Seaside State Park

As the care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled has progressed from state institutions to group homes and day programs, the buildings that once housed the state hospitals are left vacant. The process of deinstitutionalization has left impressive buildings to a variety of fates. Some, like Foxboro State and Taunton State Hospitals, have been turned into apartments. The fate of others, including that of Norwich State and Northampton, was met by the wrecking ball. Seaside Sanitarium in Waterford, Connecticut, has had a different outcome; it has been turned into a state park, Seaside State Park. 

A History of Seaside

Seaside Sanitarium began its use as a tuberculosis sanitarium for children. In the mid-20th century, it was used for the care of the elderly and finished its days as a state hospital. This parcel of land sits on a windswept coastline only a long home run away from Harkness State Park, one of the jewels and most frequently visited of Connecticut’s state parks. 

Since finding out it had become a state park, I added it to my shortlist of must-visit spots in Connecticut. I’m not sure how or why, but about seventeen years ago or so, I drove into Seaside in its abandoned state and remembered it vividly. Even being added to the state park system, I knew at least the main building was not razed since the spire could still be seen from Harkness. 

Similar to the also recently created Sunrise State Park, which was once the location of the famed Ted Hilton’s (and most recently, Sunrise Resort), Seaside State Park’s derelict buildings still stand. At Sunrise, a fraction of the former facilities still remains, albeit boarded up. 

My visit to Seaside State Park

Seaside State Park is located technically on Seaside Drive, which is basically the old driveway to the hospital. The entrance is off Shore Road in Waterford. After turning into the driveway, park in the lot near the garage.

I am a reformed urban explorer, meaning my younger days of urban exploration are way behind me, but I’m still intrigued by the architecture of these old places. Being able to walk on the property legally is the best of both worlds. Being able to see these buildings and walk around the campus is a real treat.

Walking around the property, just like at Sunrise State Park, is a bit surreal. This is because of the state of decay of parts of the property. It just feels like you should not be able to roam there. Skirting east around the campus, I stumbled upon a covered bridge, although this covered bridge is in a bit of disrepair. 

Cass Gilbert’s Seaside

The focal point of the campus is the turreted main hospital building which was designed by architect Cass Gilbert. Other work in his impressive portfolio includes designing the United States Supreme Court Building, the Woolworth Building in New York City, and the G. Fox Building in Hartford, Connecticut. The main hospital building is reminiscent of three sides of a square. A tower protrudes from the ocean-facing front with lighthouse-looking structures that flank both sides. 

It is pretty amazing to be able to walk around the campus, admiring the architecture and watching the waves crash. There is even a small beach in front of the main building. Just like at Harkness, there is no swimming but fishing and other activities are fine. Also on the campus is a nurse’s building and a scattering of other presumably residences. Walking west past the main hospital, a two-storied brick seemingly residential building is next in line. 

From there, a driveway leads back toward the parking lot, or heading straight, there is a small cluster of homes and buildings. One resembles an administration building although this is clearly a guess. If I didn’t know the property was vacant, this one looks (at least from the outside) still occupied. Much of the architecture is quite impressive. Coupled with the ocean view, Seaside State Park is a perfect mix of natural beauty, architecture, and history.