Pennsylvania is a great place to live, but certain things about it are a little bit creepy. Some people even say it’s the most haunted state in the country. If you’re a fan of the paranormal, you probably already know about some of the creepy places in Pennsylvania. However, if you’re not, get ready for a bit of an eye-opener with these 10 reasons Pennsylvania is the most terrifying state in the country.

1. First of all, take the name "Pennsylvania..."
Wikimedia Commons
It sounds an awful lot like Transylvania, the home of Dracula himself. While we are located pretty far from Romania, where Transylvania is located, the Appalachian mountains that line our state might make you think of the eerily mountainous home of vampirism.
2. We have some of the coolest, spookiest gothic architecture.
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons
Even though we don't enjoy the true gothic castles of Europe, we have plenty of creepy imitations here. The first photo is College Hall on the University of Pennsylvania's campus, which is rumored to be the model for the mansion in The Addams Family cartoons. The second is Fonthill Castle, where industrialist Henry Chapman Mercer lived.
3. The most haunted house in the country once stood in Pittsburgh.
Creepy, Strange and Weird/ Facebook
Also known as "The House The Devil Built," the atrocities that unfolded in this mansion would make even the most stoic person shudder. In the 1800s, a wife brutally murdered her cheating husband and his mistress. Decades later, after sitting vacant, a doctor moved in and was later found to be experimenting with dead bodies. The house mysteriously disappeared in an explosion, as if it was swallowed by hell itself.
4. The ground is lava... REALLY.
Douglas Muth/ Flickr
Yes, if you don't feel as if your life is fiery enough, drive past Centralia, where barely any residents remain due to the coal fire that has been burning underground since the 1960s. Curious visitors once flocked to the town, vandalizing its roads with spray paint and marveling at the smoke billowing from the ground. Today, no trespassing is permitted in the town, so you'll have to admire it from afar.

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5. We have miles and miles of deep, dark forests.
Dennis/ Flickr
Pennsylvania is home to vast countryside. The deep dark woods hold many mysteries that you'd be terrified to uncover.
6. Gettysburg has more ghosts per capita than almost anywhere else.
Andrew Aliferis/ Flickr
The bloodiest battle of the Civil War took place at Gettysburg. Today, it's a popular destination for those who love history and those who love ghosts. Ghostly experiences are reported at Gettysburg more often than rain.
7. In a zombie apocalypse, scientists have determined that Pennsylvania would be the worst place to be.
Kat N.L.M./ Flickr
Yes, it's true! Especially for those of you in Scranton or the northeastern part of the state, more generally. Its location within proximity to larger cities such as New York means that it would serve as the first convergence point for wandering zombie packs.
8. Despite our unfortunate location in case of an actual zombie outbreak, Pennsylvania is home to the modern-day zombie myth.
Wikimedia Commons
George Romero filmed his horror series, beginning with "Night of the Living Dead" in the Pittsburgh area in 1968, and to this day, it serves as Zombie Capital, U.S.A. Each year there's a zombie walk through the city.
9. America's creepiest author lived in Philadelphia.
Wikimedia Commons
Nevermore, nevermore. Above is one of Edgar Allan Poe's houses. The man is a huge figure in American literature. Did you know that he also married his 13-year-old first cousin?
10. Pennhurst State School and Hospital was the site of horrific treatment of medical patients.
Thomas/ Flickr
The mental hospital in Spring City was open for roughly 80 years before it was shut down due to abysmal conditions. Overcrowding and poor treatment of patients led to public controversy and numerous lawsuits. Today, the old structure stands abandoned and is said to be extremely haunted.

What would you add to this list? Where you surprised by any of these creepy places in Pennsylvania? Share in the comments below! If you’re a fan of the creepy and road trips, gas up the car and hit the highway on this haunted road trip in Pennsylvania.

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More to Explore

Creepy Places In Pennsylvania

Beth Price-Williams | July 02, 2021

What are the most haunted places in Pennsylvania?

If you like creepy places in Pennsylvania, chances are you’re going to love its many haunted places. One of the best places to experience the paranormal, in fact, is Gettysburg, the site of one of the bloodiest battles during the Civil War. You might run into some strange paranormal occurrences at Devil’s Den, where a happy fella in a floppy hat might ask you if he can pose for a picture with you. Once the camera snaps, he disappears. Sach’s Covered Bridge may be enchanting by day. However, by night, it’s said to be haunted by three Civil War soldiers who had been hanged at the bridge for the crime of desertion. Don’t be too surprised, either, if you hear cannons in the distance or smell cigar smoke – even if you are alone.

What is the spookiest urban legend in Pennsylvania?

Urban legends in Pennsylvania are fairly common. Some, however, are far spookier than others. Like the Bus to Nowhere that runs in Philadelphia. It looks like any other SEPTA bus, except it doesn’t have a route, a bus number, or anything to distinguish itself from the others. Lost souls climb aboard this bus and, if you want to join them, you have to chase the bus down. It won’t just stop for you like an ordinary bus. Your ride will go on in silence as you, and the others with you, lose yourselves in your thoughts. When you’re ready to go, you’ll hit the stop cord and disembark with no memory of your experience…or will you?

What are the scariest Pennsylvania ghost stories?

You’ll find no shortage of Pennsylvania ghost stories – from the tale of Van Sant Crybaby Bridge to the paranormal happenings at Gettysburg College. Pennsylvania even boasts a haunted tunnel in Altoona. The Horseshoe Curve Tunnel has been haunted, if you believe local legend, since the 1880s. The heartbroken spirit of an Irishwoman, who is said to have been murdered while awaiting the return of her beloved outside of the tunnel, wanders through the tunnel and right outside of it. If you drive through the tunnel in just the right conditions, you might come face to face with the brokenhearted bride and more.

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