Pennhurst Asylum

Originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic, this state-run institution for mentally and physically disabled individuals became notorious for inhumane treatment. Over its 79 years of operation (1908-1987), nearly 11,000 residents endured medical experimentation, cruel punishments, and severe neglect.

Pennhurst State School and Hospital opened in autumn 1908 as the "Eastern Pennsylvania State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic," spanning 634 acres with over 30 buildings of terracotta, granite, and red brick designed by architect Phillip H. Johnson. What was meant to be a refuge for mentally and physically disabled individuals quickly became a house of horrors—within four years of admitting "patient #1" on November 23, 1908, the facility was already overcrowded, admitting immigrants and criminals alongside children with disabilities.

Over its 80-year operation, Pennhurst housed nearly 11,000 residents who faced conditions the Supreme Court would later label "involuntary servile labor—akin to slavery." Medical experimentation, cruel punishments, and threats to physical and mental well-being were daily occurrences. Residents were judged as "degenerates" and "unproductive," subjected to forced labor and abuse that became nationally notorious. The institution was forced to close on December 9, 1987, due to its long history of being understaffed, dirty, and violent.

Today, Pennhurst is considered one of the most haunted locations in America. Staff and visitors frequently report eerie phenomena including slamming doors, disembodied footsteps echoing through empty corridors, and voices calling out in abandoned hallways. The ghost most frequently encountered is a little girl—seemingly lost and confused—wandering the campus grounds. The sounds of children playing and crying are commonly reported throughout the buildings.

Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures have both investigated the property, capturing significant evidence of paranormal activity. Overnight investigations allow guests access to all four floors of the notoriously haunted Mayflower Hall and the underground tunnels. Investigators report physical contact with spirits, including entities grabbing arms and rubbing backs.

The former facility, located just 30 miles from downtown Philadelphia, now operates as the Pennhurst Asylum haunted attraction each fall, while the Pennhurst Museum educates visitors about the corrupt mental health treatment of the era. The oppressive and abusive environment left a lasting imprint—many believe the restless spirits of those who suffered here remain trapped within its crumbling walls.