Entry No. 32 — the Philadelphia file — filed under: asylum

Pennhurst Asylum

This is not a themed set — it's the actual campus of the Pennhurst State School, shut down in 1987 after the federal Halderman v. Pennhurst case exposed patient abuse so severe it reshaped U.S. disability law; the original wards now reopen seasonally at night, funding the buildings' restoration with ticket sales.

The move: Go on a Friday or Saturday session (box office 6:30-10:30pm) and walk the real Mayflower and Devil's Den buildings, then split the difference by coming back for one of their daytime historical tours to see the same rooms without the actors.

📍 Spring City (Chester County)
💸 $$
⚡ Up for anything
🌗 Indoors

Where: 601 N Church St, Spring City, PA 19475

Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

#asylum #disability history #haunted attraction #day trip #morbid history

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia

last checked: 2026-07-19