working hospital. Many of the old buildings have been demolished. The main building, depending on what part you're in, is in various stages of decay, largely because of the lack of heat, and the moisture. Also, be warned, in the basement level of the hospital is asbestos... lots of it. There are also police constantly patrolling the premises. I wouldn't want to be in there at night.

hi everyone. so i have a group of friends that goes on urban exploring escapades. we've been to quite an amount of places already. but now i've come to a stump. our next trip is saturday and the point of interest is the essex county area. i've realized there are so many names for these Essex County mental facilities and i'm confused as to which ones are abandoned, which ones are demolished and which ones are active. we've been to pennhurst already and eastern state penitentiary and more places. can someone help? i've done alot of research already and i can't seem to figure it all out. plus there's so many names for these buildings too

Can I get the exact address ....

Has anyone been here recently? If so, what to expect?

Hey joy balloon, it was Essex County Mental Hospital it also went by the name Overbrook

hey anybody hear been to sea side training school in waterford ct i was told the place is off the chain

I will have to check this place out. I am looking for an urban exploration group to go around with and explore all sorts of places. I have seen many places in the world but nothing like the places in NJ. Hey, Prairietanranger, I am in ocean county so if you want to make up a good group let me know. valiantgundam@gmail.com

you should try going to norwich state hospital this place is great 5stare

Ghost Adventures from the Travel Channel visited an asylum I believe in Northern NJ. Can anyone tell me the name of this site? I would also like to know how to see some of the pics that some people are remarking about here on this website.. I love old architecture /buildings and homes. Everything seems to be being demolished, the land that these diamonds in the rough are sitting on are worth more than the buildings. How sad!

i recently ventured up here, after doing some surveilience i made my way in, it has light security patrole but its easy to get in. after making my way in i found some rooms that were chained shut i ended up breaking in to two and broke my cutters on another door, only one room had anything cool...some files on patients, and several medievalish looking restraint devices. i rolled two deep and we came in at dusk, hoping to stay into the night hours, equiped with like surveilance matirial we were able to get some extreme cold spots and light evp, SEVERAL voice residuals of voices, and talking, moaning...i did feel something brush and scratch my neck...i have photos of a red mark made on my neck, most of the occurences happened in the late nite early morning hours, please be warned cops patrol and me and my buddy are both trained armed service personel we were able to keep low key, and there are things to be seen, just be carful and dont be rude to the spirits, or you may be hurt.

I'm not sure if we're thinking of the same ghost show but about a year ago, a show was aired and called "Abandoned NJ Psychiatric Hospital" or something along those lines. I'm sure they were covering up the real name of the hospital because it is HIGHLY patrolled and the buildings in the show looked exactly like Essex Hospital in New Jersey. I've been here a few times and only made it in once due to getting almost arrested/kicked out. But like I said, I'm not sure if we're thinking of the same show. The thrill of trying to get into Essex is fun anyway and there's another part of Essex called Overbrook or Overlook - crazy stuff inside totally worth checking out but be super super careful!!!

I actually went to this place last night and had quite an experience. After roaming around the entire building in the pitch black and trying every door I came across, I noticed that most doors were padlocked and chained from the INSIDE. Surprisingly, there was a white door with "NEWS FEED" written on it that was open - no lock, no nothing. It opened to a brightly lit hallway in which I explored 4 different levels of that one wing of the building. I made it into the center building which was completely well lit, but found no one there. (I assumed perhaps a security guard or at least SOMEONE would be occupying the building) There were many documents and everything seemed to be left where it had been placed years ago. I took photos as well. We did end up getting caught by the police but that wasn't until we got out of the building (thank god). They let us go with a warning but it was worth the risk and definitely worth taking a look inside!! For sure this was one of the creepiest places I have ever visited. I would recommend it to anyone.

no that was a cover up it was really norwich state hospital but because it is such a hot spot at the time they were told by the state of ct to tell us it was in nj

Greystone is abandoned, but there's a new hospital with the same name not far from the kirkbride building. And there's security. Try checking out some of the other buildings on the campus

Hi,

Im kind of new to UE. I have explored the Marlboro hospital and was hoping you could tell me if Greystone is abandoned or in use and if its explorable.

TY

The site is no long active. But now is up for grabs the site. is beautiful internal. The Male and female wings are both being eaten alive. The site is still powered and has some level security. The grounds are 90% gone other then the Kirk. Sad but she still stands defiantly. I've got photos if your intrested.

Great photos. My dad worked at Greystone from around 1965 until retiring in 1992. He even volunteered at the fire house behind the main building. There was a guy at the fire house in the early 1970 who had a pet lion named baby and he would often bring it and let everyone pet her. There was a post office inside near some vending machines where some patients would hang out and give me change for the machines. They were always nice, never scary. I also remember eating many times at a little luncheonette to the right of the main building. My dad and mom also lived in a little cottage off the main road. Im wondering how much can possibly be left? There were so many buildings... There were seperate buildings for children and adolescents off the main road. There was a playgound behind the childrens building. Icould go on...

does anyone know if this was the place that was on travel channels ghost adventures, "Abandoned NJ Psychiatric Hospital" just curious they made such a big deal about keeping that location a secret "to protect people" what ever that means they didn't name names

does anyone know if there are records of patients in this place? my aunt was in here back in the 1920's.

what dan said is true, me and a couple friends went and checked it out a few days before christmas and it is still in operation, although the main facility doesnt appear to be fully in use although the main entrance was fully lit on the inside and we saw a security gaurd walking around in there.

Contrary to Rinn's post, Greystone is very much still active, and even expanding these days. I live 10 minutes from the place, and know that a great deal of demolition was done in addition to extensive construction on new buildings. Some of the old buildings pictured have since been demolished, however driving by the (quite large) campus, it is quite obviously still a working mental institution.

What they did to my mother was horrible. They gave her electric shock tratments and she is now in her 70's and still can't remember alot of her life. She tried to kill herself years ago and all they did there was make her worse. She has always been odd ever since that happened to her. They did not give her the help she needed to get better they just experimeted on her like she was an animail in a lab. I dont remember what yesr she was there but I do know in was time in the 1960's > I remember her coming home from the hospital and I was just alittle girl and I was so scared of her because all she did was stare and had a blank look on her face. I do not think to much of this place and after all these years I thought I would write and say how I feel and what it did to my family.

I actually got inside as well...I also found a Nurses log which was really interesting. I have been to many places in NJ. And just to let everyone know....Greystone is actually no longer active. The main building was used for sometime after the other building closed but some months ago they closed the whole place down. Also there are cops that patrol the places and will kick you out.

I drove up to morristown today to see if I could get into the abandoned buildings, but there so many people around! How did you get in without anyone seeing you? And where did you get in, if you don't mind me asking... I would really love to explore this place, but I don't want to get caught or arrested.

The pictures were amazing!

My favorite was probably the Television one.
It had and extra artistic touch to it!
I am quite jealous of these photographs.

Beautiful pictures.
I must visit some of these asylums.
I wonder how being a patient in any of these places (all the asylums on this site),
must have been. Did the doctors methods, therapies work?
What actually happened inside these buildings?
They must be haunted indeed.

This is almost straight out of Silent Hill! Very creepy indeed, makes me wonder if the developers of said game used this place as inspiration...

Wouldn't dare to hang around after dark.

There are great shots of the Buffalo Psych Center here:
nysasylum.com

It's an amazing building at Buffalo State that's falling apart. There's an effort underway to convert the buildings into dorms, apartments, office space, etc.

they have one in Buffalo NY the Buffalo Psychiatric Center you should see if you could get in there and take some pics i would love too see them

I loved the photos, they were so creepy. they made me think something like: what awful methods did they use back then?! and imagine all psychological pain in the area through the ages...

Excellent photos. As I'm sure everyone's aware, Greystone is the institution Woody Guthrie lived in whilst in the throes of Huntington's Chorea.

To Joyce: no patient photos found. But I am sure there are some, some many stuff left over there...

Have you ever come across patient photogvraphs from 1895-1921? My hisband's grandfather was a patient there at that time. His wife died suddenly and he became depressed. That's all it took in those days.
would love to see them. This work you have done is amazing. I have been to see the outside of the place.
JP

I would like to use the postcard of greystone you have there, could you send it to me pls?

Excellent work, your photos of this location are beautiful!

Picture 31 is of a "Trendellenberg" operating table. They havent been used since the 1940's Just thought you'd enjoy knowing. Great pictures too!

any ghost have been seen or heard here????

you bloody bastard! you did it again ! How do you get in to places i only dream of ??? Groets...;/ Jens

those pictures are amazing, what a place.

Thanks mate!

Absolutely beautiful photography (as per usual) ! ~ CopySix www.UrbExBarrie.Blogspot.com