Camarillo State Hospital

Imagesmithstudio tours: Camarillo State Hospital	<< back East Campus

To the east of the main campus complex, behind the administration buildings, lies a small, curving valley and canyons. The mouth of the canyon is currently the site of recently constructed housing (condos and apartments) built to accommodate students and faculty of the new university.
After a winter that actually brought rain, spring comes in shades of green. Grasses thrive amid cactus on hillsides, poppies and lupines bloom along the roadside, and bushes of pale orange and yellow flowers dot the upward slopes. This new road runs the width of the valley where future housing will be constructed.
Inviting trail leads into the narrow valley to the east, luring the walker to discover what lies around the bend.	Shady lane remains next to a tree-circled area that once contained a home at a point where the valley curves.
At the valley's north end, tucked against the base of a chaparral-covered hillside, was the abandoned housing unit below, looking very reminiscent of Spanish colonial/mission era housing with its brown wooden balcony that spans the second floor overlooking a central patio.
Main courtyard of the abandoned complex, its brick walkway and patio grown tall with weeds and brush. I can never explore vacated places like this without wondering about the people who once lived in them.
Rear of the complex blooms joyously with mustard flowers, oblivious of the absence of human residents.	Balcony on the west end of the complex matches several on the main campus
	Above: the view overhead from a winding walkway At left: an end-of-building apartment stands with front door open, guarded by massive succulents.
Charm remains in the details of this place, such as this enterprising ivy making its way up the wall and in through the doorway.	One turn and then another leads to this passage, where lanky cape honeysuckle blooms in the dappled shade.
View from the rear of the complex, where ivy, mustard flowers, succulents and birds claimed these buildings. Most of this complex has now been razed.	Decorative traffic circle near the abandoned complex. Light standards match the familiar type found throughout the campus. Eventually this road will connect to the main campus entry road.