Hillside tuberculosis sanatorium opened in 1912 in the Turtle Mountains north of Dunseith, later a state institution for the developmentally disabled until 1987, and afterward one of the Plains' most notorious abandoned complexes — a teenage explorer died in an elevator shaft there in 2001. Included as a historically major site that is now gone: the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, which owns the land, completed EPA-funded demolition of the entire complex in fall 2025. As of 2026 essentially nothing stands, and the tribe is weighing recreational reuse. The cleared site remains private tribal land — there is no longer anything to explore, and visiting uninvited is trespassing.
Vestige documents abandoned & historic places for education and preservation. Always obtain permission before visiting and follow local law.