1903, the Pennsylvania Legislature authorized the creation of the Eastern State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic and a commission was organized to take into consideration the number and status of the feeble-minded and epileptic persons in the state and determine a placement for construction to care for these residents.

This commission discovered 1,146 feeble-minded persons in insane hospitals and 2,627 in almshouses, county-care hospitals, reformatories, and prisons and were in immediate need of specialized institutional care.

The legislation stated that the buildings would be in two groups, one for the educational and industrial department, and one for the custodial or asylum department. The institution was required to accommodate no less than five hundred inmates or patients, with room for additions.

After its closure, Pennhurst quickly gained a reputation as one of the most haunted locations in Pennsylvania. Visitors and investigators have long claimed that the suffering endured within its walls left behind a lingering presence. The empty buildings with their broken windows and peeling paint create an atmosphere that many describe as heavy and unsettling. Even during the day the site can feel eerily silent, as if something is watching from the shadows.

Those who have explored the grounds often report hearing strange noises that cannot be explained. Footsteps echo through long, empty hallways, and doors are said to slam on their own. Some visitors describe hearing faint voices whispering or calling out from rooms that appear completely vacant. These sounds are often described as distant yet clear enough to cause unease among those who experience them.

Shadow figures are among the most commonly reported sightings. People claim to see dark shapes moving quickly at the end of corridors or standing in doorways before vanishing. In certain buildings these figures are said to appear repeatedly in the same locations as if tied to specific rooms. Some believe these apparitions are former residents still trapped within the place they once called home.

Many accounts also describe sudden changes in temperature and unexplained physical sensations. Cold spots are reported throughout the buildings even during warm weather. Visitors have claimed to feel touched or brushed against when no one else is nearby. These experiences often occur in areas believed to have housed the most vulnerable residents, leading to speculation that emotional energy may linger there.

Perhaps the most unsettling stories involve direct attempts at communication. Paranormal investigators have reported capturing voices through recording devices and receiving responses to questions asked aloud. Some of these voices are described as childlike while others sound distressed or confused. Whether these experiences are real or imagined, Pennhurst continues to draw those seeking to understand the mysteries that remain within its walls.