Originally inhabited by a variety of Native American tribes for centuries, Europeans settled the area now known as Pennsylvania during the 17th century.  As one of the original Thirteen Colonies, the state has a rich colonial history, one that has given rise to alleged hauntings throughout the state.  Pennsylvania is also home to many frightening haunted houses but if you’re looking for an authentic frightening experience that’s a little less orthodox, try visiting one of the many notorious haunted places.  People from all over the world travel to these very places to investigate the paranormal activities that seem to occur and to learn more about the ghostly tales that surround them. 

The Historic Baker Mansion
Built in 1849, the Baker Mansion is known as one of central Pennsylvania’s true haunted houses.  Originally built by Elias Baker for his family, the 28-room mansion is now home to the Blair County Historic Society.  In 1914, the family abandoned the home after Anna, Elias’s daughter, died.  Supposedly the Baker family now haunts the mansion; several people working in and around the mansion along with visitors who have toured the home have reported seeing eerie, ghostly images.

 

Jean Bonnet Tavern
Located in Bedford, Pennsylvania, the Jean Bonnet Tavern is well-known for its rustic charm, delicious cuisine, and most notably, the ghosts that haunt it.  During the 1700’s, the tavern was actually a French fort and a stop along the trade route of the Shawnee Indians.  Legend has it a man who was hung in the tavern and his body buried beneath the floorboards now haunts the tavern.  In the 1950’s, a new owner of the tavern decided to replaced the floor and found a human skeleton.  Testing indicated that the skeleton was in fact from the 1700’s.

The Historic Royer Mansion
The Royer Mansion dates back to the 1800’s when Samuel Royer built the house for his family. Several tragic events that occurred in the home have been documented including the death of Samuel’s first wife during childbirth, the death of Samuel himself, and the original Royer mansion being burned to the ground (it was rebuilt afterwards).  The Royer mansion stood vacant for years and locals believe the spirits of past owners of the mansion now haunt it – many even claim they’ve seen ghosts in the home and on the grounds.

The Hotel Lincoln
Once a popular bar and brothel in the late 18th century, the Hotel Lincoln is now home to an antique shop.  During its hay day, one of the most popular girls who worked in the brothel was murdered by her enraged husband when he found out what she was doing.  Legend has it in a fit of rage, he shot her lover, then stabbed her to death before hanging her body on the closet door.  Today many locals and even visitors claim to have seen apparitions in the newly remodeled antique shop.  Some have even complained of feeling an eerie presence when on the second floor (where the murder took place).  

 

Hauntworld Reviews Pennsylvania Haunted Houses

Welcome to our Pennsylvania Haunted House and Halloween Attraction page where you can find all sorts of haunted houses in Pennsylvania. Some of our favorite haunted houses in pennsylvania are located on this page.  Listed below are some of the best haunts you can find in the state of Pennsylania.  If you know of a haunted house, haunted hayride, ghost tour, real haunted house, haunted attraction, scary attraction, or Halloween attraction in Pennsylvania please refer those attractions to our site so they may create a FREE listing.  If you you would like to review one of the attractions we have listed please create an account.  Once you create a user account you may post your reviews and rate any haunted houses on our system.

One of the best haunted houses in Pennsylvania, and in the country is The Bates Motel in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania has been voted on of America BEST haunted houses for years. With over 75 live actors, a 25 minute hayride with state of the art pyrotechnics you will enter a ghost town, graveyard, and a haunted gold mine where you will be begging for your life. This is one haunted house that you will not want to miss. For tickets and other information visit them online at www.thebatesmotel.com

In Lancaster, Pennsylvania you will stumble upon Jason's Woods Haunted Attraction in Lancaster, Pennsylvania featuring NINE hair raising haunted attractions including a Horrifying Hayride, Pirates Revenge 3-D, Mystery Maze and of course Lost in Jason's Woods for the complete list of all attractions and ticket information click here www.jasonswoods.com

In York County Pennsylvania you have to visit Halloween Park featuring the House of Terror and House of Doom. Once you are inside this haunted house you will have to find clues to help you escape with your life. There are paranormal activites happening all around you . This haunted house will have you looking over your shoulder for days, that is, if you make it out. Click here for more www.halloweenpark.com

Another great haunted house we like is, Field of Screams in Mountville, Pennsylvania featuring  the Frightmare Asylum and two other horrifying attractions like you have never experienced before. There is no time to relax once you enter this haunted house, you will find yourself trapped in small rooms and screaming for your way out. Click here to visit their website www.fieldofscreams.com

Terror Behind the Walls-Eastern State Penitentiary in Philedelphia, Pennsylvania. innside of a former prision where not all of the inmates checked out. Many still wander the halls at night, you can hear their chains as they look for their missing cellmates.  Keep your eye open for the inmates that are still there. For more about Eastern State Penitentiary click here www.terrorbehindthewalls.com

You will want to check out  Fright Nights Haunted House where murders take place that will have you awake for nights in fear that the spirts that haunt this house  followed you home. When the lights go out, the frights come out. You will hear gruesome sounds as you twist and turn your way through the morbid halls of this house. Click here for more www.fright-nights.com

Shocktoberfest Haunted Park near Philedelphia is yet another great Pensylvania haunted house you will want to pay a visit to. Voted as one of the best attractions by Hauntworld the Magazine once you are inside you will experience 6 of the scarest haunted attractions ever made. Are you brave enough to escape The Prison of the Dead, or the Biohazard Hayride? This is just the beginning. Check out their website to see the other spine chill events going on at www.schocktoberfest.com

In Yardley, Pennsylvania is Horrorfest at Shady Brook Farms. One location, FOUR attractions. The Barn of Horror, Hayride of Horror, DEADtime Stories and Alien 3-D encounter. You have never been this scared before-the horror you will face behind these walls are things you dreamed of as a child coming to eat you from under your bed.. Try all four if you dare. Visit them online at www.shadybrookfarm.com

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Scarehouse is full of horrific scares. Think you are brave, you won't be after you experience the "Hall of Nightmares" where all of your nightsmares come to life. This is a no holds bar kind of haunted house where they go to extremes to make sure that even the toughest of men cry for their mothers. Visit them online at, www.scarehouse.com

Spook Haven haunted house in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania three attractions under one roof. Spook Haven is the story of what has happened to the workers in the old Clinton Paper Company.  Come see why the warehouse sat empty for so many years. The souls of the men and women who used to work there are still inside where they will remain for eternity. They want you to see the torture they felt. See more here www.spookhaven.com

LuLu Shriners House of Horrors...why simply be scared when you can be HORRIFIED near Reading, Pennsylvania. This haunted house is not for the faint of heart. Once inside you will hear the bloody screams of those who entered before you and are trying to escape. For more details click here www.lulushriners.org/hauntedhouse

House in the Hollow haunted house in Newtown, Pennsylvania a haunted hayride and haunted house on one location. You will travel through a haunted corn maze where monsters and goblins are waiting for the weak to fall off and consume their souls. Inside the haunted house there is terror around every turn. You can run, but you can't hide. See what else they have going on at www.activeacresfarm.com

Haunted Hills Estate in Uniontown, Pennsylvania on a 100 acre farm full of fright. Once owned by the Hill family where the lead a happy life, until Mrs. Hill ws found haning in the barn. The bodies of his 13 children were later discovered spread across the land. The ghost of 14 still wander the farm at night. You will feel the chills from the moment you arrive. See more of the story and how to get tickets at www.hauntedhillsestate.com

The Haunted Mill near Lancaster, Pennsylvania you will be lead to the smell of death through the darkness to the Mad Scientists Lab where he is always looking for new patients to operate on and your remains will be consumed by the wild dog let loose and looking for dinner. You will be lead to The Dark Zone...three doors to choose from which one is the safest?! Click here to see if you can survive www.thehauntedmill.com

Altered Nightmares in Weissport, Pensylvania invites you inside the factory to expereince the paranormal activity for yourself. For 13 hours you can travel with a paranormal investigator to learn the stories of the ghost that lie within these walls. For infotmation on how you can be a part of this click here www.alterednightmares.com

Arnold Scare World in Oaks, Pennsylvania features two intense high action haunted houses in one location. You will be screaming your head of, or maybe it will be chopped of? More than just a haunted house you can stay to be entertained by their family fun center if you can make it out of the haunted house for more visit them here www.arnoldscareworld.com

Gravestone Manor in Plains, Pennsylvania provides 100 percent of their profits to local charities. You won't find any chainsaws, air horns or hockey mask wearing mad men inside here You will experience an interactive story line that tells you the story of a myterious disaperance of a young girl who is lost somewhere in the woods. Can you help find her?! Check them out online www.gravestonemanor.org

There are also several great haunted houses not far from Pennsylvania below are some of our favorites.

In New York House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs is Buffalo's LARGEST AND SCARIEST haunted attraction! Venture your way through the decrepit House Of Horrors, where zombies, demons, vampires, psycho killers, and the living dead hungry for flesh will be creeping around every corner. Check them out online at www.thehouseofhorrors.com

Also in New York you will stumble upon Blood Manor haunted house you can scream, but it won't matter, nobody can hear you, they are all dead just like you soon will be too. The boody scenes inside will make you wish you had never entered this haunted house where knife carrying ghosts who didn't invite you in will having you dying to get out. www.bloodmanor.com for more.

Bedlam in the 'Boro near Balitmore, Maryland where you will be taken on a 4 mile hayride where you will experience some of the most frightful scenes you can imagine. After that you will want to race through The House of Horror don't run because you don't know whats lurking ahead, you will be sorry if you do. For addiional happenings click here www.lineborovfd.com

Near Columbus, Ohio is Dead Acres 50,000 square feet of pure hell. You will be terrifed and tormented until monsters, zombies, murders and ghosts have you begging for your life. This is a haunted house like no other. Professional actors and state of the art technology. Take a peek into hell at www.deadacres.com

Wells Township haunted house in Briliant, Ohio is another great haunted house you should visit. Located in a building that itself is truely haunted and has been standing for 126 year it is full of haunted happening for years. Things happen inside this house and most are unexplainable. Check out their website www.wellstownshiphauntedhouse.com

Pennsylvania loves to scream so please be our guest and click on the profiles for Halloween attractions in Pennsylvania listed above.

To read more about the haunted house industry subscribe to HauntWorld Magazine www.HauntedHouseMagazine.com

To find Corn Mazes and Pumpkin patches in Pennsylvania go to www.HalloweenAttractions.com

 

The Terrifying Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride! Ben Armstrong NETHERWORLD Haunted House

The essence of what we do in this business is simple, SCARE PEOPLE, and that is what the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride in Gradyville, Pennsylvania is all about! I first met the owner, Randy Bates about 8 or 9 years ago and he was already at the top of his game. With three events, a Hayride, Corn Maze and Haunted House he had all the bases covered, three different ways to reach deep into the minds of his guests and make ‘em scream! In a market packed with major events he always brings in massive hordes of scared patrons every year, and weather permitting, things just keep getting better. I had the chance to visit the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride in the off season this year and walk the shows with Randy. Although they were still half converted to a Christmas event, his approach to shocking his guests was very clear to me. Blow them away with pure unrelenting action. After checking out the set up I could see why this event is considered one of the scariest haunted attractions in America! Classically hayrides work in a stop and show format, with the wagon pulling up to a scene and some sort of skit unfolding. Not so at his haunted hayride! This event is operated like a high throughput haunted house…once the wagons load they never stop, continuously moving through high action, high startle scenes with relentless attacks from all sides of the trail. Barrels hurl down from overhead, enormous living trees grasp at the riders from above, walls collapse, actors fly over the wagon and monsters jump on with the guests bringing the action right into their faces! Another big factor for Randy is the use of fire, with a huge dragon, a flaming gas station and exploding dynamite shack just the beginning of the pyrotechnics. His approach almost plays out like a high action stunt show with trained employees pushing the guests’ fear quotient to the limit! Big sets and detail are also part of the winning equation at the Bates Motel. Surrounded on all sides by massive trees, the wagon rolls through enclosed barns and compounds full of buildings. After entering the mouth of a dragon and going almost 100 feet though its smoky strobe filled guts (to the pounding,  heartbeat sound of huge 1200 watt subwoofers), the wagon passes through a series of asylum style buildings. This puts the actors right on top of the wagon with inmates swarming out of every door and window! Not only were the elaborate building constructed from the ground up by Randy and his staff, all of the wood was milled right in the farm from trees on the property. Other big sets include a King Kong style village, a zombie strip mall, a haunted church with ghostly pallbearers, a toxic waste facility, and a 300 foot long cave and mine shaft filled with collapsing beams and giant monsters. And when I say monsters I mean monsters! Randy has amassed a huge collection of the biggest animatronic beasts the industry has to offer including such favorites as the Slayer, the Giant Spawn and the 17 foot tall Pumpkin King. One thing that sets this hayride apart from the others is the use of an onboard, digital soundtrack, that is choreographed to the scenes. Using 500 watt amps, MP-3 players, and full range cabinet speaker systems, the Bates Haunted Hayride adds an element found nowhere else. After surviving the hayride guests queue up for the famous Bates Motel itself. Already rattled, they are now REALLY up close and personal with the actors. This event is high action high startle as well, with monsters getting at the patrons from every possible angle of attack. Packed with tight set dressing and special effects, guests barely have time to catch their breath before the next scare hits! Many classic haunted mansion style scenes are found inside including libraries, kitchens, multi-doored hallways and my favorite, the Trophy Room. This scene has over 30 REAL exotic animal heads from an old big game hunter’s collection. When the actor shows up with his air powered shotgun you can guess what happens next! Another thing one notices in this haunted house is the density of special effects. Everywhere are moving props, slamming doors, overhead ghosts, unusual lighting effects and illusions, including a live action CGI style ghost greeter. After a brief dip outdoors to view a haunted playground with animated swing set and merry-go-round, it’s back inside for the conclusion of the haunt. After more cavern-like twists and turns including a body bag room, the final blow off occurs, a large room with a massive sweeping staircase. Hidden here are several intense scares designed to blast the guests out of the double doors screaming. I cannot tell you what they are (One is a custom effect found ONLY here), so you need to check them out in person! The final element is the corn maze. Entering underneath a colossal cow skull that literally swallows them up, guests begin a harrowing journey through the tightly packed stalks. Although much of the path is through a cornfield there are many other structures hidden in the rows. First is a graveyard and crypt area loaded with another of Randy’s special collections…real tombstones! Apparently he got a deal on mis-carved and out of service monuments from a local dealer after offering him a super low price for the lot. Randy said ,“Hey don’t you go to conventions where you get together with your fellow stone carvers? Think what a great story this will make, how you sold the same tombstones TWICE!“ The guy loved the idea and made the deal! After the crypt with its automated doors comes a complete house totally hidden in the corn. The entire structure is a bloody murder scene loaded with props and animations. Another large structure near the end of the maze is a walk through mine shaft, complete with flickering lanterns and crazy miners! Scattered throughout the corn are many other sets, including a western area with a black lit forge that gives the appearance of red hot coals (and the guests are gonna get branded!) not to mention the ever present swaying corn. At any time actors can suddenly appear and disappear in the stalks, making the entire journey seemingly fraught with danger, although Randy is renowned for having one of the most expansive safety programs in the haunt industry. The maze also has a background digital soundtrack playing custom erie music, that sets each customer on edge, and makes it easier to scare them. The entire event is wildly successful, one of the consistently most heavily attended haunted attractions in the country, and ranks highly on top ten national haunt lists every year. The combination of a wooded farm location in a major market (Philadelphia), big effects, major sets, unique scares and pure adrenaline makes it an all time fan favorite. And you cannot forget the most important thing that ultimately makes a haunt likely to succeed - ask Randy why he haunts and he will lay it out plain and simple - “I love to scare people!”