If you are looking for a place to experience some chills and thrills, you might want to visit the Glenn Dale Hospital in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
This sprawling hospital complex has been abandoned for over 30 years and is slowly decaying into a ghostly ruin. Here are some reasons why this hospital is one of the creepiest places in the state.
History of Glenn Dale Hospital
Glenn Dale Hospital was built in 1934 as a tuberculosis sanatorium and isolation hospital. It was one of the most important public health institutions in the Washington DC area, housing adults and children in separate buildings.
However, with the discovery of a vaccine in the 1940s, the number of tuberculosis cases declined rapidly. The hospital then opened up to treat other conditions, such as chronic diseases and mental illnesses. It also served as a home for the criminally insane until its closure
The estimated cost of renovating the hospital was $23 million, which was deemed too expensive. The hospital then began to wind down its operations, and by 1981, it was completely closed
Hauntings and Urban Legends
Since its closure, the hospital has been left to rot and decay, becoming a magnet for trespassers, vandals, graffiti artists and urban explorers. The hospital is also rumored to be haunted by the spirits of the patients and staff who died there. Some of the stories and legends that circulate the hospital are:
The hospital’s incinerator, which was used to burn medical waste, was also used to dispose of human remains. Some people claim to have seen bones and ashes in the incinerator, and to have heard screams and moans coming from it
The hospital’s morgues, located in the basements of the buildings, are also very creepy. They still contain metal tables, sinks, cabinets, and drawers, where the bodies of the deceased were stored and examined. Some people have claimed to have seen blood stains, body parts, and apparitions in the morgues
Future of Glenn Dale Hospital
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission currently owns the hospital, which patrols the grounds regularly and prohibits trespassing. The hospital was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011, but its future is uncertain.
Several attempts to sell or redevelop the property have failed, due to the high cost of renovation, the presence of asbestos and lead paint, and the legal restriction that the hospital must be used as a continuing care retirement community
Conclusion
Glenn Dale Hospital is one of the creepiest places in Maryland, not only because of its dilapidated and eerie appearance, but also because of its tragic and haunted history. The hospital was once a place of hope and healing, but now it is a place of horror and despair. It is a reminder of the suffering and death that tuberculosis and other diseases caused, and of the people who lived and died there. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, visiting the hospital is a chilling and unforgettable experience.
