Horrorwood (Downey Asylum)

So this is my new blog post in regards to showing my photographer side of me. Yes Photography is one of my hobbies, but not as big as I am on paintballing and tuning up my DA (Acura 90-93 Integra).

So about a few months back I went to the infamous Downey Asylum, but I didn't go into the area looking for ghost or haunted shit, cause in reality...it's not haunted. These building were the location of the old El Rancho Medical Rehab Center. In its operation era, this place served for many people who suffered from illnesses such as polio, and other type of disabilities. It also served for people who didn't have any type of medical coverage or for people who couldn't afford to see a doctor. There the patients would be treated for medical conditions such as the measles, mumps, chickenpox, and so on. It was also used as a place to keep crazy patients confined within some walls. There were also many patients who were treated for severe burns.

In modern times, these buildings now lay in ruins, where many explore to find the paranormal, but in most cases you end up picking a fight with a bum...or LA County Police will cuff your ass down and give you a big ass trespassing citation. Yes the buildings are patrol by them 24/7 especially on weekends. I do not recommend you to go in there just cause the only thing you will run into will be old documents with pictures of patients, raccoons, skunks, bums, empty blood sample tubes, and alot of asbestos. The only thing that is functional within these premises is the kitchen/cafeteria. Right there they produced the meals that patients eat in the new El Rancho Los Amigos Hospital across Imperial.

I only took theses pictures outside of the premises because I was being constantly monitor by LACPD since their station is literally like 700ft from main entrance of the asylum. I walked around outside the allowed area and they didn't seemed to mind as long as I didn't cross the gates.



So these are the front gates I was talking about lol:D



It's just a bigger photo of the two buildings that are between the main road that leads through most of the asylum. And as you can see they are sort of tagged up by local taggers of the area. This is also one of the main reasons why the area is heavily patrol.




This is an auditorium, next to the water tower, it is in ruins from the inside with only chairs and a large amount of fold in tables. The doors remain open, but I wouldn't be surprised if bodies of cats were found there on a daily basis.


It's another picture of the same building, but just to show how messed up the building is.


That's the door that reveals some of the content that's inside of the building.


This house is actually in the same structure as the asylum and the police station. I was pulled aside by LACPD at this point, so when they did the 40 questions and after I convinced him that I was a photographer out on a school project, I asked him for some background on this house. According to his knowledge, he said that this house was actually owned by a couple who were actually murdered back in 1984, the killer was found within the asylum's complex. Since they had no children the house was actually left to rot. Although if you walk up to the area this seems to be untrue, the grass and most of the outside lawn is kept clean. Although he stated that the county takes care of it and that LASD, LAPD, and LACPD SWAT Teams use this house as training grounds, as well as the asylum. He went on to say that if I was to venture in the asylum and take pictures I would be subject to arrest for trespassing onto state property and also I could suffer from health complications due to asbestos in some of the buildings. Then he said if I was to get permission from the court I could go in with an officer to take pictures, but it would be a very slim chance.


So in conclusion to this blog and post, I recommend that you do not go venture into these areas looking for the paranormal. As you will most likely go and encountered a pissed off officer or a bum high on some shit, and if you do go...take a small bat or a legal size knife for protection purposes.