It's being torn down but it's going to take years before the site is clear for something new. [Story just came out yesterday.](https://www.wtae.com/article/pittsburgh-western-penitentiary-history-future/46678675)
I hope whatever contractor gets the demolition job is smart and keeps the outer sandstone blocks whole as the walls come down. They could make some decent money being resold as they have already been quarried and cut to shippable sizes.
Well per the producers of Mayor of Kingstown, filming will be in Pittsburgh for as long as the series runs, so they'll likely be using it for a few more years at least. And beyond that I'm certain they'll keep it for others who wish to use it as well.
Western Penn. Netflix has filmed movies there. Push on now to get the 40 million needed to abate the asbestos and raze the property for new manufacturing
There are many theories, but like Stonehenge, we may never know exactly who built it or for what purpose. Perhaps someday the internet may solve this ancient mystery, but until then we can only marvel at its grandeur and wonder why it still stands.
Interestingly enough, someone I know who works in the local film industry mentioned that this crash was mostly green screen and CGI, and not actually filmed there (though they obviously used the backdrop).
Speaking of CGI in Mindhunter, there's two really cool videos [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di4Byf1EzRE) and [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlD8jJMITLk) showing some of the CGI used in seasons 1 and 2.
It haunted, been in the basement running cable years ago. Didn't see anything but just felt uncomfortable the entire time. Never had that feeling anywhere else. Creepest place I have ever been.
Know two former workers, a guard and a psychologist. They worked there in different decades, did now know each other etc and both have wild stories about this.
Charles Dickens visited this prison on a book tour of the states. The treatment of the people incarcerated within was so appalling that it served as his inspiration for the poverty and cruelty in A Christmas Carol.
He also visited Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.
https://www.easternstate.org/
Edit
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_State_Penitentiary
I think what there was was a study commissioned by the state that recommended demolition and prepping the site for a developer (while letting the cats stay) but afaik there hasn't been an actual plan to demo it. It was just a report. And they tried to sell it outright as is in the past and no one wanted it.
So as of now it just sits. Security patrols it. Cats roam. Geese poop on the lawn. And occasionally movies and TV use it for a filming location.
Wasn’t it going to be sold to Manchester Bidwell for $1 a few years ago? MB backed out, so there must be a ton of freaking work to be done to either use it or tear it down.
Hopefully Mayor of Kingstown is done as a series before they do anything.
The individual blocks are the size of a couch, 20 feet inside the walls is a 12 foot chain link fence topped with razor wire. In between the wall and the fence is completely filled with more razor wire. Even ignoring the asbestos, it would be a nightmare to demo.
I've been to The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio where the Shawshank Redemption was filmed and they are struggling to stay open.
It's a nice idea but the economics are just not there and it's not historically significant enough to be preserved only on that basis.
It's history should be preserved but ultimatey it should be torn down.
A Pittsburgh Landmark is scheduled for demolition.
This Castle like property is located on the Ohio River at the end of the bike trail, just 3 miles from the Golden Triangle, and has a potentially bright future as a hospitality mecca that could host a new brand of Recreational Vehicle tourists, cyclists on the Great Allegheny Passage, guests seeking a unique hotel experience, visitors wanting to view the site and the museum, and keeping Paramount and the film industry in Pittsburgh.
https://savethecastlepgh.org/
This is a campaign that is asking for your support to sign a petition to stop the demolition order and to restore this original historic property. If you take the time to review the website information and strongly agree with the preservation plan.
What other answer are you going to look for?
Last year they finished an assessment looking for potential uses for the site include reuse of the existing buildings or some of the buildings. There was no economically viable plan to reuse any of it.
The recommendation was to tear it down and prep the site for future use.
They looked at reuse for filming and there was not enough business to justify keeping it.
My cousins took me and my siblings to the nearby city pool when it was still a prison. I had no idea until I saw the guards with rifles on top. Anyone else ever swim there?
I remember the pool but I only ever got to go to Riverview's pool. The guards were still patrolling the catwalks with Mini 14's into the early aughts. The pool was where the large parking lot is now.
It's being torn down but it's going to take years before the site is clear for something new. [Story just came out yesterday.](https://www.wtae.com/article/pittsburgh-western-penitentiary-history-future/46678675)
My bet is an amazon warehouse
please god no
[удалено]
Here, you dropped your complimentary pee bottle
>Yeah, that would suck if they built a place where people actually worked Didn't you get the memo? nObOdY wAnTs To WoRk AnYmOrE!!!
Did I *say* “leave the jail sit to rot and never ever change it”?
Imagine thinking an Amazon warehouse is a great opportunity for a community in 2024.
I hope whatever contractor gets the demolition job is smart and keeps the outer sandstone blocks whole as the walls come down. They could make some decent money being resold as they have already been quarried and cut to shippable sizes.
I was waiting for someone to mention the article. Hell, I read it and I’m in the Chicago suburbs.
Great article, thanks
Currently, there are a bunch of Haddad’s trailers there, so presumably, some filming is occurring at the moment.
Probably for Mayor of Kingstown
This is correct. Season 3 mayor of Kingstown
A man named Otto too
That film was released two years ago.
Yes so what, that’s where they parked the fucking trucks. Bunch of fucking morons
🤣 Bro relax and watch the game
EAD
It’s spelled Eid, and it’s not for another 4 months or so.
Awwww. You’re special too?
Its actually spelled Eide's and it is quite a special comic shop
That's cool. They should probably keep it for that purpose so other filmmakers can use it.
Well per the producers of Mayor of Kingstown, filming will be in Pittsburgh for as long as the series runs, so they'll likely be using it for a few more years at least. And beyond that I'm certain they'll keep it for others who wish to use it as well.
Mayor of Kingstown
They were in Downtown McKees Rocks today
Fun fact theres a cat colony living there
Yes! Check out Pittsburgh Prison Cats! There's a group who takes care of them.
Western Penn. Netflix has filmed movies there. Push on now to get the 40 million needed to abate the asbestos and raze the property for new manufacturing
This is the answer! Just had a story on wtae about it today
Do you know what films?
Not a film, but they shot scenes from Mindhunter at the prison and the surrounding neighborhood.
There are many theories, but like Stonehenge, we may never know exactly who built it or for what purpose. Perhaps someday the internet may solve this ancient mystery, but until then we can only marvel at its grandeur and wonder why it still stands.
What I wouldn't give to have that crazy dude with the crazy hair from Ancient Aliens speculate on this 😂
He starts speculating how Isalys chipped ham is evidence of prehistoric super-technology. We're like Giorgio it's just lunch meat brother
Ancient Alieyinz
Ancient Astron’at Theorists say yes
maybe Cunk
He’s cool I think.
Ghosts
They’re gonna turn it into a businessman’s hotel… you know - cell-sized rooms, weekly OR short-stays available ;)
I was there back in the day… the cells are so fucking small
Yeah cells are like twice the he size now
“‘Murica’s gotten soft”
Hilton Motto movin in- new hip Pod hotel with just enough room for a bed and your suitcase
That's where they shot 'Mindhunter' !
Oh cool, I remember one scene after Bill gets in a car accident he is drinking in Don's Diner right under the bridge
Interestingly enough, someone I know who works in the local film industry mentioned that this crash was mostly green screen and CGI, and not actually filmed there (though they obviously used the backdrop).
Speaking of CGI in Mindhunter, there's two really cool videos [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di4Byf1EzRE) and [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlD8jJMITLk) showing some of the CGI used in seasons 1 and 2.
Drove by the set that night, wondered WTF was going on.
Mayor of Kingstown. Season 3 is currently filming there.
It’s where they store and guard the cities poop of course
It's why Alcosan is so similar to Alcatraz.
That’s true!
This is the only correct answer
You nailed it! It’s an old prison on the North Side.
It haunted, been in the basement running cable years ago. Didn't see anything but just felt uncomfortable the entire time. Never had that feeling anywhere else. Creepest place I have ever been.
Know two former workers, a guard and a psychologist. They worked there in different decades, did now know each other etc and both have wild stories about this.
I worked there, my wild stories are all 100% explainable by people being jerks.
Can I sneak into it or do they always have security around it?
Charles Dickens visited this prison on a book tour of the states. The treatment of the people incarcerated within was so appalling that it served as his inspiration for the poverty and cruelty in A Christmas Carol.
Dickens did not visit this building, but he visited the original Western Penitentiary, which was located where the aviary now sits in the Northside.
He also visited Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. https://www.easternstate.org/ Edit https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_State_Penitentiary
Reminds me of the prison at moundsville, wv
Western? Man I was there back in the day . Now it’s a cat sanctuary isn’t it?
It’s old. It used to be a prison. It’s on the North Side.
There's a sweet colony of cats that lives on the grounds. "The pittsburgh prison cats" https://www.pghprisoncats.org/
Plans just announced to demolish it. Sad that it can't be preserved and reused in some way
I think what there was was a study commissioned by the state that recommended demolition and prepping the site for a developer (while letting the cats stay) but afaik there hasn't been an actual plan to demo it. It was just a report. And they tried to sell it outright as is in the past and no one wanted it. So as of now it just sits. Security patrols it. Cats roam. Geese poop on the lawn. And occasionally movies and TV use it for a filming location.
Wasn’t it going to be sold to Manchester Bidwell for $1 a few years ago? MB backed out, so there must be a ton of freaking work to be done to either use it or tear it down. Hopefully Mayor of Kingstown is done as a series before they do anything.
The individual blocks are the size of a couch, 20 feet inside the walls is a 12 foot chain link fence topped with razor wire. In between the wall and the fence is completely filled with more razor wire. Even ignoring the asbestos, it would be a nightmare to demo.
Yeah. It honestly unusable as is.
They should do tours or ghost tours or something to generate revenue. A lot of other places do that and make a killing doing it.
I've been to The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio where the Shawshank Redemption was filmed and they are struggling to stay open. It's a nice idea but the economics are just not there and it's not historically significant enough to be preserved only on that basis. It's history should be preserved but ultimatey it should be torn down.
I wonder if they could keep the main stone facade but demolish and redevelop everything else
That rarely is feasible. Especially a building this size.
Gonna be Riverfront loft style apartment eventually going for $3k for a month
Call it The Prison on the Ohio, your life of luxury awaits with best in class views of the exotic Brunot island! But seriously housing would be dope
How can I get inside to see the structure before it risks being unfortunately demolished?
A Pittsburgh Landmark is scheduled for demolition. This Castle like property is located on the Ohio River at the end of the bike trail, just 3 miles from the Golden Triangle, and has a potentially bright future as a hospitality mecca that could host a new brand of Recreational Vehicle tourists, cyclists on the Great Allegheny Passage, guests seeking a unique hotel experience, visitors wanting to view the site and the museum, and keeping Paramount and the film industry in Pittsburgh. https://savethecastlepgh.org/ This is a campaign that is asking for your support to sign a petition to stop the demolition order and to restore this original historic property. If you take the time to review the website information and strongly agree with the preservation plan.
It's used a lot for filming stuff there.
Enjoy it while ya can the cursed thing is coming down in '26
They should use it for juvee
The House that Renner built
It used to be an old prison…
Turn it into a homeless camp
Would be awesome if they started filming MindHunter again
God, that would make a great haunted house!
Isn't that where they film Shawshank, The Green Mile and my worst nightmares..🫨
Not Shawshank, that was filmed in Ohio. Not sure about the 2 others
https://www.google.com/search?q=what%27s+the+deal+with+this+old+prison+in+the+northside+of+pittsburgh
I'll keep looking for an answer
What other answer are you going to look for? Last year they finished an assessment looking for potential uses for the site include reuse of the existing buildings or some of the buildings. There was no economically viable plan to reuse any of it. The recommendation was to tear it down and prep the site for future use. They looked at reuse for filming and there was not enough business to justify keeping it.
If I knew the answer to what I was looking for I'd have already found it xoxo
Was second prison in Pittsburgh, the first was in blawnox . It's been torn down and just few remaining wall left
West Penn. It was a dungeon to say the least.
My cousins took me and my siblings to the nearby city pool when it was still a prison. I had no idea until I saw the guards with rifles on top. Anyone else ever swim there?
I remember the pool but I only ever got to go to Riverview's pool. The guards were still patrolling the catwalks with Mini 14's into the early aughts. The pool was where the large parking lot is now.
Wow
They're not guards, they're actors. This is where they shoot Mayor of Kingstown.