Long before “haunted house” meant creaky floors and fake cobwebs, the true horror stories came from within the walls of real asylums. These were places of desperation, isolation, and often, abuse cloaked as treatment.
Overcrowded, underfunded, and largely forgotten by society, many of these institutions saw unspeakable acts—from lobotomies and electroshock therapy to unexplained deaths and long-term confinement. It’s no surprise that many of them are now considered among the most haunted places in America.
This article explores the most infamous haunted asylums in the United States, where history, trauma, and the paranormal collide.
1. Waverly Hills Sanatorium (Louisville, Kentucky)
Originally built in 1910 to treat tuberculosis patients, Waverly Hills is now known as one of the most haunted buildings in the world. During the height of the TB epidemic, thousands died here—many passed through the infamous “death tunnel”, a chute used to discreetly remove corpses.
Today, visitors report apparitions, disembodied screams, shadow figures, and even being touched or pushed by unseen forces. The fifth floor, especially Room 502, is said to be the heart of the activity. Legend has it a nurse committed suicide there after becoming pregnant by a doctor and being abandoned. Read more about Waverly Hills Sanatorium here.
2. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (Weston, West Virginia)
Built in the mid-1800s, this massive gothic facility was designed to house 250 patients—but by the 1950s, it held over 2,400. Overcrowding led to abuse, neglect, and countless deaths.
Today, the asylum is open for ghost tours and overnight investigations. Visitors report full-bodied apparitions, mysterious footsteps, and voices echoing through the hallways. The Civil War wing, the lobotomy ward, and the children’s ward are said to be especially active. Read more here.
3. Pennhurst State School and Hospital (Spring City, Pennsylvania)
Originally intended to care for children with disabilities, Pennhurst devolved into a house of horror due to severe abuse and inhumane treatment. A 1968 investigative report called Suffer the Little Children exposed the conditions and led to the facility’s closure.
Today, Pennhurst is infamous for its paranormal activity. Reports include screams, shadow people, wheelchairs moving on their own, and even violent encounters with unseen forces. Some claim the pain and trauma of decades still echo through its decaying halls. Read more here.
4. Danvers State Hospital (Danvers, Massachusetts)
Perched on a hill and resembling a castle, Danvers is often cited as the inspiration for H.P. Lovecraft’s Arkham Asylum. It’s also considered the birthplace of the prefrontal lobotomy.
Danvers was plagued by overcrowding, mysterious deaths, and rumors of abusive staff practices. Though much of the facility was demolished or converted into apartments, paranormal investigators still report strange activity near the remaining ruins: phantom footsteps, moaning, and lights in empty buildings. Read more here.
5. Rolling Hills Asylum (East Bethany, New York)
What began as a poorhouse in 1827 became one of the most haunted asylums in the Northeast. Over 1,700 people are said to have died at Rolling Hills—including orphans, the elderly, and the mentally ill.
Visitors report a wide variety of activity: shadow figures, slamming doors, and interactions with a spirit named “Roy,” a 7-foot tall former resident. The morgue and basement are believed to be the most active. Read more here.
6. Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital (South Korea) [BONUS ENTRY]
Though not in America, Gonjiam deserves mention for being one of the most terrifying psychiatric facilities in the world. Rumored to have been shut down after a series of mysterious patient deaths, its legend has become global.
It was featured in multiple horror films and is now permanently closed to the public—but stories persist of people hearing screams, being followed, and missing time during unauthorized visits. Read more here.
Why Are Asylums So Haunted?
Paranormal experts often point to residual energy, especially in places where trauma, pain, and death occurred repeatedly. Asylums saw countless individuals abandoned by society, misdiagnosed, and mistreated.
Their deaths were often ignored. Their suffering left to echo endlessly. The result? Buildings steeped in sadness—and often, in something darker.
Whether you’re a believer or skeptic, one thing is undeniable: haunted asylums hold some of the darkest chapters in American history, and walking their hallways feels like stepping into the past… and maybe, into something else entirely.
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