The Spookiest Abandoned Places In Pennsylvania Worth Visiting This Halloween

Pennsylvania is home to some of the most eerie and historically rich locations perfect for a Halloween adventure. From haunted asylums to ghost towns with a past, these sites offer a chilling glimpse into the past and present supernatural tales.

Here’s a curated list of some spooky destinations in Pennsylvania that are worth your visit this Halloween season.

1. Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary’s crumbling architecture and documented history make it a fascinating visit. This former prison once housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and is now a significant historic site and museum.

During Halloween, the “Halloween Nights” experience offers a festival atmosphere with a mix of scary haunted houses and historical tours. While the penitentiary does not officially claim to be haunted, the chilling atmosphere and historical context create a spine-tingling experience.

2. Pennhurst Asylum

Pennhurst Asylum’s dark past as an institution for people with disabilities lends it an unsettling aura. Today, it operates as a popular Halloween haunted attraction, inviting visitors to explore its darkened corridors and experience its disturbing history.

The immersive atmosphere is heightened during Halloween, offering a mix of frightening scares and historical intrigue.

3. Centralia Ghost Town

Centralia’s status as a ghost town is a result of an underground mine fire that has been burning since 1962. It once was a bustling town but now features eerie, cracked roads with smoke seeping from the earth. The famous Graffiti Highway was covered in 2020, but the haunting atmosphere remains. Few residents remain, adding to the desolate landscape.

While authorities discourage visiting, the desolated streets and steaming earth tell a somber story of desolation and caution.

4. Hill View Manor

Once a poorhouse and nursing home, Hill View Manor is now known for its paranormal activity. Tours and ghost hunts are regularly held, inviting enthusiasts to explore its halls.

The manor’s history and spooky reputation have attracted significant social media buzz, with visitors sharing tales of unexplained phenomena. With its inviting yet chilling atmosphere, it’s a popular destination for those seeking a ghostly encounter.

5. Cresson Sanatorium And Prison

Cresson Sanatorium and Prison’s history as a treatment facility and correctional institution makes it a site of intrigue. Paranormal enthusiasts flock here for its reputed ghostly happenings.

Tours offer insights into its layered past with an added thrill of potential hauntings. As of 2025, its future remains uncertain, adding urgency to visit. With its eerie charm and complex history, the site provides a captivating destination for those seeking a supernatural thrill.

6. Selma Mansion

Selma Mansion in Norristown is rich with 18th-century history and a reputation for ghostly happenings. The Norristown Preservation Society actively restores it, hosting events for the curious.

Paranormal investigations are a special draw, offering glimpses into its storied past. Tales of restless spirits add a layer of mystery to its elegant architecture. For history buffs and ghost seekers alike, the mansion provides a perfect mix of elegance and eerie intrigue.

7. Yellow Dog Village

Yellow Dog Village is a remnant of a bygone industrial era, offering a glimpse into a community frozen in time. Although privately owned, it now operates as a seasonal ticketed attraction where visitors can explore its decaying homes.

Each building tells a story of sudden abandonment, with relics left behind by former residents. The atmosphere is thick with nostalgia and an eerie quiet, creating a hauntingly beautiful setting for those interested in history and decay.