The Definitive Guide To All Things Haunted And Creepy In Virginia
Virginia is chock-full of haunted places, from abandoned tunnels to ghost towns, and yes — even haunted trails. Spend any amount of time in the Old Dominion and you’ll likely hear a few urban legends of places like the Bunny Man Bridge, a notoriously haunted landmark, or the Cavalier Hotel, one of the most haunted places to stay in Virginia Beach. Of course, many of the ghosts you’ll hear about in Virginia are friendly, maybe even a bit mischievous, although there are some that are known to be a bit more sinister. The more creepy facts you learn about Virginia, the more you’ll realize that the Old Dominion is full of intrigue. At this point, you might be wondering, what are the creepiest places in Virginia? Continue reading to delve further into these notoriously haunted places, all of them filled with paranormal activity.
The Most Haunted House In Virginia
Tucked away in Williamsburg, Virginia, you’ll discover one of the most haunted houses in Virginia. Known as the Peyton-Randolph House, this now museum once served as a home to Peyton Randolph, the first President of the Continental Congress. The oldest part of the house dates back to 1715 and over a hundred years later during the Civil War, the house was used as a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers who had fought in the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862. It’s no wonder that a house that bore witness to so much living and dying would be populated with a few ghosts. Guests who visit today have reported seeing an 18-century man wandering the halls, or even hearing the sound of boots stomping throughout the property.
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The Most Haunted Road In Virginia (And Maybe America)
Virginia is filled with breathtaking drives and scenic byways, each offering a unique perspective of the landscape. Yet there are some notoriously haunted roads in Virginia you won’t want to drive alone…especially after dark. Crawford Road in Yorktown, Virginia is one such place. While it may seem relatively normal in broad daylight, it’s considered to be the most haunted road in Virginia. This one-way lane is associated with so much tragedy and paranormal activity that many locals choose to avoid it altogether. Legend has it that hundreds of years ago, an unhappy bride took her own life here by hanging herself from the bridge. Today, unsuspecting drivers have seen the phantom of the hanged woman, slowly swaying back and forth. Little is known about the woman’s identity, but hers isn’t the only tragedy. In the 1800s and 1900s, the bridge was the site of public murders in the form of lynchings of African Americans. Cars parked under the bridge are said to lose power, drivers have felt hands on their back, and some even have spotted eyes glowing red through the woods. These disturbing, creepy facts are enough to reroute your GPS and find another road.
The 3 Most Haunted Places In Virginia
1. The St. Albans Sanitorium in Radford is one of the creepiest and most haunted places in Virginia. This former mental hospital treated patients without much regard for their mental health or wellbeing. It’s believed that the doctors who worked there were more interested in testing new treatments and experimenting than protecting the ill. The environment was so troubling and bleak that many patients killed themselves, and an equal number were permanently damaged and in some cases killed by the treatments. Before it was a mental hospital, the building once served as a school for boys. Yet the environment was toxic, encouraging boys to bully and compete with one another to the extreme. The campus was fraught with tragedy, and it’s no mystery why the property continues to harbor evil spirits. Think you have the nerve to visit in person?
2. Equally spooky is the Exchange Hotel Civil War Medical Museum in Gordonsville, Virginia. Throughout its history, the building has served many purposes, each leaving behind at least a few restless spirits that continue to haunt the building today. The Exchange Hotel is most famous for housing passengers in need of a meal and a place to sleep while the passenger trains would refuel. By 1862, it also served as a place to treat battle wounds. Today, visitors can stop by to browse artifacts from the war. Of course, they might also encounter something else altogether.
3. Major Graham’s Mansion
is the kind of place you wouldn’t want to visit at nighttime. Riddled with tragedy, shameful history, and paranormal activity, it’s undoubtedly one of the most disturbing places to visit in Virginia. Featured on an episode of Ghost Hunters, the house has undergone countless paranormal investigations. On this property, the enslaved people were treated terribly, even compared to typical standards of that day. Seeking freedom and their revenge, two of them killed Joseph Baker, the original home’s tenant. The enslaved people were then killed on the property, though it’s believed their ghosts continue to haunt it.
Virginia’s Freakiest Haunted Prison
The Public Gaol is one of the most historic and haunted prisons in Virginia. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the jail was built in 1701 after city officials learned that there needed to be a place to imprison people for political corruption and crime. In its early stages, there were only three rooms inside the Public Gaol (the former spelling of jail). Circumstances of the jail were horrid: it was often so cold in there that many inmates froze to death during the winter. One of the prison’s most notorious inmates was Blackbeard the pirate.
4 Creepy Photos From Virginia
A chilling abandoned house is slowly being reclaimed by nature in rural Virginia.
A photo of the Old Public Hospital in Colonial Williamsburg, the oldest psychiatric hospital in the country.
Malvern Hill Battlefield in Richmond, where 57,000 men were killed during the Civil War.
A photo of the Bunny Man Bridge, one of the most haunted bridges in Virginia, where a convict escaped from the asylum bus and became a serial killer.
Scariest Haunted House In Virginia
Shocktober at Paxton Manor in Leesburg is without a doubt one of the scariest haunted houses you can visit in Virginia. Throughout the year, the property hosts all kinds of events dedicated to terrifying visitors — all in good fun, of course. Yet some find the actors and haunted decor to be a little too frightening! In other words, this scary haunted house in Virginia is not for the faint of heart. In fact, the haunted house is so terrifying that you’re required to sign a waiver before entering.
The Best Haunted Corn Maze In Virginia
Liberty Mills Farm is home to the largest corn maze in Virginia. Each year, the farm decides a theme and then puts together one of the most elaborate corn mazes on the East Coast. And while these mazes are catered to visitors of all ages, there’s a frightening option that teens and adults can try: exploring the corn maze after the sun goes down. Of course, there aren’t any actors who will try to scare you or make you think that the maze is haunted; however, it’s the darkness that really sets the tone for this haunted attraction in Virginia. With just a flashlight to guide your way, you’ll feel totally immersed in this haunted corn maze.
5 Creepy Facts About Virginia
- Virginia is home to not one, not two, but three kinds of deadly spiders. These spiders are the Brown Recluse, the Yellow Sac Spider, and the Black Widow.
- In the past century, there have been at least 20 shark attacks in Virginia. While these occurrences are relatively rare, it’s troubling to think of shark attacks happening at all, especially along Virginia’s picturesque coastlines.
- The state of Virginia experiences an average of 18 significant tornadoes each year. You might not associate the state of Virginia with many tornadoes; however, they do happen and can be deadly and destructive.
- It’s likely that despite official statements, there may be some mountain lions that continue to roam in the Virginia mountains. And while these majestic creatures are native to Virginia, it’s also important to remember that they can be dangerous. It’s best to respect them and give plenty of space in the extremely unlikely circumstance that you should spot one.
- There are three deadly kinds of snakes that you can find in Virginia. While most of the snakes you’ll encounter in the Old Dominion are harmless, you will want to stay far away from the Northern Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake, and the Eastern Cottonmouth.
