Grand Vista Sanitarium in Richmond, California
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in Richmond contains the ruins of the Grand Vista Sanitarium. This estate was established in 1914 by Dr. Hendrick Nelsen Belgum to care for patients with physical and mental ailments. Dr. Belgum promoted a restorative healing approach, emphasizing fresh, wholesome food and a nurturing environment. The sanitarium featured orchards, gardens, palm groves, and a private spring water system. While some neighbors called it "the crazy house," others recalled it as a beautiful estate with well-tended grounds. Dr. Belgum managed the sanitarium until his death in 1948 while fighting a brush fire. After his death, his siblings continued to operate it, but it declined without his leadership. The property was left to nature after his brother's death in 1963, with no heirs. Arsonists destroyed the remaining structures in 1977, leaving only crumbling foundations and scattered palm trees. These remnants are now remnants of the past, visible along the Bonitas Gate and Belgum Trail Loop.