Haunted Insane Asylums Worldwide:  Behind the Asylum Walls

Explore five of the most haunted insane asylums worldwide, which have captured the imagination of ghost hunters and history enthusiasts alike.

Around the world, countless haunted insane asylums, mostly abandoned, continue to tell their stories. From ghostly apparitions and unexplained noises to unsettling occurrences that linger long after the doors are locked, each asylum holds its chilling narrative. Behind the asylum walls are stories often left in oblivion. While most haunted places are abandoned, it does not mean an abandoned place is automatically haunted. Haunted places usually have a history of violence, abuse, and death that gives them a mysterious aura.

In her book “ASYLUM SCANDALS: Abuse, Torture, Corruption and Murder in Minnesota’s State Hospitals,” Patricia Lubeck provides the history of Minnesota’s two oldest state hospitals – St. Peter and Rochester. The book offers a glimpse into daily life in these institutions from 1867 to 1915. While the asylums mentioned are not precisely haunted, to begin with, they are known for their unfortunate histories, which include the use of tortuous procedures.

In general, some of the oldest asylums we know today have unsettling histories and spine-tingling stories. In this article, we will discover the tragedies and triumphs that shaped five of the most haunted insane asylums in the world. We will unearth the dark secrets and mysterious events behind their imposing walls, where countless lives were once confined.

Photo by: Jon Butterworth

Haunted Insane Asylums: Five Most Haunted and Their Histories

Historical and emotional resonance often play a significant role in why certain places are considered haunted. Sites like creepy abandoned asylums frequently gain this reputation due to their dark pasts. The emotional weight of suffering, trauma, or untimely death associated with these locations feeds into the narrative of haunting.

People who visit such places frequently report experiencing events that cannot be easily explained by science or rationality. Such occurrences lead to a belief that the spirits or energy of past inhabitants linger in those spaces. When multiple people report similar eerie encounters over time, these stories build credibility and amplify the location’s haunted reputation.

If you are curious to know the histories of haunted insane asylums worldwide, here are five of them. Each asylum is known for its eerie history and reported paranormal investigations and activities.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is one of the most popular abandoned places in the United States. The hospital opened in 1864 Trans-Allegheny and is designed to accommodate 250 patients. However, the place became overcrowded, and the total number of individuals reached 2,400 by the 1950s. Up until today, the asylum continues to have reports of hauntings. It includes apparitions, unexplained noises, and a general sense of visitor unease. Today, the establishment offers historical tours, including ghost tours. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is located in Weston, West Virginia, USA.

Ararat Lunatic Asylum, also known as Aradale Mental Hospital in Aradale, Victoria, Australia, was custom-built along with two other asylums (Kew and Beechworth) to house the growing number of “lunatics” in the colony of Victoria. It was the largest asylum in Australia, with over 13,000 deaths on its record during its reputation. Established in 1867, Ararat is reputed to be haunted by former patients. Numerous reports of paranormal encounters include being bitten or pushed. One of its infamous ghosts is named James, who died because of an ulcerated hand.

Beechworth Lunatic Asylum in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, operated from 1867 to 1995. The asylum saw over 9,000 deaths. Visitors have reported sightings of former patients’ spirits, including that of a Jewish woman who met a tragic end. Another is a little boy, James, who talks to visiting children.

Danvers State Lunatic Asylum, located in Danvers, Massachusetts, USA, first opened its doors in 1878 and has since gained a dark reputation as the “birthplace of the prefrontal lobotomy.” This sprawling facility was known for the harsh treatment of its patients, often subjecting them to inhumane conditions that have left a lasting impact on its legacy. The eerie halls and empty rooms are steeped in stories of anguish and despair, leading many to believe that the spirits of former patients still linger within its walls, haunting the grounds with their unresolved traumas.

Athens Lunatic Asylum (Athens, Ohio, USA) was established in 1874. During its operation, the hospital offered a wide range of services to various types of patients, including Civil War veterans, children, and individuals deemed ‘mentally unwell,’ including those who committed violent crimes. The site includes thousands of unmarked graves, and visitors have reported paranormal experiences, including apparitions and unexplained sounds.

In addition, the asylum was known for practices like lobotomies and electroshock therapy. These types of treatments, which turned out to be torture for some patients, are among the horrible things that went on behind the brick walls of asylums, as revealed in Patricia Lubeck’s “Asylum Scandals.”

Photo by: Els Cattrysse

The Prevalence of Haunted Insane Asylums

The prevalence of abandoned asylums around the world is deeply connected to the changes in mental health care practices and societal attitudes over time. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, extensive institutional facilities like Minnesota’s two oldest state hospitals were established to house people with mental illnesses. Specific reasons such as lack of funds and staff led to harsh conditions and mistreatment, contributing to their negative reputation.

Today, these abandoned insane asylums remain as eerie reminders of their troubled past. Over time, they became magnets for paranormal enthusiasts drawn to their haunting atmospheres. The haunting legacy of abandoned asylums reflects the evolving journey of mental health care and the human stories embedded within their walls.

Discover the secrets yet to be revealed in two insane asylums with horrible history in “Asylum Scandals” by Patricia Lubeck. The book is now available for purchase in leading bookstores like Amazon.