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7 Haunted, Spooky, or Unusual Places to Stay in Pennsylvania

by Michael C. Upton  |  Published September 11, 2023

From haunted covered bridges to the world’s largest Ouija board, Pennsylvania has its fair share of haunted, spooky, or unusual places and some of them even host daring guests overnight!

Pennsylvania’s hallowed grounds, like Gettysburg, cater to travelers who enjoy things that go bump in the night. (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)

Some hotels, inns, and B&Bs survive on a niche market. Instagram worthy settings at uncommon accommodations appeal to artists, curiosity seekers, and travelers looking for something new. Ghost hunters seek out buildings with storied pasts. For those who do not believe in ghosts, the stay may be more about the ambiance, historical appeal, or the novelty of the experience. Pennsylvania, one of the oldest states, has an abundance of unique places to stay, ranging from hotels visited by paranormal investigators to creative rental homes for family getaways. Here are 7 spooky places to stay in the Keystone State.

Overnight guests can knock on the front door just like Clarice in “Silence of the Lambs” at Buffalo Bill’s House. (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)

Buffalo Bill’s House

A great place in PA to enjoy a nice bottle of chianti is on the front porch of a seemingly normal home in Perryopolis. Located along the Youghiogheny River, Buffalo Bill’s House is the filming location of scenes from “Silence of the Lambs” and is now a place to stay for movie buffs and thrill seekers. Clarice’s Room is one of four movie-themed bedrooms in a house filled with recreated props—including the infamous pit and Buffalo Bill’s workshop (complete with disco ball)—a 400+ movie collection, and a retro arcade. Make sure to follow the house rules or you’ll get the hose again.

8 Circle St, Perryopolis

Inn at Jim Thorpe

The spirits roaming the halls of the Inn at Jim Thorpe are physical. Guests report overturned chairs in the middle of the night, TVs turning on and off, and personal objects moving throughout the room. Especially haunting is the sensation of an “icy grip” described by multiple guests of room 310. After a devastating fire, the 65-room hotel was rebuilt in 1849. An ornate, cast-iron balcony overlooks Main St. Jim Thorpe. And even though the hotel staff is well versed in what goes bump in the night, there are no ghost tours. Ghost Walks in Old Mauch Chunk tours are presented by the local Rotary Club.

24 Broadway, Jim Thorpe

The Farnsworth Inn embraces its spooky legacy inside and out. (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)

Farnsworth House Inn

The streets of Gettysburg literally ran red as doctors flung amputated limbs from the windows of a makeshift hospital during the worst wartime conflict on American soil. Over 7,000 soldiers died here in 1863. No wonder this town is haunted. In the majority opinion of visitors and residents, the most haunted place in Gettysburg is the Farnsworth House Inn. The Inn presents a series of chilling tours and activities year-round. Ten guest rooms are named after historic individuals and the most reported haunting is the sound of a mouth harp being played by young confederate snipers who died in this building.

401 Baltimore St, Gettysburg

 The Hotel Conneaut

From its marketing to its façade, no hotel in PA looks like it should be the setting of a Stephen King novel more than The Hotel Conneaut. A throwback to yesteryear, the hotel reminds guests of a time when families vacationed at the same spot, on the same week, year after year. According to accounts, guests will join two permanent residents. A butcher was murdered and dismembered on the property and still walks the grounds. A young bride named Elizabeth perished in a fire at the hotel and she continues to welcome guests to this day. Or so the stories go.

12241 Lake St, Conneaut Lake

Logan Inn

Established in 1727, the Logan Inn stands as the grand centerpiece of New Hope, a spirited town on the banks of the Delaware River. The Logan Inn has 38 rooms for overnight guests, making it more than a great place to enjoy a wonderful meal at the attached restaurant. The staff has fielded multiple reports from visitors about eight ghosts who can be quite menacing. The Landmark hotel is luxuriously appointed and fashionably modern, so it does not advertise hauntings. The spookiness is left to outfits like Ghost Tours of New Hope, who operate on select weekend evenings June through November.

10 W Ferry St, New Hope

Pocono Castle

Pocono Castle is not haunted, but this unusual rental property transports guests to a modern medieval era. Located in the tourist friendly Pocono Mountains, this “castle” comes with four bedrooms and loads of fun. A 1-acre pond is ripe for fishing. Princes and Princesses enjoy outdoor activities like badminton, minigolf, and ring toss. Kings and Queens can relax around the fire pit, in the year-round hot tub, or while enjoying the cedar barrel sauna. The royal family can spend time in the massive game room and cosplay throughout their kingdom (costumes for adults and children provided).

www.poconocastle.com, East Stroudsburg

Spooky and accomplished, the seemingly subtle Grand Midway holds two Guinness World Records. (Photo courtesy Blair Murphy)

The Grand Midway Hotel

Our last spooky stay may seem ordinary from the outside. From above, it is easy to spot The Grand Midway Hotel in Windber due to the huge Ouija board painted on the roof. Inside the hotel, bookcases reveal hidden doors and the world’s largest tarot card is painted on the library ceiling. Frequented by paranormal investigators and thrill seekers, this hotel boasts 32 themed rooms, and one room in particular often prevents guests from finishing their stay. Past guests report seeing ghosts in the mirrors in The Canopy Room, which is reported to be visited by several spirits. Historically, an unsolved murder occurred in the house in 1949.

1303 Midway Ave, Windber