Located in Venango County, the furnace sits about a hundred yards downstream of Freedom Falls. The post office and the fire dept are both in existence too. This huge, disused viaduct is now a crumbling concrete underworld of covered in years of graffiti. Would like to see a photo of the old carbon county switch back and trail it was used for. In this space, youll find a large basketball court that still retains some of the paint on the floor, though, sadly, no basketball hoops. I looked in the back seat. There is a wedding dress in a glass case that is said to move on it's own, especially around Halloween and full moons. While visiting, its also worth the short bike ride or walk to the Brady Tunnel and the Philipston Turntable. What about Buck Hill Falls Inn? Embark on a creepy day trip to Altoona, perhaps the most haunted town near Pittsburgh, where you will have plenty of opportunities to experience the paranormal. However, the site is also home to two long-closed steel mills that can be seen on tours of the museum. Private property should be respected at all times, as should all posted signs concerning trespassing, hours of operation and other local regulations. Looking for even more abandoned places to explore in Pennsylvania that wont have you running from the law? TheAllegheny Tunnel(known originally as the Summit Tunnel) in nearby Gallitzin wasthe longest railroad tunnel in the worldat the time of its completion, at3,612 feet. Hiking the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike - Located in Bedford and Fulton Counties is a 13-mile stretch of abandoned highway that you can legally explore. 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. The hardwood basketball court at the former SCI-Cresson is definitely showing its age, although at one time Im sure it was magnificent. The City of Altoona is required to provide notice and a period of time for the vehicle . It was torn down to make way for an expressway. I cant wait to explore this place!!!! Your CommentsHave a photograph taken from this location? Many old presidents visited there.I worked as a waitress there 1959- 1963. Naval officerRobert Peary, a Cresson native credited with beingthe first explorer to reach the North Pole. You can find out more about Hydroponic Life / Big House Produce by following their social media on Facebook and/or Instagram. Today, visitors can walk through the surrounding park, marvel at the size of Austin Dam and its crumbling ruins, and pay their respects to those killed here. Although the Amity Hall burned to the ground in the late 2000s, it was alleged to be extremely active with the haunts. Built in the late 1700s, the old jail has a legend attached. Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia. Between then and around the 1930s locals swore they would frequently see the headless apparition of the doctor around this area. Spring City, PA. As if being an actual abandoned, haunted asylum wasn't enough, Pennhurst Asylum (aka Eastern Pennsylvania State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic) operates as a haunted house during the Halloween season. Find museums in Altoona, PA, Culmerville Hotel - Zottola's Pub and Eatery, National Emergency Training Center - St. Joseph's College. Grace Chapel was built in 1914, as part of the original Cresson Tuberculosis Sanatorium. Sacramento River, California, USA. 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? The status of visitors being allowed is unknown, but I assume that it is currently closed to exploration. I went to help clean with Titusville Pa American Legion when I was little. Off we go to uncover the tales behind three of the most haunted spots in Altoona. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The Admiral Peary Monument in Cambria Countyhonors U.S. What began as the Cresson Tuberculosis Sanatorium when it opened in 1913 morphed over the years into a state hospital and finally a state prison (SCI Cresson). Here are a few of my favorite ruins and abandoned places in Pennsylvania you can legally visit. It seems that in the late 1800s a sheriff was shot to death by a gang of bandits on the staircase leading between the jail and the attached brick building, which was the jailer's family home. There is stuff like the Scotia ghost town, but you probably found that with the touristy stuff. 6 . The Railroaders Museum is said to be haunted by a spirit named Frank, who has been seen all over the museum. Young and Sons Machine Shop. Eastern State Penitentiaryin Philadelphia wasthe most famous and expensive prison in the worldwhen it opened in 1829. After this second failure, Austin Dam was abandoned and left to crumble. Thats a famous historical train site. A hidden piece of Altoona's railroad history in a long-forgotten abandoned town. Open house dates for the prison are announced on the Facebook page for the site and all events are listed on their website. I definitely would bring a mask with you to deal with the likely unsafe air quality in the buildings (Which is kind of ironic since this facility was started as a sanatorium because of the clean mountain air here). Im not familiar with the park. Only to find out, that is where caretakers had faced ghostly spirits. I was young and didnt think anything about it. In truth, I could keep going on and on discussing the many cool things I found while exploring the abandoned SCI Cresson. Thanks, Pennhurst Asylum in Spring City, PA is an eerie abandoned place to explore. Hope you have fun! Love Pittsburgh? It's illegal to trespass on private property, and most public property is closed from dawn to dusk. Spent summers on a horse farm with no electric and it gets darker than u can imagine. There are actually two tunnels in that same area just a few miles apart. In the late 1800s, the area around Oil Creek was home to tens of thousands of prospectors hoping to strike it rich. In a side room, weight equipment can still be found in several spots. Petroleum Centre was founded in 1866 and was once home to as many as 3,000 people. Since the mine was closed with the plan of reopening, much of the original mine equipment is still present. Petroleum Centre is another oil-boom community that once thrived in northwestern Pennsylvania. Around its grounds, ghosts have been spotted reliving the war. Legend has it Rosa Carmichael is said to be the spirit who haunts this museum. This inn, housed in a 1897 building, has been visited by strange noises, residual smells, and a ghost named Flossie who is said to have died in the house in the 1920s. Today, this perfectly preserved shop looks just as it did when it closed 60 years ago and offers the chance to see what a mid-century machine shop would have been like. The abandoned turnpike tunnels of western Pennsylvania Three turnpikes in western Pennsylvania were bypassed in the late 1960s when highways were modernized, and two remain abandoned today,. Google gives you the tourist attractions, but there's a ton of more locally known places not widely known. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! 3 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Altoona, Pennsylvania . While its not as large as the basketball court in the main gym, its still in pretty good shape and still had the baskets hanging at either end of the court. 2 mile walk to get to it but trail is flat and wide. The ruined remains of a coal mining ghost town are hidden within the woods. Check out these haunted and historic hot spots in Pennsylvania, and be ready for some bizarre encounters with the supernatural. If you're intrigued by abandoned places, follow this abandoned places in Pennsylvania road trip. Beautiful place and grounds. Per one story, some Civil War re-enactors working on the film Gettysburg at this site were approached here by a Union soldier. flickr/patrick dirden. Housing a large number of inmates means providing an equally large number of ancillary services. Nearby, you can also explore the ruins of Kunes Camp. This historic hotel has been in operation for over a century, but is now believed to be a private residence. 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. Pretty massive and interesting. Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and creator of the PA Bucket List travel blog. Im going in Aug (July was already sold out) & have shared this article with them (as sister in law was from that area & her grandmother had worked for the Sanatorium). It became a tavern in the 1760s, and was also used as a courtroom. Story goes that a doctor was killed here in an accident around the middle of the 19th century. The ghosts are . This 1906 theater building, still in operation today, is said to be home to three ghosts: Mr. Isaac Mishler, a howling dog, and a female spirit who plays pranks in the restroom. The grounds here are so massive that I made a second full-day visit in November of 2021. And now thanks to new, private ownership, you can LEGALLY explore this maze of buildings, some dating back more than 100 years. Frightened, the two desperately finally managed to close the Locals tell a harrowing story of something that may happen near here: A strange fog gathers quickly, and from out of the mysterious fog comes a ghostly battle. Meanwhile, the basement is in quite rough shape, with very little light and peeling paint. There is no artificial light in any of the buildings, leading to some dramatic natural light and shadow combinations. Despite this, driving on the public roads through town, however, is still fascinating. Built in 1907, the two blast furnaces here were in nearly continuous operation until 1978. Several people were hanged here, and it is said that their spirits walk restlessly throughout the place. By all accounts, this was a pleasant and desirable community to live in, though it was short-lived due to plumping and other issues. A spirit is said to reside in the former Culmervilel Hotel, now Zottola's Pub and Eatery. Visitors to this site have reported hearing the harrowing sounds of battle, although nothing appears to be happening on the quiet field. Ive mentioned several other abandoned coal mines on this list, but the Number 9 Coal Mine and Museum in Carbon County might be my favorite. The Avondale Mine diaster site in Nanticoke, Pa! On a related note, a tripod is definitely needed if you plan to do a lot of photography during your visit. Centralia, Pennsylvania Centralia Ghost Town Church A mine fire has been burning under the deserted town since. We were permitted to tour the place all alone. Staff have reported a wild apparition Several buildings at Penn State University are allegedly haunted, including Pattee Library, said to be visited by the spirit of Betsy Aardsma, stabbed to death in the stacks in 1969. Easy access from white Haven. If you are looking for something a bit different, Big House Produce has also started hosting other types of events such as ghost hunts and airsoft military-style games in the facility. In 1987, the first prisoners arrived at what was then called SCI Cresson or Cresson State Prison. Rest Haven in Schuylkill Haven. Located only a stones throw from the Abandoned PA Turnpike, youll find an abandoned railroad archhiding deep in the woods. Built in 1947 and operating until 1983, this building could put out ten-foot pieces of steel and still retains its giant crane and power generating station. Around the walls of the building, there are large paintings depicting various sports. 8. Disembodied footsteps have been heard here as well. Sadly, the homes were left abandoned for over a decade and are now in a state of disrepair. Anyone know of any abandoned places youre allowed to legally explore in the State College/ Altoona area? In 2010, the furnaces were opened for tours and offer a gritty look into how steel was made. This former mining community has been abandoned for many decades and while much of it has been lost to the woodland, pieces remain, including several concrete structures and an old rail line. Fortunately, a group of local residents decided to open this abandoned mine to tours in 1962. She is believed to the first wife of Edgar Kaufmann, depressed by his unfaithfulness. I stumbled across a very old headstone with 1700 dates on it. Westinghouse Atom Smasher in Forest Hills. You're awesome for doing it! A couplr of my friends an I decided to go one night. The main abandoned building here is the 120 Mill Motor House. According to reports, soldiers are still active at this site. You should watch some videos done by this guy. The community even hosted President Ulysses S. Grant in 1871. I go through here constantly. Instead of stopping at their desired floor, the elevator continued to the basement. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). Turned out Rockview had the CERT team there. Between these two Tudor Revival buildings, make sure to find Grace Chapel. It is said that these soldiers are from the battle's second day. There really is just so much to see at this abandoned prison, and Im grateful that owners have decided to open it up for the public to explore so that you can find your own hidden surprises, of which there are many more that arent included here. Jennie Wade was a seamstress and the only civilian to be directly killed in the Battle of Gettysburg when a stray bullet entered this house, where she was visiting her sister. One soldier who frequents the site has been described as having long gray hair and dirty, torn clothing of buckskin. However, for those interested in abandoned places in Pennsylvania, Mount Moriah Cemetery still has corners that are quite overgrown. The Westinghouse Atom Smasher can be found laying on its side in a residential neighborhood east of downtown Pittsburgh. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Farther away from altoona. 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. After the war, it became a church camp until the early 1970s. The graffitied ruins stand hidden within the Pennsylvania woods. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. Today, its laying on its side around piles of bricks waiting for hopeful restoration. 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. One of the least known places on this list are the jet bunkers in the Quehanna Wild Area. In addition to the abandoned mining structures, this area is also unique for its micro-climate, which is said to be several degrees colder than the surrounding area and supports unique plant life. Report an Abandoned Vehicle . Camp Sideling Hill is the second abandoned POW camp from World War 2 on this list. This forgotten building was one of the few Philadelphia-area breweries to survive Prohibition. my mother was born there Its steeple rises above many of the buildings, so its fairly easy to find from many areas throughout the prison grounds. 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