Episode 56: Slice of the Paranormal visits the haunted Ephrata Cloister in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the land of hex signs, shoofly pies, and restless ghosts. This historic religious community is said to be haunted by former members and soldiers who were treated within its wooden walls during the Revolutionary War. Even today, artifacts continue to surface, amulets, glass trumpets, and rumors of a golden goblet still buried somewhere beneath the soil, each one whispering of Pennsylvania Dutch superstitions and spiritual beliefs from centuries past. It's hard not to feel the presence of ghosts here, where echoes of prayers, songs, and long ago séances still seem to hum through the air. In this episode, we uncover the strange lore of the Ephrata Cloister, its unusual diet, its bizarre sleeping habits, and the stories that make it one of Pennsylvania's most haunted historical sites. Join us as we explore faith, folklore, and phantoms, one slice at a time. Sources: Ghosts of Hershey and Vicinity by Christopher E. Wolf 2009 Pennsylvania Ghost Towns by Susan Hutchison Tassin 2007 Uncharted Lancaster by Adam Zurn 2025 https://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/many-a-weird-and-wild-tale-lurks-in-the-past-of-the-ephrata-cloister/article_aaaa4757-168c-5ae6-8c17-6bc96d92e6cd.html https://ephratacloister.org https://lancasteronline.com/features/ghostly-encounters-librarian-offers-glimpse-of-haunted-lancaster-county/article_824cd258-f4e9-11e4-a57f-733739db0128.html

Episode 55: Slice of the Paranormal explores the haunted Alvira Bunkers in Union County, Pennsylvania. Once a thriving small town, Alvira was seized by the U.S. government during World War II and transformed into a massive TNT factory for the war effort. Promises to return the land to its families after the war were never kept, and the town vanished—leaving behind only ruins, memories, and mystery. Today, the Alvira ghost town is scattered with crumbling foundations hidden among the trees and more than 150 decaying TNT bunkers. Cemeteries still stand as eerie reminders of the lives once rooted here. The bunkers are now covered in graffiti, fueling chilling tales of satanic rituals, shadowy figures, and paranormal activity. Visitors have captured EVP recordings, strange photo anomalies, and that unmistakable feeling of being watched in these Pennsylvania state game lands. In this episode, we uncover the dark history of Alvira, its ties to the Manhattan Project, and the chilling story of a man who murdered his entire family with an axe. Join us as we dig into the haunted history of Pennsylvania and take another deliciously dark bite with Slice of the Paranormal.

Sources:

Shadowlands: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-alvira-bunkers.html https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/pennsylvania/pa-alvira-bunkers http://ghosttowns.com/states/pa/alvira.html https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2013/03/government_accused_of_reneging.html https://www.dailyitem.com/news/remembering-alvira-a-pennsylvania-village-lost/article_32f809e4-8d7f-11e7-a3fb-d3f839c2ac8d.html https://muncyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/a-call-to-action-say-no-to-alvira-land-swap https://uncoveringpa.com/alvira-bunkers https://www.facebook.com/116216865062937/posts/surrender-the-sudden-death-of-alvira-pennsylvaniaat-the-campus-theatre-market-st/753243334693617 https://uncoveringpa.com/alvira-bunkers