Ontario Abandoned Places will be rebranded as Ominous Abandoned Places

Muskoka Centre Sanitarium

Abandoned Hospital in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada

Jun 04 2009

 |  9701
 |  4
Recent status Abandoned
Location # 688

Historical Heritage of Muskoka Hospital

Constructed in 1897 of the Muskoka Cottage Sanatorium, now abandoned, started as a tuberculosis prevention facility. Due to the Lack of medicine, the only solution was isolation for patients. (foreshadowing for 2020?). It also had a laboratory, surgical facilities, as well as private residential areas for staff members as well. 

In 1944, as a medical drug named streptomycin was discovered, thus patients were longer isolated, resulting in a drop of patients admitted to the facility. Later in the 1960s, the place was acquired by the Ontario Department of Health became a caring and developmental facility for challenged individuals.

Muskoka Hospital converted into Mental Asylum

Muskoka mental asylum was administered to 305 female patients between the ages of 16 to 80 years with a total staff of about 300. There were also four male adolescents’ resents. About 275 of these residents occupied the large Gage complex, built in 1922, with the remainder housed in the Barbara Heyden Residence, constructed in 1936.

The Muskoka Centre was closed in 1994 due to the deteriorating quality of the building.

The current status of Muskoka Sanatorium, and community efforts

Currently, the Muskoka sanatorium facility is heavily vandalized, graffiti artists sure do love the place, but so is it loved so much by locals, they often call the police if they notice any cars parked, one can get there by boat, but it might get stuck, not to mention chances of one drowning in the mud nearby, making it dangerous to explore.

Despite that, it is loved so much by locals that in 2017/16 a campaign was run to encourage people to be respectful towards the facility, and overall heritages and historical places that communities should protect, and take steps to avoid any further vandalization.

Comments

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[deleted]

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2 years ago

[deleted]

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3 years ago

Tried parking on the street outside the gates so we could walk up to the building. Before I even got out of the car, security appeared out of nowhere right at the entrance. Not looking good for entry from the front... how are other people obtaining access?

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3 years ago

Very risky now. Several people got arrested there last week and charged with breaking and entering. Be careful out there. https://muskoka411.com/start/break-and-enter-at-muskoka-regional-centre-again-four-charged-this-time/

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3 years ago

Training**

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3 years ago

It's used as a trading base for the local police department and opp to train the k-9

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5 years ago

a couple poes as of yesterday

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6 years ago

Somebody was inside two weeks ago but chances of getting caught are pretty high nowadays. Main building is still accessible.

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6 years ago

Is there a reason anyone hasn't visited here lately? :(

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7 years ago

Here is the plans for development https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWZufxTg8Wc

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7 years ago

Apparently the property will be up for sale soon and the town of Gravenhurst is looking for constructive ways to use the land and possibly turn it into an education centre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig2xfxcQ7b0

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7 years ago

There are currently a few POEs to get in if anyone is planning to go

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9 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl5g2mhE9cI If anyone is interested Rick Mercer did a report with David Suzuki here as part of the Rick Mercer Report in partnership with the OPP.

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9 years ago

Nice galleries added here. If anyone is heading there this summer, let me know. I'd go to see the place. :)

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9 years ago

Visited this past Thursday despite the rain. All members should be aware that <b>OPP still patrols inside the fence<b>. Despite what you might have heard about the dog training being moved or shut down, be very aware and very alert at all times while exploring. Other than the warning, the place exceeded all expectations.

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10 years ago

OAP, you said it so much nicer than I would have.

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10 years ago

@phrenzee, I don't really care though - it's like a $65 fine if I get caught and they get annoyed. I spent about $65 in gas travelling there aha. I go at night to all these places (more creepy), and the only security I've encountered on premises is an abandoned hospital in London, but they didn't even care.

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10 years ago

You went in with no mask Kenndruuh? woah.

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10 years ago

Still love this place! It was exactly one year ago when I went the second time, complete coincidence. However, I think I'm sick from the crazy amounts of mold now. The building is aging pretty horribly and it's showing. The west wing 3rd floor (I think?) smells like dead things and sewage.

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10 years ago

@maple, you can leave your car outside the main gates, there's a roundabout just off to the side

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11 years ago

Rockandrollfreak - No it wasn't grass it was brown and actually looked like fuzzy hair. The sinks with grass were super neat too. http://urbexdiaries.blogspot.ca/2013/07/muskoka-centre-sanitarium.html

[deleted]

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11 years ago

[deleted]

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11 years ago

So now that the facility is fully fenced off and locked, where do you leave your car?

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11 years ago

Did anyone else catch the door with the chest hair growing all over it? hahaha

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11 years ago

Thanks!

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11 years ago

Ditto Niki..

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11 years ago

Awesome pics NikiFM.

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11 years ago

This place was AMAZING!

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11 years ago

This place is wicked! ...love the galleries.

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11 years ago

Cool place. I used to vacation up there & I never knew it even existed until only a few years ago.

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12 years ago

Drove out to check this place out and as soon as I got over the fenced and scoped the place out I noticed a blue pick up truck sitting right outside of the fence. He didn't leave until I hopped back over and left the property. Under surveillance I guess?

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12 years ago

Does anyone know how many people died here?

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12 years ago

bps killer set, I love the one with "paul" on the door - you laughed when you took that didn't you??

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12 years ago

June 2012 easy access.

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12 years ago

Thx OAP!

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12 years ago

-- UPDATE -- Popped by last night with Logtec (UER) with the intention of taking a few night shots from the roof, only to discover a new chain link fence gate had beed put in at the entrance of the property. Luckily it was pretty easy to go around but we noticed tire tracks that seemed to indicate it had been patrolled that day. We arrived at the main building to find that all the usual POEs in

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13 years ago

Awesome shots of the san guys. I've always wanted to go. maybe one day.