“The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum creeps me out.” – Jason Hawes of Ghost Hunters during the “Haunted Asylum” episode.
Deserted prisons. Timeworn schools. Decaying mental hospitals. They all seem to offer luxury resort-style accommodations for those galling ghouls and pesky phantoms that, for whatever reason, just can’t seem to let go of this world.
Especially those buildings that fall into the third category.
Such is the case with the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.
Back in March, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of the Sci Fi Channel’s “Ghost Hunters” and The Atlantic Paranormal Society ventured to the Weston, West Virginia hospital (which has undergone several name changes over the years, from “West Virginia Hospital for the Insane” to “Weston State Hospital” to “Weston Hospital” and finally “Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum”) to debunk rumors that it was haunted.
What they did, instead, was get creeped out.
According to Huntington’s The Herald-Dispatch article TAPS declares Lunatic Asylum West of the Alleghenies haunted, the ghost hunters experienced:
“[...] what sounded like female laughter [...] a voice that said ‘go home’ [...] a shadow that looked like it was holding its hands over its head and crouching before ‘being sucked out of the room’ [...]“
Scary.
Thanks to the Sci Fi Channel, you can learn more about the episode and even watch it online.
I just watched it, and I stick by my original comment. Scary.
However, I was also disturbed by some of the behavior I saw on the show, such as the way the ghost hunters taunted the “ghosts” to try to lure them out of hiding. As if those poor patients didn’t deal with enough of that crap while they were alive.
I was also curious about the overall attitude of some of the ghost hunters on the team. It was almost as if they thought they were dealing with the ghosts of a different breed of mentally ill individuals; when really, they were just dealing with the ghosts of mentally ill patients who didn’t receive the best of care.
Of course, Kristyn Gartland did tell the ghosts, “I’m really sorry about what happened to you.” She also told her partner, “I don’t want to make something uncomfortable that already had an uncomfortable life.” So, yeah. She’s my hero right now.
The creepiest part of the show came at the very end when Hawes and Wilson went over the findings with one of the owners, Rebecca Jordan. (Though, had I been one of the ghost hunters, my idea of going over the findings would have been screaming “Yes, it’s haunted!” while I was hauling ass out of there in one of those big, black gas-guzzling vehicles.) Hearing “Go home” over and over made me sick to my stomach, and I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight.
Ah, well. Form your own opinions.
Hawes and Wilson will be back at the hospital in July “to offer training sessions to anyone wishing to learn ghost-hunting techniques.”
At $250 per participant, I’m not marking it on my calendar.
I still want to take one of the $30 Heritage Tours this summer, though. (Of course, with the cost of gas, I’ll probably end up spending $250 anyway…) With a Heritage Tour, you get to tour all four floors of the hospital, plus:
- The history of the treatment of the insane prior to state run facilities as well as the people instrumental in improving that treatment.
- The nationwide influence of the Kirkbride Theory.
- The effects the Civil War had on the construction of the oldest parts of the hospital, “The Civil War section.” (First time ever seen on tour)
- The architectural history of the facility.
- The socio-economic influence of the facility throughout history, including both World Wars and the Depression Era.
- Facts and features unique to the hospital.
- Medical procedures used throughout the years and much more!
And I bet the ghosts will still creep around for me, too.
To learn more, visit the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Web site.
Image: Newscom
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http://www.mrps.org/
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Hello, I will be going April 11th 2009 to the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation where the movies Air Force One, Shawshank Redemption, Tango & Cash and Harry & Walter go to New York were filmed. Here is the link, http://www.mrps.org…..10 hours in this prison 8pm – 6am… Cant wait!
Happy Hunting!
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@ Jason – I’m glad you had fun :) Thanks for sharing the pictures – they were great! The ones of the bridge were particularly beautiful. I had no idea they had a huge Mothman statue up there. Of course, I haven’t been to Point Pleasant since long before the Mothman started getting such national attention.
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@ Alicia
Well, I had a great time, Really nice people, Really good food. The Festival went on from 8am to 9pm in town, Lots of talk shows , games for the kids, People dressing up like the ghostbusters and the mothman..And just West Virginia beautiful!!! You can buy tickets for a hay ride into the TNT area of point pleasant, That was fun, We took the 11:30 hay ride, you park in a farm where they have food, drinks, live bands on stage, A store..It was really a nice place to be with great people..something you have to experience yourself..I have pics on my myspace page and Flickr page..
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@ Jason – You are indeed my favorite ghost hunter :)
How did your trip go? (I’m sorry it took me so long to respond to this – work’s been very hectic.) I’ve been to Point Pleasant once, a long time ago (before the movie about it came out), so I have no experience and would love to read about yours once it’s up!
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@ Alicia Sparks
Well, I’m at it again, This weekend, Friday and Saturday I will be going to Point Pleasant,WV for the MOTHMAN Festival…I will post my Pics, and my review next week…
Happy Hunting!!
Jason ( your favorite ghost hunter and Historian )
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@Jason
Again, not a “ghost hunter” by any stretch of the imagination, but WV has a lot of “history” in this respect. Do a google search for WV hauntings, and I am sure you will find things on TellTale Lilac Bush, Sleepy Hollow, No. 8 mine, Jackson’s Mill, etc. I am from Marion County/ Fairmont (just south of Morgantown on I-79) and there is a lot of reports from there, especially involving Prickett’s Fort. LOL- also Fairmont has hotels and shops however, WV will have homeless people almost anywhere you go.
Another GREAT spot– At the southern most part of the state, the Matewan Massacre took place in Matewan, WV. It’s a really interesting story! Look it up.
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@ Alicia Sparks & @ Michelle
Alicia you are right, But if you saw this homeless guy, you might think twice..I have seen some homeless people in my time, Nothing like that.. lol.. :) p.s I love this blog-Web site!!
Michelle, Thank you for all the info,
And also small towns are becoming scarce, I do like the small town feel myself, They should just be happy they did not tear down a big chunk of History, I know I’m happy about that…
Alicia keep this site going, I’m not going anywhere else to speak my mind on history and hauntings, I will post all my findings and keep you all up to date on all my Hunts and History Tours!!
Thank you all!!
Happy Hunting!!
Jason-
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