Portals to Hell Season 2 Episode 15 Pennhurst Asylum
- TV14
- May 6, 2021
- 43 min
-
(12)
As a paranormal investigator, Katrina Weidman is no stranger to haunted locations, but Pennhurst Asylum may be one of the most notorious. In this episode of Portals to Hell, Weidman and her co-host Jack Osbourne set out to explore the abandoned hospital, which was once home to some of the most vulnerable individuals in society.
Founded in 1908 as the Eastern Pennsylvania State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic, Pennhurst Asylum quickly became overcrowded and underfunded. Patients were subjected to inhumane conditions, including physical and sexual abuse, and were often left to languish in their own filth. By the 1960s, the hospital was facing mounting criticism and was eventually shut down in 1987.
Despite being abandoned for over three decades, Pennhurst Asylum has gained a reputation as one of the most haunted places in America. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices, seeing apparitions, and feeling sudden cold spots. Some have even claimed to have been physically pushed or scratched by unseen entities. Weidman and Osbourne hope to document some of these supernatural occurrences and shed light on the hospital's dark past.
The episode begins with Weidman and Osbourne meeting up with their team of investigators outside Pennhurst Asylum. The building is massive, with numerous wings and levels, and the team is immediately struck by its eerie atmosphere. They begin their investigation by setting up cameras and recording equipment throughout the hospital, hoping to capture any paranormal activity.
As the night wears on, the team experiences a number of strange occurrences. They hear unintelligible whispers and footsteps, and feel sudden rushes of cold air. At one point, a door slams shut on its own, seemingly confirming the presence of a supernatural force.
However, the team is not content to rely solely on anecdotal evidence. They also employ a number of scientific tools to measure and document any changes in the hospital's environment. These include thermal cameras, which can detect changes in temperature, and electromagnetic field (EMF) meters, which can detect fluctuations in the electromagnetic energy around us. By comparing their data to the moments when they have experienced supernatural occurrences, the team hopes to get closer to uncovering the truth behind Pennhurst Asylum's haunting.
As the investigation draws to a close, Weidman and Osbourne reflect on the impact that Pennhurst Asylum has had on their perceptions of the paranormal. They were both struck by the intensity of the energy in the hospital, and were amazed by the amount of evidence they were able to capture. They also recognize that the horrors of Pennhurst Asylum were not unique, and hope that their investigation can raise awareness about the mistreatment of people with disabilities in the past and present.
Overall, the Pennhurst Asylum episode of Portals to Hell offers a chilling glimpse into one of America's most haunted places. In combining traditional ghost hunting methods with scientific tools, Weidman and Osbourne offer a unique perspective on the supernatural, and their findings will surely delight fans of the show and fans of the paranormal alike.