Kings Park Psychiatric Center: The Abandoned Long Island Asylum

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Kings Park and the Education of an Explorer Every pursuit has a place where beginners go first. Skateboarders have their parking lots and curbs. Climbers have their local crags. And if you are just finding your way into the world of urban exploration on Long Island, sooner or later someone points you toward Kings Park. The former Kings Park Psychiatric Center has become, over the years, something like a finishing school for people who don't yet know they're enrolled. Getting onto the grounds is straightforward. Finding a way inside the remaining buildings, if you know where to look, is not much harder. Which is exactly why the Parks Police have written thousands of trespassing tickets here in a single calendar year, why security visibly tightens every Halloween, and why local photography groups have been known to show up with large, enthusiastic crowds of people who want to take what they call "creepy" photos of old hospital asylums. The place attracts everyone, which...
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The Flamingo Lounge Bar & Grill




In 2000, Teddy’s Cafe, LLC, agreed to run a cafe and restaurant in the Pelham Gardens area of the Bronx. The space had previously housed the Flamingo Lounge Bar & Grill. Sadly, this venue became the site of a tragic event that changed its future forever.


According to a report by The New York Times, in April 2006, a fatal shooting took place at the Flamingo Lounge. The incident occurred when a heated argument broke out between a patron and the DJ. The patron left the club, only to return later with others, and began firing into the establishment. In the chaos that followed, Gary Grey, a father from the Bronx, was killed. Two other people were injured: a man was shot in the arm, and a woman was grazed by a bullet.


Since that night, the property has remained abandoned. The once-prominent red, white, and yellow signage is gone, and the building is now covered in graffiti. Despite some confusion on Google Maps, where the location is mistakenly listed as Franklin’s Fruit grocery store, a glance at the current street view shows the building has been shuttered since 2006.


It’s surprising that the property still sits vacant after all these years, especially given the changes in the area. The MTA has already expanded its Gun Hill Bus Depot nearby, taking over the former Bronx Gulf Center. It’s unclear why this lot, which has remained empty for nearly two decades, hasn't been repurposed.


The quiet presence of this building serves as a reminder of a tragic event, standing untouched as the neighborhood around it continues to evolve.



🏙️ More Forgotten NYC Locations

📸 Help Preserve the History of The Flamingo Lounge

Places like the Flamingo Lounge Bar & Grill were once part of everyday life in the Bronx — hosting parties, DJs, dinners, celebrations, and neighborhood memories before falling silent after the tragic events of 2006. If you or someone you know remembers this location, your stories can help preserve a piece of local history before it disappears forever.

🖼️ Old photos of the Flamingo Lounge
🎶 Flyers, DJ promos, tickets, or advertisements
🍸 Memories of nights out, events, or neighborhood stories
👔 Former employee experiences or behind-the-scenes history
🏙️ Anything else that helps document what this place once meant to the community

Feel free to leave a comment on this post or contact me directly if you'd like to contribute photographs, stories, flyers, or historical information. Every memory helps preserve a forgotten piece of Bronx history.


 Sources:



1. Schram, J. (2006, April 3). Deadly Night Out - Innocent Dad Blown Away at Club. New York Post.

2. MTA Board Action Items. (2000). United States: Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Page 4.

3. Fahim, K & Sweeney, M.(2006, April 3). Gunman Kills One and Injures Two at A Bronx Club Before Fleeing. NYTimes.

Location: 1769 E Gun Hill Rd, Bronx, NY 10469, USA

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