“Dare to Take a Look Inside?”
This place is on private property. Listing for informational purposes only. Please do not visit without express permission from the land owner. The Old York County Prison on Chestnut Street in York PA began as part of a complex of custodial buildings, including the York County Poorhouse and Hospital (where the Alexander Goode school now stands). The prison itself was an imposing castle-like structure built in 1853, with spread-out cell blocks in the rear that housed the inmates. The rear block was lined with two floors of cells, with a tall, central hallway in the center. In 1906, the castle-like facade was torn down and replaced with the 30,000 square foot fortress-like brick structure that currently exists. This new prison was designed by architect B.F. Willis, and even had a trap door where hangings took place. The prison received some bad publicity in the 1950s, with reports of people being placed in padded cells to save on space, racial segregation during the night hours, bed bugs, and a report describing that the only meat served during a two week period was venison from roadkill brought back by police. The prison closed its doors in 1979, as the facility moved to a new location in Springettsbury Township. The old prison was purchased in 1982 by John and Joyce Gearhart; after rioting at the overcrowded Camp Hill State Correctional Institution the family considered renovating the property into a privately run prison, but the idea was dropped. Many different plans for the building have also been proposed over the years, including parking, a bar, nightclub, hotel, vocational school, community arts center, retail shops, loft apartments, a Halloween business, and even a prison theme restaurant. In 2007, the Gearharts put the prison up for sale for $3.9 million, advertising it with posters reading "Wanted: $25,000 Reward for the capture of buyer for the Old York County Prison." The old cell block in the rear of the building from the original 1853 structure has been demolished.
Erin, if you wanna explore inside, i'd be glad to tag along
Don't use the concord street address but found on chestnut street what a phenomenal building wish I have explored inside. Maybe some day soon I can explore the inside.
To get in you have to squeeze thru a tiny rock up against the bricks in the back I wear a size extra small and I still almost got stuck I had scratched my back on the out there was a lot of homeless people around and even 1 inside would not recommend if you are any wear above a large the stairs to the basement are gone when you go in there is not service the place was starting to break there was heroin needles and it was very rusty there is a ladder on the roof it is not sturdy at all the roof is getting ready to break and the cells have a lot of rusty medal.
Does anyone know who I can contact and how to see if I can go inside the building? It would be very good to know.
Cant get in no more as of 2019. All entrances are seal shut. There is cameras and its now owned and set for renovations in the summer
Happen to be curious from you guys if the prison is still available and who I can contact to get into? Please contact me at Jscarmazzo93@icloud.com , Thank you so much! Asap! Appreciate it !
If you know how I can get in contact with the Gearharts please email me at weirdTim1234@gmail.com thanks
Was this torn down recently?? I just followed my GPS to there and all I saw was a huge pile of rubble. Didn't know if I was looking at the wrong spot or what
@shennelmedia on Instagram you can find my account. I recently went inside and got some great shots.
I want to visit see how it looks inside want to do ghost investigation. Love old jails.
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Abandoned York County Prison
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
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