There's no shortage of haunted places to visit in Pennsylvania, but these are six of the most ghastly must-visit paranormal hotspots. Beginning in Philadelphia at Eastern State Penitentiary, arguably one of America's most haunted abandoned prisons, this adventure will take you to hotels with guests from other realms and one of the world's creepiest abandoned asylums. This trip is pure nightmare fuel.
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Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) has a fascinating history as what was then (when it was built in 1829) one of the most high-tech prisons, boasting a wheel-inspired design. Each inmate was in separate confinement and had running water. Today, it's kept in a state of protected ruin, and puts on all kinds of tours which delve into the prison's history, its famous inmates (including Al Capone!), art installations, and more. But, as you wander the church-inspired halls, you'll probably get a sense that some inmates never left here, even after the prison was shut down... by many accounts, the prison is haunted. Even before ESP was closed in the 1970s, rumors of strange incidents had haunted the penitentiary. Pay special attention to cell 12, where people claim to hear laughing and strange voices; cell 6, where shadowy figures move against the walls; and cell 4, where ghostly faces have been known to appear.
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Another bone-chillingly haunted old building to visit is Pennhurst Asylum. It operates as a haunted house during the Halloween season, but since it's a former asylum for the insane that's long been controversial for its sometimes-brutal practices, it has some real-life spooks and scares as well. If you're really dedicated to ghost hunting, you can rent out the place and do some investigating on your own... if you dare!
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Hex Hollow (also called Rehmeyer's Hollow) is more commonly known as Spring Valley County Park, but the legend of why it sometimes gets called Hex Hollow is pretty crazy. Pennsylvania is known for being a melting pot of religions, and in many areas, the lore of Quakers, German "Dutch" immigrants, Anabaptists, and Native Americans melded into a distinctive culture, where "pow-wow" (or folk) magic was believed and feared.
The legendary incident at Hex Hollow started in 1928, when Nellie Noll, who claimed to be a witch, told John Blymire that he had been cursed by Nelson Rehmeyer, who Nellie claimed was also a witch. Blymire and two friends (who were swept up in the witch-curse hysteria) broke into Rehmeyer's house, hoping to find and destroy his folk magic spell book. They never found the book, but they did encounter Rehmeyer himself, who they murdered, hoping that would lift the curse. The ensuing murder trial garnered national attention, and even today, you can find ghost-hunters and folklore buffs exploring Rehmeyer's house, which is still standing at the park.
From Civil War spirits and legendary witches to the inmates of one of the country's spookiest jails and the living dead, there are plenty of scares to be had across Pennsylvania. Whether you're brave enough to spend the night in a haunted inn, or you're just looking for a ghost story or two, there's a haunt for you. Happy ghost hunting!