Perhaps one of the eeriest ghost towns in Washington State is that of Northern State Mental Hospital. Located near the town of Sedro-Woolley, the former mental hospital is a stark reminder of how mental illness used to be treated by the medical profession.
At one point in time, the facility housed over 2700 patients. Unfortunately, now, there are as many as 1500 people known to have been buried in the abandoned facility, possibly more.
Established in 1909, the 700-acre farm was designed to offer jobs for the mentally ill. Patients and staff enjoyed modern conveniences such as a library, gymnasium, bakery, and dairy, not to mention the farms designated for food production.
Patients were supposed to work on the farm as part of their medical treatment. Originally, it was set up to take the overflow from Western State Hospital. In time, it became a vital institution for mental health care in the state of Washington.
At its peak, it had its own water reservoir, rock quarry, and sewer system. The grounds even featured a steam plant, lumber mill, and facilities to can the foods grown on the 700-acre farm so that there was a continual supply of food.