SUNLAND of Tallahassee

Phillips Road

Tallahassee, Florida

Sunland was used as a residential facility for the mentally retarded from 1962-1983. Built in the early 1950's to be used as a TB sanitarium. It served as home to several hundred mentally retarded citizens. During the early years of Sunland, the residents were often subjected to abuse and lived in less then sanitary conditions. This was during the time period when the mentally retarded were perceived to have no rights and a time when their "medical" treatment was questionable, thus an enormous amount of human pain and suffering took place at Sunland. It was closed in 1983 due to asbestos. During the last 2 decades since the closing, passersby on Phillips Road have reported seeing unexplainable lights, shadows and sounds coming from the abandoned Sunland Building, and it's also been the subject of "ghost hunters". An 8 foot tall chain length fence surrounds the center now to protect the community from entering and being exposed to deadly asbestos. This picture was taken from the fence, capturing two large orbs.