staff writer: paytyn neighbors
Have an appetite for horror movies and all things scary? Need some plans for Halloween? Well, look no further- the West Virginia Penitentiary offers just that! Complete with both a haunted house and asylum, you’re sure to get a fright!
If you’re wishing to get the best experience and don’t fear the paranormal, the penitentiary tours take visitors through a truly haunted asylum that was used from 1866 to 1995. This horror hotspot is located about an hour and thirty minutes just from campus. From personal experience, and as someone who enjoys true haunted attractions, I found the asylum to be quite interesting and enjoyed the history told about it.
For the asylum itself, you are able to go on a variety of different tours including guided day tours, photography tours, escape the pen, private paranormal investigations, public ghost hunt, thriller Thursday, and twilight tour.
Groups are led by a tour guide and are informed of each room, how it is haunted, if certain entities are usually present, etc. If you wish to go even further and embrace your thrill-seeking side, they also offer overnight stays at the asylum. Most of the listed tours that are available run from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and begin at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00 and tend to last an hour and a half. Between all of the said tours, the prices range from $15-$1,099, with the most expensive being the private paranormal investigations.
The actual penitentiary can look quite intimidating, as its length longitudinally runs at quite a far distance. The height however, as better demonstrated from the provided picture, displays a quite tall structure. The feeling, without a doubt, will be quite different approaching the building as opposed to their haunted house.
Nonetheless, as much as this experience is unique and chilling, it’s up to you to decide if this is an encounter you wish to have! If you are more on the reserved side and do not wish to cross into the world of the paranormal, the much less realistic haunted house is a terrific idea. Deemed “The Dungeon Haunted House,” this will surely give you and your friends a fright!
This event costs $25 per person and only has a duration of 45 minutes. These tickets must be purchased online, and much like the asylum tours, they do sell out quickly! You certainly can do the tours on the same night as the haunted house; with certain events, there are suggested sequences in which events should be attended.
The Moundsville Asylum is truly an experience that is unlike any other; although we do have many haunted houses near to us such as Fright Farm, this is sure to be an experience that you won’t forget! Halloween is coming up, so don’t forget to buy tickets soon before they sell out!
