Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Weston, WV

Located in Weston, West Virginia Trans- Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was the original commissioned unused name for the hospital. Construction of the facility was interrupted by the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. Construction later resumed in 1862. After West Virginia became a U.S. state in 1863 the hospital was renamed West Virginia Hospital for the Insane. The hospital was open in 1864 to 1994. The grounds were meant to be self-sufficient and had its own farm, a waterworks and a cemetery. In 1913 the name was changed to Weston State Hospital. Patients at the hospital suffered from many conditions including epilepsy, alcoholism, drug addiction as well as those that were deemed non-educable or had mental disabilities/ illnesses. 

    In the early 1950’s the hospital became home to the West Virginia Lobotomy Project. Later on changes in the way that mental health/illnesses were treated greatly reduced the population at the hospital in the 1980’s. By 1994, all patients were relocated to a new psychiatric facility in Weston and the Weston State Hospital closed for good. In 2007 the property was purchased and is currently used to host different events including historical tours and paranormal investigations. 

July 10, 2008
Investigators: Beth Rosen & Matt Rosen.

Location Photos: Click to enlarge

  • Known later as Weston State Hospital, Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum treated the mentally ill from 1864 until 1994. Originally designed to treat 250 patients, it reached 2,400 in the 1950s, resulting in poor care and deplorable conditions.
  • This is leftover decor from their annual haunted house. (We think.)
  • More leftover decor from Halloween 2007. Then again, we did lose an investigator before night’s end. Muhu-hahahaha!
  • Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes from Syfy’s Ghost Hunters fame
  • Dave Tango from Ghost Hunters on Syfy

Findings:

This electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) certainly did not wish us well. Please take notice of the strange ‘wind-like’ noise as it builds up to the actual, threatening statement.
The ‘welcome wagon’ makes an encore appearance later in the night with another warm greeting. Well, at least this one had a sense of humor, huh?
This EVP is heart-breaking. Had this been audible at the time it occurred, we would have done everything in our power to honor her bone-chilling request.

This is yet another greeting from the friendly folks at Trans-Allegheny. It happened in an early part of the investigation and was certainly a sure sign of things to come.
This is yet another greeting from the friendly folks at Trans-Allegheny. It happened in an early part of the investigation and was certainly a sure sign of things to come.

July 10, 2010
Investigators: Beth Rosen, Matt Rosen, Lisa Shirkey with guests Will Ishee, Nick Wendling, Karen Memmolo, Kathy Seller, Heather McLean & Tony Bertucci.

Location Photos: (click to enlarge)

  • Known later as Weston State Hospital, Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum treated the mentally ill from 1864 until 1994. Originally designed to treat 250 patients, it reached 2,400 in the 1950s, resulting in poor care and deplorable conditions.
  • Shot from entrance area leading to the upper wards. All hope abandoned ye who enter here.
  • A little inspirational guidance from the cruise directors at Trans-Allegheny. Shuffleboard on the Promenade Deck, anyone?
  • We thought about adding ‘Leap for an exit’ at the end. But thought better of it in the long run. 🙂
  • This was our hotel room. Well, not really. But it it did look pretty nice after 48 hours with no sleep.

Findings:

Ward V: After hearing knocks, our investigator, Will, asks for another sign. To our surprise, it responds with a huge knock. And soon after, another investigator sees a passing shadow in the exact same room.

April 13, 2013
Investigators: Beth Rosen, Matt Rosen, Heather Olsen, Lisa Shirkey & Travis Spitzer with guests Tammy Spitzer, Jonathan Andrews, Kim Bigelow, Nick Wendling, Karen Memmolo & Eric Singleton.

Location Photos:

  • Known later as Weston State Hospital, Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum treated the mentally ill from 1864 until 1994. Originally designed to treat 250 patients, it reached 2,400 in the 1950s, resulting in poor care and deplorable conditions.
  • Sitting Room on Trans-Allegheny’s first floor lobby area – with amazing artifacts scattered about.
  • Antique wheel chairs similar to those used by the asylum in her day.
  • I know what you’re saying – why aren’t Charlie Sheen’s and Lindsay Lohan’s photos up there? (Well, at least Britney made the top ten.)
  • Patient art proudly displayed.
  • Toys left in Lily’s room, the spirit of a little girl who allegedly haunts the asylum. This is also where we caught that ‘get out’ EVP. (See 2013 Audio Section for details.)
  • Photo looking down ominous Ward 6 – and where we uncovered that eerie moan. (See 2013 Audio Section for details.)
  • This is our investigator, Travis, who had knee surgery not long before our trip to the haunted asylum. (What a paranormal trooper.)
  • Shot of the GCP gang helping our invalid investigator, Travis, up to the third floor. When we got to the top, Travis exclaimed ‘That’s the most fun I’ve ever had with my feet in the air… well, almost.’
  • We saw this odd little gem on our trip back home. Have bacon, will travel. (Or insert ‘when pigs fly’ joke here.)

Findings:

Lily’s Room: While an investigator discusses a relative who is a skeptic, this uninviting presence makes itself known. At no other location have we uncovered so many ‘get out’ EVPs than at Trans-Allegheny. (Amazing place.)

August 22, 2021
Investigators: Beth Rosen, Kathy Sellers & Jenny Breitbarth with guests Nick Wendling, Heidi Johnston, Eric Singleton & Jen Kozlof of NAPS North Carolina, Troy Haney, Jenn Stubstad & Heather Elliott of Off-Grid Paranormal .

Location Photos:

  • Ward One
  • 4th Floor
  • Ward F
  • Ward R
  • Hey Grandma, do you have any candy for your visitors?
  • Tell me encountering this is the dark wouldn’t scare the crap out of you. I hope you brought a change of undies.
  • Civil War Section

Findings: Nothing to report

Grave Concerns Paranormal does not view findings presented on this page as evidence of ghosts or the paranormal. These are merely experiences that we can not explain at this time.