Inside the Ephrata Cloister: Ghosts, Odd Rituals, and Hidden Relics

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