Last week I created a post on my experience with the overnight paranormal investigation at Pennhurst Asylum. If you haven’t read it, click here to see it!

However, I thought I’d dedicate a whole other blog post providing some tips for those who would like to visit the asylum and take the tour. Here are 16 tips for your visit to Pennhurst Asylum.

Is this right for you?

If you’re curious and like the subject of the paranormal, then this is the tour for you! But if you’re not into this type of thing, that’s fine. You know your own likes and dislikes and if you’re not about this, then this isn’t the tour for you.

In case you’d like to check out the website and see if it is a tour you’d be interested in, I’ll leave a link to the Pennhurst Asylum website here.

This ghost hunt is LONG

This ghost hunt/tour lasts from 7pm to 3am. You have to arrive around 6:30 to 6:45pm. It’s almost an 8 our ghost hunt so be prepared for a long night ahead of you!

It’s a dark, creepy ride

I mentioned it in my previous post about how the drive up to the asylum is very dark, narrow, and curvy. The GPS lead me to an old entrance to the property and I had to find my way, on the dark back roads in Pennsylvania, to the current entrance.

When I described this portion of the backroad, it was about the last 1/3 of the way to the asylum. The other 2/3 of the drive were main roads and a freeway. But give yourself ample time to find your way, have a full tank of gas, and take Brown Rd. which runs past the college.

If not, you’ll find yourself in a literal horror movie setting along on a dark back road with no signs of civilization.

Know the price of the tour

To be completely transparent, the price for the ghost hunt was $99 per person. So, when my friend and I went we paid about $200 (plus tax) altogether.

If you want to go as a group (I believe around 8 or more people) then the price is about $800. I had to call the staff to ask about a group tour rate as it’s not listed on the site. If you have more people with you then it’s worth it to get the group rate.

Wear comfy shoes and clothing

There’s a ton of walking and standing for the ghost hunt. So, this goes without saying, bring comfy shoes and clothing that’ll last the whole night.

Bring extra clothing

Depending on the time of year you go, I’d recommend you bring extra clothing or wear extra layers. When we went on this ghost hunt in late November, it was very cold. Better to be safe than sorry, bring those extra items!

Bring snacks

There’s hot chocolate and coffee in the asylum but I don’t remember there being tons of snacks. Bring snacks to eat throughout the night so you’re not going hungry.

Bring your own equipment

The staff at the asylum have ghost hunting equipment you can borrow but if you have the equipment yourself, then I’d recommend you bring it. It’s better to have your own things to test for paranormal activity.

Go in with an open mind

On the ghost hunt, there were a few people who didn’t believe in ghosts or the paranormal. To be honest, I don’t 100% believe in them as well BUT I’ve always been curious and interested in this stuff.

However, I commend the people for participating in the ghost hunt anyways and getting out of their comfort zone.

If you don’t believe in ghosts or the paranormal, but still want to go on this ghost hunt, just remember to go in with an open mind. You never know what you may see, hear, or find.

Learn about the history

If you’ve read my other post on Pennhurst Asylum, then you would know the horrible history and reputation this asylum has. Before you even begin the ghost hunt, the staff take you to about 2 buildings and discuss the history of the asylum in more detail.

Before you go here, I’d recommend learning about the history as well so you have an idea of what went on in the asylum and how that’s left an impact on society and the property.

Bring a flashlight

I forgot to do this when I went but definitely remember to bring a flashlight! It’s super dark on most of the property and in the buildings. Especially when you get the chance to go off on your own to explore, you’ll want to have a bright flashlight on hand.

Bring a portable battery charger

As I’ve mentioned earlier, this ghost hunt is very long. I recommend bringing a portable battery charger with you so you can charge your phone (or any tech stuff you bring along) and not be left without battery life.

Take light baggage

On this tour, there’s a lot of walking and standing for long periods of time. To ensure your back doesn’t start to hurt, bring light backpacks or baggage with you.

Remember, everything you bring with you, you have to carry it around from 7pm to 3am. The lighter, the better!

Eat dinner before hand

Did I mention already that the tour is from 7pm to 3am? I said this again because you need to make sure to eat dinner before hand. Those snacks won’t fill you up throughout the night. If you don’t eat before hand, you run the risk of not only being hungry but becoming light headed, nauseous, or unable to finish the tour.

My friend and I ate cheese steaks before hand which held us for the remainder of the night. I suggest you eat before the tour as well.

Enjoy the museum

On the first floor in the main building you meet the staff in, there’s a little section that’s like a museum. They have merchandise, information on the history of the asylum, and replicas of what some of the offices looked like when the asylum was still open.

It’s pretty cool to walk around, read the information, and see what the asylum used to look like and what it looks like currently.

Have fun ghost hunting!

The most important thing is to have fun ghost hunting! Whether you’re taking this overnight paranormal investigation seriously, or just doing it because it cool (like my friend and I did), just remember to enjoy your time and the experience that comes with ghost hunting.