Pennhurst Asylum
Church Street & Bridge Road
Spring City, PA
History
Nestled in the woods beside Spring City, Pennsylvania lies the remains of the Pennhurst State School and Hospital (originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic.) The massive compound for the mentally and physically disabled was built in 1908. It was completely self-sufficient with its own power supply, dairy, green houses, fire department, movie theatre, and underground tunnel system. At the turn of the last century, it was thought best to segregate disabled individuals from the rest of society, but a 1968 exposé uncovered that over-crowding and under-funding had led to conditions that were unsanitary, inhumane, and dangerous. Ultimately, the Supreme Court found institutionalisation to be unconstitutional (Halderman vs Pennhurst State School) and Pennhurst was abandoned in 1987.
The buildings and everything within them were left to rot for the next 23 years. Pennhurst became popular with trespassers (particularly those with an interest in "urban" exploring and vandalism) until it was reopened as the haunted attraction Pennhurst Asylum in 2010 by hauntsmith Randy Bates (The Bates Motel.)
Our Visit
We arrived in Spring City, PA late on Saturday night. The Victorian architecture of the town is lovely, but under the mask of darkness it takes on a very different aesthetic.
We arrived at the address listed on the Pennhurst Asylum website and were directed to park in a field. Reaching Pennhurst requires a 10 min walk through the woods. Go ahead and read that last sentence again and really let it sink in.
The buildings rise out of the woods and you are instantly transported to the early 1900s. Pennhurst Asylum is straight out of your worst nightmare. The haunt is made up of 4 separate attractions: 'Pennhurst Asylum' in the old Administration Building, 'The Dungeon of Lost Souls' explores the basement of the Administration building, 'Ghost Hunt' is a self-guided flashlight tour through two floors of the abandoned untouched remains of the Mayflower Dormitory, and 'The Tunnel Terror' a walk-through haunt located in a 900-foot section of Pennhurst's underground tunnel system. There is a centrally located 'picnic' area with food and refreshments if you need to take a break.
Is It Scary?
According to their Facebook Page: It was "Voted the Scariest Real Haunt in America for 2012!"
The Raven & Black Cat says: We agree! Fear is subjective, but the remains of the Pennhurst State School would be terrifying on its own. Pennhurst Asylum is a top-notch haunted attraction that can be placed in two very exclusive categories: A Real Haunted Location & The Actors Can Touch You.
Here's A Tip
Visit Pennhurst on a Thursday or Sunday, or spring for the VIP Pass to cut the lines. Without timed admission, you could be looking at some outrageously long lines.
What We Loved
Wow. There is a LOT to love here. The attraction entitled 'Pennhurst Asylum' is housed in the old Administration Building. You walk through the actual rooms of the historic building and greet deliriously dark staff and human experiments of the mad Dr. Chakajian. (A fictional legend, in which a mad Austrian Doctor houses his human experiments in abandoned Pennhurst buildings, was created in order to be sensitive to the history of Pennhurst.) Many of the rooms contain equipment and artifacts that were abandoned in the buildings in 1986. Animatronics and clever special effects are employed to distract you while actors grab at your ankles. The element of soft touching is very effective. It is quite unsettling to have your personal space invaded in a traditional walk-through style haunt. One girl even tried to stick her fingers in my ears!
The 'Ghost Hunt' Attraction is what we wanted to do from the moment we set foot on the Pennhurst campus. The Mayflower Building was featured on 'Ghost Hunters' and 'Ghost Adventures' and was found to be a hot spot for paranormal activity. It is outrageously creepy. The walls are covered in graffiti from the vandalism years. The odd messages commingle with remnants of dormitory life in a state institution like an abandoned metal walker still labeled with a patient's name and ward number. The energy of the building is heavy with human suffering and I honestly believe I would be in tears if I had to sit in there for an hour by myself. It is that scary.
What Could Be Better
'The Tunnel Terror' is another fabulously inventive attraction with gorgeous elaborate sets. The lagoon section, in particular, is amazing, but I couldn't help but wish that I could see the walls of the historic underground tunnel system. Perhaps by accident, we caught a glimpse of the original tunnel through an open door that was propped open by a chair. The tunnel is something I could not dream up. It is real life horror complete with secret passageways. A fifth attraction walking through a portion of the original tunnel would be an incredibly scary experience.
The attractions of Pennhurst Asylum are so detailed and effective that we were surprised that they didn't capitalize on the opportunity for a large and definitive ending for any of them. Instead of building towards a memorable last scene, all of the attractions end very abruptly. Creating a unique and memorable way to exit each attraction would be the perfect finishing touch to what is otherwise a flawless, fun, and frightening experience.
Final Thoughts
Pennhurst Asylum is a must-see. It is a chilling and effective haunted attraction masterfully combined with the horror of human history.
Pennhurst Asylum Runs
September 21st - November 4th
Ticket Information
- Pennhurst Asylum: $15.00
- Dungeon of Lost Souls: $15.00
- Ghost Hunt: $15.00
- Tunnel of Terror: $15.00
- Combo Pass (All 4 Events): $40.00
- VIP (very important patient) PASS: $75.00
Discounts:
- $5 OFF All Tickets (Promo Code: ghost ) - CLICK HERE!
- 13Haunts Coupon: $5 Off Combo Ticket (Thurs. + Sun.) - CLICK HERE!
Age Requirements
No age requirements are specified.
Additional Information
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Then (1922)[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1369.0"]
Now (Google Maps)[/caption] 
Photographer: Tom Bernard[/caption] 
Photographer: Jeff Fusco[/caption] 
Photographer: Douglas Alan Bailey[/caption] 
Photographer: Jeff Fusco[/caption] 
