9 Most Haunted Places in Delaware

Delaware may be the second smallest state, but its history runs deep and dark. From colonial forts on the Delaware River to Civil War prisons and grand Georgian mansions, the First State has collected centuries of tragedy.

Swedish settlers, Dutch traders, Revolutionary statesmen, and doomed prisoners all left their mark here. Some, according to legend, never left at all.

The stories on this list are drawn from local folklore and the accounts of visitors, staff, and paranormal investigators. They range from the official residence of the governor to a lonely island fortress in the middle of the river.

What ties them together is a shared sense that Delaware’s past refuses to stay buried. Phantom footsteps, apparitions, and cold pockets of dread turn up again and again in the same historic places.

We have ranked these locations starting with the most famous and working down. You can browse the full directory of all haunted places in Delaware for even more sites across the state.

A quick word of caution. Several of these places are private homes, active government buildings, or protected historic parks with strict hours.

Never trespass. If you plan to investigate, bring the right gear and read our ghost hunting equipment guide before you go.

1. Fort Delaware, Delaware City

Fort Delaware sits alone on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the Delaware River. This massive stone fortress has witnessed death, disease, and despair for more than 150 years.

Construction began in 1833 and finished in 1859. The granite fort was designed to protect the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia, but the Civil War changed its purpose completely.

Union forces converted the installation into a prisoner of war camp. Between 1861 and 1865 it held more than 30,000 Confederate prisoners in horrific, overcrowded conditions. Smallpox, dysentery, and cholera killed men by the dozens every week, and an estimated 2,700 Confederate soldiers died there.

Visitors report disembodied voices echoing through empty chambers. Shadow figures move along the walls where desperate men once scratched final messages, and many guests leave feeling drained and emotionally exhausted. You can read the full account of Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island in our directory.

2. Woodburn, the Governor’s Mansion in Dover

Woodburn is one of Delaware’s most elegant Georgian mansions and the official residence of the state’s governor. Behind its stately brick facade lies a darker reputation.

For more than 270 years, the house has gathered reports of phantom footsteps, mysterious apparitions, and activity that no one can explain. This is no simple tourist legend.

Multiple governors and their families have personally reported supernatural encounters during their time in residence. Security guards, maintenance workers, and family members have all come forward as witnesses.

What makes Woodburn so unsettling is the setting. The spirits here walk the same halls where Delaware’s most powerful officials conduct state business, as detailed in our entry on Woodburn, the haunted Governor’s Mansion. Because it is a working official residence, it is not open for casual ghost hunting.

3. Addy Sea Bed and Breakfast, Bethany Beach

The Addy Sea is a Victorian jewel along Delaware’s quiet coastline. Guests who check in expecting a peaceful seaside retreat sometimes find something far more unsettling.

The building was constructed in 1902 as a private beach cottage. John M. Addy built the grand seaside home for his family’s summer retreats, and the Addy family used it as a vacation residence for several decades.

The house saw generations of family gatherings, celebrations, and personal tragedies. In 1982 it was renovated into a bed and breakfast, and the original charm was carefully preserved.

Since then, paranormal enthusiasts and unsuspecting vacationers alike have documented strange phenomena within its walls. The spirits of former residents, it seems, never checked out of the haunted Addy Sea inn.

4. Rockwood Mansion, Wilmington

Rockwood Mansion sits among 72 acres of manicured gardens and towering trees. This Gothic Revival country house has stood since 1851, watching over generations of families and visitors.

The merchant banker Joseph Shipley built it as his family’s rural retreat. He spared no expense, importing fine materials to create a showcase of Rural Gothic Revival architecture.

Today it has a reputation as one of Wilmington’s most actively haunted locations. Staff, tour guides, and visitors describe experiences that defy logical explanation throughout the estate.

Phantom footsteps echo through empty corridors. Mysterious figures appear in antique mirrors, and even skeptics tend to leave the grounds of Rockwood Park and Mansion with a story they cannot shake.

5. Old Swedes Church, Wilmington

Old Swedes Church is one of America’s oldest churches still in active use. It has witnessed more than three centuries of worship since its construction in 1698.

Swedish Lutheran settlers built the original Holy Trinity Church on land purchased from the Lenape people. They used black granite stones gathered from the nearby Brandywine River.

Now a National Historic Landmark, the church draws visitors seeking a glimpse of colonial history. Its graveyard holds hundreds of souls from Wilmington’s earliest days.

Stories of phantom footsteps, mysterious lights, and unexplained voices have circulated since the 1800s. Modern investigators still document strange occurrences inside the historic Old Swedes Church.

6. Fort Miles, Lewes

Fort Miles stands like a silent sentinel along the Delaware coast at Cape Henlopen. This massive concrete fortress once protected America’s shores during World War II.

Construction began in 1941 as wartime tensions rose. The Army built it to defend the Delaware Bay and River, and it became operational in early 1942 after the Pearl Harbor attack.

More than 2,000 soldiers were stationed here to operate massive artillery guns and surveillance equipment. Tower 7, the main fire control tower, still rises 80 feet above the dunes.

Paranormal activity has been reported across the gun batteries, towers, and underground bunkers since the 1970s. Some believe the spirits are servicemen who died in training accidents, while others tie the hauntings to German prisoners of war once held at the site. Explore the full history of Fort Miles in Lewes in our directory.

7. John Dickinson Plantation, Dover

The John Dickinson Plantation sits quietly along the rural roads of Kent County. This historic estate was the childhood home of John Dickinson, the man remembered as the Penman of the Revolution.

Samuel Dickinson built the original two-story brick mansion in 1740, near the St. Jones River. Young John grew up here before drafting his famous Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania.

The property once spanned more than 500 acres and operated as a working tobacco farm using enslaved labor. That painful history shapes the hauntings reported here.

Staff and visitors describe unexplained footsteps in empty hallways and shadows moving across windows in vacant rooms. The spirits of former residents and enslaved workers are said to linger at the John Dickinson Plantation, where park rangers have documented numerous encounters.

8. Belmont Hall, Smyrna

Belmont Hall is one of Delaware’s most enigmatic historic estates, standing just outside Smyrna’s town center. The Georgian mansion has seen centuries of tragedy within its walls.

Construction began in 1773 under the wealthy landowner Thomas Collins, who served as Delaware’s governor during the Revolutionary War era. The three-story brick mansion was completed in 1775.

His family occupied it for three generations before tragedy struck in 1847. A devastating fire in the east wing killed four family members, including seven-year-old Margaret Collins, her grandmother, and two servants.

The mansion was rebuilt in 1849 with additions that included the infamous tower room. Former caretakers have abandoned their positions after terrifying overnight experiences at Belmont Hall in Smyrna.

9. Battery Park, New Castle

Battery Park lines the Delaware River in historic New Castle. This peaceful waterfront has witnessed centuries of conflict, death, and maritime tragedy.

The land’s military significance dates back to the early 1700s, when Dutch settlers first fortified this strategic position overlooking the river. It later served as a fortification during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

Visitors to the riverside park often report unsettling experiences after dark. The spirits of soldiers, sailors, and civilians are said to walk the grounds.

These apparitions seem trapped in moments of crisis from battles fought long ago. Local families have passed down remarkably consistent tales of ghostly encounters at Battery Park in New Castle for generations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Haunted Delaware

What is the most haunted place in Delaware?

Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island is widely considered the most haunted site in the state. As a Civil War prison where an estimated 2,700 Confederate soldiers died, it carries a heavy history of disease and despair that visitors still sense today.

Can you visit these haunted places in Delaware?

Some are open to the public as parks, museums, or inns, such as Fort Delaware, Fort Miles, and the Addy Sea. Others, like Woodburn, are private or official buildings. Always check hours and never trespass on private or restricted property. You can review the full list of haunted places in Delaware before planning a trip.

Why is Delaware so haunted for such a small state?

Delaware’s long colonial and military history packs a lot of tragedy into a small area. Civil War prisons, Revolutionary forts, World War II coastal defenses, and centuries-old mansions all sit within a short drive of one another.

What kind of paranormal activity is reported in Delaware?

The most common reports are phantom footsteps, disembodied voices, and shadowy figures. Witnesses also describe apparitions in mirrors, mysterious lights, cold spots, and an overwhelming feeling of sadness at sites like Fort Delaware.

Are Delaware’s haunted forts safe to explore?

The state parks that manage Fort Delaware, Fort Miles, and Battery Park maintain them for visitors during posted hours. Stay on marked paths, respect closures around old batteries and bunkers, and never enter abandoned or restricted structures without permission.