Long Island Farm Colony
Another Visit to Abandoned Kings Park State Hospital

I said I’d be back. But this time, I brought reinforcement. Today’s photographic missions were all about entrance, chasing the light as it streamed within the decaying structures of both Kings Park State Hospital and Pilgrim State. First, Kings Park State Hospital. We explored the doctors’ cottages because of the ease of entrance, though many had been newly boarded up since my visit in late November 2019. And this second visit, like my first, barely scratched the surface of what remains of the Kings Park State Hospital. So, another promise: to be back… with a tripod, better gloves, and hopefully without the pulsating waves of pain from a massive dental procedure from the day before.

I am officially naming winter as Urban Exploration season. For one, branches are barren, leaving structures more exposed and the shuffling around their overgrowth more easy. For another, less folks about.

Despite the condition of this roof, we entered this cottage.

So inviting…

Looking for light in all the wrong places

This place is a hole in the wall. Several holes in the wall

As I gather the courage to go up… We were very concerned about the structure of the dwellings. Wouldn’t it be horrible for our students if both their ELA and their math teachers perished in the rubble of Kings Park Psychiatric Center?

I stayed on each step testing its strength before finally getting to the second floor.

The Doors

Into my favorite room

Won’t you open a window some time?

The most perfect light

Cold wind flaps the shade. Winter brings to life the room.

The kitchen was so dark. Peep the iphone light to the right. And peep my long exposure really needing a tripod. And our shadows. Buncha amateurs

The colors of time

Another doorway (insert Window emoji that doesn’t exist)

I follow the light. It really is all about light, most of what I do. In people, places and things.

This building, impenetrable, spits up some sand. It’s worth mentioning that there was a man, a parks worker, covering up some pervy grafitti on the building’s exterior with paint. We spoke to him briefly to confirm it’d be fine if we explored the grounds and stuck our camera through windows. Also, a patrolling cop took an interest in a suspicious acting group of teenage boys bro-ing it up–likely vandals if one may connect their stupidity with the penises spray-painted everywhere. The cop simply gave us a wave as he drove by us.

I liked the trees’ reflection in the glass.

Beautiful window views…

With the wind increasing and another abandoned site to hit, we returned to the car… forgoing exploring tons of other buildings. Now I know I need to devote a whole day to The Psych Center. And I will.

Representin’ Long, she was raised in Staten. And now our Island show and tell is finally complete. Exploring with another is definitely more fun. Knowing that noise you’re hearing in the other room is your friend? Priceless. Plus, silly gifs.