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Old Idaho State Penitentiary

2445 Old Penitentiary Rd.
Boise, ID 83712

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Media 8 pics
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  • Free Parking
  • Touching Not Allowed

Now operating as a museum, the Old Idaho State Penitentiary once housed some of the most dangerous criminals in Idaho. It first opened its doors in the 1870's and was nicknamed the 'Old Pen.' It was in service for 101 years and housed over 13,000 inmates, 215 of them women. The penitentiary saw its fair share of tragedy, from riots to deaths Its doors closed for good in 1973, after a riot fire occurred, destroying it. It sat abandoned for years before it opened as a museum. Reports here include feelings of unexplainable sadness, high levels of dread and anxiety, some being touched by unseen hands, whispers and flickering lights. The location features thirty historic buildings, and is a great visit for those who are interested in its history.

Nearby Real Haunts

Reviews

Bad feeling

I went to this area with my family around 2 weeks ago. Although I didn't see or her any spirits, I definitely felt their presence. I only felt the presence of any 'negative' spirits a few times... They were all mostly harmless. They didn't seem like they really want to reveal themselves to visitors. I had a migrane the whole time, and some of the buildings had made me feel nauseous to the point that I had to run outside. Overall, it was a great experience!

May 2026

Would Recommend Yes
scary feeling

ive been here many times each unit is a different feeling one unit you feel like your being chocked one you feel like throwing up one i felt like i was on fire other like you've been punched in the stomach ive seen several dark shadows and very dark energy the minute you walk in that energy hits you like a rock

December 2025

Would Recommend Yes
Headache

Me and my firlfriend got a pretty bad headache simultaneously ??

April 2025

Would Recommend Yes
Not REAL

It was not very fun. It seemed like any normal prison, and I didn't see much, only the old cells. The shop was pretty nice.

October 2024

Would Recommend Unsure
insane!!1

i went there and i saw a old man and I didn't think much of it until i saw him walk into a wall and disappear. I felt people around me and i heard footsteps and saw orbs and other scary stuff

November 2020

Would Recommend Yes
Possessed

a friend and i went to the old pen a few months ago with some friends and brought ghost devices because we thought why not we brought a Ouija board, a emf, and rods we went up to the room were they hung people for their death sentence, when we got out the board we tried playing it but nothing happened we tried again 15 min later still nothing later we tried again and the emf went off and went all the way to red and the board started spelling out random letters and words that im pretty sure was in latin and one of my friends she took her hand of the palette (which is something your not supposed to do) and i guess the spirit got mad like really mad and possessed her we had to call a priest and hold her down shes fine now. just in a mental hospital

October 2020

Would Recommend Unsure
Ghost in the tower

I was walking one night before Halloween in the Old Pen. My brother and I and his girlfriend at the time were visiting the area at night. We looked up to a tower above and saw a man figure of a ghost in the window. It was really dark out and nobody was there working or around besides us. It was glowing bright white. This was before cell phones and great cameras back in early 2000s. We ran from the area and didn’t return since.

October 2020

Would Recommend Yes
Beautiful red head

Ran into a red hair young woman at the bishop house. A friend an I we're sitting in the gazebo.
We heard old band music. Then she came dancing by. I named her Scarlett.

January 2019

Would Recommend Yes

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Last Edit to Your Listing: Nov 10, 2016
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