America's 10 Scariest Abandoned Asylums & Hospitals

7. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum - Weston, West Virginia

Trans-Allegheny is so old, that it's construction was held up by the American Civil War. It opened in 1864, with accommodation for 250 patients, the first admitted being a housekeeper. Eventually by the 1950's, the asylum held 2,600 patients in overcrowded conditions. Patients were intended to be kept in solitude, but the overcrowded prevented that. A report in 1949 noted the overstretched resources, with not enough lighting, furniture, sanitation or heating. By the 1980's, uncontrollable patients were kept locked in cages. The population had somewhat reduced, due to changes in treatments, but the writing was on the wall, and the asylum closed in 1994.

In 2007, the asylum was bought by Joe Jordan. He now runs a variety of events, mainly paranormal based, in order to raise money for the upkeep of the building. Trans-Allegheny is a mainstay of US paranormal TV, featuring extensively on Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. The terrifying conditions and events that took place when Trans-Allegheny was in operation has given rise to several ghost stories. Patients allegedly murdered each other, and in one case, a female nurse went missing.

Her decomposed body was found two months later in the farther reaches of the massive building. Ghosts were reported by several staff members, from janitors to psychiatrists during Trans-Allegheny's operation. One doctor says she is still troubled by the ghost of a patient who followed her home. Other phenomena includes hysterical laughter, screams and moans coming from nowhere.