This is my go-to haunt EVERY YEAR since I am somewhat local and enjoy the atmosphere this haunt gives, and it's overall my favorite haunt to go to. I did the first Pennhurst Camp Out and I even went for the Valentine's Day haunt. However, the past couple of visits haven't hit the mark for me. In my opinion, Pennhurst was better before COVID-19, it felt more intense before COVID-19, so I'm not sure if that had to do with any changes or not. I went a week ago hoping the 2024 season would be different since they added a 4th attraction, (The Catacombs), but I walked back to my car thinking the same as I did the past couple of years "What happened?" Not to mention doing all 4 attractions was quite expensive compared to the other haunts in the area. ($50 for 3 attractions, $64 for all 4) Let's talk about the attractions (In walkthrough order): (New for 2024) The Catacombs: I was excited because it was new and I had high hopes and I loved the idea. I was let down sadly. It was the first attraction you went through right after the ticket booth through one of the many tunnels on the grounds. It was essentially a long dark tunnel (obviously) with only lanterns hanging to guide you. 1 actor right at the beginning and maybe 1 other actor somewhere in the middle or the end. No jumpscares, and not many props, it was just a straight tunnel that led you to the asylum entrance. Very disappointing to say the least. Also was not advertised anywhere. The Asylum: The staple attraction! The first half of this attraction is great! I loved it, the props, sets, and tech were all fantastic. I love the asylum theme and I think that's what makes this haunt even better. However, my fearfulness and demeanor changed when it went from asylum/hospital to Stranger Things and Sci-fi. 1) There is no build-up to it and the scene immediately changes. 2) it kills the mood of the building and the theme. If you have a traditional, scary, and popular Halloween theme such as an old abandoned asylum, stick with it. This attraction was 10x better when they didn't have as many animatronics, kept the asylum theme throughout the attraction and, even had more interaction and made us do things like making you sit in a dental chair and pretend to rip your teeth out or whatever it was. The Stranger Things/ Sci-fi mixed with Asylum just killed it. OR if you go the sci-fi route, make the whole attraction that theme and don't switch over midway through. As I said the first half of it was great because of the asylum/hospital props and theming. The Morgue: Another attraction that was better before COVID because of the interaction. When you think of the morgue you think of where dead bodies are stored. While this part of the attraction has that, it still does the whole sci-fi thing. However, here it works because it's the whole attraction and bodies are in containers and doing tests on them and whatnot, so I do enjoy that. I will say the pictures online are NOTHING like how it is when you walk through. It was fine, didn't blow me away but I liked the props and the tech. The Tunnels: Great idea and utilization of the tunnels between the buildings on the grounds. Not much of a story, just various scenes. I enjoyed this attraction. Part of it was heavily themed and part of it was just a straight tunnel with 1 or more actors running around with strobe lights. The best part of the attraction was when an actor came up behind me, wrapped their arms around me, and said something in my ear, I wish there was more of that throughout. Since it's dark down there something touching me will make me jump than someone to the side of me or in my face. Overall it was an enjoyable haunt, was not the best and certainly not the worst I've been to. I'll always come back because I like the atmosphere and it's local to me. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time as I always do just wish they went back to the old way of doing things before COVID. There were lots of parking, although kind of hidden and hard to find. Usually, they have signs but they didn't this year. read more

It's super great. It's a honey house. You should go here. It's really great especially with Halloween pickles. XXX Sarah. And I love her I had to the door, so this is the place to go if you love horror read more

This place is ok. You can tell that they put a lot of money into these attractions. I went to all 4 attractions on 10/30/11 which was a Sunday and the wait was not bad at all. Only about 15 minutes or less wait per attraction and I felt sorry for all those who bought V.I.P. that day. A thing to note is that even though on their website it says they are open on 6:30pm - 10:30pm, that tells you the ticket booth hours. As long as you buy the tickets within those times, you are able to see the attractions afterwards. The attractions stay open until everyone gets to see them. Now on to the review of the attractions: Dungeon of Lost Souls: Got startled once. Didn't really get scared but the atmosphere and actors were cool. It was funny seeing others getting scared. This place is ok, not good or bad. Asylum: Also got startled here once. Nice atmosphere and creative settings. The best attraction out of the four here. I would say this place is in-between fair and good. Ghost Hunt: Absolute waste of time. Not scary AT ALL, especially with a million people in the building with flash lights and cell phones. The whole building was practically lit up. There was also not that much to see here. Just abandoned old patient rooms that all looked the same. Would not going here even if it was free. Tunnel of Terror: Good concept, very dark, and lots of fog in some places. There are actors laying down and grabbing you by your feet which can scare you. Overall though, I would say this place is slightly below fair because there are not a lot of actors here. Mainly you feel like you are walking in a dark area with very few actors. Overall: This is an ok place and is not that scary due to the amount of people here. The place is very dirty so wear your ugliest clothes and shoes when you get here. Also there are some spots where it smells pretty bad. I get their concepts and their ideas are creative but with the amount of guests they have here, it makes this place not a "scary" attraction unless you are one of those people who gets scared of everything. read more

Pennhurst Asylum - picture of a room in the ghost hunt attraction - Haunted Houses Near Me - Spring City, Pennsylvania

This was an awesome haunted house. Took the trip from NYC with my bf last year and we def. plan to do it again this year, sooo much fun! The ride up to the asylum is already scary as it is, driving through the woods in the dark is def. an experience. We purchased the combo that included the 3 attractions and Mayflower After Dark - a self-guided ghost hunt tour of one of the most haunted buildings in the complex. Luckily we went on a night where the crowds weren't big and we didn't have to wait too long on the lines. We had an absolute blast in all the attractions and the actors were awesome! I loved that they weren't scared to follow you or get up all in your face. My favorite part was the Containment tunnel where you have to go through on your own. Only thing I wish is that some of the attractions were longer. As for Mayflower After Dark it was just okay. They claim the dormitory is haunted but we didn't see much. The museum section was interesting and I think I caught an orb in one of the pictures but that's about it. We did get the chance to look at the Quaker Building from afar which is closed off to the public due to the hauntings - the stories for that one were pretty spooky. Having been to a few haunted attractions I can say that if you're looking to get a good scare and your money's worth, this is it! read more

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Read one of the tips to go on a Thursday, and it was a great idea. The longest you'll wait is less than 10 minutes. This one was fun, scary, creepy and all the above! I dont want to give up anything for anyone who was going but at one point i was on the floor scared sh*tless, i pulled my cousins hair down by accident to escape a room, and used my other friend as a human shield. This one was just as good if not greater than eastern state penn. Price was $42 for all 4 attractions. This a must-see if u love these haunted houses! Couple tips: the bathrooms in front arent the only ones. I wouldnt wear a sweater bc you'll be sweating your ass off running away from the demented patients and doctors of the pennhurst assylum. They have $5 off coupons at dunkin donuts read more

Pennhurst Asylum - Waiting in line - Haunted Houses Near Me - Spring City, Pennsylvania

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If you haven't been to Pennhurst you have no idea what you are missing. Not only is the best haunted house I have been to by a long shot but it is also one of the most Erie haunted locations in the United States. The anxiety and the uneasy feeling you get here is palpable. Even if you go for some of their haunted stuff outside of the haunted house it will send chills down your spine. Not for the faint of heart but if you are a haunted house/horror freak like me it is worth every single minute and everything single dime. read more

We took the day tour and the guides make the tour. Not only is this place filled with history, you get to meet people who worked there and hear their stories. Highly recommend, if Kaeden is working definitely ask for him to be your guide. read more

I started this review while I'm still on the historical tour and we decided to leave early. We were expecting to hear stories about the patients here and to see inside of the old buildings. Instead, it felt that our tour guide liked to lecture about various topics and talk about the ownership today and how it has changed since it closed. He would talk about things like Stephen Hawking, the holocaust, and "how everyone has value." It could not be more boring. While these are great points for discussion, this is a tour and not at all what we expected. It didn't help that we had someone in our group ask a lot of -questions. This wasn't our guides fault, but it would have been good for him to "read the room" and answer questions faster so that we could all move on. I was excited to see the grounds and to hear more about the history of Pennhurst but I can't say that I will want to come back in the future. It was a waste of a beautiful fall day that could have been so much more interesting. read more

I originally went to this old asylum for Halloween since they do a haunted house every year. But they also offer paranormal investigations that go on until 3am. The haunted house was more fun. I felt like the investigation was too long, boring, & not worth the money. read more

I've been to several haunted attractions in the past few years and Pennhurst Asylum wasn't bad, it wasn't great but it wasn't the worst. My favorite was the containment. Overall, I was a bit disappointed. I paid $79 pp and was expecting something more. The Mayflower wasn't anything special. There were too many people talking, laughing, music playing, bright lights and a lot of the rooms were closed off. I do suggest you purchase a fast pass if you decide to visit as it will save you lots of time waiting on the lines. Employees were super nice and attraction actors were also nice. All in all. It's worth a visit. read more

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My husband and I did the VIP combo pass that included the three haunted house attractions and the ghost tour they offer at night. We had a blast! We visited on a Friday and everything was very organized, despite how busy the location was. From the moment you enter the premises there are multiple employees shining lights and showing you where to park. Parking was very organized. Once you are parked you are directed to the haunted attractions. I highly recommend the VIP pass, this will let you go though multiple haunted houses quickly without having to wait in the LONG lines. We arrived at 10PM to Pennhurst and were worried that we were not going to be able to go through all the haunted houses before the paranormal activity started at 11 but surprisingly we did everything in 45 minutes and had time left over to get snacks! So the fast pass is definitely worth it, especially if you are doing the paranormal activity in the evening. The three haunted attractions were fantastic, the actors were great and the props were fun! My only complaint is that the actors touched you too much and they were not sanitizing in between. Otherwise, they were great. I loved all three of the haunted houses, cant wait to return next year. As for the paranormal activity, it was from 11pm to 3am. We started a little late, but I highly recommend this! We went through the majority of the buildings at Pennhurst and you got to learn about the history of Pennhurst and how poorly the residents were treated. In addition, the staff members will tell you about the hosts that haunt Pennhurst. They have gadgets to speak to them and will let you borrow the gadgets to attempt to speak to them. You get to wander through the floors of the buildings in the dark, so I recommend you to bring a flashlight and camera! Or charge your iphone to full battery! Overall, we had a great experience, staff was amazing, very organized and kind. From the haunted houses to the paranormal activity itself. Such a unique experience, I was able to finally overcome my fear, DARKNESS! I will definitely be returning next year. I had a blast! Highly recommend if you love the paranormal or being scared. read more

They do a pretty decent job with their scare tactics. The three exhibits are a decent size. There's plenty of actors that keep the fun going. The lines are probably the worst part. They do their best to move you through but we waited about 45 minutes or longer for the first attraction and then probably 20 minutes for the second and 15 for the third. So you spend a lot of time waiting. Of course you can pay $35 extra to do vip but then the price is too high to be worth it in my opinion. Definitely wouldn't mind going back for a private tour. read more

This place never fails to amaze me! They did a wonderful job with the attractions and the actors were phenomenal. I knocked off one star because they were disorganized. We picked the 9 pm time slot but had to wait two hours in line because they placed the food stalls before the attractions which was unnecessary. read more

I wish I listened to the other bad reviews because Pennhurst was a huge disappointment. I went on a Saturday night and I waited in line for almost 2.5 HOURS just for the first attraction (there are 3 total). I got there at 9:30 pm and left around 1 am. The line was insane and that set the tone for the rest of the night. They also blast edm music through a speaker while people wait in line which makes no sense. The workers aren't very friendly either. The attractions itself weren't scary. They barely have any actors, they mainly rely on strobe lights and minimal props so you're mainly just walking through a flashing dark building without having any jump scares. The scariest thing about Pennhurst was just waiting in line and seeing the abandoned, creepy buildings. You don't even get to go inside the Mayflower which is supposedly their most haunted building. Overall, I would not recommend. Save your money and go elsewhere. read more

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY. Waited in line for 2 hours for first attraction. Took 5 minutes to walk through. Another hour long line for next attraction. We had to leave only seeing 1/3 that we paid for because it got too late. I would never recommend read more

The production value and props for this establishment are exceptional. However, what would be a phenomenal experience is completely ruined as they heard as many people as they can through the house. There are never any moments or something unexpected jumps out at you because you just saw it happen in front of you to someone else. The actors range from great to terrible but all have great makeup. This is again negated by the huge lines. We went shortly after opening on a Saturday and spent nearly 3 hrs in line. If you do decide to go the VIP pass is expensive but worth it. We watched VIP guests go right in all night long. read more

Good customer service, we came on a ghost hunt and it was active and totally worth ot! We spend 8 hours exploring and having a great time

This is the second time I've been here, the last time I came was 4-5 years ago and they definitely have added and changed the theme of most of the rooms. The quality of the props and the actual setup of the rooms is super high quality and they definitely put a lot of time getting it all together. The Mayflower After Dark event isn't worth it, just a big room with blocked off areas that you look at. Buy the combo pass for the 3 other events. If you don't mind waiting in line for 20-30 minutes for each attraction get the regular pass. If you hate lines make sure you get the VIP Pass, it's definitely worth walking past over 100 people waiting in line and going right to the events. Don't expect to be in and out in an hour on the weekends plan to be there for a good 2-3 hours without the VIP Pass. read more

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! We came on a Saturday night and stood in line just to get into the attraction for three and a half hours. We got here around 9:00 p.m. and didn't leave until 2:00 in the morning because of the lines. Not only did we wait in line just to get into the attraction but had to wait in more lines for each individual haunted house. If you do decide to waste your money then make sure to eat before you come. They do not allow you to eat at their food trucks until you're done 8 hours later after you get The food isn't until the very end and you will literally starve to death waiting to finish the haunted houses. I'm not sure who's leaving good reviews but this place is terrible and is no different than any of the other haunted attractions except way more ridiculous of a wait. My boyfriend tried to go over to the food trucks after we had been in line for 3 hours and he got yelled at and was told to get back in line so we were not even allowed to eat. If you want to experience what hell would be like then I would definitely recommend coming. Otherwise the only thing that the people in the haunted house is do is tickle the back of your neck. Come with CAUTION! I have calluses on my feet. (See pic. if you don't believe me.) read more

Pennhurst Asylum - Haunted Houses Near Me - Spring City, Pennsylvania

We drove 2 hours and stood in line for 3 hours just to get into the first attraction. The 2nd attraction line was 1.5 hours, and after standing in line for 30 minutes for the last attraction, we had to leave. The workers are awesome and helpful, but they ruined the experience by selling so many tickets. The lines were ridiculous. read more

I went for the first time 5+ years ago and was scared beyond belief. On October 2 2021 I went back to pennhurst. I bough the vip ticket and was so disappointed with what I got. 3 attractions each about 5min max in length. There were no actors inside to scare people just good decorations. The ticket cost $75 I want my mom back. This was the worst haunted house experience of my life. I have gone to all the large ones in pa but this takes the cake for least scariest and most expensive. Will never recommend this place or go back. read more

Note: You need special permission from the owners to be on this site. It is very unsafe in areas. Plus you will get your butt thrown in jail if you trespass. This review is not for a Halloween Fun House. It's for a paranormal investigation. Thus is a great place for sanctioned paranormal hunt. We has the honor of attending a private hunt with people like Steve Gonsolves and Dave Tango from Ghost Hunters, John Zaffis from Haunted Collector and Dustin Pari from Ghost Hunters International. A few to many people at this event. Though we did get to investigate with Steve, Dave, Dustin and John...... it could have been better ratio. The historical aspect and the scare factor were good. Staff did not have a hold on this. No medically trained staff in sight. (The only medical was 2 paramedics attending the event- I was one.) Needs improvement in that manner! Overall? Meh! read more

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Each and every year, I attend multiple haunted attractions. Pennhurst Asylum continues to be among my favorites. Top notch scare actors and amazing sets compliment a naturally creepy atmosphere that even the best of build crews couldn't duplicate. If the theatrics of a haunted attraction don't fulfill all your scare needs, venture over to the Mayflower building for true stories and a history of the facility. This area often has staff who were actual employees of the facility when it was a functioning mental hospital. There are beautiful photos and signage available for guests to view for the entire Pennhurst story as well. Guests are even invited to take photos of the area. If you're lucky, you may even "bump into" someone who never quite chose to leave. Pennhurst Asylum is a scary great time! read more

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Took my daughter and her friends to this place on 10/16/21 it was so unorganized and unprofessional. I brought tickets for the 8pm slot the girls didn't get inside the first attraction until 10:30pm yes folks they stood in line for 2 1/2 hours just to get to the first part. There was cars with individuals who pulled up the same exact time I did Whi was also complaining when they finally got back to their vehicles. When the girls finally went through all three parts of the attractions and returned back to the car they all said which it was 6 of them ranging in ages 14-17 said it was worse haunted house they ever been to. It was not scary at all. So before you spend your money read this review and you decide if you want to waste your money or find another haunted house worth the drive and money read more

Bought tickets a week in advance. Showed up early to our 8pm slot only to wait two hours in line and then be told either upgrade to VIP (cash only) or wait another 3 hours in line. We're from out of town so we can't reuse our tickets another night. Scumbag people running this attraction trying to milk as much money as they can from you. read more

No. Just no. The pieces are all here for an exceptional Halloween experience, but the execution is so horribly off that this place is definitely not worth the price of admission. Finally closed in 1987, the Pennhurst State School and Hospital was an institution for mentally and physically disabled individuals embroiled in controversy for nearly a century. Mostly this stemmed from exceedingly poor living conditions for the patients, but there were more extreme allegations including physical abuse of patients by the staff. After years of various uses, the campus was reopened in 2010 as the Pennhurst Haunted Asylum. Admittedly it's a bit exploitative turning this location into an amusement attraction, since actual people suffered greatly here. But I suppose the dark history just adds to the atmosphere. Or so it should. The mass of people crammed into the narrow corridors removes all sense of creepiness, which is sad because the grounds by itself is exudes an extremely eerie vibe. Sadly, this place is so commercialized that it's operated to get large masses of people in and out as quickly as possible. A real mood killer. Worst by far was the Dungeon of Lost Souls with "actors". They will straight up assault you in there, and if you're a girl, prepared to get groped. In a place like this, I truly think less is more. Let less people in at a time. Space them out. Cut the number of shoddy actors in half. Let the buildings and environment work their magic on their own. In its current state, for a nearly $50 admission, thrill seekers are nowhere near getting their money's worth. read more

Every year my boyfriend and I try to visit the best haunted house during Halloween season. Last year, we went to 'Headless Horseman Hayride' and while we had a nice time it was nothing compared to Pennhurst Asylum. We decided to make the trip from NYC to Philly to visit the #1 haunted attraction in the country. I'm not the biggest fan of haunted houses (I'm a chicken) but decided to make a weekend trip out if it. The tickets were $42 pp for the 3 main attractions. The Ghost Hunt is separate but they have different combinations. When you arrive, there will be school buses that drive you to the location. You must get there early if you want to avoid lines to get into the house. We were there at exactly 6:30pm and were out by 8:30pm. When we left the lines were very long...even for the school buses. Thankfully we dodged all that by arriving early. What makes this Haunted House different from others is that it's truly located at an actual asylum that closed down in 1987. The location looks straight out of a movie and exactly what I pictured. It's been featured on a few ghost shows on networks like travel channel. Please note: 1. They are allowed to touch you. 2. One of the actors had a live rat. He tried to put it on my head and I had it's tail on my face for a second! Ekkkk! 3. This is very well organized. It was very cool to see all the hard work and small details that go into making this event work. Thumbs up to everyone that is part of this amazing production! read more

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Best haunt in the area. Every time I go back here, I'm wowed all over again. Plus, more than half of each attraction was new this year. The setting simply cannot be beat or replicated. You are actually in an old abandoned complex. On top of that, the attention to detail in each room is highly impressive. The actors are all very skilled and have distinct characters. Overall, Pennhurst is a very enjoyable way to spend a haunted evening! read more

This attraction is proof that a large budget can do wonders. Of all the haunted hayrides/houses I've done in Pennsylvania, this one takes the cake of most artistic. They've made all the tours so hauntingly beautiful that it sticks with me. Maybe I'm wrong, but I really feel like they were able to perfectly create a morbid wonderland. In my opinion it is actually scary, if only for the tunnel, which is so claustrophobic it hits you. All the actors are good at what they do, and once again, costuming spares no expense. The 'ghost hunt' is a little boring, and honestly a bit disrespectful. (Not that having a haunted house there isn't, it's just really voyeuristic to go into this old asylum where people lived and died to spectate). Aside from my silly ethical dilemma, I still give them credit for what they've done with this place. It's one of few haunted attractions I can say is totally worth the money. read more

I went to Pennhurst for an overnight ghost hunt, having had previous experiences with the paranormal, in the hopes that we would see or hear something amazing. I left thinking "how could I have ever believed in this nonsense?" Our night started with a guided, large group tour of some of the grounds but, being such a large group, most of us couldn't hear anything that was being said by the guide. She would begin talking while people were still shuffling up through piles of leaves and most of what she was saying was drowned out. Also, while walking along she'd be facing forward, talking about buildings and history (I'm assuming) but no one more than a couple of rows back could hear anything. After that, we were turned over to Nick. Nick explained to us many times that he was an empath and clairvoyant. We began in one of the tunnels, headed over to meet Skippy. A couple of strange noises could be heard but other than Nick's serious overreaction, there was absolutely zero drama. After sitting in the tunnel for around an hour, two of the young ladies in the group mentioned that they felt cold air on their legs. Everyone confirmed this and I said "it was in the 50s outside when we came down here. The temp has dropped and cold air is rushing in to fill the tunnels." Nick quickly squashed my obvious science with a "nope, it's the ghosts. I can see them...." He would frequently make claims that things were touching him or that spirits were by him, enough so that it became apparent that he was attempting to manufacture excitement where there was none. These places are creepy enough without Nick's incessant fabrications and, it would have been a better night if he'd just stopped with that. People who came there to believe or to confirm their suspicions found themselves rolling their eyes and groaning each time he spoke. When he'd hear the groans or someone in the group breathe heavily, he'd claim (quite dramatically) that those noises were made by spirits. Even when we'd tell him it was us, he'd shoot that down in favor of his imagination. There was a specific incident where several reports from local fireworks could be heard. He screamed "What was that??!!" and when we told him it was the sound of fireworks coming from outside, he made claims that it was clearly a spirit inside the metal locker (that I was leaning on) banging. In another incident, a female mentioned that her mask was wet (it was 30 degrees out by now... Everyone's mask was wet from breath condensation). He told her a ghost was making out with her.... It was so utterly ridiculous that after telling us that some of the patients went months without food or water and claiming to have an email from 1979, we called it and left early. This was easily the worst experience I've ever had at an attempt to encounter the supernatural. So much so that I am now convinced that none of it is real. So disappointing. read more

This place is about the coolest place you could go!!! The actual history of this place is so creepy and I think that's what adds to the affect. All of the old ACTUAL buildings from the past are so cool to walk past. Not to mention the actors are just awesome. I want to go every year!!! read more

My first haunted house type of deal was really awesome! Will be back here again soon. Really cool animatronics.

While my experience was awful, it doesn't mean yours will be too. A couple things to keep in mind. 1- Get here early. Lines are crazy for non VIP. We arrived at 9:30pm. Lines for everything are over 30 minutes. 2- Drive slow leading up the the place. The roads are bumpy and your car will thank you for it. 3- Wear sneakers, or boots. Standing in wet grass is not fun in flip flops. ----------- Attraction wise, it was well thought out and the acting was authentic. Less hair touching is recommended and putting foreign objects down peoples shirts. Like everyone says, the Ghost Hunt is not worth it. Skip it. read more

Pennhurst Asylum - A lot of people in line at Pennhurst. They need a line optimization analyst. Why me? - Haunted Houses Near Me - Spring City, Pennsylvania

Outstanding authentic setting, actors were first rate. The details in each attraction were top rate as well Must see every year as it changes and improves every visit read more

I also read from here that lines were long so when we came by last Friday, we arrived around 8pm. At that point, there was no line at the ticket booth or through security. Overall we waited probably 20 -30 minutes. We were able to walk through the museum, though I wished I stayed a bit longer to learn more about the history. Each group had about 15-20 people, so majority of the time no one scared me. It didn't help that I was surrounded by people that were most easily frightened than me. When we got to the tunnels, it was pitch black at some points, where all you can do is just keep walking. I'm not usually afraid of the dark, but I was really scared then. It was definitely a different experience. Overall, I probably wouldn't go back here, but I bought the combo pack with the Bates Motel for $45 so it was a pretty good deal. read more

While the haunted events are super cool (I did that in years past) today we did the history tour. Unfortunately, the tour was completely unorganized - started 25 min late, no clear direction with 6 groups touring - for example "let me check to see if that building is open, let's see if a supervisor can tell us how to get in, let's wait here while I check to see if another group got here before us" - would have been far better if they had numbered stops with talking points and an order for each group to follow - ESPECIALLY based on the entrance price of $40/person. Oh well - still cool to see, but hopefully based on these comments they will get it together for future visitors as they just got a $10M grant to keep the place historically sound for visitors. Also be aware that the 10-12:30 tour ended about 11:30. On the plus side, Donna, a former employee did a great job in the Mayflower building - her part was the kind of tour our group was expecting - thanks Donna! read more

Be prepared to wait in line for 3+ hours just to get into the attraction. They definitely over sold and it takes away from the fun of the experience. read more

Pennhurst is an abandoned asylum with some famous ghost hunting teams having done investigations there. During the fall it's open to the public as a haunted house. Getting there is part of the experience. I won't tell you much, but you're not lost. Go down the dark,unlit road. Roll down the windows, listen to the crickets, drive slow. If you're going on foot, it's going to be a long walk through the woods (20-30 minutes). Once you park, there is a decent walk through the grounds that is lit up a bit more. Here is a long, snaking line to the ticket booth. Or it would have been if we hadn't gone so early in the season. The length of the ropes that greeted us made us very happy we were not there on a crowded night, it's clear this attraction gets VERY busy. Once you get your tickets, there's another line where your bags are checked. They allow smartphones, but not disposable cameras for some godforsaken reason. In the center of the attractions is a courtyard with cider, water, snacks, porta potties, and excellent 90's rock playing (Rob Zombie, Orgy, NIN, and the like). It's like an asylum prom. Porta potties are plentiful throughout the grounds, water however is almost in dangerously short supply, this was the only area we were able to find it and on the night we went it happened to be unseasonably warm and humid. Even in colder weather, waiting on long lines, going through a crowded haunted house, can get you dehydrated. What I really enjoyed were the performers who come around to entertain you while you wait on line. We saw a husband and wife team who breathed fire, walked on each other while one laid on a bed of nails, stuck balloons through his nose and eyes, that sort of sideshow oddity type of thing. Loved it! The attractions themselves I honestly don't remember much of (a little too much cider perhaps). I coulldn't tell you the difference between the first two attractions. Makeup was top notch, acting was nicely done.lots of doctor/patient themes obviously, "help me" type stuff, cages, even one woman in a file room ranting obsessively about all the patient paperwork (more on that later). The actors do get very physical, I was thrown onto a stretcher at one point! I don't mind that, I think it adds to the experience and the guy doing it read me as the right person to interact with. We hugged after! The lines are long even on slower nights. Nothing terrible, I don't think we waited for more than 20 minutes for anything, but just seeing the size of the area the lines cover for busier nights put it into perspective. I really cannot stress enough just how many people this place must hold during peak times, you could easily spend 1-2 hours on just one line as each attraction usually only lets in groups of 6. Some visitors recommend doing the attractions out of order because even those who have paid for all four don't necessarily get to them all, but everyone hits the first two. The after hours ghost hunting tour (the one that takes place over night and ends early the next morning) is a blast for the sake of having a bit of private access to the grounds, but I'm a skeptic. Ghost hunting requires a lot of patience; it's slow, it involves a lot of waiting for something to happen. Then hours of data have to be combed through for what usually amounts to questionable "evidence" anyway (spare me your orbs, thanks). The building chosen didn't seem big enough for all the folks wandering around, I can't imagine being able to decipher a ghost voice from a fellow investigators voice down the hall with any accuracy. The hunt doesn't extend beyond that one building or to the grounds either, but this may be a safety issue if the other buildings are in a more advanced state of disrepair anyway (I believe they are slated for asbestos removal in the near future). To my knowledge, the Mayflower building was also used for administrative purposes, not patient housing like the nearby cottage buildings were, and while bureaucracy is certainly soul crushing I'm not sure it inspires one to linger on in the after life. Damn paperwork, am I right? If you're too timid or inexperienced for urban exploration, this is a nice (if not expensive) way to get some quality time with a creepy abandoned building, but I wouldn't go for the ghost hunting aspect alone. Ultimately the atmosphere and the grounds themselves are the biggest draw here. Eerie really doesn't begin to convey what it's like to wander around in the shadows of these hulking ruins. People asked me if I saw anything paranormal, and I absolutely did not, but who cares? Go for the fun scares and what is likely the best Halloween atmosphere you can expose yourself to safely ;) read more

Pennhurst Asylum - Haunted Houses Near Me - Spring City, Pennsylvania

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Amazing place and a lot of activity amazing tour guides and they do have snacks and merchandise

Please go somewhere else. Waited two hours only to be told (AFTER TWO HOURS) that we had to wait another 3 hours unless we handed over an additional $30 in cash per person which would be $80 per person for a dumb haunted house. Spoke to the "manager" and he said no refunds even though we were on vacation and cannot use the ticket another time. These people are scum overbooking and nickle and diming patrons to get more money. Who the hell wants to wait 5 hours for a haunted house? In addition to using the Asylum's tragic past for $$$, these owners are the worst of the worst. I wouldnt give them another penny. read more