407 Comments for Rancho Los Amigos

That's entirely up to you - whatever risks you're willing to take to do it!

Hello,
I'm planning on visiting this place next week. Do I ask the city for permission or just let myself in? :)

Thanks,
Sandra

Wow, these are some awesome images!!! I went there with a friend one day as I was curious every time I drove by the abandon campus. We stumbled into a few open registration areas and saw the same things. Sadly, as we went further in to he rooms I noticed an oddly large amount of fleas all over my white socks. Realized the place was infested. They were all over us. hahaha

Yuck!

"33" Rolling Rock

How lucky you are, Dave - to be there to see it all.
All i can do, so far away in Sweden, is Google Earth "Street View" `Click to go´ around the block.
They really want me to know where am: "Rancho los Amigos" is says in many places. Awesome well-trimmed hedge FTW.

I grew up in the housing tract next to Rancho, when the hospital was still in use. I have never been inside of the buildings, but I did ride my bike all over the property in the 70's. In the early 80's, I practiced for my driving test with my Dad there. Thanks for showing me the inside. Seems like the people who go there now think it was Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, and the place seems overrun with ghost chasers. It's sad. During the day, the Downey PD and also LA County Sheriff's Dept use parts of the property for urban guerrilla training exercises.

The hospital has a rich history as a polio rehabilitation hospital. An ex-patient wrote a book about his life with polio, and now serves on the board of The Amigos Fund of Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.
http://www.amazon.com/...words=not+just+polio

I was there today. The Downey Rose Float Association is in the building at the south end of the property andis still used...

Good old Shure VocalMaster speakers. I haven't seen any of those for at least 20 years.

I wonder if this was used more for occupational therapy?

Perfect for this time of year.

A gallery local to me. That's a first.

Thanks Pablo, it's all natural lighting. I usually don't use any artificial lights unless it's simply too dark to photograph.

Just found your site. Best I have seen - Love your artistic touch.
In the 'View from the mezzanine' shot, the blue lit stairway contrasts beautifully with the green tones of the stage and wall. Did you stage that or was it natural lighting? Either way it's an incredible shot.
Keep up the great work.

Visited Rancho many years ago on a rainy dark night, very dark inside. I could feel the history of the place, creepy but fun!