If you’re drawn to the eerie, haunted, and downright macabre, Pennsylvania is packed with sites that will send a chill down your spine. From infamous haunted battlefields and asylums to creepy mansions and legendary supernatural sites, these destinations offer a mix of history, legend, and paranormal encounters. Here are eight things to see in Pennsylvania if you’re into the creepy and macabre:
1. Gettysburg Battlefield & Devil’s Den (Gettysburg)
The site of one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles, Gettysburg is considered one of the most haunted places in America. Devil’s Den, a rocky outcrop on the battlefield, is infamous for ghostly sightings, eerie sounds, and tales of restless spirits—including soldiers and Native American apparitions.
2. Farnsworth House Inn (Gettysburg)
This historic inn, riddled with bullet holes from the Battle of Gettysburg, was used as a sharpshooter post and later a hospital. Guests and staff report encounters with numerous ghosts, including soldiers, a midwife, and a mysterious child. Paranormal activity is so frequent that each ghost is said to have its own name and personality.
3. Old Jail Museum (Jim Thorpe)
Once the site of the infamous Molly Maguires’ imprisonment and execution, this 19th-century jail is notorious for recurring mysterious handprints and chilling tales of unrest. Visitors can see the gallows and the cells where prisoners met their end.
4. Hill View Manor (New Castle)
This former poorhouse and mental institution is now a hotspot for ghost hunters. Visitors report voices, footsteps, and apparitions—including the spirit of a young boy named Jeffery. The manor’s dark history and paranormal activity have earned it a spot on several ghost-hunting TV shows.
5. Pennhurst Asylum (Spring City)
Once a state school and hospital, Pennhurst is now a legendary haunted attraction. Its abandoned halls, underground tunnels, and chilling history of mistreatment make it a magnet for those seeking a real scare. It’s consistently ranked among the nation’s most terrifying haunted houses.
6. Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia)
This crumbling, historic prison is famous for its harsh conditions and reports of lingering spirits. Day and night tours let visitors explore haunted cellblocks, where the sounds of former inmates are said to echo through the halls.
7. Erie Cemetery & Witches’ Circle (Erie)
Erie Cemetery is home to the infamous Witches’ Circle—a mysterious ring of headstones with scorch marks and eerie legends of Satanic rituals. Some tombstones are said to bear gothic ornaments and signs of supernatural activity1.
8. The Seven Gates of Hell (York)
According to local lore, this remote site was once the location of a burned asylum. The legend claims that passing through all seven gates condemns you to eternity in hell. Visitors report ghostly figures, disembodied voices, and a pervasive sense of dread.
These sites are sure to satisfy anyone with a taste for the spooky, mysterious, and macabre side of Pennsylvania’s history and folklore.
Sources
[1] https://traveltriangle.com/blog/haunted-places-in-pennsylvania/
[2] https://www.visitpa.com/article/haunted-attractions-pa
[3] https://www.visitpa.com/article/haunted-places-pennsylvania
[4] https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/haunted-places-in-pennsylvania.htm
[5] https://fieldofscreams.com
