As I mentioned, it is possible to visit SCI Cresson State Prison with permission from the owners. Housing a large number of inmates means providing an equally large number of ancillary services. In the far left building white building (if looking at the front of the complex), youll find the prisons medical facility, which might be the most interesting space here. 100 years ago did not know you could get close to it!!! The buildings were built in the 1920s and 1930s for workers at the nearby limestone mine. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Today, the bridge is the central point of Kinzua Bridge State Park. Thank you Joan Cramer Stefanini. It was a Federal outpost during the Carlisle Barracks is a military school that was attended by the likes of John J. Pershing and Dwight D. Eisenhower. You can hike in state parks at night, but any other area and you risk being shot as a trespasser or by a hunter. Ruins to explore and in the summer there are weekend yours. Petroleum Centre was founded in 1866 and was once home to as many as 3,000 people. I went to help clean with Titusville Pa American Legion when I was little. It has been seen on TV's Ghost Hunters, and as a setting in the movie Gettysburg. Would love to have good picture, so would many others. This public space is speckled with the eerie remnants of a defunct amusement park. It was originally a military post that began in the 1700s. When I was young I hunted a farm field East of 209 in the Bushkill area. Address: Unnamed Road, Dillsburg, PA 17019, USA The OIYS Visitor Center abandoned amusement park in Pennsylvania July 10, 2020 Beth Price-Williams Can I visit any abandoned places in Pennsylvania? Now SCI Cresson sits mostly abandoned on a parcel of land just off of Route 22 between Altoona and Ebensburg. However, by 1873, the town was essentially abandoned. This hospital, which was also known as the Allegheny State Hospital, was designed to care for those with mental health issues, including mental retardation. Legend has it that she was a new bride on her honeymoon at the Wopsononock Hotel, which burned down long ago. If you can ignore the fences and razor wire, its not hard to imagine yourself on the grounds of a grand English manor in the countryside, at least among the Tudor-style buildings. Ghosts said to hang out here include former employee "Bus" Seymore, who is heard typing upstairs, and a little girl who sits in the conference room and has a "thing" for flashlights. The prison closed in 1971, and slowlydescended into ruinover the next 20 years. While hiking the trails here, dont miss the nearby historic dam and covered bridge along Valley Creek. The land used to belong to Col. George Wiestling, a veteran of the Civil War who died in 1891. You should watch some videos done by this guy. Same story of lady in white on beluah road. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! They plan to continue offering events throughout 2022 while simultaneously remodeling, cleaning, and protecting the historical buildings at the abandoned Cresson State Prison. The uncovered testimony of a teenage girl claims the ghost of Isaac Mishler haunts historic Altoona's Mishler Theatre. When the mine closed in the early 1930s, it was thought to be a temporary closure, so all the equipment was placed inside the mine before it was closed. Northeastern Pennsylvania has a rich anthracite coal mining history, and nowhere is that better seen than on a tour of the Lackawanna Coal Mine in Scranton. During my exploration, I was able to, I believe, enter into every unlocked building, and each structure had interesting spaces to explore, though some obviously were more interesting than others. This historic Civil War National Park battlefield from 1862, where many lives were lost, is said to be haunted by the ghosts of soldiers and the sounds of phantom gunfire and shouts, drum beats and war songs. Most drivers likely wouldnt give a second thought to driving through the Horseshoe Curve Tunnel. When the door opened, they saw a thriving hospital scene, only without sound. This old abandoned bridge is a reminder of life not so long ago. Its amazing to tour the homes and think about what it would have been like to have lived in this community. Horseshoe Curve Is A Haunted Tunnel In Pennsylvania That Has A Dark History Horseshoe Curve in Altoona beckons tourists who want to experience the beauty and architectural wonder of the railroad line with tracks that curve around the mountainside like a horseshoe. She is believed to the first wife of Edgar Kaufmann, depressed by his unfaithfulness. While the property is typically closed to the public, the owner often lets visitors roam around with prior permission. The Limestone Trail trailhead leading to the abandoned lime kilns at Canoe Creek State Park. 9.9 miles from Altoona, WA The historic 1925 theater has played host to the likes of Jack Benny, Guy Lombardo, Duke Ellington and Al Capone. This site has a 100-year history as a tuberculosis sanatorium, a mental hospital, and a modern prison, meaning that you can explore everything from an old psychiatric ward to modern cell blocks. A famous photograph taken in 1907 (one of the earliest ghost photos thought to be legitimate) shows a figure A stone star fort in the Maryland Panhandle, Fort Frederick Maryland was built in the 1750s to defend Maryland from French and Indian raiders. Today, visitors can walk or bike this section of roadway, passing through the two mile-long tunnels and exploring this post-apocalyptic site that is one of my favorite abandoned places in Pennsylvania. Located along the Railroad Arch Trail, the South Penn Railroad Aqueduct sits at the end of a quiet and easy trail. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Please note: It is your responsibility to acquire appropriate permissions before investigating any location listed on this site. We have one of it in flames. Today, several of the buildings, primarily the newer prison blocks, are currently growing a variety of crops indoors, but much of the historic prison sits abandoned and awaiting restoration. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. For the next two decades, the prison set abandoned until it was opened for limited tours in 1988. Walking the two levels of the cell block gave me a chance to peer into the tiny cells and get a bit of an idea of what life is like for prisoners currently serving time in a Pennsylvania state prison. Today, both bike riders and hikers can check out the base of this tower to learn more about the railroading industry in the area. The site of one of the most pivotal battles in the Civil War is never in short supply of any ghost stories and haunted places. 3.8. Abandoned Vehicle on Public Streets. In truth, I could keep going on and on discussing the many cool things I found while exploring the abandoned SCI Cresson. Corrections officers would have controlled access to the housing units at control panels like this one. The Legend has it that the 1930s Catholic Millers Church was taken over by devil worshippers, and practitioners sacrificed young girls inside its walls. You definitely WILL encounter flaking paint, broken glass, dark corridors, and other hazards typical when exploring abandoned buildings, so dress appropriately and come prepared for that. While this space was in a bit rougher condition than the cell blocks, it was still interesting to stand inside and imagine what it was like for those that worked here less than a decade prior to my visit. Franks been seen by just about everyone whos worked at the museum and countless visitors. Read more Completed in 1854,the Allegheny Tunnel is still in use tothis day, and theGallitzin Tunnels Parknext to it is a popular spot for railfans to congregate and watch trains enter and exit this historic tunnel. The historic inn dates back to 1790, and was recently restored after a catastrophic fire swept through the building in 2008. There is stuff like the Scotia ghost town, but you probably found that with the touristy stuff. The ghosts are . The portion of the prison grounds made available for tours by the folks at Hydroponic Life (AKA Big House Produce) is MASSIVE! Report an Abandoned Vehicle . However, during repairs in 2003, a tornado swept through the valley. (Submitted by Callum Swift). (Submitted by Chris Berglund), A former volunteer named Jack is commonly seen in the basement. I go through here constantly. Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and creator of the PA Bucket List travel blog. She has been seen on the turret's balcony. Oil Creek State Park is known as the Valley that Changed the World and was the site of the worlds first commercial oil well. You may smell the distinct scent of sulfur lingering in the air as you approach and enter the tunnel as the Irish woman in white appears, angry that visitors have invaded her space. You missed Pithole PA near Oil Creek State Park. In later years it was a girl scout camp. It's illegal to trespass on private property, and most public property is closed from dawn to dusk. In conjunction with the Allegheny Tunnel mentioned above, theHorseshoe Curveallowed trains to cross back and forth over the steep Allegheny Mountains, something that had been impossible before 1854. Tons of cool architecture and history there. Young and Sons Machine Shop. Per one story, some Civil War re-enactors working on the film Gettysburg at this site were approached here by a Union soldier. The grounds here are so massive that I made a second full-day visit in November of 2021. Details: This mansion is said to be haunted by the matriarch of the family. Night and day. Greenwood, PA (5.3 mi.) Note that the entire prison is surrounded by barbed wire fencing and trespassing is strictly prohibited. Looking for even more abandoned places to explore in Pennsylvania that wont have you running from the law? Centralia is possibly the most famous abandoned town in PA. Cap off your visit to Altoona, arguably the most haunted town near Pittsburgh, if you still have the energy, on an invigorating hike (or drive, if you prefer) along this haunted road where you may just run into the The White Lady of Wopsononock. When I visited, I was able to head into the garages, which were interesting to see, but the main feature here is the exterior murals. What about Buck Hill Falls Inn? It was abandoned for decades until the national park service opened it as a historical site. Despite this, driving on the public roads through town, however, is still fascinating. The most popular spot at Centralia was Graffiti Highway, but this spot was sadly destroyed recently by the property owner. Apparitions, black figures and flashes Reported to be haunted by the ghosts of Civil War era soldiers who were treated and died in the Inn when it served as a hospital after the battle. Inside the main lobby, there is incredible woodwork that can be found before branching off into the rest of this three-story building. Read more 0 Flavel Mansion Astoria, Oregon Despite being the newest structures on the site, I found them to be among the most interesting to see as they looked, at least on the surface, like they had just been abandoned and prisoners (or a film crew) could come in at any second. Her parents buried Redstone Cem where we go In 2010, the furnaces were opened for tours and offer a gritty look into how steel was made. Inside the Grace Chapel at the abandoned Cresson State Prison near Altoona. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. While access to the kilns is limited by a fence, its still fun to walk around them and look at these beautiful ruins. The hayrides are year-round so visit freely! 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