Central State Hospital Milledgeville GA: An Abandoned Insane Asylum Full of History

On select Saturdays, Milledgeville GA offers a tour of the Georgia State Lunatic, Idiot, and Epileptic Asylum. No, I’m not being ugly…that was the original name of Central State Hospital, established in 1837.

You won’t want to miss a tour of the Central State Hospital Milledgeville GA! We believe this tour offers the perfect reason to day trip to the area…and here’s why!

“INSANE” FACTS ABOUT THE CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL MILLEDGEVILLE GA

We learned a lot about the history of the hospital and grounds, and these stories really stood out to me. I’m going to give you the teasers, but you’ll have to take the tour yourself in order to hear the juicy deets.

LARGEST INSANE ASYLUM

Many times online you’ll read that there were once as many as 12,000 patients to 13,000 patients here, but our tour guide (who once worked at the hospital) confirmed the actual number is close to 17,000 patients.

With 17,000 patients and 200 buildings, spread over 20,000 acres, it is by far the largest mental institution in the United States (and probably the world).

IT’S STILL OPERATING

This was the most shocking to me…Central State Hospital is still open, just not in the same capacity.

It is currently a maximum secure forensics facility providing psychiatric evaluation, treatment and recovery services to people referred from Georgia State Corrections who do not require a hospital-level of care but are unable to reintegrate directly into the community. The current name of the maximum secure forensics facility is the Payton B. Cook Building.

More information is available here regarding the current status of services offered on-site. 

CEDAR LANE CEMETERY MISHAP

Cedar Lane, the cemetery for whites, is the cemetery photo you usually see, with metal stakes lined neatly in tight-knit rows.

It turns out, those stakes do not actually mark graves. They are a memorial to the lost burial places of those interned at Cedar Lane. You’ll have to come on the tour to hear the whole chronicle. We also learned another unique side-story: While we are adamantly opposed to segregation, we discovered why African-American families of former residents can be thankful for this instance in a strange twist of fate.

CENTRAL STATE’S FIRST PATIENT

Tillman Barnett is the name of the first patient admitted here in 1842. He was from Macon, but did not enjoy a 30 min drive from his hometown; he arrived via horse and buggy. However, because of his feared mental illness, he was not allowed to ride in the buggy. He was chained to it, and forced to walk the entire distance. Before a year was up, he died at Central State from the exhaustion of the trip.

POOR TREATMENT? IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

There are multiple stories about poor treatment of patients, and “crazy” therapy plans like lobotomies, shock therapy and such. According to our guide, that’s not the reason the institution was shut down. Those treatments, at the time, were state-of-the-art advances in the world of behavior health and psychiatric hospitalizations.

The problem was the lack of help. With such a large number of patients, there was only one doctor for every 200-300 patients. At that rate, no matter how caring and intelligent the doctor, patients just could not get the mental health care they needed.

GERALDO WASN’T THE ORIGINAL MENTAL HEALTH WHISTLEBLOWER

Geraldo Rivera is probably America’s most revered investigative reporter for his 1972 expose about Willowbrook Institution’s poor conditions and treatment of those seeking mental help. He won a Peabody Award for his effort.

Long before this revelation, though, John “Jack” Nelson won the Pulitzer Prize for reporting about Central State in 1960, in an AJC article. His coverage led to reforms at the institution and additional funding for mental health in Georgia from the state legislature. 

SHERMAN WAS CHALLENGED HERE

Dr Greene was the hospital’s superintendent during the Civil War. When Sherman and his troops came to town, Greene was able to convince Sherman to spare the hospital, and even give rations to the patients here. You’ll have to take the tour to learn his persuasion techniques.

THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING

• The Powell building’s facades offers a unique architectural optical illusion
• The train depot here is being transformed, and you’ll love it
• The world’s largest kitchen has been bought and finds a new use
• The pecan grove can be rented for events
• The Jones Building was a filming location for a pop-culture favorite
• …and more!

TROLLEY TOUR LOGISTICS

• The trolley tour is about 2 hours, and tickets can be purchased here for $30 per person.

• You’ll leave from Milledgeville’s tourism building, climbing aboard the trolley for the tour. Parking in the area is generally easy to find. Just note that it is all 2-hour parking. That works out perfectly for the tour, but if you want to explore Downtown (and you should!) then you’ll need to move your car before doing so.

• Plan for some time after the tour to go back to the Pecan Grove if you want photos. The only times you’ll exit the trolley on this tour is for an interior tour of the Chapel of All Faiths, and the other is a stop at Cedar Lane Cemetery. I longed to take photos of the ruins, but there is no opportunity. I recommend you take the tour first so that you understand the significance of the buildings you photograph.

• Yes, you can enter the grounds on your own. You are not, however, permitted inside any of the buildings. In fact, the rules require that you stay on the sidewalks.

RUN THE THRILLER 5K

Looking for an event to get your heart pounding? Join the Milledgeville Young Professionals as they host the frightfully fun Run the Thriller 5K each October.

The Thriller 5K loops racers through the most historic and iconic points on the Central State Hospital campus. Runners beware – for a fun Halloween twist, zombies chase the racers around the 5K loop. The event benefits Keep Milledgeville-Baldwin Beautiful & Zeta Tau Alpha – Georgia College to benefit Breast Cancer Education & Awareness.

Central State Hospital Milledgeville GA FAQ

When did Central State Hospital in Milledgeville GA close?

Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, GA, closed in some capacities in 2010, but it still serves a small number of patients today. It is still open and expanding, and a brand new facility was opened in March of 2018.

Can you go inside the Central State Hospital in Milledgeville?

The buildings are closed due to serious health and safety risks. Visitors are strictly required to stay outside fenced areas and remain on sidewalks. The area is heavily patrolled by security personnel and law enforcement officers.

Can you spend the night at the Central State Hospital in Milledgeville?

Although you can’t spend the night at the Central State Hospital, you can spend the night on its campus. Stay in the 1920’s Bungalow situated on the corner of a large pecan grove, across from the Central State Hospital infirmary.

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO MILLEDGEVILLE

• YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
• MILLEDGEVILLE: 21 Undeniable Reasons Your Family Should Visit Blissful Milledgeville, Ga
• LAKE SINCLAIR: Lake Sinclair +17 More Reasons Nature-Lovers Should Visit Milledgeville
• DAY TRIPS: 31 Day Trips From Atlanta That Should Be Tops On Your Bucket List
• KAYAKING: Kayaking In Georgia: 23 Unbeatable Spots For Paddlers To Launch
• SMALL TOWNS: Hidden Treasures: 13 Stunning Small Towns In Georgia (& What To Do There)

WHERE TO STAY DURING YOUR VISIT