Pennsylvania is said to be the second most haunted state in the USA, according to a 2024 study. Gettysburg Battlefield and Eastern State Penitentiary are perhaps the best-known haunted spots. But just as atmospheric is Pennhurst State School and Hospital.
Located just outside Spring City, a suburb of North East Philadelphia. With a past steeped in difficult truths, the asylum is deeply rooted in American history and is rumored to be haunted by more than a few ghosts.
Article by Jane Sandwood
Pennhurst State School and Hospital
As a state-run institution, Pennhurst State School and Hospital opened its doors to patients (both children and adults) back in late November of 1908, serving throughout the years as a facility for individuals in the area who were mentally or physically disabled.
While the facility was initially meant to serve as a productive place to house patients, it didn’t take long for things to drastically change. Soon, the institution was overcrowded, understaffed, unhygienic, and was even described as inhumane and violent over its operational lifetime.
While there were undoubtedly compassionate and kind staff at Pennhurst, this could not be said of everyone working there, and reports of abuse and neglect were rife.
Conditions & Treatment
Pennhurst faced a number of lawsuits due to the conditions and treatment of those at the facility. It eventually closed its doors following a landmark case (Pennhurst State School and Hospital v. Halderman), brought by the family of former patient Terri Lee Halderman after the discovery that Halderman had experienced abuse while at Pennhurst.
Pennhurst’s closure enabled many patients to reunite with their families, or relocate to other facilities that provided better conditions. The Halderman case played a key role in history for those with developmental disabilities, as it effectively set the scene for “greater educational opportunities and community-based living arrangements.”
It is important to keep in mind that while Pennhurst was rightfully shrouded in controversy due to the horrific conditions and events that took place there, the institution nevertheless became an important part of history, as it brought much-needed attention to disability rights and therefore played a role in the disability rights movement in America.
Pennhurst originally consisted of at least 32 different buildings spread across 633 acres. Many have since been demolished and what remains today has been left abandoned and decayed.
If you are planning to visit, it is important to do so as part of an organized tour, as many parts of the structure are unsafe, due to both structural decay and mold. A local Pennsylvania-based specialist noted that mold can present significant and long-term health risks, a point well worth keeping in mind when visiting this or any other abandoned buildings on a ghost hunt.
Pennhurst’s Tortured History
Pennhurst’s tortured history became more widely known after a five-part series by Bill Baldini aired locally back in 1968, revealing the grim yet true nature of what patients experienced.
The exposé, titled “Suffer the Little Children,” worked to highlight a number of concerns — including the fact that Pennhurst was significantly underfunded, overcrowded, and understaffed by those who were dedicated (yet overextended) in their duties.
The series ultimately unveiled that the facility was an overall unfit environment for those living within its walls, specifically regarding the impact that the overcrowded facility had on the care of the patients.
In addition to touching on the abuse and neglect that was happening within the institution, the investigative report played an important role in creating public awareness and promoting conversations about disability rights as well as the necessary changes that still needed to occur.
Ghosts of the Grounds
According to an article on the Pennhurst Memorial & Preservation Alliance website by James W. Conroy, Ph.D., a total of around 10,600 individuals were housed at the institution between the years of 1908 to its close in 1987.
Many patients were discharged or were transferred elsewhere, but Conroy estimates that “probably around half” of those who were admitted passed away within the walls of the institution.
Over the years, witnesses have reported a variety of potentially supernatural happenings at Pennhurst.
These include moving objects, shadow figures, apparitions, orbs, disembodied voices, and feelings of unease or heaviness. According to online speculation among ghost hunting groups, it seems likely that certain areas of the asylum are more active than others.
For example, the tunnels beneath the asylum and the Mayflower building are mentioned time and again. There is undoubtedly a creepy atmosphere to the place and many are beyond doubt that spirits are present. The fact that so many are likely to be children underlines the sad and tragic nature of Pennhurst’s past.
Patient Haunting
Many of the institution’s patients who passed away were laid to rest at the Pennhurst Memorial Cemetery. But tales of haunted happenings suggest that not all of them rest easy. And some continue to walk the grounds decades later.
An episode from the podcast Heart Starts Pounding: Horrors, Hauntings and Mysteries titled The Horrors of Pennhurst Asylum. It provides some insight into the ghosts that haunt the grounds. One ghost story highlighted by the episode involves the Q building, which is where the children were held.
According to the podcast, a woman called Briana and a group of her friends were exploring Pennhurst one night. This was before restoration though after the asylum’s close.
Once inside the abandoned Q building, the group experienced a sudden and unexpected breeze. It extinguished their candles, before hearing the disembodied laughter of a child.
The Heart Starts Pounding episode goes on to note. Briana and her friends shared an “overwhelming sense of sadness” before running out of the building.
For those who wish to experience a haunt themselves and learn more about the institution and what happened there first hand, there are different ways to do so.
Visiting Pennhurst
When the institution initially opened as a Halloween attraction by businessman Richard Chakejian. It made for a controversial move for many despite the fact that Chakejian took care to not “mock or mimic” those with disabilities. Highlighted in a 2010 NPR article by Jamie Tarabay.
The article explored the opening of the Pennhurst attraction. Pointed out that many believed the site should be memorialized rather than sensationalized as a Halloween attraction.
However, it has become an alluring location for many regardless.
“A lot of people believe… the spirits of people [who] have suffered and died in this institution are still in here”
Tarabay cited the words of visitor Scott Clower.
Clower further noted that the collective belief adds to the excitement of the haunted house. Today, people from all over still come to Pennhurst. To not only learn about the location and its role in history. But also enjoy the grounds as something positive — a haunt that’s sure to be one to remember.
Current State & Tours
While a significant portion of former Pennhurst remains in decay. Guests are able to tour remediated spaces and partake in different attractions.
According to the Pennhurst Asylum website, there are plenty of options for history and paranormal enthusiasts alike. From photography-specific tours to daytime tours that focus on the location’s history.
Passes for the 2025 season highlight attractions include…
- The Pennhurst Asylum
- The Morgue
- The Catacombs
- The Tunnels
While VIP tickets feature express line privileges to all four options. Paranormal investigations are also available, and run from 7PM to 2AM.
This tour will provide guests with access to four floors of Mayflower hall. As well as several other locations (such as certain areas of Devon hall and the infirmary), ticket details highlight.
Pennhurst State School and Hospital saw a number of patients during its operational lifetime. Many of whom suffered abuse and neglect in the unfit environment that was created by issues like overcrowding.
While buildings still stand as a stark reminder of the past. Paranormal enthusiasts can still appreciate a memorable haunt at one of Pennsylvania’s most haunted locations.