This Pittsburgh Nature Preserve Is Among The Most Haunted Places In The Nation
By Beth Price-Williams|Published October 18, 2019
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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.
Tucked in a lush area of the Youghiogheny River Valley, Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area offers a quiet spot for reflection and for hiking. But, for those who believe in the paranormal, it’s a destination rife with opportunity to experience the area’s haunted history. If you don’t believe in the paranormal, you might just walk away from Dead Man’s Hollow, a supposedly haunted spot in Pittsburgh, with a whole new point of view.
Sprawled across 450 picturesque, quiet acres, Dead Man’s Hollow was once a vibrant hub of business. In its earliest days in the 1800s, the area served as a quarry. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became the site of a pipe factory.
Today, hikers and nature lovers can traverse the eight miles of trails that promise beautiful views of nature, a waterfall, and an enchanted staircase. You might also come face-to-face with the paranormal if you’re lucky.
The alleged murderer, Ward McConkey, proclaimed his innocence until his dying breath. He was executed in 1883 bidding a farewell to his “murderers” in his last words. Some say the 19-year-old returned to haunt the hollow.
Still others tell of, just a few years before McClure’s murder, a body found hanging from a tree. Little else is known about the body, except some believe the individual’s spirit remains in the hollow.
Be careful when you’re at the hollow, too, for a man once drowned in the nearby Youghiogheny River, after falling from a ferry. Tales of a force trying to pull visitors into the water abound. Could it be the drowned man?
Embark on one of the trails that winds through the peaceful nature preserve, but be aware that others tell of strange occurrences – weird smells and the sound of people chatting when no one’s there.
Do you believe that Dead Man’s Hollow is a haunted place in Pittsburgh? Have you experienced the paranormal there? Share your experience in the comments! Love a good ghost story that’s real? Set off on this haunted road trip to the scariest places in Pittsburgh. Click here to read more.
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