Sandia Ranch | Photo journey through an old haunted insane asylum

November 29, 2011

Sandia Ranch Sanatorium is one of Albuquerque’s local urban legends. An old abandoned insane asylum which was known for performing lobotomies and using electro-shock therapy is reported to be haunted. Several rumors exist including those of murder in addition to how the staff would store the bodies of the “batched” lobotomies in the crawl space in the boiler room.

I am not a ghost-hunter, nor do I follow the occult – I just love taking pictures of old abandoned places, especially with history. There are several occult symbols tagged throughout the asylum, as well as a lot of gang graffiti and tagging. Some very talented work, too. I will admit, though, the place gave me the creeps – especially the main room with the large fireplace.

The photos are separated into three volumes on my photo site, Motley Photos, in order to minimize loading time. You may find the links to all volumes in each posting.

Volume 1: Click here

Volume 2: Click here

Volume 3: Click here

A few samples…

Sandia Ranch Insane Asylum 76 Crawl space in boiler room — The crawl space in the boiler room where rumor states the staff would store bodies from lobotomies gone bad…

Sandia Ranch Insane Asylum 86 Shit here rocks pointing to toilet — Some taggers have a sense of humor….

TAGS:

electro-shock therapy, graffiti, haunted, insane asylum, lobotomies, Sandia Ranch Sanatorium, tagging, urban legends

19 responses to “Sandia Ranch | Photo journey through an old haunted insane asylum”

Rose

November 30, 2011 at 5:30 am

Your photos are just so good. I’ve told you before, you have a great eye. I’ve lost mine over the years. My hand pulled prints from my own darkroom were once shown in galleries, and I’ve been published in Texas Architect magazine, but that was years ago. When my life changed, I no longer had room for my darkroom or time to keep working with my second love… my cameras. It’s been nearly 10 years and this was my first serious outing without my trusty film cameras, just the digital. Some nice ones are among my bunch, but I’m tellin’ ya, you have out-done this one time pro. Very nice job!

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Albuquerque – Sandia Ranch ghosts – Haunted or Not?

December 11, 2011 at 12:28 pm

[…] Here’s the article, with one warning. Some of the photos show graffiti that’s not office-safe: Sandia Ranch | Photo journey through an old haunted insane … […]

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Chris Sheridan

February 7, 2012 at 11:21 pm

Michelle, these are great and very eerie and atmospheric. I did see them shortly after I joined WP in early December, but at the time, it wouldn’t let me comment, which is kinda like deja vu all over again. But obviously, no problem this time around. Very cool!

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Alex Holt

November 6, 2013 at 10:41 am

Hi! I’m Alex, Director of Endless Diaries Productions LLC, I’d love to use some of these pics for some logos/art for a new band on our roster, Isles In Asylums. We will attribute your art appropriately wherever used. Excited to hear back from you, These pics are sick.

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1. Michelle
  
  November 6, 2013 at 11:01 am
  
  Sure, go for it! Send me links when available. Just make sure to use the links in this post to jump over to Motley Photos as that is where they all are. Glad you like them. 🙂
  
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  1. Alex Holt
    
    November 6, 2013 at 11:24 am
    
    Just to check, Do you have any issue if I make a few modifications just adding logos and/or people? I won’t block your logos.
    
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    1. Michelle
      
      November 6, 2013 at 11:54 am
      
      That’s fine. I’m not a professional, but I do appreciate being acknowledged. Thanks!
      
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  2. Alex Holt
    
    November 6, 2013 at 11:28 am
    
    Logo’s would be band logo’s. We aren’t trying to steal attribution
    
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    1. Michelle
      
      November 6, 2013 at 11:54 am
      
      Sounds good. Looking forward to seeing it!
      
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    2. Michelle
      
      November 6, 2013 at 11:55 am
      
      I have some newer photos, but haven’t processed them yet. They’re all in raw format so takes a while. I can glance and see if there’s anything considerably different. Is there a specific scene you’re looking for?
      
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    3. Alex Holt
      
      November 6, 2013 at 12:07 pm
      
      The group is called “Isles In Asylums” so long hallways or wide shots of multiple doors or hallways/entrances are awesome. Inside is more important than outside. Also send me an email so I can contact you with links. Management@endlessdiaries.com
      
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    4. Michelle
      
      November 6, 2013 at 1:01 pm
      
      Thanks! I’m working at the moment but will go thru the photos later and see if there’s anything there you may like. I will email you as well.
      
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Albuquerque – Sandia Ranch Ghosts

November 14, 2013 at 10:27 am

[…] Sandia Ranch | Photo journey through an old haunted insane … […]

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Albuquerque – Sandia Ranch Ghosts – Haunted or Not?

November 14, 2013 at 12:39 pm

[…] Sandia Ranch | Photo journey through an old haunted insane … […]

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Prescilla Benavidez

July 19, 2015 at 9:08 pm

Hi Michelle, well I actually worked there about 1961 when I was a young 15 year old, looking for employment and was hired by a MR Jenkins as a nurse aide trainee an worked there until I was years old, saw a lot of strange patient behaviours, but learned some early nursing skills and it feels a bit eerie to know I walked thru hose Corridors and rooms, we had a dormitory for the nurse aides and nurses past a small tree lined creek.I remember the doctor was a Dr. Myers, who administered he shock treatments.

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Rocco Piro

June 3, 2017 at 2:26 pm

i worked there from fall1964 to spring 1966 for dr.myers. it was a small mental health facility. I also lived on the property. never witnessed any ghostly experiences. it was a well run hospital and I never witnessed any mistreatment of patients.

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1. Michelle
  
  June 7, 2017 at 10:52 am
  
  Thank you for sharing that. I imagine some stories are completely fabricated, others are exaggerated. But lobotomies were common back then as was looking down on the mentally ill as “lesser” beings. I’m sure there was some pretty horrid treatments going on somewhere at some point in time. Thank gawd we’ve grown beyond that (for the most part, anyway).
  
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Tagging Graffiti Reddit – The Graffiti

May 20, 2021 at 9:26 pm

[…] Download Image More @ motleynews.net […]

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Anonymous

December 30, 2024 at 12:07 pm

This is total nonsense. I worked there and never witnessed any ghost activity. The patients were well cared for and respected. Mrs. German was the head nurse and that was in the 90s. God bless all the elderly folks who has passed and are in their eternal rest.

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