When a Prison Becomes a Haunted House
When a prison shuts down, it doesn't necessarily stay empty for long. Some—most notably, Alcatraz—transform into museums dedicated to the history of the facility. Others are repurposed in less expected ways, becoming hotels, recording studios, and even summer camps.
And then there's the crop of prisons that play to an even more niche subset: haunted-house enthusiasts and those who believe in the paranormal.
Critics, for their part, believe the haunted tours are a distraction from the grim realities of the criminal justice system. "There's no discussion about the current state of affairs with prisons," said Michelle Brown, a criminologist and associate professor at the University of Tennessee, who has written about penal tourism. "It's appalling."
But the upside for most states is simple: Tourists flock to old prisons and pay to get spooked, which helps provide the money needed to maintain these historic buildings. Below, a sampling of prisons that have opened their doors to thrill-seekers. While most of them also offer historic tours, the main attractions tend to be the ones that scare.
Click below to read more.
