Insane History: Milledgeville’s Lunatic Asylum
Old towns like Milledgeville have no shortage of historical buildings and spooky legends passed down by locals. But its most significant destination for haunted history lies in the heart of Central State Hospital, a facility that was once the world’s largest insane asylum. The campus looks identical to a scene out of a Stephen King movie and has been featured in several books and documentaries regarding haunted locations. Those who dare to dive deep into the history of Georgia’s Lunatic Asylum gain an unsettling knowledge of the past treatment regarding the mentally ill.
Central State Hospital opened in 1842 as the Georgia State Lunatic, Idiot, and Epileptic Asylum. It was later renamed Central State Hospital in 1967. The need for a place to house the mentally impaired became a pressing issue during this time, and Milledgeville’s newest facility was just the spot to place these souls. Patients who were able helped to take care of the grounds and perform general maintenance of the campus. Patients had illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, and more, although today a diagnosis like anxiety would not send you into the looney bin as it did back then.
Although Central State was a much-needed facility in this era for the mentally ill, the staff did not always perform the most ethical procedures. The quality of the campus began to decline, as well. Stories of employees engaging in the practice of lobotomies have circulated over the years, and the matter only got worse when a rapid influx of patients began to outnumber the physicians. If patients weren’t being tormented with a lobotomy or other method of “curing”, they were surely suffering from the crowded conditions that led to the spread of other diseases. By 1929, Central State housed over 5,000 patients and only kept growing. This increase in patients didn’t mean that more people were going crazy; it meant that the definition of an “insane” person became blurred.
The lack of physicians, finances, and patient care set the stage for a place that would become one of America’s most intriguing abandoned destinations. Most of Central State closed in 2010 due mainly to poor standards and the misuse of funds. However, a portion of the campus remains in private or government ownership and houses around 200 patients. Still, the remnants of the world’s largest insane asylum still linger through the campus.
Fortunately, for all you haunted history lovers, tours are available to see the grounds. Trolley tours run once a month on the second, and walking tours take place on select dates in October and November. The trolley tour costs $30 per person and is generally from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The trolley departs from the Milledgeville Visitor Center. The walking tours cost $25 per person and last an hour from either 4-5 PM or 6-7 PM, depending on the date you choose. This one departs from the old Depot in Milledgeville. Both tours are led by a former employee. You are also welcome to drive through the Central State campus anytime as long as you do not enter any buildings or trespass. This location is definitely worth visiting, as long as you don’t mind the spirits that may pass by.
