Florence Health Care Center

To Read A Fully Detailed History, Former Patient/Staff Stories, and See 50+ Exclusive High-Quality Pictures Click Here to Order ‘Abandoned Kansas: Healthcare in the Heartland’

(Below is just a snippet of history and photos)

Autumn Manor III/Florence Health Care Center

In 1970 a modern one-story sort of U-shaped building was constructed that would become known as Autumn Manor III. A nursing home providing care to elders in and around Florence Kansas.

But as with most other small-town nursing facilities, eventually, the need for them becomes less and less or they become less affordable and lose residents. Throughout the early 2000s, many of these places closed, some being repurposed and others becoming abandoned. The Florence Health Care Center had to close down in 2002 leaving it to become abandoned.

Sunshine Residential Center

In 2009 Dr. David Weseloh after spending a few weeks of looking into potential senior centers in Plainville and Woodbine and more with no luck he was traveling through Florence Kansas. Right off the highway, an abandoned motel caught his eye. Pulling over to further inspect and having been disappointed in his other options he figured what could hurt to check it out. Talking to the owners they pointed him to the abandoned and neglected Florence Health Care Facility just in town.

After touring the facility he saw his vision coming to light for a social center for elderly citizens and was adamant about creating a space for them to enjoy. With the help and involvement of Mayor Mary Shipman David became the new owner of the Florence Health Care Facility. He wasted no time putting up a new sign with the name Sunshine Residential Center to give the long-abandoned building a new identity. After some repairs and improvements, the center opened in September of 2009.

But the philanthropy project was very short-lived only lasting a few months before shutting down. Dr. Weseloh said he had made the decision to close down the new center because he could not find a property manager to keep things in check. He planned to sell it and it seems he did just that since according to property records his name is not listed as the owner anymore. It has continued to sit abandoned for the last thirteen years and been torn to bits by vandals and animals. The walls are covered in explicit graffiti, patient records are scattered on the floor and windows broken.

To Read A Fully Detailed History, Former Patient/Staff Stories, and See 50+ Exclusive High-Quality Pictures Click Here to Order ‘Abandoned Kansas: Healthcare in the Heartland’

Gallery Below of Florence Health Care Facility

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