I love exploring our state by drone! Drones offer the chance to see New Jersey just as the birds do, offering a unique perspective. Of course, not everyone can afford a drone. Luckily, plenty of footage has been uploaded to the internet for all to enjoy. Fly over Cape May or Paterson's Great Falls - it's all magical! However, a few spots in our state are somewhat eerie. One such spot is the former Greystone Park campus.

Construction on New Jersey’s infamous Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital began in 1871. In August of 1876, the institution took in its first patients.

132 years later, Greystone Park was closed. At its peak, the institution housed over 7,000 patients. When the facility finally shut down in 2008, there were just 550 remaining. Many of the buildings on the Greystone Park campus were architectural marvels, the entire site was a cultural icon. To the dismay of many New Jerseyans, the complex was demolished in 2015. Completed in 2008, a new facility with the same name was built, but it's not nearly as spectacular.

The striking structures were designed to follow the Kirkbride Plan. Defining concepts included well spaced wings allowing all patients to enjoy the natural surroundings and an abundance of sunlight.

The goal was to create a pleasant, peaceful place, conducive to recovery...things didn't quite work out that way. It was notoriously overcrowded, particularly following WWI and WWII. Cots lined hallways and illnesses including tuberculosis and typhoid fever were not uncommon. Cleanliness became a major issue but additional buildings were added and new facilities built in New Jersey that helped curtail the problem.By the 1990s, Greystone Park had fallen on very dark times. Patient escapes were not infrequent, female wards ended up pregnant and buildings became dilapidated, in desperate need of repair. The facility nearly lost its accreditation. A six-month plan was developed to improve conditions and, while somewhat of a success, better medicines which allowed patients to function in society and a push for deinstitutionalization made Greystone Park unnecessary. The focus switched to group homes and outpatient treatment.

The buildings sat vacant for seven years, a favorite spot for urban explorers and lovers of all things eerie and abandoned.

A truly unique site, the campus was a self contained community with staff housing, a post office, recreational and vocational facilities, and a system of tunnels connecting the various structures. A horror film was even made focusing on the location, filmed after Greystone was abandoned. Based on real life experiences, the filmmakers and cast believe the spot to be haunted. "Greystone Park" was written and directed by Sean Stone, son of Academy Award winner Oliver Stone (writer of Scarface and director of Platoon) who also had a role in the movie.

Another incredible film (video by Jody Johnson/GlideBy JJ; editing by Lisa Marie Blohm) was also made about the institution. The short film (around 4 minutes) was captured via drone and nominated to the NYC Drone Film Festival. The footage captures the demolition of Greystone from a unique perspective, sure to take your breath away. Hauntingly beautiful, the video gave me chills, particularly when the drone entered what was once the chapel. You have to see it for yourself.

What are your thoughts on Greystone Park? Would you have wanted to see it saved or were you glad to see it go? Did you ever explore it? Do you think it was haunted? While a visit certainly was spookier, there are spookier spots in New Jersey...click here for twelve.