The Catholic Retreat Center in Pennsylvania That Now Sits Abandoned

A drive along the backroads and through the small towns and big cities of Pennsylvania invariably leads us past at least a few abandoned buildings, with fading facades as they’re slowly reclaimed by nature. Glimpses of those long-forgotten buildings tend to spark the imagination, leaving us to wonder about the backstory – who once lived or worked there and why they left. Lost to time and a demolition crew, this Pennsylvania religious center remains only in photos, including those of photographer Johnny Joo, and memories of those who walked through its doors.

If you love creepy content, Only In Your State’s Vacant series – which partners with talented photographer Johnny Joo – explores a dozen other fascinating abandoned places just waiting to be discovered.

Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations.

For nearly six decades, the Gilmary Catholic Retreat Center was a familiar landmark in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis, the culmination of a longtime partnership between the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Religious Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge. Although its mission evolved over the years, the group’s original goal was to enrich the lives of so-called “emotionally distressed females” through training and education.

The Gilmary Catholic Retreat Center began its story in the Troy Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh in 1872. The Troy Hill Home, as it was originally known, proved so successful that, by the 1950s, it had outgrown its current location. Plans were drawn up to build a bigger, more spacious compound that would include a school, dorms, and an indoor swimming pool, with groundbreaking ceremonies taking place in 1958. Just a year later, the Gilmary School for Girls officially opened its doors.

Welcoming 100 girls, the school provided a safe and supportive place for residents to learn and grow, offering access to a vocational training center, an indoor gym that doubled as an auditorium, and a chapel. Divided into four groups, the residents lived in split-level cottages, each with a cottage mother. The girls had the opportunity to learn how to swim and eventually become lifeguards, participate in water ballet, play sports, act in school productions, and volunteer at local organizations. By many accounts, the Gilmary School for Girls was a success for nearly 20 years.

Despite its success, the Gilmary School for Girls closed, and the Gilmary Diocesan Center replaced it in 1977. The center created the Diocesan Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry and continued to champion its mission of providing educational and spiritual support for young people. The final transformation of the organization, in 2007, resulted in the Gilmary Catholic Retreat Center, which would continue to help disadvantaged young people.

The Gilmary Catholic Retreat Center’s story ended in 2017 when it permanently closed and was sold to a developer. It was later demolished.

Have you heard the story of the Gilmary Catholic Retreat Center, a religious center in Pennsylvania? Or perhaps you’ve been there? Share your experience in the comments! View more of Johnny Joo’s photos and learn the fascinating story of an abandoned prison in Pennsylvania. While you can’t visit Gilmary Catholic Retreat Center, you’ll likely pass abandoned places in your adventures in Pennsylvania. Make sure you have your camera so that you can snap photos.

Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. To discover more creepy and abandoned places, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife.