The apparition of an elderly woman has been seen as well. Today, it sits abandoned in the woods just waiting for people to come and explore it. After being closed in 1995, the Steel Stacks were abandoned for many years. For the next two decades, the prison set abandoned until it was opened for limited tours in 1988. I am retired from Rockview Prison. However, few have been left alone in the middle of nature like Rockland Furnace. Would like to see a photo of the old carbon county switch back and trail it was used for. Young and Sons Machine Shop. Opened as a state-of-the-art prison in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiaryin Philadelphia was the model for many future correctional facilities. I lived in Clairton , pleasant hills and bethel Park, I now live in California but miss Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. 8. 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. It would have been torn down then, but the concrete used to build the homes ended up being too difficult for even dynamite to destroy. Today, this once-bustling borough is reduced to fewer than 10 residents. They show up as oddities on the photographic images taken all over the hotel. Ghostly band music is said to come from the bandstand, tunes from around the turn of the century. Eldora Park between Donora and Monongahela in Carroll Township. 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. The cell blocks in the various housing units at the former SCI-Cresson were built in several different eras. 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. On these days, volunteers work for a few hours and then are given a few hours to explore the site at no cost. Based in the state capital of Harrisburg, Jim frequently travels around Pennsylvania and has visited, written about, and photographed all 67 counties in the state. Collection of trolley cars in the woods represent one man's attempt to preserve transportation history. 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. In 1780 during the Revolutionary war, a group of rangers were engaged in a battle against the Iroquois who were fighting on behalf of the British. The vaudeville venue built in 1913 is the home of a ghostly former manager. Im not familiar with the park. Its amazing to tour the homes and think about what it would have been like to have lived in this community. This building contained a huge number of interesting sights spread between its multiple levels including a large kitchen space (with some of the large appliances still installed), a laundry space, offices, a classroom with furniture, and many more hidden gems. This drinking fountain in one of the older cell blocks once quenched the thirst of the medium-security prisoners housed here. However, when traffic necessitated upgrades to the roadway, this section of road and its two tunnels were bypassed. The portion of the prison grounds made available for tours by the folks at Hydroponic Life (AKA Big House Produce) is MASSIVE! 27, . Looking for even more abandoned places to explore in Pennsylvania that wont have you running from the law? The graffitied ruins stand hidden within the Pennsylvania woods. This old abandoned bridge is a reminder of life not so long ago. Demolished unfortunately. Andy Weimer, Traffic Coordinator 814-949-2496 . The historic inn dates back to 1790, and was recently restored after a catastrophic fire swept through the building in 2008. Bethlehem Steel Mill in Bethlehem. Today, signs offer a self-guided walking tour through the ruins of this camp for visitors wanting to learn more about this unique historic spot. My children had some great times there. Some say they have seen the woman that roams the house. The buildings were built in the 1920s and 1930s for workers at the nearby limestone mine. The main abandoned building here is the 120 Mill Motor House. (Note: While to the best of our knowledge you can legally these abandoned places at the time of publication, access can always change. These disused steel furnaces are now haunting ruins that may one day be a national park. This 1797 inn was named because the original innkeeper, Peter Marck, would only accept cash as payment. Google gives you the tourist attractions, but there's a ton of more locally known places not widely known. 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. Yes, many people still live there. Id love to explore the interior of some of those downtown buildings. After a 100-year history, SCI Cresson was closed in 2013, and since then, has been left largely abandoned. Make sure to obey any signage you might see, and obtain owner permission or pay the admission fees where required.). You missed the Rockland tunnel right by the Rockland Furnace. This old hotel, established in 1797, is haunted by Rachel, among other spirits. Click "thumbs up" if you think its haunted, or "thumbs down" if you think its all just a tall tale. Petroleum Centre was founded in 1866 and was once home to as many as 3,000 people. Looking around I noticed others with worn names. While you cant go into the furnaces, an elevated walkway allows visitors to get a close up look at these blast furnaces and peer inside their rusty confines. Chest Springs, PA (8.1 mi.) For over 100 years, trains used this viaduct to cross the valley more than 300 feet below. Well, it turned out to be the only overnight in a haunted facility that this ghost hunting team DID NOT COMPLETElolthey ran out the front gate. The main floor is primarily comprised of jail cells that may have held some of the lower-level prisoners at the facility. Lock Ridge furnace in Alburtis Pa. Prince Gallitzins cryptin Cambria County contains the remains of a former Russian prince turned trailblazing Catholic priest,Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin. While access is not permitted, its still possible to see the remnants of the bunkers from above ground and to peer into a few holes to catch a glimpse of these historic structures. He is said to be seen mostly around the old gardening tools. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends. The land used to belong to Col. George Wiestling, a veteran of the Civil War who died in 1891. glen hazel. Between these two Tudor Revival buildings, make sure to find Grace Chapel. It opened in 1911 with 20 duplex homes. . Ghosts here include a woman who haunts the kitchen (especially the walk-in cooler). The Devil's Elbow is a dangerous curve along Wopsy Road that has a story about a ghostly white lady. Altoona Blair County Airport; . A train station that was abandoned by the coal industry and was later converted into a cocktail bar. While visiting, its also worth the short bike ride or walk to the Brady Tunnel and the Philipston Turntable. Sadly, the homes were left abandoned for over a decade and are now in a state of disrepair. Per one story, some Civil War re-enactors working on the film Gettysburg at this site were approached here by a Union soldier. Exploring the Abandoned Cresson State Prison in Cambria County, contact Hydroponic Life / Big House Produce at this link, abandoned places to explore in Pennsylvania, 30 Abandoned Places in PA You Can Legally Visit, Road Tripping to the Best Abandoned Places in PA, Exploring the Curtis Publishing Building in Philadelphia, The 17 Best Hiking Trails Near State College, Exploring the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Exploring Boggs Run Vista in Clinton County. Franks been seen by just about everyone whos worked at the museum and countless visitors. The future site of SCI Cresson began life as the Cresson Tuberculosis Sanatorium. When it was completed in 1882, the Kinzua Bridge was the largest and tallest bridge in the world. They can be accessed from several points along the spectacular Lehigh Gorge. (Note: While to the best of our knowledge you can legally visit these abandoned places at the time of publication, access can always change. 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. Advanced reservations are required. Near the park office once stood the community of Petroleum Centre, though all that remains are a set of steps that once led to the bank. Since the mine was closed with the plan of reopening, much of the original mine equipment is still present. His cigar smoke has been smelled by witnesses as well. They also have started opening the site up for self-guided tours to people interested in urbex, photography, and the sites history, as well as for other events such as ghost hunts. Get more stories like this one delivered right to your email. The owners have been known to auction the rooms for a night, which is enough for some guests to leave the hotel in fear. Located in Cresson, PA, just a few miles from Altoona, you'll find the abandoned SCI Cresson. In 1911, the dam failed and the ensuing flood of water killed 78 people. While many are welded shut, a few are open. Oldest continuously operating railroad tunnel in the world is the Howard Tunnel in York County, Pa along the current Northern Central Railroad. He has also traveled to more than 30 different countries around the world. My favorite is the giant elevator that once took miners deep underground. BUTtwo weeks later, we are watching Ghost Hunters on TV. Some of the older housing units are three stories high, while the more modern ones are only two stories high. The penitentiary was open until 1970 when it was closed in favor of more modern facilities. In between the two connected cell blocks of the building, youll find the correctional officers control room, which, quite surprisingly, still had some equipment and signage. This site is very unlike what youd see at the other famous abandoned prison in Pennsylvania, Eastern State Penitentiary. There are two access points for the turnpike: one near Breezewood and one in Fulton County. In 2010, the furnaces were opened for tours and offer a gritty look into how steel was made. Madeline Letsche befriended the founder of the theater when her mother, Laura, would help with theatre productions. While it has been damaged a bit over the years, its still a beautiful spot to check out, and there are even some prison signs still hanging on the wall that are nearly a decade old and very interesting to read. Now SCI Cresson sits mostly abandoned on a parcel of land just off of Route 22 between Altoona and Ebensburg. I looked in the back seat. 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. 3.8. The Legend has it that the 1930s Catholic Millers Church was taken over by devil worshippers, and practitioners sacrificed young girls inside its walls. Hidden deep in the woods of Valley Forge National Historical Park near Philadelphia, youll find the ruins of an early 20th-century bottling plant. Built in the late 1700s, the old jail has a legend attached. One place we happened upon was in West Virginia. Its worth knowing that this is a huge site (I spent four hours there and could have easily spent more time). Abandoned places in Pennsylvania are pretty easy to find, no matter where you live in the state. Many old presidents visited there.I worked as a waitress there 1959- 1963. In fact, you may have heard many stories about different paranormal activities at the museum, including laughing children long after the museum closed and big band music playing from the bar in the museum (but no ones there). This semi-spooky remnant of an abandoned hotel provides fantastic views. Off we go to uncover the tales behind three of the most haunted spots in Altoona. Story goes that a doctor was killed here in an accident around the middle of the 19th century. Abandoned Places in Pennsylvania. Moving around to the other end of the complex another interesting building is the second large Tudor style building. No matter where you look, youll see plenty of razor wire and chain link fences. Press J to jump to the feed. The Devil's Elbow Dysart, Pennsylvania 4.1 miles from Altoona, PA The Devil's Elbow is a dangerous curve along Wopsy Road that has a story about a ghostly white lady. However, the mine never again reopened as an active coal mine. I enjoyed seeing the contrast of wildflowers juxtaposed against those fences and razor wire throughout the complex. You missed fallbrook pa the cemetery is still there and there are also some remains, There are some pretty cool ruins in Allegheny county a town called little Boston in the Elizabeth area I was told but not sure if the info is correct but the ruins may be from an old terracotta factory. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). This shop was built in 1900 to repair boats along the nearby Monongahela River, but soon shifted its focus to railroad equipment and just about anything mechanical that needed fixing in town. The Bethlehem Steel Stacks in the Lehigh Valley are one of the most impressive abandoned places in Pennsylvania. In the 1960s, the shop closed for good, simply shutting their doors and walking away. The prison closed in 1971, and slowlydescended into ruinover the next 20 years. Moundsville State Prison. Located in Venango County, the furnace sits about a hundred yards downstream of Freedom Falls. 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? You can walk around campus in the daytime: https://pennhurstasylum.ticketleap.com/daytime-photography-tour/details. When it left, 60% of the bridge lay mangled on the valley floor. I was an opening GM before when it had lost its flag from a Ramada. Copyright 2013-2023 Uncovering Media, LLC - All Rights Reserved, Find more things to do in the Alleghenies Region, How to Get to Indian Wells Overlook in Rothrock State Forest, Visiting the Fort Bedford Museum in Bedford, PA, DelGrossos Amusement Park: A Great Outing for the Kids in the Alleghenies, Altoonas Horseshoe Curve: A Must-See for Train Lovers. The National Iron and Steel Museum in Coatesville isnt abandoned in and of itself. The grounds here are so massive that I made a second full-day visit in November of 2021. Off we go to uncover the tales behind three of the most haunted spots in Altoona. The Westinghouse Atom Smasher can be found laying on its side in a residential neighborhood east of downtown Pittsburgh. Located just a few miles from Centralia, Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine is a once-abandoned mine in the heart of Pennsylvanias coal region. See Howard Tunnel in York County, Pa for the oldest operating railroad tunnel in the world. The Cambria County Historical Society has some good info on the Sanitorium including first hand stories of people that were patients there. my mother was born there While several of these are off-limits to visitors because they are being used for the hydroponic farm, there were, at the time of my visit at least one that you could enter. There is no artificial light in any of the buildings, leading to some dramatic natural light and shadow combinations. Your email address will not be published. The city of Altoona has an abandoned-housing rate that is twice as high as the state's rate but less than the rate for many other third-class cities in Pennsylvania, according to officials at a . Abandoned downtown and hospital on the hill with nurses quarters. There is an abandon tunnel left from the East Broadtop Railroad along Rt 994 not far from Saltillo / Three Springs. At the facility, cutting-edge treatments were used to treat those with this contagious disease. The kitchen (above) and the laundry (below) are just two of the more interesting service areas I explored while visiting the abandoned Cresson State Prison. If you exit the basketball court through the exterior door, youll find yourself along the northern fence line of the prison and next to the old automotive shop. Would love to have good picture, so would many others. Concrete City is located in Luzerne County near Nanticoke and was once company housing for select employees that worked at the nearby Truesdale Colliery. The devils elbow is where the White Lady of Wopsy Mountain supposedly died, When would be the best time to see her im also looking for any haunted cemeteries around Altoona, Its definitely not called horseshoe curve its one way to snow shoe. In fact, when entering the site, I was told that if I could find an open door, I could go in and explore as much as I wanted. A hidden piece of Altoona's railroad history in a long-forgotten abandoned town. Since then, while portions of Eastern State Penitentiary have been cleaned up, the site is managed as a preserved ruin and is a fascinating place to explore. Since the spring of 2021, they have held events where photographers and history lovers can visit the prison and explore the site on their own. Closed for years. Please do not trespass. Fortunately this time, no one was killed. Located along the Railroad Arch Trail, the South Penn Railroad Aqueduct sits at the end of a quiet and easy trail. I was shocked to see these paintings still looked in pristine condition and really enjoyed spending a few minutes looking at each one. Not knowing it was open for tours, we didnt go!! While the property is typically closed to the public, the owner often lets visitors roam around with prior permission. You need to park on the side of the highway which there is only one spot to do so but youre not even close to where you need to be DONT WASTE YOUR TIME, Your email address will not be published. This hospital, which was also known as the Allegheny State Hospital, was designed to care for those with mental health issues, including mental retardation. In the 1950s, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation obtained 51,000 acres of land in this remote area of Pennsylvania. Not far from Johnstown Pa. is the Staple Bend railroad tunnel. 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