I’m sure you have all heard of the Appalachian Rules:
If you see something, no, you didn’t.
If you hear something, no, you didn’t.
If something whistles at you, you don’t whistle back.
But what happens if you ignore the rules? What will happen if you whistle back or interact with the so-called “wildlife” in the Appalachian Mountains? This is the legend of St. Albans Sanatorium, located in Radford, Virginia.
The legend of St. Albans Sanatorium began almost as soon as its doors opened. Built in 1892, the sanatorium was originally meant to serve as a boy’s school, but in the early 20th century it was transformed into a mental health facility. The treatment the patients at the sanatorium endured was anything but humane, as mental health issues were not considered to be real illnesses, they were considered delusion. The patients were often tortured with electroshock therapy, lobotomies, and many other ineffective and painful “treatments.” Unfortunately, the horrors these patients faced were often too much for them to handle and as a result, many patients died from negligence, suicide, and homicide. Along with the patients, many of the faculty also perished tragically due to the horrific sights and treatments they were forced to commit.
Due to the horrific history the St. Albans Sanatorium is known for, there have been a multitude of paranormal sightings said to have occurred within its grounds. Shadow people are seen walking up and down the hallways; screams and disembodied voices are heard in the basement and around the ground floors of the sanatorium; doors slam open and shut, and many other terrifying encounters have been reported.
The legend says that if you walk the hallways of the St. Albans Sanatorium at night, you too will hear the cries of the restless souls trapped in their eternal prisons: the one of their own mind and the one of their concrete hell. If you’re brave enough, you can go tour the St. Albans Sanatorium in Radford, Virginia by visiting their website! Maybe you can catch a glimpse of the tortured souls that still wander those forsaken halls.