The Haunted Prison In West Virginia Every Pittsburgher Must Visit
By Beth Price-Williams|Published September 22, 2017
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Violence, murder, and executions helped West Virginia Penitentiary earn a harrowing distinction during its 119 year history. It was one of the most violent prisons in the United States, according to the United States Department of Justice. But, despite the notorious facility shutting its doors permanently in 1995, the spirits of the prisoners, who died within those walls, are said to still roam the grounds.
West Virginia Penitentiary, about an hour and 15 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, became known for the violence that permeated through the facility during its more than century-long history.
All told, nearly 1,000 inmates died during their incarceration. Some were murdered at the hands of fellow inmates; others said their last words before the electric chair fulfilled its duty. Before "Old Sparky," condemned inmates met their fate at the hangman's gallows.
Not all who entertained the prison left even after death. Many of the prisoners' bodies, abandoned by their families, were buried on the prison's grounds in Moundsville.
Even for those who survived their time in West Virginia Penitentiary, life behind prison walls proved torturous. Overcrowding - with three men in a five-by-seven-foot cell - led to riots which, in turn, resulted in more deaths.
All remaining prisoners departed the prison for other facilities when West Virginia Penitentiary permanently closed its doors in 1995 but, as many believe, the tortured spirits of those prisoners who died within the hallowed walls still remain.
Visitors, many from the Pittsburgh area, regularly journey to the former prison. Guests are invited to join day tours, photography tours, three-hour paranormal investigations, and overnight paranormal investigations.
For a truly unique view of the prison, join the Photography Tour. The four hour tour gives professional and aspiring photographers rare glimpses into the prison that other visitors don't get to see.
Be prepared, however, as visitors tell of feeling their hair stand on edge immediately after walking into the prison. Others tell of feeling an unknown presence next to them while some claim to have felt an ice cold hand on their shoulder only to find no one there.
Dress for the weather for your visit to West Virginia Penitentiary. The facility has no heating or air conditioning, so dress in light clothes during the hotter months and bundle up when it's cold.
Spend a day uncovering the secrets of this haunted prison in West Virginia. Or, if you prefer to go ghost hunting closer to home, check out the 10 best places to spot a ghost in Pittsburgh.
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