Lakemont Park Altoona, PA - The Haunted Roller Coaster

Altoona Pennsylvania is home to Lakemont Park.  It has been known as various names over the years, but it is one of the oldest amusement parks in the United States constructed in 1894.  It is also home to the oldest roller coaster in the world.  The roller coaster is called Leap-the-Dips and was built in 1902 and is the oldest wooden roller coaster of it's type.

At one point in the roller coaster's history, a maintenance worker was working on one of the tracks when he was struck and killed by the coaster during a test run.

Over the years there have been stories of folks riding the roller coaster and spotting a man working on the tracks during their ride.  When the ride ends and they report the close proximity of the man on the tracks, making sure the ride operator knew the worker was there, they learn that there was no maintenance worker working on the coaster at that time.  What they have seen is the ghost of the dead maintenance man killed long ago.

The Imps of Amity Hall Hotel - Duncannon, PA

Amity Hall Hotel located in Duncannon, PA is host to a strange sort of haunt. Long ago, before the days of the Civil War the building was a residence.  Apparently, the man went crazy one night and killed the entire family.  The woman was found stabbed and beaten to death on the front porch. The husband and kids were found upstairs.  After murdering his kids, he took his own life.

Amity Hall Hotel in Duncannon, PA

Over the years the house was used as a hotel for travelers along the Pennsylvania Canal route.  It served as a hospital during the Civil War.  Unexplained sightings have taken place both inside and outside of the house. Particularly in the upstairs, strange blue or white lights have been seen.  Sometimes glowing eerily, sometimes bright flashes.  An apparition of a woman has been seen staring out of the attic window.  These paranormal occurrences seem particularly active when men are present.

Artist rendition of imps

Outside of the Hotel in the parking lot, there have been sightings of small ominous looking dark shadowy figures roaming around the parking area.  It is believed that these are a sort of shadow being of imps which are a demon like creature. These figures are seen predominantly when males are present and linger outside their vehicles. Perhaps these are the spirits of the murdered children roaming the grounds, causing mischief whenever they can searching for their murdering father.

Artist interpretation of imps

Baker Mansion in Altoona, PA - The Haunted Wedding Dress

The Baker Mansion in Altoona was built in 1849 by Elias Baker who made his fortune in the iron industry. Elias, being from high society, was distraught when he found out that his daughter Anna was in love with a local steel worker.  He forbid her to marry him due to his "lower" class status.  Anna remained true to her love and never married another and died in 1914.

Baker Mansion in Altoona, Pennsylvania

The mansion was later turned into a museum and is now the home of the Blair County Historical Society.  A wedding dress believed to belong to Elizabeth Dysart, a member of the Bell family who later occupied that house, was put in a glass case of what was formerly Anna Baker's room.  Some have said that especially on nights of a full moon, they have seen the dress move on it's own as if occupied by a phantom bride.  Perhaps that of Anna Baker eternally waiting for her love to marry her?  Recently it has been reported that for unknown reasons, the dress is no longer on display.  Could Anna's long lost love returned for her?

Haunted wedding dress of Baker Mansion

An apparition of a woman dressed in black has been seen roaming the upstairs of the house.  It is believed that this was the matriarch of the Baker household.

Anna and her mother are not the only ghosts who haunt Baker Mansion.  Once on a tour, a young boy refused to enter the basement claiming he saw a soldier standing at the bottom of the stairs.  Screams have also been heard coming from the basement area.  While not a soldier, Anna Baker's brother David, once served on a steamboat.  He was killed in an accident while on board.  When his body arrived home, the ground was too frozen to bury him.  So they stored his body in the basement of the home in the ice room until the ground thawed and they could properly bury him.