Hauntings at the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster County, PA

October 29, 2010 | Category: Late Night, Things to Do | Posted by: Sarah

If you’re ever at the Fulton Theatre and hear an ear piercing note shatter the air, don’t necessarily assume it’s coming from rehearsals…

Lancaster’s Fulton Opera House opened in 1852 as the Fulton Hall, and the “Grand Old Lady” has seen performances from Sarah Bernhardt, Al Jolson, Helen Hayes, W.C. Fields, Mark Twain, Irene Dunne and Marcel Marceau as well as many others. It’s a historic landmark and now is the home to wonderful Broadway calibre shows.

I’ve been told by a co-worker of mine who volunteers there on weekends that once you’re inside the old building, you can hear the sound of the piano playing itself and  phantom applause. If you’re looking for local haunts, the Fulton Theatre is a great place to visit.

The Fulton House was built partially over the foundations of the old Lancaster jail. Fourteen Conestoga Indians that escaped from the Paxton Boys massacre were once housed there. They were in jail to protect them from the anti-Indian hysteria of the time, but unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned. A mob rushed the jail, took the Indians and then tortured and killed them. It’s said you can still hear the screams of the Conestogas from the corner of the building built over the old prison’s foundation.

So the next time you’re looking for a spooky place to visit, head on over to the Fulton Opera House! Happy Halloween!

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5 Comments

  1. keith
    on October 29th, 2010
    1

    It would be really neat if “Ghost Hunters” would do an investigation at the Fulton Opera House.

  2. Shelby
    on April 18th, 2011
    2

    OMG i would be so excited if Ghost Hunters did an investigation there! I go to the Fulton all the time, but have never experienced anything creepy. But it would be amazing to see some paranormal activity in a place to visit for often. :]

  3. Ellen
    on December 31st, 2011
    3

    I think it would be very interesting to know
    more about the jail, before the Fulton Hall
    was opened. I am a native & knew Nat Hager
    but in all my years never heard about the jail til Kim Lemon talked about the Conestoga
    Indians who were killed there.

  4. Renee
    on June 9th, 2012
    4

    Not just the opera house. There is a small shop on W. King street right behind the Fulto Opera house that is haunted. It sits in what would have been the prison yard, and possibly under the hang man’s noose. I was there today, the floor looked like it was moving, and I felt like I was standing on water. A friend had to pull me out of the shop, I couldn’t get my legs to move.

  5. Corey
    on September 30th, 2012
    5

    If you drive down Water St, u can see 2 old green doors on the back of the Fulton which are part of the original Prison. The basement has a part divided by walls, which where the individual cells. A friend of mine has one of the original iron cell doors, bought off a local collector. It weighs 400+ lbs.

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