Where to Discover Pennsylvania’s Spookiest Haunts

Skip the artificial haunts and hayrides and see if you are brave enough to take on real haunts, like old prison cells where notorious criminals still wander, historic battlefields where soldiers refuse to rest and centuries-old inns where the check-in desk might have a friendly spirit. If this sounds up your alley, Pennsylvania offers a wide range of destinations offering authentic encounters with America’s historic yet spooky characters. Do you think you can survive these haunted places?

Eastern State Penitentiary

Located in Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary was once home to notorious criminals. Now abandoned, this prison is a prime location for scary night tours.

Gettysburg Battlefield

Walk through the battlefields of the Civil War in Gettysburg. Take a guided ghost hunt tour or dive deep into a paranormal investigation at this historically haunted site.

Cathedral of Learning

In Pittsburgh, Cathedral of Learning is an eerie Early American Room on the campus of University of Pittsburgh and features mysterious moving furniture, cold spots and candles that randomly ignite.

Mishler Theatre

Head to Altoona to see where Isaac Mishler’s ghost still watches the shows. Guests have reported seeing unexplained cigar smoke and unique presences.

The Old Jail Museum

The Old Jail Museum in Jim Thorpe is known for its terrifying past and ghost sightings. Take an after-dark ghost tour and see if you can spot any spirits or paranormal orbs.

The Farnsworth House Inn

This historic inn earned its haunted reputation thanks to overnight stays and visits from spirits of the past.

Hotel Bethlehem

Uncover Hotel Bethlehem’s eerie past during an overnight stay — keep an eye out for its ghostly residents, though.

Golden Plough Inn

Golden Plough Inn may seem like a peaceful place, but it really has a paranormal past. Former postmaster Thomas Betts can still be seen making his rounds, and mysterious coffee stirrer trails can be found in the morning from possible invisible guests.

King George II Inn

Stay at America’s oldest inn and tavern, where ghostly gentlemen in 1800s attire can be seen and phantom sounds of clanking cutlery can be heard.

The Bellevue Hotel

The Bellevue Hotel, Philadelphia’s most haunted, may be one of the most sought-after hotels in the city, but guests can experience chilling temperature drops, covers being tugged and eerie presences.