The Indian Head Road Cemetery was established around 1930 in response to the growing need for burial plots for Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital patients. Previously, a cemetery was located on Route 25A where there is now a school athletic field. That cemetery had been in use since at least the 1880's and, possibly earlier as a community cemetery for local residents. In 1963, this land was sold to the Kings Park School District and the bodies were moved to the Indian Head Road Cemetery. Since the cemetery was over 80 years old at this time, there were undoubtedly many unmarked graves and some were missed during the move. During construction of the school athletic field, some remains were unearthed. 

The Indian Head Road Cemetery consists of about four acres divided into almost 4,000 individual graves which are separated by religion (Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish) and gender. Of these graves, only two have gravestones, apparently placed by family members. Sadly, New York State has chosen to leave these graves unmarked, placing a memorial stone at the entrance in memory of the thousands of patients buried there. There is a large, wooden cross in the back of the cemetery in the middle of the Catholic section.

The cemetery is now fenced with a locked gate preventing anyone from visiting. Those that do visit, leave wreaths or flowers on the gate. Even if someone was able to obtain a deceased's grave location from the New York State Office of Mental Health, it would be impossible to locate the grave without professional help due to the lack of markers. Maintenance consists of mowing a few times a year.

For burial information, contact:

Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Medical Records

Phone: (631) 761–3500