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Halloween is synonymous with ghosts, but Lancaster county has a paranormal history of its own. The following 10 places, in no particular order, are essential for a self-guided ghost tour of the county.
Franklin & Marshall College
With roots going back to 1787, Franklin & Marshall College is rife with ghostly tales, most of which center around the Old Main building. Built in the gothic revival style, F&M’s Old Main is said to have been built sometime in the 1850s on Lancaster’s “Gallows Hill.” “Gallows Hill” served as the site of public hangings of convicted criminals until the 1830s. The most common paranormal tale surrounding this building is the sound of the bell tolling in the middle of the night all by itself.
Lancaster Central Market
Central Market is the oldest continuously operated public market in the United States, and has been a hub for paranormal activity since 1730. The market’s most famous ghost comes from the Prohibition era, when it was the territory of famous bootlegger Max Hassel, or the “Beer Baron.” Although Hassel was killed in a hotel in New Jersey, his spirit is said to remain at the market he supplied, with vendors evening saying that on the days that Hassel’s spirit appears profits are always good.
Haldeman Mansion
Built in the 1740s, the Haldeman Mansion is said to be one of the most haunted mansions in Pennsylvania. Commonly reported sightings include a grouchy man that huffs and sighs in guest’s ears, a teenage boy, a little girl, a little boy, an English woman who is accompanied by the scent of rosewater, and a cheerful servant who can often be heard singing or humming. Locals attribute the mansion’s paranormal activity to workmen finding over 90 unmarked graves while installing underground plumbing and electrical cables.
Shenk’s Ferry Nature Preserve
Shenks Ferry Nature Preserve, particularly the tunnel at the entrance to the parking lot, is known for the tale of the “White Angel.” The “White Angel” is a woman dressed in white who is said to haunt this area after dying here, with some stories claiming she was murdered by her husband, and others saying she hung herself at the tunnel’s entrance after being left at the altar. Another version of the tale says that the woman actually died on the train tracks above the tunnel, and had wandered off from a mental institution in 1974 before being struck by an eastbound train traveling over the tunnel. It is said that to summon the “White Angel” someone has to park their car in the middle of the tunnel, turn the car and headlights off, get out of the car and place the keys on the roof, walk around the car three times, and then get back inside the car and wait. This method does not always get results, but those that try it are warned that if the “White Angel” appears she may not be happy to see guests.
The Railroad House Inn
The Railroad House Inn, originally from the 1820s, is said to be haunted by a variety of different spirits. The inn is haunted by men who worked nearby, and the ghost reported most often, a young blonde Victorian girl who is said to love playing games with the living. Kitchen staff claim to have seen objects moving on their own, while guests often complain of unexplained cold spots and uncomfortable feelings. It is also said that room six and the tavern are the most active spots within the inn.
Keystone Artisan Werks
Recommended by The Snapper’s advisor, Dr. Robert Spicer, Keystone Artisan Werks, first built in 1728, and is one of the oldest buildings in Columbia. Known to be one of the most haunted locations in the area, manager Shawn Yohe, said that he did not believe in the paranormal activity until getting the building in 2020. After various recordings and putting cameras around the building, Yohe noticed various voices, footsteps, and even apparitions walking in front of cameras. The hotbed for the building’s paranormal activity is the basement, which has not been touched since 1840.
Rock Ford Plantation
The home of General Edward Hand, a close personal friend of George Washington and an Adjutant General during the American Revolution, is claimed to be a hotbed of paranormal activity. Common claims include footsteps and knocking in empty rooms, phantom smells (smells that have no connection to what is taking place in the room), muffled conversations, a young girl’s laughter, and a variety of apparitions. Common ghosts around the property include a girl who watches guests from the door of the Blue Parlor, a servant running, and General Hand’s family. Even with its haunted history, the Rock Ford Plantation is said to be warm and welcoming.
Fulton Opera House
A historic landmark in Lancaster, the Fulton Opera House first opened in 1852 as the Fulton Hall. It is said that visitors may hear phantom applause or the piano playing by itself. It is also said to be haunted by the spirits of French actress Sarah Bernhardt and silent film star Marie Cahill. Hauntings surrounding the Fulton Opera House are unique because they have been reported before the theatre was even built. This is because the theatre was built on the foundations of the old Lancaster jail, where a group of 14 Conestoga Native Americans were held after escaping the Paxton Boys massacre. These 14 were later tortured and killed, adding a tragic note to Lancaster’s history.
Chickies Rock County Park
Chickies Rock, a rock cropping overlooking the Susquehanna River, is infamous for being a site of unexplained activity. One of the most famous tales to come from the area dates back to 1946, and tells of a creature who stands 16 feet tall, has no visible limbs, and has his head wrapped in bandages with knives protruding from them. Chickies Rock is also associated with the Albatwitch, one of Pennsylvania’s famous cryptids, who is described as a small humanoid creature often compared to a miniature bigfoot. Chickies Rock County Park is also home to an old stone farmhouse that is said to be one of the most haunted locations in Lancaster.
Bube’s Brewery
Located in Mt. Joy, Bube’s Brewery is a restored 1800s building complex that houses restaurants and a microbrewery. It is said that an apparition of a young woman in a long gown who wanders through the art gallery, along with reports of a male ghost who has been reported throughout the building. This is one of Lancaster county’s most well known haunted landmarks, with it having been featured on “Ghost Hunters.”
Lancaster’s historic past goes hand-in-hand with tales of paranormal activity across the county, one that can be explored by visiting the locations on this list, attending their individual ghost tours, or even attending a Lancaster City or Strasburg Ghost Tour. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a spooky experience to round out this Halloween season, you only have to explore Lancaster itself.
