15 Most Haunted Places in Virginia: Real Ghost Stories You Can Visit

Few states carry as much ghostly weight as Virginia. Four centuries of colonial settlement, revolution, and civil war left the ground here thick with tragedy.

Colonial mansions still stand where founders died and enslaved people suffered. Battlefields hold the unmarked graves of thousands of soldiers cut down in a single afternoon.

That history is exactly why Virginia feels so deeply haunted. Grief and violence leave an imprint, and here it seems to have never faded.

Below are 15 of the most haunted places in Virginia, ranked and ready to visit. Each links to its full record in our directory of all haunted places in Virginia, and if you want to bring your own gear, start with our ghost hunting equipment guide.

1. Peyton Randolph House (Williamsburg)

The Peyton Randolph House is widely called the most haunted spot in all of Colonial Williamsburg. Built in 1715, it belonged to the first President of the Continental Congress, who died here mysteriously in 1775.

During the Revolution the house served as a hospital, and many wounded soldiers died in agony inside its walls. Enslaved people also lived, worked, and suffered here.

The upstairs bedrooms are the most active spot, where visitors report cold spots, tugging hands, and sudden dizziness. A soldier in colonial uniform and a woman in a blue dress are the ghosts seen most often.

You can visit as part of a Colonial Williamsburg tour, with seasonal ghost tours running at night. Fall, especially around Halloween, is when activity peaks.

2. The Cavalier Hotel (Virginia Beach)

The Cavalier Hotel has drawn presidents, celebrities, and a long trail of tragedy since it opened in 1927. Bootleggers used it during Prohibition, and a guest fell to his death from a high window in the 1920s.

The most famous ghost is a man who drowned in the pool. Staff still hear splashing and laughter near water that sits completely empty.

The fifth floor is the most active area, with flickering lights, whispers, and the phantom scent of cigar smoke. Some guests also report faint piano music drifting from an empty ballroom.

It runs as a working luxury hotel, so anyone can book a stay. Ask the staff and many will happily share their own encounters.

3. Hollywood Cemetery (Richmond)

Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond is the resting place of two U.S. presidents and more than 18,000 Confederate soldiers. Opened in 1847, its Gothic monuments and river bluffs feel eerie even in daylight.

Its most feared spot is the W.W. Pool mausoleum, tied to the legend of the Richmond Vampire. In 1925, a blood-covered figure was said to flee a tunnel collapse and vanish into this crypt.

Visitors report shadowy soldiers among the graves and a weeping statue over a child’s tomb. Cold spots cluster near President Tyler’s grave and the Pool crypt.

Entry is free and open dawn to dusk, with seasonal ghost tours available. Dusk in the fall, when fog rolls off the river, is the most atmospheric time.

4. St. Albans Sanatorium (Radford)

St. Albans Sanatorium began in 1892 as a strict boys’ school before becoming a psychiatric hospital in 1916. Patients endured electroshock therapy, lobotomies, and other brutal treatments.

That suffering left a heavy mark. Visitors report disembodied screams, shadow figures, and unseen hands grabbing or pushing them.

The basement and old electroshock rooms are the most terrifying areas, full of EMF spikes and physical sensations. A tall shadow man and the screams of a former patient are the most reported encounters.

The site is open specifically for ghost tours and paranormal investigations. Activity is said to peak on October nights between midnight and 3 AM.

5. Bacon’s Castle (Surry)

Bacon’s Castle is the oldest brick dwelling in the United States, built in 1665. It earned its name in 1676 when followers of Nathaniel Bacon seized the house during their rebellion.

Union soldiers later occupied the property during the Civil War. Centuries of owners and servants died here, many under mysterious circumstances.

The upper bedrooms and main staircase are the most active spots. Witnesses describe a weeping woman in period dress, strange lights in the windows, and a translucent figure floating up the stairs.

The site is a museum run by Preservation Virginia with historical and ghost tours. Fall and winter evenings bring the most reported activity.

6. Rosewell Plantation (Gloucester)

Rosewell Plantation was once one of the grandest mansions in the South, built in 1725 for the powerful Page family. A devastating 1916 fire left only skeletal brick ruins behind.

Family members, workers, and enslaved people all died on the grounds over the centuries. Their presence is said to remain among the ruins.

The remaining archways and cellar are the most active, where visitors feel sudden chills and see shadowy figures. Some report the scent of smoke and phantom sounds of a long-past party.

The ruins are open dawn to dusk for self-guided visits, with occasional paranormal tours. Foggy evenings in fall and winter are best.

7. Major Graham’s Mansion (Wythe County)

Major Graham’s Mansion is a sprawling early-1800s estate with a dark history of slavery and mysterious death. It belonged to wealthy landowner Major David Graham.

Reports of suicides and disappearances have long fueled its ghost stories. Enslaved people worked and suffered on the land here.

The basement and lower levels are the most active, where visitors feel dread and even struggle to breathe. Encounters include a weeping veiled woman, rattling chains, and a phantom horseman near the woods.

The mansion opens for seasonal ghost tours and historical events. Late-night fall tours bring the strongest activity.

8. Cold Harbor Battlefield Park (Richmond)

Cold Harbor Battlefield Park saw one of the most gruesome clashes of the Civil War in 1864. Nearly 18,000 men fell here, many cut down within minutes.

Thousands were buried in mass graves, often never identified. That despair is said to still hang over the fields.

The Sunken Road trench is the most haunted area, filled with cold chills and whispers. Visitors report ghostly soldiers in the morning fog and phantom gunfire loud enough to make them duck.

Entry is free with self-guided trails and seasonal ranger tours. Foggy mornings near the early June anniversary bring the most encounters.

9. Sailor’s Creek Battlefield (Rice)

Sailor’s Creek Battlefield was the last major battle before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. On April 6, 1865, more than 7,700 Confederate soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured here.

Many were buried in unmarked graves on the field. The battle’s chaos seems to replay for those who visit.

The Hillsman House, used as a field hospital, is the most haunted spot. Visitors report cold spots, ghostly touches, and a spectral regiment of tattered soldiers marching through the mist.

The park is free and open dawn to dusk with self-guided trails. Dusk and dawn, especially on the April 6 anniversary, are the most active times.

10. Ferry Plantation House (Virginia Beach)

Ferry Plantation House was built in 1830 on the site of a 17th-century ferry landing where travelers drowned in shipwrecks. It stands over the ruins of an earlier manor that burned down mysteriously.

The house is tied to Grace Sherwood, Virginia’s infamous Witch of Pungo, convicted in 1706. A young woman also died here after a tragic fall.

The staircase is the most active area, where visitors feel invisible hands push and pull them. The Lady in White is seen near the landing where she is said to have fallen.

The house is open for historical tours and seasonal ghost tours for a small donation. Foggy fall nights near Halloween bring out the most activity.

11. Paxton Manor (Leesburg)

Paxton Manor is a grand 1872 mansion that later became a home for orphaned children. Several children are said to have died there under mysterious circumstances.

Today it hosts the popular Shocktober haunted attraction. Its real reputation, though, comes from the spirits of those children.

The attic and basement are the most active spots, with dread so strong some visitors feel nauseous. Reports include children’s giggles, tiny handprints on fogged glass, and a woman in white on the second floor.

The manor opens mainly for Shocktober and occasional investigations in fall. October and November are the peak months for encounters.

12. Fort Magruder Hotel (Williamsburg)

Fort Magruder Hotel sits on the ground of the 1862 Battle of Williamsburg. Hundreds of soldiers fought and died where guests now sleep.

A Confederate earthwork fort once stood nearby and anchored the battle. The fallen are said to still roam the property.

The second-floor hallways are the most active, with cold drafts, flickering lights, and eerie whispers. Guests report Civil War soldiers walking the halls and a faint blue light hovering over the battlefield outside.

It runs as a working hotel open year-round, so you can book a room. Fall nights and storms between midnight and 3 AM see the most sightings.

13. Boxwood Inn Bed & Breakfast (Newport News)

The Boxwood Inn is a charming 1897 home that has served as a general store, post office, and inn. Several owners and guests have died on the property over the years.

Despite its cozy feel, the inn is one of the most haunted in Virginia. Guests report phantom footsteps, moving objects, and figures in mirrors.

The main staircase is the most haunted spot, with footsteps and a voice that whispers guests’ names. A woman in white and the laughter of an unseen child are also frequently reported.

It operates as a working bed and breakfast open year-round. Fall and winter nights around midnight bring the most activity.

14. Staunton Train Depot (Staunton)

The Staunton Train Depot dates to 1854 and was burned by Union forces in 1864. Train accidents over the years also claimed the lives of workers and passengers.

The depot was later rebuilt, but the dead are said to have stayed. Locals still report ghostly figures along the tracks.

The old waiting room is the most active spot, where figures are seen sitting on the benches. A ghostly conductor paces the platform and a woman in old-fashioned dress waits for a train that never comes.

The station is open daily around train schedules and free to visit. Foggy mornings and late nights in fall and winter are most active.

15. First Landing State Park (Virginia Beach)

First Landing State Park marks the spot where English settlers first arrived in 1607. Its coast is also steeped in shipwrecks, pirate lore, and vanished travelers.

Legends say Blackbeard hid treasure along these shores. The waters here claimed countless sailors over the centuries.

The Cape Henry Trail is the most haunted area, where hikers feel watched and see shadows dart through the woods. Reports include ghostly settlers in period clothing and phantom lantern lights along the dunes.

The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset for a small parking fee. Dusk and foggy evenings in fall and winter bring the most encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most haunted place in Virginia?

The Peyton Randolph House in Williamsburg is widely considered the most haunted place in Virginia. Its colonial deaths, wartime hospital history, and intense reported activity give it the strongest reputation.

Is Colonial Williamsburg haunted?

Yes, Colonial Williamsburg is one of the most haunted historic districts in the country. The Peyton Randolph House and nearby Fort Magruder Hotel both report frequent ghostly encounters.

Are Virginia’s Civil War battlefields haunted?

Many people believe they are, given the staggering loss of life. Cold Harbor and Sailor’s Creek are the most reported, with phantom soldiers, gunfire, and cries heard at dawn and dusk.

Can you actually visit these haunted places?

Most of them, yes. Several are working hotels or free public parks, while others open for seasonal ghost tours and paranormal investigations.

Virginia’s haunted history runs far deeper than these 15 sites. Explore the full Virginia directory to find haunted places near you and plan your next ghostly road trip.