A Most Unusual Post

I am quite proud to announce that there is now a portfolio site up for the work I do here.  It can be found at undertherumtree.com and features some photography not of a vacant nature.

Rockland Psychiatric Hospital, Revisited

Last winter, I got it into my mind to go bowling  And so, on a bright cold morning, we trekked through the winding campus of Rockland Psychiatric Hospital to Building 40.  Building 40 was used as a recreation hall for patients during the heyday of the institute and featured a projector for films, as well as an indoor basketball court and bowling alley.  While the ball return no longer functions, we bowled a few frames the old fashioned way.

Las Vegas - Under The Strip

Somehow, in the hustle and bustle of 2012, the account of my time beneath the Las Vegas strip fell by the wayside.  The storm drains of Las Vegas run underneath the famous Strip, funneling rainwater and housing some of the desitute.  During the week spent out west, access points were scouted and security checked as I planned to infiltrate the underbelly.  Having met a homeless guy as we visited his lodging site(see: Las Vegas - The Death of The American Dream) and encountered the smell of cadaver emanating from a secluded corner of the same site, this excursion was an uneasy one.  Previous explorers have encountered unsavory characters in the dark recesses of Sin City.

We ventured out the last morning at dawn, beating the heat of mid-day and made our way to the access point.  A hop, skip, and short sprint later found us losing the bright desert sun as we edged our way past puddles.  Once in the tunnels, it was surprisingly damp and flooded considering there had been no rains recently.  Approximately a half mile in, we were in near total darkness, accompanied by the sounds dripping water and people talking in the distance.  The echoes of those distant voices grew closer as we neared a split in the tunnels and the decision was made to head back toward daylight.  The tunnels under the Strip were unnerving in more ways than one, with the coupling of sensory deprivation and the possibility of meeting some of the more desperate citizens of a glowing neon city.

Another Vacant Property

Into the Dark

Back to the Light

Note: Due to the dangers of being in such a place, I opted not to use flash to alert anyone to my attention.  Sadly, only one of the following photos is of the tunnels so I hope the contrast between the bright desert city and infrastructure underneath is still visible to you, the viewer.

Rockland Psychiatric Center

Rockland Psychiatric Center is another large, all inclusive psychiatric treatment facility.  Similar to the farm colony style of King's Park, it was designed to be self sufficient.  While a portion of Rockland Psych is operational, a large section sits boarded up and festooned with climbing vines and overgrowth - a testament to the warehousing of psychiatric patients and the mentally unstable.  There is always a chair, so have a seat.

power up.

stay and bowl a frame.

safe haven.