The Norwich State Hospital is considered one of Connecticut's most haunted places due to its long and troubled history of patient suffering and death. The sprawling, now mostly-demolished campus in Preston housed thousands of patients with severe mental and physical ailments between 1904 and 1996, and ghost sightings have been reported there for decades. Paranormal enthusiasts are particularly drawn to the system of tunnels that connected the various buildings on the campus. Originally used to transport patients and supplies, these tunnels have been rumored to be the site of patient torture and abuse, a history that many believe has left a lingering, tormented energy. An Instagram post from July 2025 refers to the Norwich State Hospital as one of the country's most "BRUTAL insane asylums," linking the alleged horrors that occurred there to its haunted reputation. The sheer number of patients who lived and died at the hospital is a key factor in its haunted lore. The facility housed over 3,000 patients at its peak, and for some, the high number of deaths makes it seem inevitable that spirits would remain. There is a cemetery and burying ground on the property for those who died at the hospital, adding to the chilling atmosphere. Numerous reports describe sightings of shadowy figures and full-bodied apparitions throughout the grounds and within the few remaining buildings. Visitors have heard disembodied voices, footsteps, and unexplained screams. Some people claim to experience feelings of intense sadness, fear, and unease when visiting the abandoned property.