Arroyo del Valle Sanitarium
Arroyo del Valle Sanitarium was a former tuberculosis hospital in Livermore, California, that operated from 1918 until 1960.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Arroyo del Valle Sanitarium was a tuberculosis-treatment institution in Livermore, California, originally established as Del Valle Preventorium. It opened in 1918 as a private facility on a campus of more than 160 acres and initially accommodated 280 patients. Capacity was later increased to approximately 300. The institution was designed by San Francisco architect Henry H. Meyers and became one of the major specialized tuberculosis facilities associated with Alameda County. The sanitarium’s role developed during a period when tuberculosis treatment depended heavily on extended residential care, rest, observation, and controlled living conditions. In 1919, Dr. Chessley Bush became medical superintendent and remained in that position for more than three decades. A related children’s facility, Del Valle Farm, opened beside the sanitarium in 1923 as a tuberculosis ward for children. The farm was incorporated into the sanitarium during the 1920s, broadening the campus’s role in caring for younger patients as well as adults. Alameda County assumed operational control in 1925, converting the institution from a private operation into a county-administered medical facility. Bush continued as medical superintendent for many years. In 1949, James T. Duncan succeeded him. Duncan had previously directed Stony Brook Sanatorium in Kern County and led Arroyo del Valle during its final operating period. The institution’s decline was closely connected to changes in tuberculosis medicine. The increasing use of streptomycin and other effective drug treatments during the 1940s and 1950s reduced the need for large, long-term sanatorium populations. By 1959, the patient count had fallen to 148. Alameda County’s Board of Supervisors authorized closure, and the shutdown began on July 1, 1960. The last patients were removed in August; the remaining 90 patients were transferred to the tuberculosis ward at Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro. After closure, the property remained under Alameda County maintenance but was largely abandoned. Weather damage, including heavy-rain-related collapses, affected the upper floors of several buildings. Windows were broken, vandalism and theft occurred, and some structures were destroyed by fire. In 1976, the nonprofit Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch leased part of the grounds for a youth counseling and activity center serving people aged 12 to 21. Volunteers cleaned portions of the campus and renovated a building near the entrance, calling it Rienecker House in memory of a Livermore High School student who had died in an automobile accident. Additional renovation supported camp activities by 1987, but asbestos concerns raised questions about continued use of the deteriorating structures in 1988. The East Bay Regional Park District acquired the grounds in 1989. During the 1990s, the former hospital buildings were demolished and Camp Arroyo was developed on the site. The property is now managed as part of the regional park system. The former sanitarium also has a limited place in popular culture: the grounds were used as a filming location for the 1973 horror film Warlock Moon. Arroyo del Valle Sanitarium is therefore best understood as a historical healthcare institution and former site, rather than an active consumer brand.
History
Arroyo del Valle Sanitarium began as Del Valle Preventorium and opened in 1918 in Livermore, California. The private institution was created to provide residential treatment for tuberculosis, a disease for which long-term institutional care was a central part of medical practice at the time. Its campus covered more than 160 acres and was designed by Henry H. Meyers, a San Francisco architect. The facility opened with room for 280 patients and later expanded its capacity to approximately 300. The institution’s administration and clinical leadership were central to its development. Dr. Chessley Bush was appointed medical superintendent in 1919 and held the post for more than 30 years. In 1923, Del Valle Farm opened beside the main campus as a children’s tuberculosis ward. The farm was subsequently incorporated into the sanitarium during the 1920s, making the wider site a combined treatment and care complex. In 1925, Alameda County took over operation from the original private administration. Arroyo del Valle operated during the height of the sanatorium era, when patients often required extended stays and specialized environments. Its large campus allowed the institution to accommodate a substantial population, including children, but advances in tuberculosis therapy changed the economics and medical purpose of the facility. Streptomycin became an important treatment during the 1940s and 1950s, reducing dependence on prolonged institutionalization. James T. Duncan became medical superintendent in 1949 after previously directing Stony Brook Sanatorium in Kern County. The patient population fell sharply as drug treatment became more effective. By 1959, only 148 patients remained. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors authorized closure, which commenced on July 1, 1960. The last patients were removed in August, with the remaining 90 transferred to the tuberculosis ward at Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro. The closure represented the broader decline of large tuberculosis sanatoriums in the United States as treatment moved from extended residential care toward outpatient and medication-based models. Following closure, the property remained abandoned for several years while Alameda County maintained the land. The buildings deteriorated through exposure to heavy rain, which caused upper floors to collapse in some structures. Many windows were broken, and vandalism, theft, and fires further damaged the campus. In 1976, Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch leased part of the grounds as a counseling and activity center for young people aged 12 to 21. Volunteers cleaned portions of the site and renovated a building near the entrance, naming it Rienecker House after a Livermore High School student killed in an automobile accident. By 1987, another building had been renovated for camp activities. Continued operation became more difficult after asbestos concerns were raised in 1988. The East Bay Regional Park District acquired the grounds in 1989. During the 1990s, the remaining buildings were demolished and Camp Arroyo was built on the former sanitarium property. The site is now managed by the park district. The former campus also appeared in popular culture when the 1973 horror film Warlock Moon was filmed on the grounds. No active medical, commercial, or consumer-facing operation remains under the Arroyo del Valle Sanitarium name.
- 1990
Former buildings are demolished and Camp Arroyo is developed
[1]During the 1990s, the former sanitarium buildings were removed and a summer camp was constructed on the site.
- 1989
Park district acquires grounds
[1]The East Bay Regional Park District acquired the property after years of deterioration and concerns about asbestos.
- 1976
Youth ranch begins site use
[1]Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch leased part of the former campus for counseling and activities for young people.
- 1960
Sanitarium closes
[1]Closure began on July 1, and the last patients were removed in August and transferred to Fairmont Hospital.
- 1959
Patient population declines
[1]The sanitarium had 148 patients as effective drug treatment reduced demand for long-term tuberculosis hospitalization.
- 1949
James T. Duncan becomes superintendent
[1]James T. Duncan succeeded Bush as medical superintendent after directing Stony Brook Sanatorium in Kern County.
- 1925
Alameda County assumes operation
[1]The county took control of the institution, ending its initial period as a privately operated facility.
- 1923
Del Valle Farm opens
[1]A neighboring farm facility opened as a tuberculosis ward for children and was later incorporated into the sanitarium complex.
- 1919
Chessley Bush becomes medical superintendent
[1]Dr. Chessley Bush assumed the medical superintendent role and remained associated with the position for more than three decades.
- 1918
Opening as Del Valle Preventorium
[1]The private tuberculosis institution opened in Livermore with a campus exceeding 160 acres and an initial capacity of 280 patients.
Products and positioning
A specialized residential tuberculosis-care institution serving patients in Alameda County and the surrounding Northern California region.
Brand decisions
1960
Closure and patient transferStrategyBackground
Improved tuberculosis treatment, including the increasing use of streptomycin, reduced the need for a large residential sanatorium. The patient population had fallen to 148 by 1959.
Action taken
Alameda County began closing the facility on July 1 and transferred the remaining 90 patients to Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro.
Aftermath
The sanitarium ceased medical operations in August 1960, and the campus eventually transitioned to youth and park uses.
1925
County takeover of operationsStrategyBackground
The institution had originally operated privately, but Alameda County assumed responsibility for its operation.
Action taken
The county took over management of the sanitarium and its tuberculosis-care program.
Aftermath
The facility operated as a county institution until its closure in 1960.
Sources1 sources
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