I approached Rolling Hills Asylum with a great deal of trepidation. It was actually my husband who voiced a desire to see if he could scare himself (and me) by visiting one of the most haunted places in New York State. He is darn right fearless. Me, not so much and the idea of walking around this place had me a little more than jittery. We decided that visiting around Halloween would be an excellent way to usher in the holiday. So, we went online to purchase our tickets. This is the only way to purchase tickets, they do not accept walk-ups.
The Tour of Rolling Hills Asylum
They were running an excellent special during the month of October for Halloween. We were able to purchase half-price tickets for the 3-hour Psych Hold Tour, which was 45 minutes guided and the rest self-guided. Which meant we were able to have the complete run of the place. That part was what intrigued us the most. So we grabbed our flashlights (which is a must, by the way, as most of the asylum is in complete darkness) and headed out to Rolling Hills.
When we arrived, we were fortunate enough to have Sharon Coyle, the proprietress of the asylum, as our tour guide. Sharon not only had an incomparable knowledge of the asylum’s history and its previous occupants (many of whom, are allegedly still residents) but a passion for the supernatural and ghost hunting. She gave us, and about 20 other people in our tour group, a very entertaining tour complete with what kind of phenomenon had been experienced in different parts of the asylum. Once we were set loose to explore the asylum, there were very helpful staff walking around to help us find our way if we needed assistance.
Exploring on Our Own
For the next 2 hours, we wandered around from room to room and floor to floor. At first, I was very jumpy, holding onto my husband’s hand like a vice grip. He might not believe but the jury is still out for me. However, after a while, I was able to relax and appreciate all of the antiquity of the architecture and the items in each room. My husband is really into old buildings, so walking through the asylum was like a trip to a candy store for him. We had a great time and ended up spending most of our time cracking jokes and giggling. There were many different and somewhat eerie places to visit within Rolling Hills Asylum. A morgue, a chapel, a barbershop, a large kitchen, and many other rooms with peeling paint and hand-painted pictures on the walls.
We personally didn’t experience any supernatural activity at Rolling Hills Asylum. We did experience certain aromas that we could smell in different rooms such as perfume, aftershave, or in one case, a less-than-pleasant odor. Sharon did tell us, at the end as we were leaving, that we should have stayed in the rooms for a while, rather than go from room to room. She told us most people only have activity after waiting for several hours.
I absolutely recommend a visit to this haunted asylum. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, it is well worth the visit to Rolling Hills Asylum. The history alone makes it a definite must-see. It is not every day that you can be let loose to roam an old abandon building. Once over the initial creepy factor, I was able to really appreciate exploring such an amazing place. However, in favor of the ghost are a real theory, there is a lot of well-documented evidence at this asylum. It has the reputation of being one of the most haunted places in New York State.
Rolling Hills Asylum has been featured on a number of Ghost Hunting Shows:
Watch Ghost Adventures visit the Asylum.
Admission
There are several tours offered for Rolling Hills Asylum, but you will need to check the asylum’s website to get the exact schedule of when they are being offered. Young adults between the ages of 14-17 must be accompanied by an adult. They must also have a photo ID (this can be a school ID.) Anyone who attends needs to bring their tickets and a photo ID. No outside food or beverages are allowed inside the asylum and there are no bathrooms inside. It is highly recommended that you use the port-a-potty located outside. Also, once admitted to the building, your in until you leave for the night (at which time you will have to sign out). You will also need to sign a release form before you begin your tour.
Tours
There are so many different ways to experience the Asylum. If you visit their website, you will find a tour, hunt, or unique experience that will fit perfectly for you.
Schedule of Events
Helpful Links
For more spooky places to visit the Haunted History Trail of New York is a great resource.
Address
Address: 11001 Bethany Center Rd
East Bethany, NY 14054