It's easy to understand the appeal of a sanatorium located along the coast. The fresh air, sunshine, and refreshing sounds of the waves would all make for a very tranquil environment. And that was the exact intention of this Waterford facility, originally created to treat children with tuberculosis. The building opened in the 1930s, and by the 50s took on the new role of housing the elderly. Its final role was a sanatorium for the mentally ill, although there were several allegations by this time that patients were potentially receiving abusive treatment. The institution closed in 1996, and since has remained abandoned and, some believe, incredibly haunted.

Aesthetics were important to the original vision of Waterford's Seaside Sanatorium. Opening in 1930, the original building was designed by Cass Gilbert, who was also responsible for designing the Supreme Court. It was believed that children suffering from tuburculosis could benefit from the Long Island Sound beach view and exposure to fresh air and sunshine.

By 1958, the building had taken on a new role: treatment for the elderly. Three years later, its patients were mostly individuals suffering from mental illness.

By the mid 1970s, there were reports of maltreatment of Seaside Sanatorium's patients. Perhaps it was the use of violent tactics as a means of control or something else altogether, but death rates were becoming increasingly high for the institution. By 1996, the place was shut down for good.

Since its closure, the property has been passed among various owners, although very little has been done to the abandoned buildings. Developers have been faced with legal battles and thus the sanatorium remains a ghostly abandoned building on a beautiful parcel of beachfront.

In the past decade, Seaside Sanatorium has been the site of several paranormal investigations. Visitors are allowed near the property (the site can be accessed off of Shore Road), but going inside is definitely off-limits. The boarded up windows and broken glass are enough to steer clear.

Those who have experienced haunted activity here report shadowy figures of patients and staff roaming around the property. Others simply report an unexplained feeling of despair or unease. Whether or not the site is truly haunted, there's no denying the fact that it is haunted by a dark and complicated past.

For more extensive views of the Seaside Sanatorium, be sure to watch what this drone footage captured.