Randolph County Infirmary

Event Details

Join Haunted Nights at their first weekend of events at the infamous Randolph County Infirmary in Winchester, Indiana. This location has a long history dating back to the late 1800's. Claims of activity range from numerous shadow figures, elementals, disembodied footsteps & more! RCI is partially climate controlled with heat in the front portion of the building, please dress appropriately as most investigation areas are NOT heated.

Guests may arrive at 6:45pm for check in & a history tour of the building. Upon conclusion of the tour, guests will be free to investigate on their own or with Haunted Nights staff. The investigation portion will run begin at 8pm & conclude at 4am. Guests are encouraged to bring any paranormal investigative equipment they may have (No Wired Camera Systems). If you do not have your own equipment there will be multiple pieces available for you to use throughout the night! 

There is a sleepover ticket option for a limited number of guests! The sleeping areas are in the heated portion of the building, there are several rooms on the 2nd floor with multiple beds in each. Guests are responsible for their own bedding (sheets, pillows, blankets). There is ample space for air matresses or cots if you choose to bring one! Overnight guests will also have access to a shower on the 2nd floor. Please note there is only ONE SHOWER so there may be a wait, guests are responsible for providing their own towels & shower essentials (soap, shampoo, etc.) Guests with a sleepover ticket are permitted in the building the following morning until 10am. Guests staying for BOTH Friday AND Saturday night are permitted to leave their belongings inside the building during the day Saturday.

Guests are asked to sign the Haunted Nights Waiver prior to arrival, the waiver can be found here: WAIVER

Check out Haunted Nights investigation of Randolph County Infirmary here: Youtube Video

Randolph County Infirmary History

Previously referred to also as Randolph County Poor Asylum/House/Home/Farm, County Home, Countryside Care Center. The county home, originally the Randolph County Poorhouse, was built in 1899. The property at one time included a pump house, two different barns, a machine shed, two garages as well as a chicken house. The property also has an unmarked cemetery somewhere on the grounds where some former residents of the poorhouse were buried.  Tract of land purchased by county about 1851 to house a poor farm to care for those unable to work, including the mentally and physically disabled, single mothers, elderly and orphans. Dwelling existed on premises that served as facility for a time, then serving 13 inmates. Residents were to maintain the farm, though many unable to perform labor due to age or infirmity.  New wooden building constructed in 1853, housing 16 inmates.  Destroyed by fire less than year later in January 1854.  New two-story brick building constructed in 1855-56. • Building eventually ordered demolished due to poor conditions, and new structure to be built to better accommodate growing patient population.  New nearly 50,000-square-foot building (current structure) constructed in 1898-99. Housed six large wards, several private rooms, laundry, kitchen, separate dining rooms for women and men. Property included pump house, barn, hay barn, machine shed, garage or cell house, two garages, and chicken house on 350 acres. Cemetery also located on property, 230 yards northwest of the home.  New ownership assumed from county in 1994; known as Countryside Care Center, housing 12 residents.  Closed in 2008-2009, housing 5 residents before use as county storage facility.  Current owners purchased from county in 2016 for reuse as paranormal attraction. Cemetery • Neff Cemetery (also called White-Kelley or Randolph County Infirmary Cemetery) located north of infirmary on hill in middle of pasture field. Cemetery for White and Kelley families.  At least 50 unmarked graves reported located on property. Proposal in 1938 by descendant of John Neff sought to erect a fence around several of the oldest Neff family gravesites. Historical Society reset as many headstones as could be found in 1985.  Moses Devore, died at the infirmary near Winchester, 2 weeks ago. Buried in potter’s field. *See burial records below. (Union City Times, 1/17/1908) Burials o Brown, Peter, 1891 o Childress, Amy, infirmary patient of 15 years, 1914 o Clearwater, Charles, 1925 o Cooley, Charles, 1899 o Cotton, Joseph, 1905 o Dancer, Charles, 1846-1911 o Denney, Mary o Devore, Mose, 1816-1907 o Donnelly, John, 1918 o Hill, William, 1914 o Hindsley, Elizabeth o Hinsley, Mary, 1863-1912 o Hodgens, Rebecca, 1914 o Holt, John, 1917 o Jellison, Albert, 1900 o Lyle, Frank B., 1908 o Martin, Mary Jane, 1912 o Morin, George, 1913 o Perkins, Elizabeth, 1901 o Simpson, William T., 1915 o Snyder, newborn, 1903 o Stiver, William, 1900 o Switzer, Lucy, 1912 Notables: John Neff (1771-1856), father of Col. H. H. Neff of Civil War, and grandfather of John E. Neff, Indiana Secretary of State; Peter Brown (d. 1891), slave in West Virginia in Civil War when fled from home, became waiter for Union army and moved north with Ohio regiment. Notes of Interest, Tragedies  Unknown how many deaths occurred during infirmary’s history; one estimate of 200. Number of tuberculosis deaths; a resident pushed out of a second-floor window; and hangings also believed reported.  1882 description details “constant care” of from 45 to 70 inmates, with greatest number at one time reported as 78. The number of homeless children residing in institution from 6 to 12.  A Miss Mary J. Blair lately died in the poor asylum, shortly after giving birth to a child. Previous to her death she wrote a note and addressed it to a man named A.H. Green, of West Liberty, Ohio, who afterwards confessed to being the father of the child. He professed to having been ignorant of the whereabouts of the woman during her stay in the asylum. (The Cambridge City Tribune, 8/21/1873)  Sam Preston, inmate, lately tried to commit suicide by driving a penknife blade into his head with a flat-iron. The doctor pulled out the blade and Sam did not succeed in shuffling off. (The Cambridge City Tribune, 8/21/1873)  The mummy Mose, which has been on exhibition at fairs and reunions in western Ohio and eastern Indiana for several years was buried at the Randolph County Infirmary cemetery a few days ago. Mose was the body of a tramp found murdered in a barn near Lima a few years ago. As no one claimed the body, a local undertaker took charge and embalmed and preserved it after it was placed on exhibition. The body began to show signs of decay and it was ordered buried. (The Indianapolis News, 7/25/1918)  Orlando Hiatt died at the infirmary. He was 10 years old. (Palladium-Item, 6/5/1924)  Thomas Gray, 68, died at the infirmary. His brother, James Gray, died a short time ago at the same place. (The Richmond Item, 8/13/1924)  Randolph Spencer, 69, died at the infirmary. Death, it is believed, was due largely to exposure. The aged man was found in a little cabin, where he had been living. (The Richmond Item, 9/24/1924)  William Miller, 73, inmate dropped dead while loading an infirmary wagon with coal from a car. (The Richmond Item 9/17/1925)  Phillip G. Fraze, 55, inmate, died after struck by automobile as he walked behind a team of horses near the infirmary. (The Tipton Daily Tribune, 9/2/1941)