What began as a tuberculosis sanatorium when it opened in 1913 transformed over the years into a state hospital and finally a state prison. Cresson Center closed in December 1982 when plans were announced to convert the psychiatric center into a state correctional institution. In 1984, work began to transform the state hospital into a medium-security state correctional institution for male inmates, which was completed in 1987 at the cost of $20.6 million. Several of the original tuberculosis-era structures were left intact during the transformation. J Block, a 256-cell building, was added in 2006 at the cost of $8.6 million. The state announced that SCI Cresson would be closed on January 8, 2013. The facility officially closed on June 30, 2013 due to the age of the prison and rising costs of maintaining the property. The property sat abandoned for some time before being bought by a hydroponic company. The property is open to the public for tours and events through Big House Produce.
SILENCE OF THE ABANDONED 