Pennsylvania isn’t just a state of historical landmarks and rolling hills—it’s also home to some of the most bone-chilling hauntings in the United States.
From abandoned asylums to battlefields soaked in sorrow, these haunted hotspots come with spine-tingling stories and eerie evidence to back them up.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, the tales from these 13 places just might make you sleep with the lights on.
1. Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, PA
Once one of the most notorious prisons in America, Eastern State Penitentiary is now a museum that embraces its haunted reputation. Visitors and staff report seeing shadowy figures, hearing footsteps echo in empty halls, and feeling sudden chills. Paranormal investigators have captured EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) recordings and thermal images showing unexplained heat signatures.
2. Gettysburg Battlefield – Gettysburg, PA
The Battle of Gettysburg claimed over 50,000 lives, and many believe their spirits never left. Tourists often hear cannon fire, screams, and marching soldiers when no one is around. Photographs regularly turn up showing apparitions and orbs—many of which defy logical explanation.
3. Pennhurst Asylum – Spring City, PA
Closed in 1987 due to abuse and overcrowding, Pennhurst has since become a go-to for ghost hunters. Former patients are said to still roam the halls, their spirits captured on night-vision cameras and in EVP recordings. One infamous recording features a child’s voice whispering, “Go away.”
4. Hill View Manor – New Castle, PA
A former poorhouse and nursing home, Hill View Manor is rife with reports of ghostly activity. Visitors describe full-body apparitions, disembodied voices, and even being touched. One guest filmed a door closing on its own, followed by an unexplained scream echoing down the hallway.
5. The Betsy Ross House – Philadelphia, PA
Home to the woman who sewed the first American flag, the Betsy Ross House is also known for paranormal activity. Guests have seen a woman in colonial dress weeping and moving through walls. Security footage once caught a rocking chair moving back and forth with no one near it.
6. Centralia – Columbia County, PA
Centralia’s underground coal fire has burned since 1962, but it’s the ghost town’s eerie quiet and apparitions that draw paranormal seekers. Many report shadowy figures walking down empty roads and odd electronic malfunctions. Some even claim to hear voices coming from deep underground.
7. Smurl House – West Pittston, PA
The Smurl haunting terrorized a family in the 1980s and was investigated by famous demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. The house was reportedly plagued by violent entities—some of which physically attacked family members. A priest’s blessing allegedly reduced activity, but paranormal experts still describe residual energy there.
8. Fort Mifflin – Philadelphia, PA
Built in 1771, Fort Mifflin is said to be haunted by the spirits of Revolutionary War soldiers. Cannons fire without warning, and screams of a ghostly “Screaming Woman” have been documented during ghost tours. Paranormal groups have recorded unexplained voices saying “Help me” and “Run.”
9. Bube’s Brewery – Mount Joy, PA
While now a restaurant and inn, Bube’s Brewery was once the site of Prohibition-era violence. Staff and patrons have encountered floating lights, strange voices, and even a ghostly cat. Security cameras have caught movement when the building was locked down for the night.
10. Jean Bonnet Tavern – Bedford, PA
This 1760s tavern was once a rest stop for settlers and now hosts guests who swear they’ve seen colonial-era spirits. Reports include cold spots, objects moving on their own, and even bedsheets being tugged. One guest captured a misty form hovering near their bed in a photo.
11. The Congelier House – Pittsburgh, PA
Nicknamed “The House the Devil Built,” this now-demolished house was once home to gruesome murders and strange deaths. Locals believe it cursed, and workers on a nearby gas line died mysteriously when working near its location. Though it no longer stands, its legacy of terror lives on.
12. Sachs Covered Bridge – Gettysburg, PA
Used during the Civil War for troop movements and possibly executions, Sachs Bridge is infamous for ghostly sightings. Visitors report hearing whispered conversations and footsteps on the bridge late at night. Photos taken at the site have shown glowing figures and misty outlines.
13. Allegheny County Jail – Pittsburgh, PA
Still partially operational, this historic jail is believed to be haunted by former inmates. Guards have seen figures walking cell blocks after hours and heard doors slam shut on their own. During an overnight investigation, a recent paranormal team captured unexplained banging and moaning on audio.
Final Thoughts
From tormented souls in abandoned asylums to the restless dead of America’s bloodiest battlefield, Pennsylvania’s haunted history is both chilling and compelling. The stories above aren’t just folklore—they’re backed by decades of personal testimonies, eerie recordings, and photographic evidence. Whether hunting ghosts or enjoying a good scare, these 13 locations offer undeniable proof that something lingers long after death.
