Pennhurst: Haunted House Attraction For Halloween

SPRING CITY, PA —At the top of a winding road in Spring City is the infamous Pennhurst State School and Hospital, which was once a place for the so-called “feeble-minded and epileptic,” that has been transformed into a museum and haunted house.

There is still time to celebrate Halloween at the Pennhurst Asylum, at Bridge and Church streets. Getting there is even a bit scary as motorists and cyclists have to navigate a narrow, windy uphill path.

The haunted house and museum have become a tradition for tourists and locals alike who have an affinity for the scary and supernatural.

The tours are available from Oct. 27 to Nov. 4 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays.

Pennhurst history

Between 1908 and 1987, an estimated 10,600 children with disabilities were warehoused in brick buildings hidden far away from public view along the banks of the Schuylkill River in East Vincent Township. The residents lived in small rooms with two or three beds in two-story red brick buildings.

In the 1990s, the abandoned campus became a hangout for locals. There was a lot of vandalism.

In 2010, the administration building of the campus opened as a haunted attraction during Halloween. In 2017, the daytime tours started and overnight paranormal investigators were available.

The house features characters who pop out in the dark, a morgue, and underground tunnels. More information on the tours is available here.