Standing since 1859
Three buildings watch over the Emmaus valley: the Church, the Asylum — the Setz Building — and the Administration Building. They have been here since before the Civil War, and they have never once been ordinary.
1859
The first stones were laid in the Emmaus valley outside Marthasville before the Civil War. German immigrants built here the way they built everything — thick walls, high windows, and a chapel at the heart of it. The campus that grew around it would stand watch over the valley for more than a century and a half.
1893 →
For generations the campus served as a home and asylum for those the outside world had no place for — hundreds of residents lived, worked, worshipped, and died on these grounds. The Setz Building held the wards. The Administration Building held the records. The Church held everyone, in the end.
The Quiet
When the institution finally closed its doors, the valley went quiet. Paint peeled in the corridors, the wards emptied, and the buildings settled into the dark. Locals told stories. Some of the staff never quite stopped visiting. The stories didn't stop either.
Today
Ben and Mandy Johnson took on the property to restore some of the most incredible structures in Missouri history. Alongside the restoration runs a research effort — our team has tracked down former employees of the asylum to validate the stories and legends of the property, separating what's history from what's folklore. What can't be explained, we investigate. You're invited to help.
A word of respect — real people lived and died here. Our research honors them: we verify the stories, we name what we can, and we don't invent tragedy for ticket sales. The activity we investigate speaks for itself.
What the dark looks like
Photos courtesy of Pam Crisci of Spiritual & Haunted, our public events partner.
Every photograph below was taken on the grounds. Nothing is staged. The asylum doesn't need it.
Cross the stone bridge
Arriving at our location can feel like the opening scene of a thriller, equal parts eerie and easy to miss a turn. Here's how to glide in like a pro.
When you reach the asylum you'll see a stone bridge. Turn onto the bridge and head straight in.
As the buildings come into view: the Church is on your immediate left, the Asylum (Setz Building) is straight ahead, and the Administration Building is on your right.
Drive past the Administration Building and make a right turn. Emmaus team members will be there to guide you — the parking lot is straight ahead.
We've been fortunate to host incredible guests, and we intend to keep it that way. We are fully inclusive and welcome all walks of life. This is a safe space. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, notify a staff member immediately.
This is an at-your-own-risk event. Other than that, dive in and enjoy. We're here to guide you, teach you, and learn right alongside you.
See for yourself