Pennsylvania’s long history has created many spots throughout the state that are known for their eerie feelings. And whether those are spots that you seek out or tend to avoid, I find all of these to be quite interesting in their own right.
While spooky spots in PA are most popular during October, the sites on this list are open for more of the year than that. That’s because this list is filled with historic spots and museums that have well-documented spookiness to them.
So, you won’t find spots on here that are solely known for manufactured Halloween freights. These are the real deal (or at least as real as you believe things like ghosts to be).
So, if you’re looking for some fascinating history with a side of spookiness, here are some spots that you’ll want to check out.
Eastern State Penitentiary
First opened in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia is one of the most historic prisons in all of the US.
The prison was in operation until 1971 when it closed and was left largely abandoned. In recent years, however, it has reopened for tours, which allow you to explore this incredible place.
What makes this spot spooky is not just the abandoned nature of the space, but also the many reported ghostly encounters in the prison. And, for those that love Halloween, Eastern State is also home to one of the region’s most popular haunted attractions during the fall.
Gettysburg Battlefield
There might be nowhere in Pennsylvania that is more haunted than the Gettysburg Battlefield in Adams County.
The Battle of Gettysburg occurred from July 1-3 in 1863 and was the turning point of the Civil War. Sadly, there were nearly 50,000 casualties, of which at least 7,000 died during the three-day battle.
Today, the Gettysburg National Military Park is one of the state’s most popular attractions, and many have had ghostly encounters both on the battlefield and in the surrounding town over the years.
Visitors can sign up for a variety of spooky tours that range from simply ghost tours around town to paranormal expeditions into haunted buildings and even onto the battlefield.
VAMPA Vampire Museum
Did you know that there’s a vampire museum in Pennsylvania? VAMPA, which is located in the southeastern PA community of Doylestown focuses on the history of vampires and other creatures of the dark.
The museum houses a collection vampire hunting tools said to be antique kits from Europe, occult-related objects, things that are said to be haunted, and much more.
If you are looking for spooky spots in PA, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Haunted Hill View Manor
Located in New Castle in western PA (about an hour northwest of Pittsburgh), Haunted Hill View Manor is a spot that is almost exclusively focused on exploring the paranormal.
Outside of a few photography workshops that I’ve hosted over the years, tours here are held for much of the year and focus on this former poor farm and nursing home’s paranormal encounters and the residents that are said to have never left.
After the tours, you can even borrow equipment and try to have encounters for yourself in the many hot spots found here.
During the fall, there is also a popular haunted house located in the property behind Hill View Manor.
Cresson Sanatorium and Prison
First opened in 1912 as the Cresson Tuberculosis Sanatorium before becoming a mental institution and later a state prison. SCI Cresson closed in 2013, marking the end of the site’s 100 year history.
However, for the last few years, limited visits of the site have been allowed both for those looking to photograph and explore the site during the day, and those doing ghost hunts overnight.
During the autumn season, these visits are shutdown, however, as the site is taken over by a massive haunted house that is sure to scare even the bravest visitors.
Buffalo Bill’s House
Technically, there’s nothing spooky about this home in Perryopolis, PA. However, it was used during the filming of “The Silence of the Lambs” as the home of serial killer Buffalo Bill.
The current owner has gone all out into this, recreating sets from the film, and decorating the home as closely as possible to how it looked when filming took place both outside and inside the home. He even had a fake well built in the basement to mimic one of the most famous scenes from the film.
Today, visitors can take regularly scheduled tours of the home or even rent it out and stay the night. Complimentary lotion is provided for all overnight guests.
Lost Children of the Alleghenies Monument
The Lost Children of the Alleghenies Monument is located deep in the forests of Bedford County and tells one of the saddest stories in PA history.
The spot is where the young Cox Brothers (ages 7 and 5) were found dead in the woods after wandering away from home in 1856. They were found, according to local legend, after a neighbor had a dream about their location.
Today, a monument and sign remembers their lives and story.
The location far from civilization and in a dark forest leads to stories of creepy feelings while visiting this spot.
Fort Mifflin
Fort Mifflin is one of the oldest military forts in the United States and is located directly adjacent to the Philadelphia Airport.
This spot is full of incredible history dating back to before the Revolutionary War and with that, comes many stories of ghostly encounters within the walls here. These stories are so popular that Fort Mifflin offers night hours on select days in addition to the normal day-time visits, which are quite interesting in their own right.
Hooded Grave Cemetery
The Hooded Grave Cemetery is a small burial site in a rural part of Columbia County, PA. It’s unremarkable from the thousands of others that dot the state’s landscape, except for one key fact, two of its graves are covered in metal work.
The mystery of this spot lies in why these two graves in rural Columbia County were covered in the first place, and were the cages designed to keep the living out or the dead in? After all, at this point in history, vampires, witches, and werewolves were a real fear in some parts of the world, including New England.
These graves were for sisters-in-law who died within only a few days of each other, likely because of childbirth. Why they are covered in Mortsafes, no one knows, but makes for an interesting spot to visit.
Old Jail Museum
There are many great attractions in Jim Thorpe, PA, but one of my favorites is the Old Jail Museum.
Tours of the Old Jail Museum lead you through the historic Carbon County Jail, which housed inmates from 1870 until 1995. Guides offer a fascinating look into its history and uses.
Probably the most popular aspect, however, is the ghostly handprint on the wall. It is said that this was left by a condemned man (part of the infamous Molly McGuires) as he was dragged to the gallows. Of course, there are also many more tales of haunting in this historic prison.
The Living Dead Museum
Pittsburgh is the birthplace of zombies in pop culture (as the filming location for the first zombie movie “Night of the Living Dead”), so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there is an entire museum dedicated to zombies in this part of PA.
Located with the Monroeville Mall (where scenes from “Night of the Living Dead” were filmed), The Living Dead Museum features many props, photos, mannequins, and recreations to showcase movies, TV shows, music videos, and other media that have utilized zombies throughout pop culture.
Whether you are a fan of horror movies or just enjoy interesting history, this is a great spot to visit.
Evans City Cemetery
Speaking of “Night of the Living Dead”, its initial shots were done within the historic Evans City Cemetery in Butler County, only a short distance north of Pittsburgh.
Walking through the cemetery, especially on a cloudy day, you can definitely see why this spot was chosen.
I enjoyed watching the film clips, and then finding the gravestones where the footage was shot and recreating the scenes in my mind.
Pennhurst Asylum
Of all the places on this list, Pennhurt Asylum is the only spot I haven’t personally visit. However, given the sites popularity among those that love spooky spots, I figured I had to include it here.
Opened in 1908 as the Eastern State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic, it later became known as the Pennhurst State School and Hospital before it closed in 1987. Today, the buildings sit largely abandoned, though visitors are allowed in select buildings on occasionally scheduled tours.
The horrors of this site are well-known, and it is popular with ghost hunters who believe many residents never left this spot. There is also a haunted house here during the fall.
Looking for even more spots to check out? Check out my favorite abandoned places in PA, Yellow Dog Village, and my list of PA’s Ghost Towns.
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Keep up the great work! I love it!!!!!!!