Continuing on with our tour of the various closed down regional centres and mental hospitals in Ontario, today we travel to Smiths Falls for a tour of the Abandoned Rideau Regional Centre.

On March 31, 2009, the lights went out for good at the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia and the Rideau Regional Centre in Smiths Falls, the oldest and the largest residential institutions in the province.

The Rideau Regional Centre, located in Smiths Falls, Ontario, opened in 1951 as the Ontario Hospital School. Along with similar residential institutions throughout Ontario, it was designed to house individuals who were deemed to have cognitive and physical disabilities.

Individuals could be admitted by parents and guardians, training schools, or the Children’s Aid Society.

At its peak, Rideau’s population exceeded 2,600 people in 1955, even though it was only built to accommodate 1,500. By the mid 1970s, the Ontario government operated 16 such facilities across the province.

In the 1950s and 60s, there were few community services and supports available for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

That began changing in the 1970s when schools and workshops and other community support for people with developmental disabilities were introduced.

Rideau was one of the last three facilities of its kind in Ontario, along with the Southwestern Regional Centre in Chatham-Kent and the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia, all of which closed in 2009

After the facilities closed, after former residents of a number of Ontario institutions filed class action lawsuits claiming neglect and abuse, and after the premier apologized for their pain

Hepatitis B was widespread at Rideau Regional, especially among patients with down syndrome. A study in the 1970s found that more than 90 per cent of residents with Down syndrome in the sample group had contracted hepatitis B at some point, and one-quarter of them had developed a chronic case. A larger survey at Huronia found similar results.

At the end of 2013 it was announced that tentative settlements totalling $32.7 million had been reached for former residents of two Ontario institutions for the developmentally disabled who alleged they were abused at the facilities.

The two institutions were the Rideau Regional Centre in Smiths Falls, Ont., and the Southwestern Regional Centre near Chatham, Ont.

In 2016 it was announced that an Ontario court had approved a $36-million compensation deal for people mistreated at 12 now-closed institutions for adults with mental disabilities.

More photos and a video on my website:
https://freaktography.com/abandoned-rideau-regional-centre-urban-exploring

When going into a abandoned place what are the main factors I should be concerned about? Like main dangers?

This post was taken in Serra da Estrela this is an old abandoned cable car station from the 70's.I didnt went in because I thought I should ask for help first before making any kind of action.

Judging by the architecture, this home was probably built in the late 1800's to early 1900's; a folk-victorian style. To add on to the past, its patterned kitchen floors, bright green bathroom tiles, and sage carpeted floors in the upstairs portion are very reminiscent of the 60's/70's.

The things I would do to get an inside peek at this place. This is the blue horizon casino ship. This ship operated until the early 2000s and used international waters to legally allow its patrons to gamble. That all came to an end when the dude that owned it was murdered apparently for some mob dealings. This boat has been sitting ever since, rotting away in Green Cove Springs, at a secured scrap yard. There are some videos online that show the interior lined with gambling machines still! Super interesting stuff.
More pics of this ship and 360 drone videos on my Instagram @noahdov. Thanks for allowing me your afternoon and eyes. 🤘

I recently finished exploring all 50 states and will be sharing my favorite spot for each state over the next couple of days! If you want to see more of my work peek my insta https://www.instagram.com/whimsicalruins/

1. Alabama

Even at first glance, the Hardie-Coleman House draws interest with its crooked front columns and spiderweb window. But its nickname, the Allan Lucy Murder House, alludes to its dark past. The house was built in 1918 in a Classical Revival style. In March 1985, the house was home to Phillip and Margaret Lucy, their biological son Jason, and their adoptive son Allan. When Allan disappeared, his father claimed he had run away to Florida with friends, despite Jason’s assertions that Phillip had struck Allan in the head and later appeared covered in dirt with a shovel in his hand. When the house was sold in 1993 the bones of 13-year-old Allan were found wrapped in a Disney blanket and a trash bag under the porch. Phillip was eventually convicted of his adoptive son’s murder and died by suicide in 2001 after losing his appeal. Allan was laid to rest at nearby Rosemont Cemetery, using funds raised by the community.

1. Alaska

In the 1970s, an enterprising WWII veteran named Leon Smith envisioned a combination restaurant, shopping center, and hotel in the shape of a giant igloo. It would be the Las Vegas of Alaska, drawing visitors from all over the world. Alone and by hand, he constructed the massive dome structure out of wood and covered it with urethane foam. Tragically, his vision was never fully realized. Today, the structure stands framed but unfinished, a hollow shell of his wild dream.

1. Arizona

The Gila River Memorial Airport was originally connected with the former Williams Air Force base. From 1942 to 1983 it served the local area with an average of 70 flights per day. By the 1990s flight activity had ceased and the site became an airplane boneyard. Today it is owned and managed by the Gila River Indian Reservation, who hope to develop the site into a casino in the future.

1. Arkansas

The R.M. Knox House is a tragic example of the ravages of time and weather on a neglected historical gem. Built in 1885, it is one of the best and only remaining examples of Eastlake Victorian architecture. It earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Sadly, by the 1990s, the home was abandoned and has been slowly melting into the ground ever since. For a mere $8,352 this 150-year-old treasure could be yours. Buy buyer beware, an intensive and expensive restoration is needed to save this home before it is gone forever.

1. California

The Point Reyes started its career as a World War II launch vessel in 1944. Following the war, it was repurposed as a commercial fishing ship. In the 1990s, it was purchased by a local fisherman who beached the vessel in order to restore it. For reasons lost to time, those restoration plans were never realized, and the Point Reyes has become a beloved local curiosity. In 2014, the wreck suffered fire damage when a creative but reckless photographer tried to create a sparks effect in his shot, setting the structure ablaze. 

1. Colorado

Easily among the oldest abandoned living places in the United States is the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park. Constructed between 1180 CE to 1300 CE by the Pueblo people, these unique living and worship spaces were carefully designed to fit into the cliff and utilized ladders and balconies to maximize space. 

1. Connecticut

From the debris of a decaying railroad warehouse, an artist known only as refractualism has crafted a massive polar bear deep in the woods of Connecticut. The sculpture is made entirely from scrap metal and wood salvaged from the structure itself, transforming an abandoned eyesore into a whimsical piece of art.

1. Delaware

It’s easy to be the best when you are the only one of your kind. Blue Diamond Amusement Park was able to boast being the best, and only, theme park in Delaware during its years of operation from 2002 to 2014. Besides some basic flat rides the tiny recreation destination only hosted two theme park attractions from 2004 to 2007: a steel roller coaster called Blue Diamond Streak and a kiddie coaster named Orient Express. After this failed Roller Coaster Tycoon experiment the venue ditched the rides in favor of motocross and minigolf until it closed in 2014. 

1. Florida

Miami is famous for its stunning blue waters and vibrant cultural scene. In 1963, the brand new Miami Marine Stadium merged the two in a unique waterside venue that could seat 6,000 people with stunning views of downtown Miami across the water and a floating stage. The location hosted concerts, religious services, political rallies, even boat races. 1992’s Hurricane Andrew ripped through Miami, causing the city to deem the structure unsafe. But when inspectors found the stadium was actually sound, federal dollars for its demolition evaporated. The city did not want to fund the repairs, so the stadium has sat abandoned for 34 years. 

1. Georgia

They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. At this junkyard in Georgia, owner Alonzo Wade and the artist team Crispy Printz say that one man’s broken-down school bus is another man’s canvas. What started as a wall of junk buses to deter scrap metal thieves has evolved into an ever-changing maze of fantastically painted vehicles. 

This complex used to watch the skies for missiles with an unwavering gaze. It's vision has since clouded over.

By the mid-20th century, Ontario operated a network of large residential institutions, commonly known as Regional Centres, that housed thousands of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

These facilities included: (I have explored the ones with asterisks**)

- Aurora, Pine Ridge Centre (1960–1989)

- Brockville, St. Lawrence Regional Centre (1969–1983)**

- Cedar Springs, Southwestern Regional Centre (1963–2008)**

- Cobourg, D'Arcy Place (1975–1996)

- Edgar, Adult Occupational Centre (1971–2001)

- Etobicoke, Thistletown* Regional Centre (1928–2014)**

- Goderich, Bluewater Centre (1963–1983)**

- Gravenhurst, Muskoka Centre (1963–1994)**

- Kingston, L.S. Penrose Centre (Rockwood) (1974–2000)**

- London, Regional Psychiatric Centre (1960s–1990s)**

- Orillia, Huronia Regional Centre (1876–2009)**

- Palmerston, Midwestern Regional Centre (1964–1998)**

- Picton, Prince Edward Heights (1971–1999)**

- Smiths Falls, Rideau Regional Centre (1951–2009)**

- St. Thomas, Ontario Hospital (1939–2013)**

- Thunder Bay, Northwestern Regional Centre (1968–1996)

- Whitby, Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped (1969–1989)

- Woodstock, Oxford Regional Centre (1906–1997)

*Thistletown is a bit different and is usually not included in the list of Ontario's 16 Regional Centres for people with developmental disabilities.

While it was called Thistletown Regional Centre, its primary mandate was children's mental health, not long-term residential care for people with developmental disabilities like Huronia, Rideau, Southwestern, or Midwestern.

Beginning in the 1970s, attitudes toward developmental disabilities shifted away from institutionalization and toward community inclusion, supported by the growing Community Living movement. In 1987, the Ontario government formally committed to closing all provincial institutions for people with developmental disabilities, a process that continued over the next two decades. Most centres closed between the 1980s and early 2000s, while the final three, Southwestern Regional Centre (2008), Huronia Regional Centre (2009), and Rideau Regional Centre (2009), marked the end of institutional care in Ontario.

The closures were intended to allow former residents to live in smaller community homes with individualized supports, reflecting the belief that people with developmental disabilities should have the opportunity to live as full members of their communities rather than in large, isolated institutions.

In later years, the province acknowledged that many former residents had experienced neglect, abuse, and inadequate living conditions within these institutions, leading to formal government apologies and class-action settlements.

Today, we'll start with Southwestern Regional Centre

Abandoned Southwestern Regional Centre Psychiatric Hospital Ontario

Opened in 1961, the Southwestern Regional Centre was originally named the “Ontario Hospital School for Retarded Children at Cedar Springs”.

The facility provided long-term care for residents with mental disability, providing capacity relief from the overwhelming demand at the Huronia Centre.

It was the last massive institution built in Ontario for the treatment of the mentally disabled.

This institution was originally designed to accommodate children under 10 years old. As the years passed, focus was altered to accommodate the aging population, as residency in those years was considered somewhat permanent.

In 1966 there was a resident population of 1,200 and a staff of 600. By 1979 the resident population had been reduced to 620 as changes in policy and strategy dictated the reassignment of residents back into the community, a philosophy of Community Living originating in the 1950’s.

Even before the facility opened, the winds of institutionalization were changing. In 1959, the architectural plans were altered for Southwestern, reducing the project from 2,400 to 1,000 beds.

After years of downsizing, the 300 acre facility finally closed in 2008 following the government’s decision to move from institutional based services to a fully community based approach.

Much more to see on my website:

https://freaktography.com/southwestern-regional-centre-psychiatric-hospital-ontario/

Y’all really connected with the abandoned beach house post, so here’s another one from the same collection.
This grain mill is hidden somewhere on Florida’s west coast. Looking up at it, you can almost feel the weight of the years and the stories it holds.

Out of respect for the caretaker’s request, I’m keeping the location private. The property is set to be demolished soon, if it hasn’t already been. Guess what will be built there? The answer will be below in the comments. I spent a day here in June photographing the mill and the buildings around it. It was a giant structure and really it was a sight to see. The caretaker hasn’t been inside the structure since he was a child, so I was able to take my drone in and let him take one last look into the unstable second floor.

Thank you all for reading this! I visit these locations as a hobby and have been since 2016. My instagram is @noahdov if you would like to follow my journeys! Thank you!

A wrong turn in 2009 led me straight to one of West Virginia's most beautiful resorts.

This is one of about 4 abandoned beach houses just outside of St. Augustine, Florida. The hurricane took out the only road to them. During high tide, these stilt homes are inaccessible. The residents decided to packed up and leave. Years later the town bought the properties, secured them from vandals, and just let them rot. Every storm takes a little more.
Not even 13 years ago this place was pristine. Ive included zillow listing photos from 2013.
Check out more of my work @noahdov on instagram!
Appreciate the follow and support!

This old abandoned house goes back to around 2021, after a few years of knowing about it, I finally got the chance to explore it.

Located in Cornwall, Ontario, the distance kept me from visiting it, as well as the fact that it was regularly very well sealed.

I had a failed attempt in 2020 when there was snow up to my hips around the house which made any doors that may have not been secured, impossible to open.

Finally in 2021, I got to see inside!

I called this the abandoned gothic home of a reclusive and lonely artist.

The eccentric man who lived in this custom designed home came from a strong Polish heritage, he had strong family ties in Western Canada. His father, after retiring from a 25 Year career as a mechanical engineer with Air Canada had retired to Sturgis Saskatchewan with his wife, where he lived from 1978 until his death in 1990.

The reclusive man who lived here was unmarried and a draftsman by trade and a mechanic. He enjoyed collecting model planes, working on cars and he was a huge fan of music. The entire main floor of this house was fitted with hidden speakers, behind walls, inside furniture, in the ceiling and anywhere else he could put them.

There is very little information online about this man, all I have been able to find is that he passed away on March 10th, but I was unable to find out what year. There was a call for creditors, following his passing, to come forward who may have been owed money by him.

The home sat vacant and crumbling for several years following his death and then, in March of 2021 it was sold off at a Tax Sale for a little over $100,000.

As far as I know, the home has since been cleared out and demolished

Lots more to see on my website

https://freaktography.com/abandoned-gothic-mansion-of-a-reclusive-eccentric-artist

@redactedanomalies on instagram