The Haunting of the White Sanitarium
The White Sanitarium, situated in Wichita Falls, Texas, is an old mental asylum with a dark and haunting reputation. Throughout its years of operation, the sanitarium housed individuals with mental health disorders, witnessing both the advancements and controversial practices of the field. Today, the abandoned building stands as a chilling reminder of its past, with eerie tales of ghostly encounters and paranormal activity circulating among locals. From wandering spirits to mysterious lights and unsettling sounds, the White Sanitarium has become a magnet for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers alike.
The History of the White Sanitarium
The White Sanitarium, originally known as the State Lunatic Asylum, opened its doors in 1926 during the era of Jim Crow laws. Dr. Frank S. White, the facility’s founder and namesake, held progressive views on mental health and aimed to deinstitutionalize treatment. Unlike traditional asylums of the time, Dr. White believed in providing patients with freedom of movement and communal spaces for socialization. The sanitarium featured a communal living room, a library, and a recreation room with games.
However, despite Dr. White’s intentions for more humane treatment, the White Sanitarium still employed controversial practices such as electroshock therapy, electroconvulsive treatment, and lobotomies. These procedures inflicted trauma and harm on the patients, causing seizures and brain damage. In subsequent years, advancements in mental health treatment led to the adoption of cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotropic drugs.
Dr. White retired in 1931 due to poor health, and by the 1950s, the sanitarium faced significant challenges, including flooding and water damage. These issues ultimately led to the closure of the facility. Over time, the abandoned building gained notoriety and locals began referring to it as “Hotel California,” drawing parallels to the haunting hit song by the Eagles.
In 2020, new owners purchased and renovated the White Sanitarium, transforming it into apartment units. The building now offers a unique coexistence between the living and the echoes of its unsettling past.
Is the White Sanitarium Hunted?
According to local folklore and numerous accounts, the White Sanitarium is believed to be haunted by the spirits of its former residents. Visitors and paranormal enthusiasts have reported various ghostly encounters and unexplained phenomena within the building’s walls.
One common apparition sighted by witnesses is that of a woman dressed in white, often seen drifting around the grounds or gazing out of windows. Additionally, wild-haired figures wearing hospital gowns are said to wander the halls, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Unusual lights flickering in the windows during the night, even when there is no electricity, have been observed by many. Visitors who peer into the old recreation room claim to have glimpsed the ghostly presence of individuals engaged in a poker game. Glowing cigarette butts have been reported to float through the darkness, adding to the otherworldly ambiance.
Ghost hunters are drawn to the White Sanitarium, with some experiencing cold spots or feeling a chilling sensation down their spines. Others have reported hearing a child’s voice speaking when no child is present, or the distinct sound of an old-fashioned bicycle horn being tooted without any visible source. Passersby in the vicinity during the witching hour have even claimed to witness glowing orbs floating around the property, resembling the souls of former asylum inmates.
As the White Sanitarium continues to capture the imagination of those seeking the supernatural, its reputation as a haunted location persists, drawing both skeptics and believers into its enigmatic and chilling history.
Address: White Sanitarium, Wichita Falls, Texas, United States.
Sources:
1. Texas Paranormal Events. “The White Sanitarium in Wichita Falls, Texas.” https://texasparanormalevents.com/white-sanitarium-wichita-falls-texas/
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