Virginia’s Most Haunted Historic Inns You Can Actually Stay In
Virginia’s historic inns aren’t just famous for Southern hospitality, they’re known for ghostly guests who never checked out! These centuries-old establishments have witnessed the Civil War, Revolutionary times, and countless personal dramas.
Ready for a spine-tingling getaway? Pack your courage and camera as we explore haunted Virginia inns where you can actually spend the night… if you dare.
1. The Red Fox Inn & Tavern: Revolutionary Spirits Roam The Halls
Did you know this Middleburg landmark dates back to 1728? Confederate soldiers once plotted strategy in its taproom, and some apparently never left. Guests report mysterious footsteps and cold spots in the hallways after midnight.
Staff members have stories about wine glasses moving by themselves and rocking chairs swaying without any breeze. The most active spirit is reportedly a Civil War-era nurse who tends to injured ‘patients’ in certain rooms.
2. The Marshall House: Phantom Footsteps Of A General
Walking into The Marshall House feels like stepping back in time. Located in Lexington, this Federal-style mansion was once home to General George C. Marshall, architect of the famous Marshall Plan after World War II.
Visitors often sense someone watching them in the library where the General spent his evenings. Room 332 is particularly active, with guests reporting their belongings mysteriously rearranged overnight. The general’s spectral figure has been spotted near his favorite writing desk.
3. The Clifton Inn: A Bride’s Eternal Honeymoon
If you’re brave enough to book the Blue Room at Charlottesville’s Clifton Inn, you might meet Elizabeth. This heartbroken bride from the 1800s still wanders the property in her wedding dress after dying tragically on her honeymoon.
Guests report hearing soft weeping and catching glimpses of white fabric disappearing around corners. The temperature drops dramatically when she’s present. Elizabeth seems particularly drawn to engaged couples, sometimes leaving small wedding-related objects like flower petals on their pillows.
4. The Exchange Hotel: Civil War Hospital Hauntings
Once a bustling railroad hotel, The Exchange in Gordonsville transformed into a Civil War hospital where over 700 soldiers died. Today, their spirits make themselves known through whispers, moans, and phantom smells of ether.
Visitors have captured orbs and strange mists in photographs, especially in the surgical room. The most chilling encounters involve a phantom doctor who still makes his rounds at night. Room 4 is infamous for its spectral activity, with guests reporting being touched by invisible hands.
5. The George Washington Inn: First President’s Favorite Haunt
You might share breakfast with more than just fellow tourists at this Mount Vernon establishment. The inn, built on land once owned by Washington himself, features rooms decorated with period furniture, and some unexpected colonial guests.
Staff members avoid the basement after dark due to frequent sounds of revolutionary-era military drills. The most common apparition wears a powdered wig and colonial attire resembling our first president.
Though the management downplays the hauntings, they keep a special logbook of guest experiences that fills several volumes.
6. The Jefferson Hotel: Ghostly Gala Never Ends
Richmond’s grandest hotel has hosted presidents, celebrities, and apparently, several permanent ghostly residents since 1895. Alligators once roamed the marble lobby fountains, and some say their spirits remain, causing unexplained splashing sounds at night.
The main staircase (which inspired Gone with the Wind’s famous scene) is home to a bride who fell to her death on her wedding day. Guests in the Commonwealth Suite report seeing a man in a smoking jacket who vanishes when approached. The hotel’s marble statues have been seen changing positions overnight.
7. The Williamsburg Inn: Colonial Ghosts In Modern Luxury
Though built in 1937, this elegant establishment sits on land with centuries of history. The spirits here are decidedly aristocratic, with reports of a ghostly ball taking place in the main ballroom during full moons.
Housekeeping staff report finding perfectly made beds mysteriously rumpled moments after cleaning. A woman in Colonial dress has been spotted tending to the gardens at dawn.
The most active area is the East Wing, where guests report knocking from inside the walls and the sounds of children playing in empty hallways.
8. The Mason Inn: Whispers From Revolutionary Times
If walls could talk, the Mason Inn’s would tell tales of revolutionary plotting and colonial intrigue. This charming inn within Colonial Williamsburg operates as a living museum by day, but after hours, the real history emerges.
Guests have reported hearing hushed conversations about British troop movements coming from empty rooms. The innkeeper keeps a special journal of paranormal experiences that includes accounts of candles lighting themselves.
Room 8 is particularly active, with multiple reports of a colonial soldier who stands at attention by the window around 3 AM.
9. The Goodwin House: Spectral Family Reunion
Hidden in Alexandria’s historic district, this Federal-style mansion belonged to the prominent Goodwin family for generations. Visitors often hear children’s laughter echoing through the empty third-floor nursery.
The family patriarch, James Goodwin, still keeps watch from his study, where guests report the smell of pipe tobacco and brandy.
Most intriguing is the dining room where staff have arrived to find the table set for a formal dinner party with antique silver that had been locked away. The chandelier often sways without any breeze.
10. The Williamsburg Lodge: Tavern Tales From Beyond
When darkness falls over Colonial Williamsburg, the Lodge’s tavern comes alive with more than just modern guests. Built in 1939 but designed to honor colonial traditions, this establishment sits on grounds with centuries of history.
Bartenders report glasses sliding across the bar untouched and colonial-era music faintly playing after closing. The most famous spirit is a tavern keeper named Thomas who ensures guests are properly served.
Room 218 has such frequent paranormal activity that some staff refuse to clean it alone, reporting cold spots and the sensation of being watched.
11. The Thomas Bullitt House: The General Still Stands Guard
Though this Lexington gem is now a charming inn, it was once the home of Revolutionary War hero Thomas Bullitt. His protective presence is still felt throughout the property, especially in the study where his portrait seems to watch visitors.
Guests staying in the General’s former bedroom report hearing military commands in the middle of the night. The innkeeper has documented dozens of instances where items connected to British history mysteriously fall from shelves.
Most impressive are the phantom footsteps that pace the upstairs hallway at precisely midnight, following the General’s nightly routine.
12. The Inn At Little Washington: Culinary Spirits Never Rest
World-famous for its five-star dining, this luxurious inn in Washington, Virginia harbors secrets beyond its culinary excellence. The 18th-century building has witnessed centuries of history, and some former residents apparently couldn’t bear to leave.
Kitchen staff report utensils moving on their own and mysterious help with complex dishes when they’re falling behind. The most active spirit is a former chef who slams cabinets when recipes aren’t prepared to his standards.
Guests in the Blue Room frequently report dreams of elaborate feasts from different historical periods, suggesting the inn’s culinary spirits communicate through inspiration.
