Pennhurst Asylum wins National Championship of Haunts

Photo: Chuck Mound

by Tara Adams

Writer, Haunt Hunters App 

SPRING CITY, Pa. — Each fall, as Halloween approaches, the long-abandoned halls of Pennhurst Asylum fill once again. Long lines of thrill seekers are drawn to one of the country's most popular haunted attractions.

The former Pennhurst State School and Hospital, which operated from 1908 until its closure in 1987, has become a must-do seasonal destination for visitors from not only Pennsylvania but across the country. Its appeal lies not only in elaborate Halloween scares, but in the authenticity of the setting itself.

The quality of Pennhurst's attraction led to fans choosing it as Haunt Hunters App’s National Champion of Haunts.

The award is based on fan engagement within the League of Haunts, a featured competition on the Haunt Hunters App that delivers weekly matchups throughout the Halloween season. Powered entirely by fan participation, Pennhurst Asylum dominated the 2025 season, accumulating 2,105 total power points to claim the No. 1 spot.

"We saw an incredible level of participation around Pennhurst Asylum this season,” Haunt Hunters App officials said. “Every week, fans showed up in force by voting, sharing, and making a lot of noise. When people talk about a haunt having a following, this is what that looks like.”

“The League of Haunts is fueled by fan energy,” Haunt Hunters App officials added. “This award celebrates not just raw numbers, but the passion of the fan community that supports it.”

Jim Werner, Pennhurst Asylum operations manager, thanked the fans who attended the attraction throughout the year and chose Pennhurst as the top haunt. 

“It was a banner year here at Pennhurst. It was full of frights. It was full of screams. It was full of fun,” Werner said. “We couldn't be more thankful to our friends at Haunt Hunters, and, more importantly, to the industry and the people that came to visit us, because it's the people that decided this. It wasn't just a random poll or anything. This was engagement. So that means a lot to us - that people are following us, people are watching us, and people are loving what we're putting out for them.” 

Unlike many haunted houses built in temporary spaces or empty box stores, Pennhurst offers guests the chance to walk through a real institutional complex marked by decades of documented neglect and overcrowding. The building’s history has made it a frequent subject of documentaries, paranormal investigations, and ghost tours, adding to its reputation as one of the most haunted locations in the country.

During the Halloween season, the Pennhurst grounds are transformed into a 4-part attraction featuring indoor haunted experiences spread across several structures and underground tunnels. Those attractions are The Catacombs, Pennhurst Asylum, The Morgue, and Pennhurst Tunnels.

Visitors move through darkened wards and darkened corridors designed to create an immersive and often disorienting experience.

Organizers emphasize detailed sets, theatrical lighting, and costumed performers trained to deliver intense, close-up scares. Sound effects, strobe lighting, and sudden environmental changes are used to heighten tension and keep guests off balance throughout the walk-throughs.

Pennhurst’s scale also sets it apart. The property’s size allows for longer attractions and a steady flow of visitors, making it one of the area’s most attended Halloween events each year. The asylum’s deteriorating architecture, peeling paint and rusted doors remain largely intact, lending an unsettling realism that cannot be replicated in purpose-built haunts.

“They’re scary because you don't know if they're scare actors grabbing you or if, maybe, it's something else,” said Pennsylvania resident Denisse Mrugal, who attended Pennhurst Asylum on Halloween. “If ghosts are real, then they're definitely here.”

Beyond Halloween, Pennhurst continues to attract visitors through historical tours and paranormal events, reinforcing its status as a year-round point of interest in Chester County.

As the Halloween season returns, Pennhurst Asylum once again stands as a reminder of the site’s complex legacy — a place where real history and seasonal spectacle intersect, drawing thousands in search of a uniquely unsettling experience.