The San Haven Sanatorium
Surprisingly, we haven’t covered many stories from North Dakota on the blog as of yet. It is the fourth most sparsely populated state, so while paranormal activity may run amok there are fewer people here to report it. While haunted Sanatoriums are a dime a dozen in New England and down the east coast, this is my first time covering one in the upper mid-west. Built in 1912, it was a huge respite for those looking for care during their sicknesses. It operated as a tuberculosis ward for nearly 5 decades, but when a cure was found it became an asylum in the 1960s. However, this would only last until 1987, when it was discovered the hundreds of patients being housed there were not properly cared for.
Nestled in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota, a sprawling Sanatorium was built in 1912. One year following its opening, the structure only housed a dozen patients, in the next decade that number would increase ten-fold to 140 patients and that number would only continue to grow as the decades slipped by.
For years, the nearby North Dakota Institute for those deemed mentally ill sent its overflow patients to the empty beds at San Haven for treatment. As tuberculosis became more treatable and a vaccine merged, the number swelled to 1,300 mentally ill or disabled patients being treated at San Haven. In the mid-1960s, it became official that the tuberculosis treatment arm of the hospital had closed, and it was now fully an asylum.
Due to overcrowding, poor understanding of how to treat mental illness, and a general lack of care for the well-being of the patients, San Haven was shut down in the late 1980s and officially closed in 1992. In fact, many former patients reside on the grounds permanently in unmarked graves.
It is, unsurprisingly, believed to be one of the most haunted buildings in North Dakota. Hundreds of souls perished here, were mistreated here, and were forgotten about here. Those who walk the grounds (which, without express permission from the owners is trespassing) have shared that they heard crying on the property, disembodied voices, and footsteps, as well as seeing floating humanoid apparitions.
It is also said a general sense of dread and discomfort fall upon all those who are in or near the buildings. Many of those left here are likely angry, and it is even said there have been some cases of a spirit or unknown entity attacking trespassers.
Ghost Adventures, a popular ghost-hunting show, also recorded an eerie EVP while filming on the property.
Today, the buildings and their surrounding land are owned by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa people. It is important to remember that, without permission, traveling here is considered trespassing. Additionally, urban exploring in older, uncared-for buildings is extremely dangerous. In 2001, a 17-year-old young man was exploring the ground with his friends when he slipped and fell down an elevator shaft to his death. Please keep this in mind before even thinking about urban exploring.
Thanks to Dave G for this Blogstonishing 2022 suggestion!
The blog image is of an Undated Postcard, courtesy North Dakota State University Libraries.