Self-Guided Visit
Fort and Grounds Tour
Tour the reconstructed Revolutionary War fort and walk the approach road and surrounding fields where local lore places a shadowy sentry and the orbs said to be children.
- Duration:
- 1.5 hr
Battlefield / Military Site
Fort Roberdeau Historic Site
A reconstructed 1778 Revolutionary War lead-mining fort in Sinking Valley, Blair County, where visitors report a shadowy sentry along the approach road and apparitions tied to the fort's original earthen footprint.
383 Fort Roberdeau Road, Altoona, PA 16601
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
County-operated historic site; modest admission to the fort buildings, grounds and trails free during park hours.
Access
Limited Access
Rural valley site with grass, gravel and wooded trails
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1778 · Revolutionary War lead-mining defensive fort (1778) · Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1974) · Reconstructed county historic site and natural area
Fort Roberdeau was erected in 1778 in Sinking Valley, in what is now Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania. General Daniel Roberdeau, a Continental Congress delegate, built the stockade to protect lead miners and smelting operations whose output was critical to the Continental Army's ammunition supply during the Revolutionary War. The fort consisted of horizontal log walls with a bastion at each corner and was garrisoned until roughly 1780.
After the war the original fort fell into ruin and ultimately vanished from the landscape, leaving only its footprint in the surrounding farm fields. In 1974 the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in the mid-1970s a full reconstruction was undertaken, rebuilt a short distance from the original location. The reconstructed complex includes officers' quarters, a storehouse, barracks, a blacksmith shop, a lead miner's cabin, a powder magazine and a lead smelter.
The 230-acre property is operated as a county historic site and natural area. In addition to the fort, it preserves a restored nineteenth-century barn that serves as a visitor center, a restored farmhouse, a sinkhole, and a trail system. Living-history events and educational programs interpret the fort's Revolutionary War role for visitors during the seasonal open period.
Because the reconstruction sits roughly a quarter mile from the original earthworks, local tradition holds that disturbing the original ground is the source of the site's reported hauntings, which cluster along the entrance road and the adjacent fields rather than at the rebuilt fort itself.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Roberdeau
- https://fortroberdeau.org/
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=52429
Shadow figureApparitionsOrbsUnexplained soundsCold spots
According to folklore documented in regional haunted-Pennsylvania compilations and the Shadowlands index, the hauntings at Fort Roberdeau are tied not to the reconstructed fort but to the field marking the original 1778 footprint, which lies roughly a quarter mile down the entrance road. Tradition says the relocation of the fort 'disturbed the ground' and stirred its restless spirits.
The most frequently repeated account describes a dark, shadow-like figure said to be a fort guard killed in an attack, seen pacing the entrance road near an old wooden utility pole after dark. Witnesses also describe two orbs, one light and one dark, drifting over the field, interpreted in the lore as the spirits of children, sometimes accompanied by the sound of a child's laughter and a dog barking.
Additional reports collected by visitors include sudden cold sensations, unexplained patches of fog, and odd noises along the public road that leads to the site. These tales are recounted as enduring local ghost lore rather than verified events, and the daytime historic site itself is presented as a family-friendly educational destination.
Notable Entities
The shadow sentryTwo child spirits
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Roberdeau Historic Site family-friendly?
An educational county historic site with living-history programming. The paranormal lore is mild shadow-figure and orb folklore, well suited to families and history-minded visitors. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Fort Roberdeau Historic Site?
County-operated historic site; modest admission to the fort buildings, grounds and trails free during park hours.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Fort Roberdeau Historic Site wheelchair accessible?
Fort Roberdeau Historic Site has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Rural valley site with grass, gravel and wooded trails.