I've now visited the New York City Farm Colony twice. Though this massive complex of ruins is within sight of a a major road, it isn't without its own devious obstacles — located in the dead center of Staten Island, hopeful visitors must make a long, perilous journey into the heart of that nasally-accented suburban darkness. I took boats, buses, I walked along shoulderless roads, past unkempt lawns and finally through a tear in the chain-link fence separating the historic campus from suburbia. As far as I can tell, visiting the New York City Farm Colony isn't technically illegal, as there aren't any "no trespassing" signs posted. The land is owned by the Department of Parks and Recreation, and was designated an official landmark in 1985 after being abandoned in the late '70s. So as far as daring adventures go, I've risked
far more dangerous. But I'm evidently not alone in finding the deserted dormitories of interest. On both occasions that I've visited the Farm Colony, a group of paintballers were already there, pelting each other with pellets in the deep woods. Trespassing is so much more fun when there's gunfire all around you.
