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All the United States Pennsylvania Reading Witch's Hat Pavilion
AO Edited

Witch's Hat Pavilion

This semi-spooky remnant of an abandoned hotel provides fantastic views.

Reading, Pennsylvania

Added By
angrboda
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  jotunwitch / Atlas Obscura User
  jotunwitch / Atlas Obscura User
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  bdziambasphotography/Used With Permission
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About

Although now the site of hiking trails open to the public, Neversink Mountain in Reading, Pennsylvania, was once the site of a complex of exclusive hotels. In warm months, wealthy vacationers arrived from New York and Philadelphia by a train that went right up the hillside, drawn by the prospect of escaping summer in the city for nice views, breezes, and music and dancing. 

One of the only reminders of this history is a pavilion, built in honor of an avid hiker in 1892 at the Neversink Hotel. Over time, the age of the automobile eroded the mountain's status as a resort destination, and the hotels were abandoned and destroyed by fire and arson. The still-standing structure is known affectionately as the Witch's Hat, due to its shape, and along with the abandoned foundations nearby, it often has a spooky vibe. But on clear days, it offers some of the best views in the area—the same views that inspired a hiker to rest there in the 1800s, and an elegant establishment to build a structure that would outlast the hotel itself.

Related Tags

Hiking Hotels Resorts Ruins Abandoned

Know Before You Go

There are several access trails up to the top of the mountain, the easiest being from the service road up to the cell towers and pavilion. 

Community Contributors

Added By

jotunwitch

Edited By

Alex Mayyasi, mikezeebs

  • Alex Mayyasi
  • mikezeebs

Published

February 4, 2021

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Sources
  • http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=252965
  • https://www.trailforks.com/trails/sevrvice-rd-to-cell-towers-and-witches-hat/
  • https://goreadingberks.com/neversink-a-reclaimed-mountain/
  • https://pennsylvaniaparanormal.tumblr.com/post/138282496723/neversink-mountain-this-quiet-mysterious-mountain
Witch's Hat Pavilion
1996 Neversink Mountain Rd
Reading, Pennsylvania, 19606
United States
40.322224, -75.896294
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Nearby Places

The Reading Pagoda

Reading, Pennsylvania

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Reading

Reading

Pennsylvania

Places 3

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Reading, Pennsylvania

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Reading, Pennsylvania

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Reading

Reading

Pennsylvania

Places 3

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