Entry No. 5 — the Boise file — filed under: haunted
Old Idaho Penitentiary
A territorial prison that locked up its first inmates in 1872 and kept operating until it closed in December 1973 in the wake of riots and crumbling conditions, this sandstone compound lets you walk into Siberia (the solitary-confinement cellblock) and stand in the Gallows Room where executions were carried out. Over 13,000 people were imprisoned here, including children as young as ten and more than 200 women. Visitors and staff report heaviness, whispers, phantom touches, and flickering lights, and the site has been filmed by Ghost Adventures and Destination Fear.
The story
The state didn't even quarry the stone to build this place—they forced the prisoners to do it. Starting in the 1870s, inmates locked inside this territorial outpost were sent up nearby Table Rock to cut sandstone block by block and stack the very walls that kept them trapped. Over its 101-year run, more than 13,000 people passed through these cellblocks, including children as young as ten and over 200 women. Because uninsulated stone absorbs weather like a sponge, prisoners endured sweltering summer heatwaves and winter freezes right inside their cells.
Decades of claustrophobic overcrowding, zero ventilation, and brutal punishment cells like Siberia eventually boiled over. Inmate riots tore through the compound in 1971 and again in 1973, when prisoners set fire to the dining hall and chapel. Rather than rebuild the ruined complex, the state transferred the remaining population to a modern facility south of Boise in December 1973 and left the scorched sandstone standing.
Walking the grounds today feels less like visiting a sanitized history exhibit and more like exploring an abandoned crime scene. You can step directly into Siberia's solitary cells or stand in the Gallows Room where executions were carried out. Staff and visitors regularly report cold spots, disembodied whispers, and ghost touches—and considering the misery baked into these stone walls, you didn't hear it from us, but you'd be foolish not to keep your back to the wall.
What it's like
Tucked against the foothills at the end of Old Penitentiary Road, the compound feels isolated despite being minutes from downtown. The self-guided walk takes you through open cellblocks, charred ruin walls, and narrow steel stairwells where the atmosphere feels heavy and dry. The catch? Those historic sandstone cells retain heat in high summer just like they did in 1872, making mid-day tours uncomfortably hot. Bring water, visit on a weekday morning to avoid crowd bottlenecks in the narrow corridors, or reserve tickets early for a summer Twilight Tour when the sun drops and the site takes on a proper late-night chill.
The move: Take the self-guided daytime tour through Death Row and the Gallows Room, then come back for a summer Twilight Tour after the gates would normally close.
📍 Before you go Open year-round; summer 10am-5pm, winter 12pm-5pm. Adults $8. Twilight Tours, Sleepless in Stripes overnights, and paranormal investigations are seasonal special events that sell out.
- 📍 Boise (East End)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2445 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise, ID 83712
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Old Idaho Penitentiary - J. Curtis Earl Arms Collection — Located directly inside the penitentiary complex, this collection of historic weaponry and military gear makes a natural next door walk-through during your prison visit.
- Idaho Museum of Mining & Geology — Sitting right next door in the historic district, this small museum shifts focus to the rocks and minerals that inmates quaried to build the prison walls.
- Boise Castle Home — Located just half a mile down Warm Springs Avenue, this full-blown private residential castle provides a bizarre architectural contrast to the prison's fortress walls.
- Pengilly's Saloon — Head two miles west into Old Boise after your tour to grab a drink behind a turn-of-the-century Brunswick bar that matches the prison's late-1800s era.
Good to know
What are the ticket prices and general hours?
General admission for adults is $8. The site is open year-round, running 10:00 am to 5:00 pm in the summer and 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm during winter months.
What is 'Siberia' on the prison grounds?
Siberia was the penitentiary's solitary confinement cellblock, designed for strict isolation and punishment. You can walk through its tiny, unventilated stone cells during the self-guided daytime tour.
Why did the Old Idaho Penitentiary close down?
Decades of crumbling infrastructure, lack of plumbing, and severe overcrowding culminated in major inmate riots in 1971 and 1973. After prisoners burned down the chapel and dining hall in 1973, the facility was decommissioned and inmates were transferred.
Were executions performed at the prison?
Yes. Ten executions took place on the prison grounds over its operational history, six of them by hanging. The Gallows Room is preserved and accessible on tour.
Does the penitentiary offer after-hours or ghost tours?
Yes. The site hosts seasonal special events including summer Twilight Tours, paranormal investigations, and Sleepless in Stripes overnights, though tickets for these events sell out quickly.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia · usghostadventures.com · imdb.com · spokesman.com
last checked: 2026-06-24