11 Haunted Hotel Stays Across Virginia That Promise An Eerie Adventure

Virginia’s haunted hotels blend history with spine-tingling supernatural encounters that’ll make even skeptics question reality. From grand coastal resorts where tragic spirits still roam the hallways to Civil War-era inns with phantom nurses tending invisible wounds, the Old Dominion State offers ghost hunters and curious travelers an unmatched paranormal playground.

These aren’t just creaky old buildings with spooky stories. They’re active hotspots where guests genuinely report cold touches, disembodied voices, and apparitions that vanish into thin air.

Whether you’re a hardcore believer in the afterlife or just someone who loves a good scare with their room service, Virginia’s haunted accommodations deliver chills alongside their charm. Pack your courage, charge your ghost-hunting apps, and prepare for sleepless nights filled with more than just uncomfortable pillows.

1. The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, Autograph Collection

Standing tall since the roaring twenties, this oceanfront beauty has witnessed nearly a century of secrets, scandals, and one particularly tragic plunge that still echoes through its corridors. Adolph Coors met his mysterious end here after tumbling from a sixth-floor window, and apparently, he never quite checked out.

Guests booking rooms on the sixth floor better prepare for some uninvited company. Cold spots appear without explanation, temperatures dropping so suddenly you’ll see your breath even when the thermostat reads perfectly normal.

Footsteps echo down empty hallways at ungodly hours, their rhythm deliberate and purposeful, as if someone’s perpetually searching for something they’ll never find.

The phantom bellhop adds another layer of weirdness to your stay. This spectral staff member appears to warn visitors away from certain areas, gesturing frantically before vanishing completely.

Some guests appreciate the heads-up, while others find his sudden appearances more terrifying than helpful.

Located at 4200 Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach, this property blends old-world glamour with supernatural intrigue. The architecture alone justifies a visit, with its grand staircases and period details transporting you straight back to the Jazz Age.

But those cold touches brushing past your shoulder in empty rooms? That’s pure ghostly bonus content.

Modern amenities meet vintage vibes throughout the property, creating an atmosphere where you can sip cocktails by the pool one moment and chase paranormal activity the next. The hotel embraces its haunted reputation without turning into a tacky ghost-themed gimmick, maintaining elegance while acknowledging its resident spirits.

Book your stay if you dare, but don’t say we didn’t warn you about your sixth-floor neighbors.

2. The Martha Washington Inn & Spa

This stately property started life as a private residence before becoming a Civil War hospital, which explains why its supernatural residents seem stuck in nursing mode. Beth, a young nurse who tended wounded soldiers, apparently never clocked out from her eternal shift.

Room 408 serves as Beth’s primary haunt, where guests report feeling a comforting presence that tucks blankets tighter and straightens pillows when no one’s looking. Some find her maternal energy soothing, while others freak out realizing invisible hands just adjusted their bedding.

She means well, though her nocturnal housekeeping rounds can startle unprepared visitors.

Phantom bloodstains present another unsettling phenomenon that maintenance staff have given up trying to explain. These mysterious marks appear on floors despite thorough cleaning, vanishing and reappearing according to their own ghostly schedule.

They’re remnants from the property’s hospital days, when these halls witnessed unimaginable suffering and countless deaths.

The sound of hoofbeats galloping across the south lawn adds auditory weirdness to the visual haunts. No horse exists, yet the thundering rhythm echoes clearly enough that guests rush to windows expecting to see a rider.

They find only empty grass and the fading sound of phantom hooves disappearing into silence.

Situated at 150 West Main Street in Abingdon, this inn pampers guests with spa treatments while spirits provide their own brand of entertainment. The pool and parking amenities offer modern convenience, though Beth and her fellow ghosts keep things decidedly old-school.

Virginia’s haunted hospitality reaches peak levels here, where relaxation meets the paranormal in unexpectedly harmonious ways.

3. The Omni Homestead

Imagine planning your dream wedding only to have your groom ghost you before ghosting was even a term. That’s exactly what happened to one unfortunate bride at this centuries-old resort, and she’s been making her displeasure known ever since.

The fourteenth floor hosts this jilted spirit, who reportedly ended her own life after her beloved failed to show up for their wedding day. Heartbreak turned to eternal haunting, with guests reporting a melancholy presence that lingers near certain rooms.

She appears in period wedding attire, still waiting for a groom who’ll never arrive.

Dating back to colonial times, this property has accumulated layers of history along with its paranormal residents. The architecture reflects multiple eras of expansion and renovation, creating a maze of corridors where past and present blur together.

Hot springs drew visitors for healing purposes long before anyone considered the therapeutic value of ghost hunting.

Located at 7696 Sam Snead Highway in Hot Springs, the resort sprawls across stunning mountain terrain. Modern guests enjoy world-class amenities while potentially encountering centuries-old spirits during their stay.

The contrast between luxury accommodations and tragic supernatural tales creates an atmosphere unlike any typical vacation spot.

Staff members have learned to navigate around the fourteenth-floor phenomena, though they rarely discuss specifics with guests unless directly asked. Some visitors specifically request rooms on that floor, hoping for a paranormal encounter.

Others avoid it entirely, preferring their mountain getaway without side orders of spectral sorrow. Either way, Virginia’s longest-operating resort continues welcoming both living guests and those who checked out permanently decades ago.

4. The Jefferson Hotel

Richmond’s crown jewel of hospitality keeps its ghostly secrets closer than most haunted properties, with staff trained to maintain professional silence about supernatural occurrences. But guests tell different stories, whispering about disembodied voices and objects that relocate themselves without human assistance.

Another jilted bride makes her presence known throughout this opulent establishment, though details about her identity remain frustratingly vague. She manifests as cold spots and unexplained shadows, her tragic story lost to time but her energy still permeating certain hallways.

Visitors report feeling watched in empty corridors, turning to find nobody there except a lingering sense of sadness.

The hotel serves as the starting point for the Phantoms of Franklin Ghost Tour, which tells you everything about its reputation within Richmond’s paranormal community. Tour guides share stories the hotel itself won’t officially acknowledge, filling in gaps about the various spirits supposedly sharing space with paying guests.

These tours blend historical facts with supernatural speculation, creating entertainment that’s equal parts educational and eerie.

Situated at 101 West Franklin Street in Richmond, this five-star property defines luxury accommodation in Virginia’s capital. The stunning architecture and impeccable service make it worth visiting even without ghostly encounters.

But knowing that your elegant surroundings might include invisible roommates adds an extra thrill to your stay.

Chandeliers sparkle above marble floors where spirits allegedly drift past oblivious tourists. The contrast between refined elegance and paranormal activity creates cognitive dissonance that somehow enhances both experiences.

You’ll sleep in supreme comfort while wondering if that whisper you heard was the air conditioning or something decidedly less mechanical.

5. Wayside Inn

Operating continuously since George Washington was still fresh in everyone’s memory, this property claims the title of one of America’s oldest inns still welcoming overnight guests. That’s nearly two and a half centuries of travelers passing through, and apparently, some decided to extend their stays indefinitely.

Room 14 earned its reputation as the epicenter of paranormal activity, with guests reporting experiences intense enough to request room changes mid-stay. Heavy footsteps pound across floors when the room sits empty, their weight and rhythm suggesting someone substantial pacing back and forth.

Cold touches brush against skin without warning, fingers that aren’t there making contact that definitely feels real.

A woman dressed in a high-collared blue dress from a bygone era appears regularly near the lobby fireplace. She sits in period-appropriate posture, gazing into flames that may or may not actually be burning.

Guests do double-takes, blinking hard and looking again, only to find she’s vanished completely. Staff have stopped being surprised when visitors ask about the lady by the fireplace who disappeared.

Located at 7783 Main Street in Middletown, the inn sits along a historic route that’s seen countless travelers over the centuries. The building’s age shows in charming ways, with creaky floorboards and low doorways that remind you this place predates modern construction standards.

Those same features also provide perfect cover for ghostly footsteps and mysterious sounds.

Antique furnishings and period decor transport guests backward in time, creating an immersive historical experience even before any ghosts make appearances. Virginia’s rich past comes alive here, quite literally in some cases.

6. Edgewood Plantation

Lizzie Rowland’s love story ended in tragedy that transformed into one of Virginia’s most poignant hauntings. She waited faithfully for her Confederate soldier sweetheart to return from war, her hope gradually fading as days turned to months, then years.

Eventually, her broken heart gave out entirely, but her vigil apparently continues.

Guests and passersby report seeing a woman’s figure peering from an upstairs window, her posture suggesting eternal watchfulness. She stands motionless, gazing toward the road as if expecting someone to appear at any moment.

The image strikes observers as profoundly sad, this spectral woman still hoping for a reunion that’ll never happen.

The plantation’s architecture reflects the grandeur of its era, with stately columns and sprawling grounds that once comprised a working estate. Modern amenities like the pool blend awkwardly with period details, creating temporal whiplash as you move between centuries.

But that contrast somehow enhances the property’s unique character rather than diminishing it.

Located at 4800 John Tyler Memorial Highway in Charles City, this property sits in an area rich with Civil War history. The surrounding landscape witnessed battles and heartbreak on scales difficult for modern visitors to comprehend.

Lizzie’s personal tragedy represents just one story among thousands, though hers continues playing out in supernatural form.

Staying here means potentially encountering a ghost whose story you know, which changes the dynamic completely. She’s not some anonymous spirit but a real woman whose documented life ended in documented sorrow.

That knowledge adds weight to any paranormal experiences, transforming them from mere thrills into genuinely moving encounters with history’s emotional residue.

7. Virginia’s Natural Bridge Park and Historic Hotel

Staying near one of nature’s most impressive geological formations should guarantee peaceful sleep filled with dreams of scenic beauty. Instead, guests report distinctly unsettling nocturnal experiences that have nothing to do with the famous bridge outside.

Children’s laughter and running footsteps echo through hallways that security cameras confirm are completely empty. The sounds possess an eerie quality, playful yet somehow wrong, as if the children making them exist on a different plane entirely.

Staff have investigated these reports countless times, finding no explanation beyond the paranormal.

Even more disturbing are accounts of a dark shadow figure standing over beds, its presence detected rather than clearly seen. Guests wake from sleep with the overwhelming sensation of being watched, opening their eyes to perceive a humanoid shape hovering nearby.

The figure doesn’t move or speak, simply looms there until the terrified observer turns on lights or calls out.

The hotel sits at 15 Appledore Lane in Natural Bridge, positioning guests perfectly for exploring the landmark while potentially encountering its supernatural residents. The three-star rating reflects solid accommodations without excessive luxury, though the paranormal amenities come free of charge.

Virginia’s natural wonders take on new dimensions when combined with unexplained phenomena.

Daytime visits to the bridge itself offer stunning photo opportunities and geological education. But nighttime back at the hotel introduces elements no guidebook mentions, transforming your nature retreat into something far stranger.

The contrast between the area’s serene beauty and its unsettling hauntings creates cognitive dissonance that keeps visitors talking long after checkout.

8. Linden Row Inn

Seven connected rowhouses from the eighteen hundreds create a unique lodging experience where historical preservation meets hospitality. These buildings witnessed Richmond’s westward expansion, housing families and businesses through decades of dramatic change.

Some of those original occupants apparently never left.

Local ghost tours regularly stop here, guides sharing stories about the lingering spirits that supposedly inhabit various rooms and common areas. The inn embraces this reputation without exploiting it, acknowledging the paranormal claims while maintaining the property’s historical integrity.

You won’t find cheesy ghost decorations or manufactured scares, just authentic architecture with authentic hauntings.

The connected nature of the buildings creates a maze-like interior where corridors wind unexpectedly and staircases lead to surprising destinations. This layout contributes to the eerie atmosphere, as guests occasionally get turned around in passages that seem to shift and change.

Whether that’s poor wayfinding or supernatural interference remains open to interpretation.

Located at 100 East Franklin Street in Richmond, the inn occupies prime real estate in Virginia’s capital city. The preservation of these rowhouses provides valuable insight into nineteenth-century urban living, while the reported hauntings add entertainment value for those seeking more than just historical education.

Modern amenities blend surprisingly well with period details throughout the property.

Staying here means sleeping in rooms where generations of Richmonders lived their lives, loved, argued, celebrated, and mourned. That accumulated emotional energy supposedly leaves residue that sensitive individuals can detect.

Whether you experience anything paranormal or simply enjoy the historical ambiance, the inn delivers an overnight experience distinctly different from generic hotel chains.

9. Historic Boxwood Inn

Frequently topping lists of Virginia’s most actively haunted locations, this former general store and post office packs serious supernatural punch into a relatively modest building. Its reputation among paranormal investigators speaks volumes about the intensity and frequency of reported phenomena.

The property’s previous commercial functions mean countless people passed through over the decades, conducting everyday transactions and social interactions. That constant human activity apparently left energetic imprints that manifest as full-blown hauntings.

Former postmasters and shopkeepers may still be manning their stations, unaware their shifts ended permanently long ago.

Guests specifically seeking paranormal experiences book this property knowing its reputation, arriving with recording equipment and open minds. The inn doesn’t disappoint, delivering encounters ranging from subtle cold spots to dramatic full-body apparitions.

Some visitors leave convinced of the afterlife’s existence, while skeptics find themselves questioning previously held beliefs.

The building’s age shows in its construction and layout, with features that predate modern building codes and design sensibilities. Low ceilings and narrow hallways create an intimate atmosphere that can feel cozy or claustrophobic depending on your perspective.

When unexplained footsteps echo through those tight spaces, claustrophobic definitely wins.

Virginia’s paranormal scene considers this location essential visiting for serious ghost hunters. The combination of documented history and consistent activity makes it ideal for those wanting authentic experiences rather than manufactured tourist attractions.

Staff members have their own stories but let the ghosts speak for themselves, allowing guests to form independent conclusions about what they encounter during their stays.

10. Belle Grove Plantation

James Madison’s birthplace offers more than presidential history, hosting what investigators claim are eighty-three distinct spirits. That’s not a typo.

Eighty-three separate entities supposedly inhabit this property, making it less a haunted house and more a paranormal apartment complex.

The plantation capitalizes on its reputation by offering a Haunted Hotel Extreme Overnight Experience for brave souls wanting immersive paranormal investigation opportunities. This isn’t some watered-down tourist ghost tour but a legitimate overnight stay designed for serious enthusiasts.

Participants bring equipment, conduct investigations, and potentially encounter phenomena that’ll haunt their memories long after leaving.

The sheer number of reported spirits creates a unique dynamic where guests might experience multiple different entities during a single visit. One room hosts a Revolutionary War soldier, another contains a former slave, while a third harbors a child who died from illness.

Each spirit supposedly maintains its own personality and manifestation patterns.

Located at 336 Belle Grove Road in Middletown, the plantation sits on land soaked in American history. The property witnessed pivotal moments in the nation’s founding while also experiencing the horrors of slavery and war.

That complex past creates layers of emotional residue that sensitive individuals report feeling immediately upon arrival.

Daytime tours focus on historical and architectural significance, providing context for the building’s importance beyond its hauntings. But nighttime transforms the property completely, with shadows lengthening and sounds amplifying until every creak becomes potentially supernatural.

Virginia offers no shortage of haunted locations, but few match Belle Grove’s reported activity levels or its willingness to let visitors investigate thoroughly.

11. Hidden View Bed & Breakfast

Unlike the other properties on this list, Hidden View doesn’t claim centuries of accumulated hauntings or tragic historical deaths. Instead, this modern establishment creates its own spooky atmosphere through themed events and seasonal programming that lets guests enjoy scares without genuine supernatural terror.

Halloween-themed stays transform the property into a festive haunted experience where the frights come from decorations rather than actual ghosts. Guests appreciate knowing the scares are manufactured, allowing them to enjoy the spooky season without worrying about real paranormal encounters keeping them awake.

It’s haunted house fun with the comfort of knowing you can turn it off.

Murder mystery dinner events add interactive entertainment that combines food, theater, and puzzle-solving into memorable evenings. Participants become characters in unfolding dramas, gathering clues and interrogating suspects while enjoying multi-course meals.

These events require no belief in the supernatural, just willingness to play along and embrace the theatrical fun.

The bed and breakfast’s five-star rating reflects exceptional hospitality and attention to guest comfort. Modern amenities and thoughtful touches create a welcoming environment where visitors feel pampered rather than frightened.

When scary elements appear, they’re clearly marked as entertainment rather than presenting as genuine hauntings.

This property proves that haunted hotel experiences don’t require actual ghosts to deliver thrills and memorable stays. Some travelers prefer curated scares they can control over unpredictable paranormal phenomena.

Hidden View serves that market perfectly, offering Virginia visitors a different kind of eerie adventure where the only spirits present are the ones you choose to pour into your glass during murder mystery cocktail hour.