Prepare to get chills down your spine at a former asylum in Upstate New York that has now been dubbed as “haunted.” This eerie location is located in East Bethany, and is sure to give you goosebumps.
HGTV has named Rolling Hills Asylum as the creepiest place in New York state, edging out other contenders. Built as a poorhouse, the asylum is said to have witnessed over 1,700 deaths and is now believed to be a hub of supernatural activity by paranormal investigators. HGTV’s list of the spookiest places in every state has been released just ahead of Halloween, and Rolling Hills Asylum has emerged as the most spine-chilling destination for thrill-seekers.
The Rolling Hills has been included in the list of haunted places, which also includes the Sloss Furnaces of Alabama where numerous workers died, and the Bonaventure Cemetery in Georgia, the eerie graveyard that was featured on the cover of the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”.
According to Rolling Hills, the East Bethany asylum in New York was established in 1827 within a previous stagecoach tavern. Initially known as the Genesee County Poorhouse, the facility provided shelter to a diverse population, including individuals categorized as “habitual drunkards,” “lunatics,” the destitute, disabled, widowed, or orphaned.
According to Rolling Hills, every individual residing in the poorhouse was referred to as an “inmate”. Those who possessed physical ability were assigned to work on the property’s farm. Their daily tasks included raising livestock, cultivating vegetables, operating a bakery, and constructing coffins.
The potter’s field had become the resting place for numerous bodies over time. However, as the asylum shut down in 1974, the cemetery started to deteriorate and became overgrown with plants.
Rolling Hills asylum’s closure has attracted numerous ghost hunters who are eager to uncover the eerie secrets of the facility.
Rolling Hills’ most famous spirits have been featured on television, including on the Travel Channel. These include Roy, an inmate with gigantism who lived in the asylum from age 12 until his death at 62, and Nurse Emmie, an infirmary worker known for cruelty and rumored involvement in Satanic rituals.
Guided tours, ghost hunts, and even weddings are now available at Rolling Hills Asylum. The former poorhouse, which is located on the Haunted History Trail of New York State, has been dubbed the second most haunted site in the United States by Haunted North America.
The asylum is brimming with artifacts from its past, including crates, dolls, chairs, and bathtubs. Fearless visitors often take spooky selfies while climbing into these tubs.
If you’re interested in touring Rolling Hills, you can find the institution at 11001 Bethany Center Road in East Bethany. Check out the asylum’s website to learn more about tour options.
More News:
- The University of Florida Claims the No. 1 Spot for Affordability in the U.S.
- The Resurrection Cemetery – Chicago’s Terrifying Haunted Tale
