14 Frightening Haunted Sites in Virginia
Virginia is full of colonial history and Civil War reminders, but the history lessons come with tales of hauntings and other strange events. Many of these stories appear to linger in Virginia’s most historical places, which has a certain eerie appeal to locals and travelers.
Whether you are a die-hard paranormal investigator or someone who loves a spine-tingling story, Virginia is your one-stop shop for haunted houses, eerie forests, abandoned hospitals, and spooky plantations. Ready your nerves and read on for a list of 14 hauntingly interesting sites in Virginia.
The Martha Washington Inn
More than two centuries of history is behind the Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon, and a few ghostly guests have been noted. The inn was a hospital during the Civil War and there are rumors that the soldiers never really left it. Visitors say they’ve heard ghostly violin music and seen apparitions of young soldiers walking the halls. The inn is charmingly Southern, but there’s also a feeling that the past is never really forgotten here.
Ball’s Bluff Battlefield
The Ball’s Bluff Battlefield was a brutal Civil War battle near Leesburg. Visitors today hear ghostly gunfire and marching soldiers in the middle of the night. The spirits of soldiers who died here are still living their last moments, paranormal investigators believe. The battlefield is a beautiful and haunting place, and history is startlingly alive there.
Cold Harbor Battlefield
Another Civil War site believed to be haunted is Cold Harbor Battlefield in Mechanicsville with the fallen soldiers’ spirits. Strange lights, battle cries, and ghostly soldiers walking the grounds have been reported by visitors here. Some believe that the fallen still wander here caught between those terrifying last moments and the afterlife. Their spirits are said to haunt the grounds scaring off locals and visitors alike.
Major Graham Mansion
Major Graham Mansion in Wythe County is famous for the paranormal activity there — apparitions, cold spots, and strange sounds have been experienced on the premises, and the grounds seem haunted by former slaves and the once-living family. In fact, some paranormal investigators say it’s one of the most haunted places in Virginia, with more than a few spirits who aren’t afraid to let you know they’re there.
Gadsby’s Tavern
If historical figures and events in America’s past made an appearance (or libation) in Washington, D.C., one of the establishments that almost certainly shared a glass of ale or two in commemoration would be the Gadsby’s Tavern in Alexandria. It’s said that a ‘female stranger’ died mysteriously at the tavern and her ghost has been sighted by staff and guests through the years. Cold drafts, flickering lights, and feeling like you are being watched are reported by people. Those itching to encounter some of the spirits can visit the Gadsby’s tavern.
The Old House Woods
Mathews County’s Old House Woods is no ordinary forest. Ghost ships and phantom voices can be heard calling from the trees and it is believed that some people have reported seeing the ghosts of pirates. At night, if you dare to stray about these woods, you might leave with a story of an encounter of your own.
The Wythe House
Another colonial-era building, the Wythe House in Williamsburg, has its own chilling stories. Visitors, staff, and others say they’ve heard strange noises, mysteriously seen ghostly figures, and felt a sense of foreboding as though a presence was in the room. He claims that the spirit of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, George Wythe, roams the grounds. The stories, true or not, make this already historic site even more mysterious.
The Historic Cavalier Hotel
Virginia Beach’s Historic Cavalier Hotel has been home to many a celebrity, but some guests say it’s also home to spirits. Many claim that a guest who committed suicide in the hotel in the 1920s still lingers. Some guests said they experienced strange things like flickering lights and cold drapes in some rooms. This hotel truly stands out for those who have a penchant for the paranormal.
Bacon’s Castle
Not only is Bacon’s Castle in Surry County one of the oldest brick buildings in America, but it also holds some of the oldest ghost stories. Though built in 1665, this historic landmark is known for its strange occurrences even today. Visitors are known to be scared off by the apparition of a previous owner and floating orbs. Many visitors report eerie sensations, flickering lights, doors that open on their own and sometimes hearing sounds in empty rooms. Lucky you—or unlucky, depending on how you look at it—you might even spot the “Gray Lady” who roams the halls at night.
The Exchange Hotel
The Exchange Hotel in Gordonsville was a Civil War hospital and is now a museum. More than 700 soldiers died in the hotel, and many visitors insisted that their spirits never left. Phantom footsteps and whispers are heard in empty rooms and people have reported ghostly figures in Civil War uniforms moving through the halls. The atmosphere at this hotel is nothing short of spooky.
The Peyton Randolph House
One of the most haunted homes in the United States is the Peyton Randolph House in Williamsburg. The colonial mansion was built in the 1700s where deaths under mysterious circumstances happened again and again. For years, unexplained reports of children crying, doors slamming, and even unseen hands have scared visitors. Locals claim many spirits of those who suffered here still linger, and it’s a go to spot for ghost hunters.
St. Albans Sanatorium
The St. Albans Sanatorium in Radford was originally a boys school and then became a mental health facility with an ugly history of patient abuse. It is one of Virginia’s most haunted locations, paranormal investigators say. Shadowy figures, chilling sounds were all too common reports. Anyone brave enough to visit the building will feel the heaviness of the building’s atmosphere and will sense the tormented souls who once lived there.
The Ferry Plantation House
Ferry Plantation House in Virginia Beach dates back to the 1600s, and it has picked up its share of spirits over the years. Reports of a ‘Lady in White’, and voices have been made. The home is even famous for a tale of ‘the Witch of Pungo,’ Grace Sherwood, believed to have been tried for witchcraft but now haunts the grounds. You may encounter her ghost roaming if you’re lucky—or cursed.
Hollywood Cemetery
The spooky legends of Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery — a beautiful resting place for many famous Virginians — are a hot spot for paranormal links because of tales of a “Richmond Vampire” and restless Civil War soldiers. Visitors have said they have seen shadowy figures roaming around the graves and disembodied voices chanting by the tombstones. A numbingly eerie and mysterious visit to this living cemetery is fascinating and chilling.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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