There's A Haunted House In Virginia That's So Terrifying You Have To Sign A Waiver To Enter
By Beth|Published August 18, 2016
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
It’s no secret that haunted houses are terrifying. These foreboding mansions are set up for productions that can truly scare the living daylights out of you. Yet even so, it’s not often that you hear of a haunted house so completely horrifying that visitors are required to sign a waiver before entering. That’s the case with northern Virginia’s Paxton Manor. This haunted house is much more than an attraction; it’s a historic site with acclaimed paranormal activity. And you can experience it all this October…if you dare.
In 1872, the mansion known as Paxton Manor was built in the northeast portion of Leesburg, Virginia and known at the time as Carlheim. It was built by Pennsylvania resident Charles Paxton, after whom the house is now named. The structure is an impressive 20,000 square feet and was included on the National Register of Historic Places by 1979.
Today, the manor serves two purposes. First and foremost, it's the home of the Margaret Paxton Memorial Learning and Resource Center, a nonprofit campus for children. Its second identity is much spookier. Several times throughout the year, this Victorian home opens its doors and welcomes the brave of heart for self-guided haunted tours. And these dual identities work seamlessly together, as profits made from the haunted house go directly towards the Paxton Campus.
Two of the most famous productions are know as "Shocktober" and "My Bloody Valentine," the second of which requires all participants to sign a waiver. For nearly 30 minutes, visitors wander the darkened hallways of the mansion, anxiously awaiting figures dressed as creepy dolls and clowns to spook them. It's quite a take on the traditional Valentine's evening. With over 30 rooms to meander through, you can imagine a tour of this kind would feel like it never ended.
Paxton Manor also opens its doors to those in search of the paranormal. Visitors can sign up for an all-night investigation with professional ghost hunters. All productions aside, Paxton is considered to be a hotbed for haunted activity. Perhaps this is why the tours themselves are so terrifying.
Coming up this October, the famous "Shocktober" will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. The website makes it explicitly clear that this event is not for the faint of heart, and anyone on the fence about getting a good scare should enter at their own risk.
For anyone interested in learning more about these haunted tours, click here for details. And if you’ve braved the event and lived to tell the tale, we’d love to hear about your experience there!
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