A Terrifying Pennsylvania Road Trip That Takes You To The Most Haunted Places In The State
Who doesn’t love a good scare now and then? Pennsylvania has a reputation for being one of the most haunted states— exactly why is a bit of a mystery. Maybe because “Pennsylvania” sounds like “Transylvania.” Maybe it’s the scrapple. Or perhaps our scary reputation is due to the plethora of haunted places throughout the state. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to plan a road trip that will show off some of Pennsylvania’s most haunted, terrifying locations. Here’s the Google Maps link in case you want to get more exact directions, or shift things around a bit on the haunted road trip through Pennsylvania.
There are four ghosts, or "friendly ghosts," that are known to visit guests at the 18th century Hotel Bethlehem; the hotel's website even has a page to introduce them. Will you see Francis "Daddy" Thomas, who haunts the boiler room -- the performer Lady Francis Hope, who can still sometimes be heard singing in the lobby -- or one of the others?
Hansell Road is a famous spot for drivers who want to test their luck with the ghostly. If you drive down the road after dark, you'll spot strange lights in the forest-- glowing orbs that have been described as white, red, and green...
Not only is this inn supposedly haunted, but it's also an historical location-- it is the longest continuously running inn in the entire country! A ton of ghostly activity occurs here, from the typical "doors opening and slamming on their own" bit, to a tuxedo-ed man appearing and disappearing in the hallway, to silverware moving around on its own, and more. Here's more information from the official Facebook page of King George Inn.
Even if you were unaware of Eastern State Penitentiary's legacy, just passing by the ominous-looking building would send chills down your spine. The historic prison served as an architectural precedent -- and held such notorious inmates as Al Capone. You can currently visit online; keep an eye on the Eastern State Penitentiary website for visitor hours.
Some of the ghosts who reside at Fort Mifflin include "The Screaming Woman," who is heard but never seen, "The Faceless Man," "The Tour Guide," who has been known to give tours to unsuspecting guests, and a Revolutionary-era ship that is sometimes spotted on the water. This island fort in Philadelphia was captured during the British during the Revolutionary War. Check out the official website of Fort Mifflin.
Legend states that anyone who passes through all seven gates on this bizarre, abandoned property in York will go straight to Hell. But why are there seven gates arranged together, anyway? The story goes that an asylum once stood here, and when it burned down, the patients escaped-- the gates were erected to capture them. Might as well give this spooky challenge a shot.
The Gettysburg Battlefield is known as one of the most haunted locations in the entire country, let alone just Pennsylvania -- so any ghost tour of the state would be incomplete without a stop here. In fact, if you wanted, you could spend weeks touring the various ghostly locations throughout Gettysburg. The three-day long battle in 1863 left 50,000 casualties and plenty of ghost stories in its wake. Learn more from the official website of Gettysburg National Military Park.
The ghost of the man who opened the theater, Mr. Isaac Mishler, is sometimes spotted prowling on the catwalk of the theater during productions, smoking a cigar and smirking. This is a good place to see quality theater and spot a ghost at the same time. Mishler Theatre.
What else would you add to this haunted road trip through Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments! To prep you for your road trip, read these eight ghost stories that prove Gettysburg is the most haunted town in Pennsylvania.
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Address: Historic Hotel Bethlehem, 437 Main St, Bethlehem, PA 18018, USA
Address: Hansell Rd, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
Address: King George II Inn, 102 Radcliffe St, Bristol, PA 19007, USA
Address: Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA
Address: Fort Mifflin, 6400 Hog Island Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19153, USA
Address: York, PA, USA
Address: Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA
Address: Mishler Theatre, 1208 12th Ave #206, Altoona, PA 16601, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
haunted road trip through pennsylvania
July 25, 2020
Beth Price-Williams
What are the most haunted places in Pennsylvania?
To experience some of the creepy places in Pennsylvania that also happen to be haunted, follow the haunted road trip that will lead you to some of the scariest places in Pennsylvania. You’ll start your journey at Hill View Manor in New Castle, where you might run into Mary Virginia, who loves baby dolls and still wanders around. Van Sant Covered Bridge, also commonly known as Crybaby Bridge, in New Hope is also one of the stops. The covered bridge’s ghosts go back to the days of the Civil War. A mother in anguish desperately searches for her infant who, along with herself, has been murdered. You might catch a glimpse of the mom and hear the baby’s cries.
Are there any haunted hotels in Pennsylvania?
If you like sharing your space with the spirits, you’ll definitely want to check into one of the haunted hotels in Pennsylvania. Historic Hotel Bethlehem, for example, is one of the most haunted places in Pennsylvania. However, it’s known to be home to some friendly spirits, including Mary Yohe, who enjoys singing and playing the piano when no one’s around. The Gettysburg Hotel also tells some pretty fascinating haunted tales, too. Once used as a makeshift hospital, the hotel is said to still be home to some of the Civil War patients and nursing staff, including Rachel the nurse.
Are there haunted battlefields in Pennsylvania?
We sure have a lot of haunted places in Pennsylvania but only one, most of us would agree, is the most haunted. Gettysburg, site of one of the most significant battles of the Civil War, has been called the most haunted town in the United States. Its battlefield is just one haunted spot in Gettysburg. When you’re at Devil’s Den in Gettysburg, expect the unexpected. Many tell tales of a fog covering the battlefield. You may notice, coming out of the fog, soldiers marching and others on horses as lights flash across the battlefield.
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