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    Pennhurst Asylum

    3.2 (293 reviews)
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    An abandoned building on the way to the handicap parking near twilight.
    Natasha P.

    Thanks to my sister from another Mr inviting me to join her for an outstanding spookily fantastic scream-arific evening. And by the by, those #grilledcheese offered at the end of the whole adventure? These sammiches are located in the food court with the merch before the exit, these were the bombdiggity. You MUST have these mouthwatering delectably and lovingly constructed sandwiches. You will not regret it. After the belly workout from the jump scares and throat wrenching calisthenics, you will be hungry. You have burned calories. You've earned that carb load. You NEED that carb load. Go. Get it. Order it with the tomato or plain. Or what'evs. Just treat yourself. And re-clog those arteries that Pennhurst Asylum has graciously piled their moist guts and hearts out for us to enjoy and clear out the plaque that was originally residing in the bod tubes you will be thankful are not laying (?) all over the asylum. Please do go out to Pennhurst Asylum, get the VIP on the special event night and....run!!!! Run for the fear and joy of it.

    I got engaged here on Saturday and it was amazing! Thank you to all of the staff for making it so special and unforgettable! I come here every year (sometimes multiple times a year) and it's always my favorite

    Laurie V.

    Everything I had hoped for and more. Pennhurst is a little bit difficult and confusing to find, and some of the signs that point to "parking" are misleading and lead you in a loop. GPS doesn't really guide you in an accurate direction. Eventually I found my way and I'm sure glad I did. It was a dreary, damp, rainy afternoon and the perfect day to tour such a facility. Our guide Chris was fantastic, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing the real history of the facility. At its peak there were 4500 patients residing here. We started out going inside the building known as "Quaker" and it looked just as you night expect a decaying building to look. 150 men known as "bad boys" resided in this building with beds lined up in one big room. Chris explained that "bad boys" was really a misnomer, as they were really just misunderstood, as people did not understand disabilities the way that they do today. The architecture was spectacular. There was vegetation growing inside; dusty, dilapidated "squishy" furniture, and some graffiti. The rest of the tour was mainly outside, but ended at the museum, which is the only museum in the US devoted exclusively to disabilities. Some archival items are displayed here, some of them crumbling, some of them better preserved. Pennhurst opened its doors in 1908 and closed forever in 1987. Fortunately there are some folks who believe in historic preservation who now maintain the property. There is also a haunted attraction. We had another volunteer talk to us towards the end of our tour and he did his doctoral research here at Pennhurst. He found out that 70% of the actors and "haunters" as they call them, employed by the haunted attraction self-disclose as having a disability. While some of the historians felt negative towards the "haunters", they soon realized that they are indeed *not* exploiting the history of Pennhurst, but instead contributing towards the rich history of it. This institution was actually never called an "asylum", but that refers to the fictional experience of it all. That is kind of the "stage name" for the facility, if you will. The goal of this place was to educate and reform the patients (also sometimes referred to as inmates, since they were really unable to leave). While there is some dark history, not *all* of what they did here was bad. It was a really informative day. I learned about eugenics and some of the sad history surrounding such, but I also learned about the positive strides that are being made for people with disabilities. I've watched some of the ghost-hunting shows that have filmed here, but today I got a completely different perspective. It wasn't quite enough though, as I would love to come back and learn more.

    Mayflower Building exterior
    Melisa D.

    This was an awesome experience - not just for the overnight haunted tours, but to learn about the history of the facility. The grounds are MASSIVE!!! If you're into the paranormal and history, this tour is a must! Although, I had minimal paranormal experiences it still was an enjoyable experience and I'd love to visit again! Hopefully the next time, it's less people because some people were just loud!

    Dejah D.

    Wack!!!! I expected so much more from this place as I ride past a billboard ad for it every 5 mins it seems, and people I know personally have raved about their experiences here. Unfortunately I don't feel the same way... the lines sucked!! Please do yourself a favor and get the VIP tickets if you decide to come here, you'll save yourself a lot of time and will get out of the cold faster. The actors were boring and weren't scary at all. When going here I expected to feel like I was in a mental hospital and I didn't feel that way not once. Should've been actors outside scaring us, should've been actors on the roof acting like they were about to jump... like I wanted the most out of this experience and I can't say I received anything close to that. Very disappointed and won't be back! The hot chocolate was good though...

    Entrance

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    The staff is amazing- A very important piece of history that needs to be remembered. Definitely a magical place for me.

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    1 year ago

    Guide Devon was great! My first time doing a ghost hunt , and it was so awesome! i loved seeing her do estus in the tunnels! 10/10!

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    Great overall experience. Went on a Friday night wasn't too busy. I will say I had higher hopes for the fright but it is what it is.

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    2 years ago

    My Family has been going here every halloween since 2019. They are always expanding and adding new excitement!

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Pennhurst Asylum

    Is this indoor or outside?

    The mazes are all inside but the lines are outside.

    What is their military discount?

    It is $10 off for any combo or VIP. You are allowed up to 6 family members. You must purchase your tickets at the door and show your ID at the time of purchase.

    How long does it take to do all the attractions? My daughter & her friends are going on a Saturday night in October so it'll be prime time I'm trying to gauge whether to stay & wait for them or go home & come back. It's a 35 minute drive each way.

    They'll probably be there for at least 3 hours with the wait times.

    What is the age requirement?

    The recommended age for this attraction is 12 and older.

    Can u bring your own flashlights? I'm going tonight and don't want them taken from me!!

    Flashlight and cameras allowed in mayflower No camera nor flashlight allowed or needed in 3 haunts

    View All 7 Questions

    Review Highlights - Pennhurst Asylum

    The Pennhurst Asylum, Dungeon of Lost Souls and the Tunnel of Terror are all "MUST DO" attractions.

    Mentioned in 45 reviews

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    Lincoln Mill Haunted House

    Lincoln Mill Haunted House

    4.2
    (17 reviews)
    22.0 mi

    I came back for the Christmas edition of the haunt called Twisted Christmas. It was every bit as…read morefun as the Halloween haunt and, in many ways, more so. I was in the front of my group so I caught the brunt of the scares. The actors were phenomenal with their timing and creepy words. I had no idea Christmas could be this fun!

    One of the best haunted experiences I've been to. Great sets, costumes, lots of gruesome bodies and…read morethings to look at as you go through what is a pretty lengthy walk through this old, spooky building. Listen: get the Fast Pass. I paid fifteen extra bucks for this and it was well worth it. We got in at 7:45, our scheduled start time, pretty much just walked right up, told the gatekeeper how many people we had, and she let us right in. Walking at a steady pace, and avoiding running into the people ahead of us, or being bumped into by the people behind us, we spent about twenty minutes altogether inside the haunted house. I loved it, and definitely recommend this attraction. Very gory, compared to some of the other PA haunted houses/hayrides/etc. And at one point a monster pops and sprays water at you. That was very amusing to my group, though I read one reviewer here describe it as "physical assault" (lol). Very fun time and if they update it through the years, I'd happily come back and see what new crazy stuff they have for us.

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    Back of building
    Back of building
    Lincoln Mill Haunted House
    Lincoln Mill Haunted House

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    Lincoln Mill Haunted House
    Eastern State Penitentiary Halloween Nights

    Eastern State Penitentiary Halloween Nights

    2.9
    (47 reviews)
    26.1 mi

    Every year it is getting better and better. I went in with the thought that if it is not better, I…read moream not going to return. This year they really did well. I enjoyed going from one haunted attraction to another. In the past few years I felt like they were going in the direction of a hangout and drinking and less haunted attractions. But, this year they evened it out. It was a great. There was two sections to hang out and have a drink. A great way to spend your time while waiting for lines or a way to calm your nerves. I enjoyed having one haunted house after another. The special effects and the decor for the houses really were kicked up a notch this year, 2025. Ordering tickets online is very easy, and I always buy the parking pass for the zoo because it is convenient. The pricing is and can be pricy, but it is a fundraiser. So I do not really complain about it. The bus drivers were great and engaging both to there and back. I enjoyed the stories and the music. Overall this has always been my favorite haunted attraction in Philly. It really never fails. I highly recommend taking a tour outside of the Halloween time frame. I have done one of them before and loved it.

    As a Philadelphian who has toured Eastern State for the daytime tours and experienced their…read moreHalloween event about 10 years ago......I had SO much fun at this recent exhibit. I'm already a scaredy cat and Act 1 of this tour had me literally jumping at every turn. Even through all the spookiness I even caught myself getting distracted by how well done the stage design was. Whoever designed each portion of the haunted house portion deserves a standing ovation. Also love that there's breaks between each "terror" moment. The food trucks there were incredibly delicious - not too sure if the same food trucks are there every night or not. The drinks were STRONG and soooo good. We got the apple cider & bourbon drink My boyfriend got the VIP experience which included entry to the Al Capone Speakeasy at the end of the tour and it was a really well done idea. Also really enjoyed their new exhibit that went more into depth about prison systems in the past vs now. Incredibly informative

    Photos
    Gargoyle hell
    Gargoyle hell
    Drinks in a cell
    Drinks in a cell
    Magic trick

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    Magic trick
    Halls Of Horror

    Halls Of Horror

    4.3
    (13 reviews)
    42.1 mi

    This place is ridiculous. 10/10. Without spoiling too much, I will definitely say ... do the blood…read moreexperience! You get a cool tie dye shirt at the end. The actors bring you into their scene and leave their mark on you as you pass through. Lots of cool effects from fog, to lighting, scents and sounds. And of course, confusion. Not to say that you'll get lost, but they do add to the anxiety by making it somewhat difficult to maneuver. Their static props are incredibly well made. They'll have your entire group staring at the wrong thing. The scare actors did a really great job with our group. They took their time. My shirt came out the coolest because I got a dahlia smile. If you are worried about touching: The actors will touch your head, arms/hands, back and lower legs/feet. Rough grab, nothing firmer than you would a toddler to prevent running. If you are worried about it being too much: THEY HAVE A STOP WORD. Ask before you go in. Come with the intention of having fun and playing the scene with the actors. You will have lots of fun.

    These events change often so I want to point out this was a 2017 visit…read more Halls of Horror is an adult haunt where you can choose the blood experience and get messy!  We did of course (and you get VERY messy).  The haunt is highly interactive and the adult humor is hysterical! There's lots of touching - at one point we encountered a large gentleman in a dress where his boobs were hanging out and we were made to feel them.  After that he tickled me.  We also got to feel a clown's balls (What? She had a room full of balls).  My friend sat down for a shave, where they covered his face in shaving cream.  We were also basted in the kitchen by the chef (the clothes start to get real messy here).  The sets were very intricate, and all of the actors were very committed to their roles.  We even encountered a woman giving birth (cool effect that the baby flew across the room which was followed by a shower of blood).  This was a wonderfully unique experience and well deserving of five stars! You probably want to bring a change of clothes though, and maybe some wash cloths.  Also, if you can find a place other than a public parking lot to get changed at, that would be ideal.

    Photos
    Another happy blood experience!
    Another happy blood experience!
    Halls Of Horror
    Just another day in the insane asylum.

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    Just another day in the insane asylum.
    Hotel of Horror

    Hotel of Horror

    4.5
    (74 reviews)
    50.2 mi

    I am an avid Halloween Haunt enthusiat. Every year my Buddy and I select a place to enjoy the sets,…read morethe scares and have a blast. This year we selected Hotel of Horror in PA. The YouTube videos looked great and tickets were purchased. After our pre-haunt meal we arrived. The place was lit up nicely, creepy music playing. The actor who gave the instructions was on point, he was creepy, funny and into the festivities that awaited us. So this is by no means a bad review, however, there was just not enough actors to deliver scares. The sets were fantastic, using all the standard fare that all the great places use. That being said, again, just not enough actors within the haunt. We walked through several scenes without seeing an actor. For the price of the tickets (which are on par with much larger places like Penhurst Asylum and East State Penitentiary) Hotel of Horror just does not stack up with the big boys. Would we return? Probably not, for the money, would most likely return to one of the big boys!!!

    If your ready for fall time and you would like to get scared and spooky just before Halloween ,…read morethis is the place that will satisfy your needs. Great place to go with your friend. The Hotel of Horror and Altered Nightmares are both indoor, walk through Haunted House attractions featuring live actors and paranormal activity housed in the 200 year old "abandoned " Pocono Mountain resort once called The Lake House Hotel, Saylorsburg, Pa. Open rain or shine with a covered wait line and free parking. Don't let the weather scare you. That's our job! Our revamped ticketing process gives you less time in line and more time in the attraction. The Hotel of Horror and Altered Nightmares Halloween Attractions are both housed inside the legendary Lake House Hotel intertwined and breathing next to one another, sharing organs and a circulatory system like conjoined twins. The sinister subconscious of the Hotel of Horror feeds off the dark energy that stains the lumber skeleton of this once pristine mountain resort, while Altered Nightmares celebrates the chaos that grows stronger as each soul travels through its decaying halls and abandoned rooms. They are open the end of September until the end of October!!

    Photos
    Parts of Horror
    Parts of Horror
    Hotel of Horror
    Lines to get in.

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    Lines to get in.

    Pennhurst Asylum - hauntedhouses - Updated June 2026

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