Jun 20, 2016 one hospital that embodies these traits is the camarillo state mental hospital. Mental patients would milk the cows and do other farm tasks in exchange for, well, nothing. The primary coordinates for camarillo state hospital historical places. The campus of california state university cal state channel islands is nestled in the foothills of camarillo. Ventura county star article this article was printed in the ventura county star september 4, 2010. Camarillo state mental hospital, also known as camarillo state hospital, was a psychiatric hospital for both developmentally disabled and. Ventura county star camarillo state mental hospital. Cal state channel islands formerly camarillo state mental hospital. Camarillo state hospital collection john spoor broome library. The camarillo state hospital collection contains artifacts, documents, newspaper articles, oral histories, maps, and photographs relating to the operation of the. Library archivist publishes book, will host signings news. Its a beautiful place, set aside from the nearby city and surrounded by rolling farmlands. I got to visit the facility, i heard many rumors, but i was innocent so i felt nothing. The hospital was built in 1935 and finally opened in 1936, to house the mentally insane and disabled.
Camarillo, california simple english wikipedia, the free. Nestled amongst the hillsides, open plains and farm fields of camarillo you will find the scary dairy. Library archivist publishes book, will host signings. The university has retained the distinctive mission revival style architecture, and the. See more ideas about abandoned asylums, psychiatric hospital and asylum. This layout works well as a base map for adding additional information. A zoning plan is established to designate, regulate, and. Mendocino state hospital napa state hospital 2100 napavallejo highway napa, ca 945586293 phone 7072535000 camarillo state hospitaldevelopmental center mental health designation metropolitan state hospital 11400 s. Camarillo, california california is a state with more than its fair share of ghostly residents, and true to the west coast way of life, many of them deal with. Johns pleasant valley hospital located at 2309 antonio ave, camarillo, ca. Camarillo state mental hospital, camarillo, california. Dizdar complaint, judgmt 31 oct 193512 jan 1938 1 camarillo state hospital1936 hospitalhistory of institutions handbook 1 mar. May 29, 2019 library specialist and archivist evelyn s.
Camarillo state mental hospital was a psychiatric hospital for both developmentally disabled. Hospitals, in camarillo, ca camarillo, california hospitals. According to the camarillo state hospital archives. Camarillo state hospital developmental center january 3, 2018 nick lozano pt, rn, pres of csea died dec 28th, 2017 funeral services to be held at reardon funeral home 511 north a st. California physical, cultural and historic features.
The state of california acquired 1500 acres in the city of camarillo, county of ventura, for the department of developmental services to build a state hospital in 1932. Please be advised that any communication submitted to the city of camarillo, councilmembers, staff or city consultants is a public record under the brown act and california public records act. Zoning guide the city of camarillos zoning guide is a map that visually depicts the citys zoning plan. The official opening brought governor frank merriam, who made the dedicatory address. A veiled memoir as told through the eyes of a psychology intern at camarillo state hospital in the 1970s.
Two of the better known monikers were the hotel california and hotel camarillo. The hospital at one point housed 7000 patients and over 700 staff and upon completion, was the largest mental hospital in the world. In 1872, a site was selected and work began for the erection of the 500bed, four story, gothic hospital building. The dairy farm sat adjacent to the hospital grounds.
Open as the california state university, channel islands. The hospital was once selfsufficient, with its own dairy and poultry ranches, vegetable gardens, orchards and other farming operations. Housing over 7,000 people at its peak, the video traces what it was like to live and work at this architecturally beautiful facility. The scary dairy of camarillo will frighten you to the core. Now csu channel islands, former employees of the closed mental hospital gathered recently to remember. Map 1 university drive, camarillo, california 93012. The dairy was run by staff members and patients of the hospital as a form of a work experience program and to help bring in some additional income for the hospital. Camarillo and napa state hospital are the only state facilities in california that take children. I mainly worked unit 66 autism with darlene davidson, larry savino, chuck ellis, etc.
California state university channel islands weird california. General reference map the general reference map is a basic map showing camarillos city limits, streets, parks, schools, and natural waterways. From a mere 410 patients in 1936, the population grew to 1,082 in 1937. Camarillo state hospital, channel islandsoxnard welcome to the hotel california second only to the paul is dead talk that followed the beatles throughout much of their careers, rumors and legends abound about the eagles 1976 hit hotel california. Local history pleasant valley historical society and museum. Camarillo state hospital historical cultural feature hospital in ventura county. The site has been redeveloped as the california state university, channel islands. The primary coordinates for camarillo state hospital historical places it within the ca 93012 zip code delivery area. Camarillo state hospital collection john spoor broome. Odd as it is, postcards of camarillo state mental hospital were sold to tourists who visited the hospital and many were used to write notes to people back home, such as this one which i found on an auction site online. Saints of camarillo explores the hearts and souls of those who served at one of the largest, most progressive, but notorious mental asylums in the world. In 1932, the california government purchased 1,760 acres of land in lewis ranch in order to build the camarillo state mental hospital. The song camarillo by punk outfit fear is also written.
Camarillo state mental hospital camarillo, california. It also used to be the camarillo state mental hospital, and thousands of patients were treated there with inhumane shock treatments and. Camarillo state mental hospital was established near the city in the 1930s so that persons suffering from mental illnesses or tuberculosis could recover in ventura countys balmy climate. In the 1960s heyday of the camarillo state mental hospital, what we now know as the scary dairy actually was a functional dairy farm. Message boards localities north america united states states california unknown camarillo state hospital california search for content in. Message boards localities north america united states states california unknown camarillo state hospital california search for content in message boards names or keywords.
Getting information from closed mental institution in. Johns pleasant valley hospital is a hospital that offers many services, including cancer care, emergency services, and subacute care. Using a decade of archival footage, evp, itc, and photos along with new interviews with the investigators, hotel camarillo is the complete history of paranormal activity in the old. As of the 2010 united states census, the population was 65,201. This camarillo hospital is one of the best in california. Camarillo state hospital was part of my school field trips. Camarillo state hospital historical in ventura county, ca.
Camarillo state hospital was touted as the largest psychiatric hospital this side of the mississippi when it opened in the mid1930s. The university has retained the distinctive mission revival style architecture, and the bell tower in the south quad has been. Uclas research lab at the abandoned camarillo state mental hospital. Johns pleasant valley hospital 2309 antonio ave, camarillo, ca 93010 channel islands veterinary hospital 78 e daily dr, camarillo, ca 93010 camarillo veterinary hospital 258 dawson dr, camarillo, ca 93012 gingipak. In 1932, 1500 acres located within the city of camarillo, county of ventura were acquired to establish a state hospital. Camarillo state hospital, which closed in 1997, is being reincarnated as california state university channel islands, the 23rd campus in. Camarillo state hospital developmental center mental health designation. Aug, 2006 a videotaped walthrough of unit 28 at what was once camarillo state hospital. J brand is now open visit them in suite 524 located in the main court. The hospital originated in response to overcrowding at stockton asylum, the first state hospital. Camarillo state hospital, channel islandsoxnard weird u. Opened in 1936 and functioning until 1997, the hospital was at the forefront of treating illnesses. One hospital that embodies these traits is the camarillo state mental hospital.
Camarillo state mental hospital was a psychiatric hospital for both developmentally. Mendocino state hospital napa state hospital 2100 napavallejo highway napa, ca 945586293 phone 7072535000 camarillo state hospital developmental center mental health designation metropolitan state hospital 11400 s. The book is a pictorial reflection of camarillo state hospital s rapid expansion as the largest state hospital west of the mississippi, to the shuttering of its doors sixty years later. I later worked clericaltypist jobs, hospital worker, then psych tech program in 1979. Camarillo state hospital began in 1932 on 1,760 acres south of town. The hospital brought many jobs to the area until it closed in 1997. Holt have coauthored a book, camarillo state hospital, set to be released on june 3. In 2000, evelyn became the first archivist for csu channel islands and came to. Camarillo state hospital workers recall their calling. One of the few areas as yet not renovated by the calstate which took over the grounds. Camarillo state hospital 1 university dr camarillo, ca. Apr 28, 2016 as part of these therapy programs, camarillo state mental hospital operated a functioning dairy farm. The hospital pioneered research and treatment for schizophrenia and autism and had several famous residents, including jazzman charlie parker who wrote relaxin at camarillo while there 1, and see short video.
Camarillo state hospital this video takes a fascinating and indepth historical look at californias largest state run facility through the eyes of the employees who once worked there. Camarillo state mental hospital, also known as camarillo state hospital, was a psychiatric hospital for both developmentally disabled and mentally ill patients in camarillo, california. Built in the 1930s, camarillo state was, at the time, the largest mental health facility in the united states, housing over 7,000 individuals at its peak. The one time mental hospital for adults and children with mental illness and developmental disabilities was made famous by the song, hotel california, by the eagles. It was 1976, i was 18 years old and starting my career with the state of california camarillo state hospital in the food service dept.
The camarillo state mental hospital was known by a number of names, both officially and unofficially. It was the pioneer in treating illnesses that were thought to be untreatable, such as developing drugs and therapies for schizophrenia and dealing with autism. Camarillo state hospitaldevelopmental center mental health designation. Camarillo state hospital developmental center posts. Hotel camarillo tales from paranormal investigations at. The book is a pictorial reflection of camarillo state hospitals rapid expansion as the largest state hospital west of the mississippi, to the shuttering of its doors sixty years later. Dizdar complaint, judgmt 31 oct 193512 jan 1938 1 camarillo state hospital 1936 hospital history of institutions handbook 1 mar. Johns pleasant valley hospital offers 81 acute care beds. Hotel camarillo is a 67 minute documentary focusing on paranormal investigations over the past 10 years at former camarillo state mental hospital. Napa state hospital opened on monday november 15, 1875 and is the oldest state hospital still in operation. Jazzman charlie parkers relaxin at camarillo, written while he was detoxing from heroin addiction, is a tribute to the facility. The hospital was designed to house 7000 patients and over 700 staff, making it the largest mental hospital in the world upon its completion. Jul 02, 2017 camarillo state hospital investigation pch and vip paranormal. A videotaped walthrough of unit 28 at what was once camarillo state hospital.