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The History Behind The Mystery of Skyline Wilderness Park

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#23 ·
Thanks for sharing Kate's great videos. She's conveyed the very interesting history of the Napa State Hopital and Coombs Estate. I have never ridden this park but will keep it in mind when up north. I will also pass it along to my Napa Sonoma friends. Coincidentally, my work campus, is on the site of a former psychiatric medical facility that was quite large too – Agnews Developmental Center in Santa Clara, slightly newer than the Napa State Hospital in Kate's Videos, but also designed by Kirkbridge!
 
Discussion starter · #24 ·
Some interesting developments.
Skyline Park has asked my wife (Kate) to make a consolidated single video leaving out some of the off park stuff, and adding a little more park history.
And that has added even more research, and some new discoveries that contradict some statements in the video.
There could be a new video with some rebuttals to the old videos
ha!
 
#26 · (Edited)
I just noticed this thread. Here's some relevant interior photos of the building on the other side of the putative burial field and next to Lake Camille. I shot these just shy of a decade ago on a rainy day. Please forgive their quality, given that they were shot earlier in my photographic enthusiasm. All scenes are undisturbed (aside from unavoidable wet footprints) and shot as-found per good urbex ethics.

Back then my own research determined that this was an annex building to the hospital, exact purpose unknown... but seemingly configured as a communal facility, suggesting non-violent patients or simply staff. The poured-cement construction suggests that the structure was built in the mid-20th century. Perhaps Kate might know more about this building.

DSC00612_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
1. An emptied open-concept room of unknown purpose.

DSC00624_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
2. A communal sleeping area. Evidence of post-abandonment vandalism can be seen, including graffiti and pallets used as fuel for a bonfire. Smoke damage can be seen on the ceiling.

DSC00622_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
3. A communal bathroom. Note the minimal partitions between the toilets.

DSC00621_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
4. A medical cabinet with an integrated sink. And another sink in the background with a completely corroded paper towel dispenser.

DSC00616_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
5. Something with the form and dimensions of a dissection/autopsy table, albeit not at working height nor hooked up to a fluid catch, and obstructing a door... all indicating that it was relocated.
 
#29 ·
DtEW said:
I just noticed this thread. Here's some relevant interior photos of the building on the other side of the putative burial field and next to Lake Camille. I shot these just shy of a decade ago on a rainy day. Please forgive their quality, given that they were shot earlier in my photographic enthusiasm. All scenes are undisturbed (aside from unavoidable wet footprints) and shot as-found per good urbex ethics.

Back then my own research determined that this was an annex building to the hospital, exact purpose unknown... but seemingly configured as a communal facility, implying non-violent patients or simply staff. The poured-cement construction suggests that the structure was built in the mid-20th century. Perhaps Kate might know more about this building.

DSC00612_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
1. An emptied open-concept room of unknown purpose.

DSC00624_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
2. A communal sleeping area. Evidence of post-abandonment vandalism can be seen, including graffiti and pallets used as fuel for a bonfire. Smoke damage can be seen on the ceiling.

DSC00622_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
3. A communal bathroom. Note the minimal partitions between the toilets.

DSC00621_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
4. A medical cabinet with an integrated sink. And another sink in the background with a completely corroded paper towel dispenser.

DSC00616_PPed_100Q by DtEW, on Flickr
5. Something with the form and dimensions of a dissection/autopsy table, albeit not at working height nor hooked up to a fluid catch, and obstructing a door... all implying that it was relocated.
Click to expand...
Haunting photos - excellent composition all around.
=sParty
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
Update 1 year later.
The park asked Kate to make an updated consolidated video that left out the elements that weren't officially a part of the park.
So while working on re editing she wanted to follow up on some loose ends which opened up whole lines of research.
I think for every minute of video there's 2 - 3 hours of research if you count all the drive time.
I'll put a link in the original post.
She created a dedicated Skyline Youtube channel, and has given that account to the BOD whether they ever publish their own content is TBD.
 
#32 ·
I finally got around to ordering a death certificate for a great aunt of mine; she died at age 63 in Napa State Hospital in 1936. She'd been living there for a little under 2 years. I was hoping to find some details as to why she had been committed there; the vague cause of death was listed as "generalized arteriosclerosis", no help at all. Family lore (depending on who was telling it) was "she went crazy" to "she had dementia" to "end stage syphilis". At least the family took her back to the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland and had her buried in the family plot there.
 
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Discussion starter · #33 ·
Moe Ped said:
I finally got around to ordering a death certificate for a great aunt of mine; she died at age 63 in Napa State Hospital in 1936. She'd been living there for a little under 2 years. I was hoping to find some details as to why she had been committed there; the vague cause of death was listed as "generalized arteriosclerosis", no help at all. Family lore (depending on who was telling it) was "she went crazy" to "she had dementia" to "end stage syphilis". At least the family took her back to the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland and had her buried in the family plot there.
Click to expand...
At least she had someone that cared enough to want the remains.
Since my wife can not get this out of her system the NEXT video she is working on is about the patients at the hospital.
We'll see were the research leads the story this time.
 
#35 ·
Mick-e said:
At least she had someone that cared enough to want the remains.
Since my wife can not get this out of her system the NEXT video she is working on is about the patients at the hospital.
We'll see were the research leads the story this time.
Click to expand...
If she finds where the "Letters of Commitment" are being kept, let me know.
 
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#36 · (Edited)
I lived in Napa from 1986 to 2012. I rode skyline as a teenager and early 20 something 2 or 3 times a week for years. Ive seen most of those structures mentioned. My grandmother worked at the hospital in the 50's. Anyway Skyline is a great park as a kid I never gave the structures a second thought. Very cool to see some research on them.
 
Discussion starter · #37 ·
Hobby or obsession?
I'm not sure anymore.
I forgot to add this update last month which I have put inline with the other parts in the first post.
This new piece is as the title says stories of some of the patients.
As I post this my wife is in our bedroom working on Patients Part 2 which she SWEARS is the last Skyline related video. We're heading up there tomorrow to shoot some elements she just HAS to have more footage of.
😨
The next series is going to be about Downieville, and hopefully (for me) there will be more mountain biking, but we'll see where the clues lead and let the story tell itself.
 
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