By day, the quaint town of Staunton is charming, historic, and the perfect spot for a memorable day trip. Yet the nighttime is a different story in this corner of the Shenandoah Valley. With deep-rooted history and buildings that have been around for centuries, this town is known for having plenty of paranormal spots. Here's a bit more about why you may want to avoid driving through these haunted places in Staunton VA at night or alone:

The beautiful town of Staunton, with its beautiful brick buildings, friendly residents, and charming storefronts...

... hardly seems like a candidate to be one of the most haunted towns in Virginia. Yet with impressive history always comes the chance for paranormal activity.

One of the most popular attractions in the Staunton area and one of the top tourist destinations in Virginia is the Frontier Culture Museum.

The Frontier Culture Museum is the biggest open-air living history museum in the Shenandoah Valley.

Another of the most well-known and historic places in town is the Stonewall Jackson Hotel

The Stonewall Jackson Hotel (which has since been rebranded as the Hotel 24 South) originally opened in 1924, is considered an excellent example of the Colonial Revivalist style, and is one of the most well-known hotels in Virginia.

There's a tour company in town known as the Ghosts of Staunton.

Thye offer a 90-minute walking tour of some of the most haunted locations around the town, some of which have been around since the 18th century.

The primary spot on the haunted map is Mary Baldwin College.

Founded in 1840, Mary Baldwin College. is notorious for unusual goings-on in the evening.

Paintings are frequently moved around or turned inside out.

Students also know that after 8:00 p.m., there are mysterious noises in the library that can be distracting while studying.

Second on the list is the Staunton Train Depot.

Established in 1860, the Staunton Train Depot was the site of a terrible train wreck in 1890.

The train had an opera group on board and just as the train was approaching the station, it completely derailed and went right into the building.

By some miraculous twist of fate, no one was killed. However, the lead singer of the group did eventually die after a stake was pulled from her leg.

The opera singer's apparition is known to haunt these tracks frequently, and especially during the nighttime.

Some train passengers have also reported their hair being yanked, only to find that no one is standing behind them.

While these mysterious hauntings shouldn't stop you from visiting one of Virginia's most noteworthy and historic towns...

...you might think twice before meandering here alone after dark!

If you were to do a search for “haunted locations near me,” Staunton would most certainly pop up at the top of the list! For more information, check out the Visit Staunton website, as well as the Visit Staunton Facebook page. You can also learn more about Staunton's ghost tours by going to the Ghosts of Staunton website.

Have you ever been to any haunted places in Staunton, VA? If so, which ones? We'd love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

If you're curious to learn more about the non-haunted attractions of Staunton, be sure to read about why Staunton, Virginia Is One Of The Most Unique Towns In The U.S.

If you’d like to explore hikes aroundStaunton, you can find some great trails by going to the AllTrails website.

Still in the mood for more Virginia adventures? Then perhaps you'd love to explore Shenandoah National Park!