June 25th, 2009
Goings On at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Although they’ve faced a lot of controversy, the Jordan family are to be applauded and respected for taking on the difficult task of preserving and re-using the former Weston State Hospital. This summer they’ve got a pretty full schedule of events at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (hereinafter the TALA), and of course the usual public tours. I recommend making a special trip for the tours alone even if you weren’t already planning on being near Weston this summer.
The TALA is open for tours every Tuesday through Sunday. Tours on Mondays are by appointment only. You can purchase tickets for the special ghost tours and ghost hunts on the TALA website.
On July 4th, the TALA will host a T.E.A. Party. (For those of you—like me—who don’t know what a T.E.A. Party is, T.E.A. stands for Taxed Enough Already. It’s basically a protest about taxation.) Tours will also be going on the entire day.
The Lewis & Clark Circus (a “quality, family-oriented European style circus” according to their web site) will be at the TALA on July 25th and 26th.
Mud Mania will be happening from September 11th through September 13th.
Scare Asylum, featuring various well-known ghost hunters and other paranormally-inclined personalities, will be taking place on September 18th and 19th.
October will be a very busy time at the TALA (of course). The Haunted House will be ongoing for the entire month. The Fall Festival runs from the 22nd through the 25th. On the 30th, The Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures (kind of a ridiculous show in my opinion, but it can be entertaining in a way. Plus it’s a nationally aired program and bound to get the TALA some attention) will do a seven hour live broadcast from the TALA. And on the 31st, Halloween night, there will be a “Witches Ball” (costume party) with psychics, tarot card readers, and several live bands.
I applaud the Jordans for what they’ve done by preserving the building and making it open for the public. I just take issue with some other things they do and have done, but won’t bring that up here. Any word on what the status is on the patient cemeteries?
I’ve hear rumors about them opening up the clocktower as part of one of the tours but I can’t confirm that.
Re: the cemeteries. The three feilds are fenced in and each has one large marker. The original cemetary has one tombstone of that of a Civil War Vet. All cemeteries are in great shape and constantly maintained by the state, they were not part of the land that was auctioned, and the rules stipulate the owners of the asylum have to allow ingress to the cemeteries.
Squad5456, I agree that any issues you have shouldn’t be posted here, but you can definitely send them to me directly at JJordan@trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com. So many rumors about the things we do and have done out there, if I can clear anything up I would be more than willing.
Thank you Ethan for placing this information up here and providing such an excellent source of information about the Kirkbride buildings…
The events TALA look extremely entertaining! I only wish I’d known about them sooner. I would love to come out there for the Halloween party and then follow that up with the ghost hunt at 1am. It sounds like a great time. I’m already thinking of how to get out there for next year. I hope it’s a great success for you!