welcome to Hope Haven in New Orleans a site with a story past that has been both a place of hope and a place of Sorrow closed for decades Hope Haven sits empty slowly riding away join us as we explore its history architecture and the darker chapters that have left an indelible mark on this institution Hope Haven was founded in 1925 by monor Peter winhoven who envisioned it as a sanctuary for orphaned and underprivileged children the institution was built on a sprawling campus in morera Louisiana featuring impressive Spanish colonial revival architecture the centerpiece of Hope Haven
is the Dilbert administration building a stunning example of Spanish colonial revival design its construction was a community effort reflecting the dedication of New Orleans to providing care for its vulnerable children despite its Noble Mission Hope Haven harbored a dark history of abuse and neglect many former residents have come forward with stories of physical emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of those entrusted with their care children reported instances of severe physical punishment emotional trauma and most disturbingly sexual abuse by some members of the clergy Hope Haven closed its doors as a residential facility in 1984
yet its Legacy remains a complex tapestry of compassion and cruelty this is the rear of the Dilbert Administration Building looks pretty dirty this is the Sanger gymnasium we tried to find a way inside but it was pretty sealed up this is the old pool that the kids used to swim in it's all been filled in now I doubt there's anything interesting inside that little building there trying to see if we can figure out a way to get inside the building it's a cool building the the old Spanish looking architecture all right we have found our
way inside past the gate Here Comes Rick none of the doors seem to open see through this glass here one of the one of the rooms on the inside come on camera Focus [Music] it's beautiful the architecture it reminds me of the Toro Shakespeare nursing home architecture as well like a similar style all right we're going to go up these steps and see if there's a way in upstairs [Music] I got to duck under that oh be careful slippery everywhere in here oh great that's the set of stairs that we just walked up it's another
set of stairs that lead to the third floor it looks like rcking BJ nope no luck it's cool looking all the overgrowth back [Music] here so we found a way in the window window was already open so we just stepped through so now we are inside the Hope Haven main building and what looks like to be a dorm room that fan has seen better days surprised the light bulbs are still up there s it's a big old J they liquid food now I guess so whole list right here different types of drink sweet tea lemonade
for crunch other did you see this door wait what door what's going on with the door cut it cool man all right what's he say I don't remember now he goes oh yeah oh yeah I'm ready oh yeah that's amazing bathroom oh it looks pretty nasty in here I wonder when the last shower was taken in this thing these old windows are cool looking another droopy fan you can see barit teria Boulevard at these blinds here that across the street is Madonna Manor another part of the Hope Haven campus it's kind of cool that this
is just left on the door here I didn't see that last time it's like old ventilation system or something for the bathroom would vent it out the window there maybe that's a speaker check out the old stickers oh Sully monster Inc pretty big closet this might have been a like a pantry or something this must have been like a common room or something the little fireplace there they had some sofas in here and people would come in and just kind of relax and watch TV or something I don't know wonder if that window just fell
in or if somebody came in here and pull pulled that off the [Applause] wall you know what I sh started sinking through the floor a little bit yes wow it's a little picture hanging on the wall STS he [Music] [Music] this had to be some rooms for like priests or something cuz or higher up maybe nuns or somebody that watched the kids on the floor maybe cuz these are pretty nice rooms with a nice balcony View sitting on a toilet except it says tote [Applause] it I love the way this whole building looks so cool
in this little Courtyard I think that was a fountain down there it's beautiful what are you pulling on what is that nobody's ripped all these off the wall I don't think too many people have made it in here what is this for the door maybe that what the heck is that catching flight you catch feelings okay what is this what is it elevator what is this holy [ __ ] they must have removed the actual car yeah shelving here and stuff what do you mean by that he what the heck is this how did all
the sand get in here what is this from play sand they have like a sand box on this floor to play in for kids that's weird it's a cool balcony I'd be hanging out on this all day the door doesn't open I want to break it pretty visible [Music] this was a nice place it's a shame that all those terrible things happen to the kids but man really nice place to to be [Music] [Applause] in let's do this yes go to the right straight in front is it's just a dead end oh this the main
lobby oh that's the main the main entrance for the second floor oh wow on both sides jeez the basement is further back if you want to see all that is yeah have yall gone in this area this is the cafeteria behind there's two walls right where window is right in front of you m right there is this like the dining area where they would eat maybe the like the cafeteria a big hole right there oh [ __ ] I thought I felt the floor like move a little bit safer on this side but it's also
slippery at the same so yeah be careful right here this is where it gets extreme slippery more worried about going through the floor to the right is the kitchen you can't get in B oh really it just goes to a de end down there straight in front kitchen I think and then that door completely fli oh damn it sure is wow more down last time you can see down scared the [ __ ] out of me that's RI back there I don't know what was going on yeah just be careful when you get lower down
there's a spiderweb above you oh yeah it's a flood oh yeah you can see it then didn't look like they use this area for much oh what we got oh kitchen bad smell yeah wow look at that [Applause] work I oh is that bird [ __ ] yeah that's bird [ __ ] cuz look look like they building a next nest up there and when they [ __ ] it just plops down right here damn that may yeah that's disgusting oh my god oh man it says molasses molasses that's probably still good what is this
like a pizza oven I think so looks like a pizza oven that's cool [Music] [Music] that is some little tiny toilets there a library sign to the library I don't know what these other rooms are the front they just look cool oo Park well I'll say this if we fall through this floor it's going to suck really bad cuz it's flooded right underneath this B yeah lot of spider webs something be my [Music] VV e BJ be my valentine you ready it's almost time all bab look how big my heart got all of a sudden
it's like uh the Grinch at the end of the Grinch [Music] movie A y'all are cute oh thank you oh that's cool a KN on a horse hey how you doing wake everybody up oh Fresh Hair y That's the cour yard we just whoa these curtains are still in really good shape look at [Music] that s light fixture feel sorry for [Music] [Applause] him it's just having a little lone time ooh yeah that's a funky smell back here legit got locked inside that was walking what you say was something on the wall but I guess
not are you sure we can make it to the other side of the building no we're oh yeah that's a good question oh yeah all that's cool yeah it's a whole Fountain think the water came out the fish mouth you know it might be uh [Music] water yeah I don't play it this was really cool I'm glad we were able to get inside finally got to see Hope Haven [Music] hallway wi see if you can get a good shot of [Music] the say bye guys guys [Music]
