This abandoned prison opened up as a minimum security correctional facility in 1934. It was built in the middle of a forrest on a 60-acre heavily wooded piece of land and featured approximately 12 separate buildings from intake, administration, classrooms, a cafeteria, an infirmary, a gym, commissary, and of course the cell blocks.
The state prison annually housed nearly 200 inmates who were convicted of non-violent crimes where they could benefit from the various programs to help assist them with community reentry and to prevent recidivism.
Since the prison was minimum security, it was popular for the programs they offered to the inmates; such as GED classes, physical education, anger management groups, and a supportive employment program. These programs had been so successful, that there was an actual “waitlist” for inmates with good behavior trying to get transferred into this prison. Unfortunately, when the prison closed, so did all of the sought after programs.
The state prison went on to close in 2009 due to state budget issues and shrinking financial support coming off the heels of the Great Recession. The closing of this particular prison saved the state an estimated $2 million but also unfortunately cut nearly 100 jobs as part of these statewide budget cuts within the department of corrections. As of 2022 the state prison still sits abandoned, although as you will see in the video, some type of land surveying is underway to possibly demolish the entire prison complex.
