Rolling Hills Asylum preserves the spirits and stories of East Bethany’s Past

EAST BETHANY, N.Y. (WIVB) — The walls of Rolling Hills Asylum have stood for nearly two centuries and some believe the spirits of those who once lived there still roam its halls.

Originally built in 1827, the Genesee County Poorhouse later served as an orphanage and nursing facility. Thousands of people passed through its doors over the decades, leaving behind memories woven into the very fabric of the building.

“The whole building is active,” said Sharon Coyle, owner of Rolling Hills Asylum. “Spirits aren’t super glued to the floor. They move around just like we move around our homes. You might hear things like your name being called, whispering, giggling, or music. You may even smell lemon cookies, meatloaf, Bengay. All those things are personal experiences, sometimes meant for one person at a time.”

After the building closed in the 1970s, it sat vacant for decades before Coyle purchased the property in 2010.

“My first thought was, ‘Oh my God, what’s going to happen to the spirits?’” Coyle said. “They’re so intelligent and the property is so historical. They’re tearing down buildings left and right, and I wanted to preserve this one.”

Since taking ownership, Coyle has focused on two missions: preserving the asylum’s history and allowing visitors to experience its haunted reputation. She now leads ghost hunts, historical tours, and overnight events particularly popular throughout October.

“It’s because I treat them with respect,” Coyle said of the spirits. “I don’t let people come in and belittle or antagonize them. People have to remember, these were real, living, breathing human beings, nurses, doctors, patients people who just needed a leg up when life was hard.”

Coyle says the asylum operates entirely on ticket sales, with proceeds helping fund maintenance and restoration efforts on the aging property.

From flashlight tours to guided investigations, Rolling Hills Asylum remains a place where history and mystery intertwine and where some say the past never truly rests.

At Rolling Hills Asylum, each hallway, each peeling wall, each room holds a story the only question is: are you brave enough to step inside? Tickets can be purchased by going to their website here. Tickets must be purchased ahead of arrival.