Haunted Hotels & Scariest Haunted Houses in the Philadelphia Area

If you are ready to face your fears, it is time to plan your ultimate itinerary. From high-production scream parks to historic inns with permanent ghostly residents, here is a guide to the scariest haunted houses and haunted hotels in the Philadelphia area.

High-Intensity Thrills: The Best Haunted Attractions

The region boasts some of the most intense, cinematic Halloween attractions in the country. For a comprehensive look at the region's top scream parks and asylums, check out our guide to the scariest haunted houses in the Philadelphia area this Halloween. Top highlights include:

• Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary: Set inside the ruined cellblocks of a notoriously haunted historical prison in Fairmount, this sprawling festival features multiple haunted houses, immersive lounges, and eerie historic tours.
• Pennhurst Asylum: Located in Spring City on the grounds of a deserted psychiatric hospital, Pennhurst utilizes its massive, dilapidated halls to blur the lines between theatrical scares and real-life paranormal anxiety.
• The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride: This legendary Delaware County attraction offers Hollywood-level production, featuring a highly detailed haunted motel, a terrifying hayride, and a sinister corn maze.
• Lincoln Mill Haunted House: Head to Manayunk to explore a story-driven attraction that dives into the dark, fictionalized history of a textile mill filled with horrifying secrets.

Sleep with One Eye Open: Haunted Hotels & Inns

If you prefer your scares to be historically accurate, Greater Philadelphia is home to numerous historic hotels that boast actual paranormal activity. According to local lore and paranormal investigators, you might not be the only one checking into these properties:

• Mint House at The Divine Lorraine Hotel: Looming over North Broad Street, this iconic building sat abandoned for decades before its luxurious restoration. While it is now a stunning apartment hotel, rumors of lingering spirits from its vacant, decaying years still persist.
• The Bellevue Hotel: Known as the "Grand Dame of Broad Street," this luxurious Center City hotel has hosted its fair share of history, leading to reports of sudden temperature drops and unseen entities pulling at the bed covers in the middle of the night.
• The Logan Inn (New Hope): As one of the oldest continuously operating inns in America, this Bucks County staple is famously haunted. Room 6 is particularly notorious for sightings of a ghostly woman, phantom scents of lavender, and inexplicable chills.
• Aaron Burr House (New Hope): Located in Bucks County, this charming bed and breakfast is allegedly haunted by Vice President Aaron Burr himself. Following his infamous duel with Alexander Hamilton, Burr supposedly hid in this area and is said to still anxiously peek around the corners of the inn today.
• Congress Hall (Cape May, NJ): Looking for an elegant, coastal escape this Halloween? America's oldest seaside resort fully embraces the season. Throughout the fall, guests can attend the legendary adults-only Phantom Ball, an underground Halloween party in the Boiler Room, or a fully immersive, 1929-themed Murder Mystery Weekend.

Unwind with Themed Treats and "Spookeasies"

After surviving haunted asylums and ghostly hotels, you will need a stiff drink or a sweet treat to calm your nerves.

Keep the eerie vibes going by grabbing a seat at The Newsroom Spookeasy, a hidden Center City pop-up tucked behind a vintage 7UP machine. If you are looking for a full dining experience, secure a reservation before they sell out as Harvest Seasonal Grill Glen Mills hosts a 6-course Halloween dinner featuring dark, playful dishes like "The Pharaoh’s Heart" and "The Lovecraft Salad."

Finally, for a taste of real history, pick up the limited-edition Shane Confectionery Haunted Philadelphia Halloween box. America's oldest candy shop in Old City has transformed real, local ghost stories into an incredible 14-piece chocolate collection, complete with an illustrated historical zine to read by candlelight.