Virginia has more than 400 years of recorded history, so it should come as no surprise that some seriously creepy stories have survived along the way.
Think Civil War hospitals where thousands of wounded soldiers were treated and historic cemeteries where strange figures have reportedly appeared between the headstones.
Some of these places are tied to famous Americans, while others have stories of mysterious voices, cold spots, and shadowy figures that refuse to stay in the past.
Ready for a few goosebumps?
These seven haunted places in Virginia have fascinating history, chilling legends, and enough ghost stories to make you think twice about exploring after dark.
1. The Martha Washington Inn & Spa
The Martha Washington Inn & Spa is housed in a grand 1832 mansion in downtown Abingdon, originally built for General Francis Preston and his family.
Over time, the building became Martha Washington College for women in 1858 and even served as a Civil War hospital, adding plenty of eerie stories to its long history.
One of its most famous ghosts is Beth, who is said to wander the halls near Room 403 carrying a candle as she searches for her lost love, a Union soldier.
There are also reports of ghostly footsteps, a child laughing, and other strange activity, so if you dare, stay overnight and experience its spooky reputation firsthand.
2. St. Albans Sanatorium
Next up is St. Albans Sanatorium in Radford, a former psychiatric hospital overlooking the New River that started as a boys’ preparatory school in 1892.
Thousands of patients, physicians, and staff later passed through its halls after Dr. J. C. King opened the sanatorium in 1916 to treat mental and nervous disorders.
Some of the treatments reportedly included lobotomies and electroshock, and paranormal investigators believe the suffering left behind plenty of restless spirits.
You can explore the abandoned complex through haunted tours and seasonal events, including eerie areas like the Green Room that feel even creepier after dark.
3. Oak Grove Cemetery, Lexington
After the dark halls of St. Albans, Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington takes the ghost hunt outdoors, where centuries-old graves sit beneath towering trees.
Once called Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, it holds the graves of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, two Virginia governors, and Confederate veterans.
Local ghost stories tell of unexplained footsteps, whispers, and cold spots, while some visitors claim to have seen the general himself wandering nearby.
Whether you come by day or brave the dark, wander the paths slowly to see historic monuments and notable graves, including VMI founder John Thomas Lewis Preston.
4. The Exchange Hotel Civil War Medical Museum
The ghost hunt continues to the Exchange Hotel Civil War Medical Museum in Gordonsville, an 1860 hotel built beside an important railroad junction for travelers.
During the Civil War, it became part of the Gordonsville Receiving Hospital, which treated 70,000+ sick and wounded men, while over 700 were laid to rest nearby.
Today, visitors report strange sounds, cold spots, and ghostly sightings, including Anna, a former cook, said to wander between the summer kitchen and main building.
If you want to see it for yourself, tour three floors filled with medical tools, old photographs, and uniforms, and don’t be surprised if you leave with goosebumps.
5. Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond
Leaving Gordonsville behind, continue to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, a 135-acre burial ground established in 1847 with winding roads and towering trees.
Among its 80,000 graves are Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler, along with more than 12,000 Confederate soldiers, giving you plenty of history to uncover.
Its most famous tale is the Richmond Vampire, a mysterious blood-covered figure reportedly seen running toward the cemetery after the 1925 Church Hill Tunnel collapse.
Another strange legend surrounds the cast-iron dog guarding young Florence Rees’s grave, where locals say you might hear mysterious barking and growling.
6. Peyton Randolph House
Then there’s the Peyton Randolph House, a famously spooky Colonial Williamsburg property whose oldest section dates to about 1715.
It once belonged to Peyton Randolph, president of the Continental Congress, and its rooms show how the Randolph family and enslaved people lived and worked here.
The home also reportedly served as a hospital for wounded soldiers, many of whom may have died within its walls, leading some to believe their spirits never left.
If you dare to visit, keep an eye out for moving shadows and the unsettling feeling that you’re not alone, as this is often called one of America’s most haunted houses.
7. Ferry Plantation House
End your haunted trail in Virginia Beach at Ferry Plantation House, an 1830 brick home built near a former ferry crossing on the Lynnhaven River.
Once used as a plantation, courthouse, and school, the property is now said to be haunted by 11 spirits, including a former artist, an enslaved person, and shipwreck victims.
Visitors say you might hear unexplained voices and footsteps, feel sudden cold spots, or even spot a mysterious figure that quickly disappears.
So if you can, join a guided tour or special ghost hunt to explore the house while learning about the families, workers, and community members connected to its past.
Related Posts
