No matter your taste in horror or adventure films, Virginia offers plenty of dark tales for exploration. Home to numerous haunted spots where ghosts have made their homes, Virginia offers something creepy for every adventurer looking for thrills or chills.
From an unknown woman wandering Bacon’s Castle to the mournful wails of Civil War bride-to-be mourning her lost lover, these places will surely make you shudder!
Ferry Plantation House
Ferry Plantation House, situated in Virginia Beach and constructed during the 1600s, is widely considered one of Virginia Beach’s most haunted locations. Taking its name from an earlier ferry that used to run along Lynnhaven waterway, this property reportedly houses 11 spirits – among them Rebecca Walke whose lover perished during an 1810 shipwreck at its nearby ferry landing and this house.
There have also been reports of a ghostly little girl roaming the property with dark ringlets around her eyes and dark-skinned features reminiscent of those seen during dunking trials for witchcraft.
House was temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now back open and offering tours on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Swannanoa Palace
Swannanoa Palace was constructed as a summer estate by James Dooley in 1912. Rumor has it that Sallie has haunted it ever since it opened, while other ghostly spirits such as servants and groundskeepers have also been reported at this estate.
This haunted palace is packed with history and is said to be one of the most haunted places in Virginia. Visitors have reported hearing footsteps and cries, seeing apparitions, and doors opening and closing on their own.
Bacon’s Castle in Abingdon boasts an eerie history of witches, murders, and even an occasional comet sighting – no surprise it is so popular among tourists! Visitors have reported hearing screams, laughter and crying coming from within its walls and items moving spontaneously around it.
Gold Hill Hotel
Gold Hill Hotel stands in an idyllic mining town and has a fascinating haunted past. According to legend, its hallowed halls may be haunted by miners killed in the Yellow Jacket mine disaster and Rosie herself, an ex-lady of the night who remains on property causing paranormal activity like slamming doors and sightings of ghostly figures.
Guest have reported experiencing strange television interference and hearing unexplained knocking at their doors, as well as sensing rose-scented aromas in their room. Many spirits are believed to inhabit this hotel, including William.
Gold Hill Hotel in Virginia City provides visitors with a truly unforgettable experience that blends history and the supernatural, offering visitors a memorable dining, lodging, or investigation experience. If that is what you are after then Gold Hill Hotel should be on your itinerary.
Dooley House
Virginia has an intriguing past, making for some creepy locales! Check out some haunted spots during your next visit to The Old Dominion.
Swannanoa Palace, built by Sallie Dooley in 1912, is said to be haunted by her ghost and those of its groundskeepers and servants.
St Albans Sanatorium in Virginia and Eastern United States is considered one of the most haunted places. From its early years as a Lutheran boys school where bullying was encouraged to later years as a psychiatric hospital where patients were tortured, it’s no secret this place is full of ghosts.
Boxwood Inn guests may come face-to-face with Lizzie, an especially chatty ghost said to reside in its attic.
Paxton Manor
Virginia offers plenty of haunted places that will provide real ghost sightings or just give a thrill this Halloween, from creepy hotels to terrifying mines – guaranteed to provide thrills this Halloween.
Paxton Manor in Leesburg is one of the state’s most beloved haunted houses, hosting professional haunted house events each October and donating its proceeds to Arc of Loudoun (an organization helping those with disabilities).
This year, Paxton Manor has been transformed into a haunted boarding school with an eerie past. Visitors will experience new rooms and characters like an unsettling headmistress who forces students into rebellion; additionally there’s even a basement cavern known as Well of Souls!
