Seaside Sanatorium

View of the main building

On the beaches of Waterford there lies a once breathtakingly beautiful facility. It overlooks the Atlantic ocean and stands out even still. However today nature has overtaken the landscape and torn away at the infrastructure. The Seaside sanatorium was originally built to house children with tuberculosis in the 1930’s. It was actually designed by Cass Gilbert who designed the Supreme Court and the Woolworth building. It was built as a safe place where kids could get better and it was thought the sun and the fresh air would help cure them of the disease. With tuberculosis cases going down the facility was transitioned into a home for the elderly, so they could benefit from the sea air in 1958. Later by the 1970’s the facility started treating the mentally ill. (Yes another mental hospital in Connecticut). Around the same time there were more reports about suspicious activity going on inside the walls.

Photo of what looks like a kitchen

Later in the 1990’s the facility was still in function. However, at this time the rate of “mysterious deaths” and disappearances skyrocketed. The state then decided to shut it down due to media attention and the facility was closed for good. It always surprises me that the state never tears down these places, but I guess it adds to the overall New England spookiness of Connecticut. Recently though the state has decided to clean up the area to make it a state park. Personally, I don’t think I would be able to relax on the beaches in front of a haunted facility, but to each their own.

Other explorers have brought in EVP’s to see if there is any paranormal activity and many have said they have heard children’s laughter and other indescribable sounds. The fan favorite of the area is the playground which has been rotting away and leaves people with goosebumps as they walk by. Maybe it is the sea air, but maybe it is something else. Most of the buildings are boarded up, but you can still see some of the equipment and boarding rooms through the broken windows.

Portion of the playground

As you walk by it feels like you are being transported into a horror movie taking place in the 1940’s. The sky is incredibly grey and the wild from the sea will create almost like an unescapable tunnel. the facility itself is in disarray but looms over you as you walk. I can only imagine what it would like from the sea. The old, dim building sitting on the edge of the sea unable to really share the secrets it holds. It appears lonely and sad just sitting there and it haunts me to know that there would be hundreds of people walking around and living in these buildings. When I imagine that I picture that the sun shines a little brighter and the feeling of pressure and eyes on you doesn’t exist. The metal on the playground is rusted and the windows are broken and the wood on the buildings is bending with age.

This facility is incredibly broken down and I don’t think any of the infrastructure should be trusted especially now with construction starting to make it a state park. However, it would still be a great place to visit.

Good luck!

Some photos from the origin of the facility