Are you in for a night that you won’t forget quickly? In the dark and dreary inns that we’ll be exploring today, creaky floorboards and hushed whispers will set the mood and send shivers down your spine. If you’re up for a (not so) cozy stay with a heaping side dish of goosebumps, spend a night at one of these three haunted inns.
The Brickhouse Inn
The Brickhouse Inn is the most haunted building in Gettysburg and one of the spookiest hotels in the country. It had the misfortune of being smack in the center of the action during the Battle of Gettysburg.
With the Confederates on one side and the Union soldiers on the other, the inn bore the brunt of the battle. Bullet marks can still be seen in certain locations. It’s not uncommon for the guests brave enough to stay here to report seeing both Confederate and Union officers strolling through the halls, sitting in the dining room, or smoking cigarettes.
Given that numerous soldiers died here and were buried on the grounds and that numerous others were treated for their wounds in the hotel (it served as a makeshift hospital during the battle), it’s not surprising.
In fact, many buildings in the area experience paranormal activity. For example, the neighboring Welty House, which is now part of the Brickhouse Inn, is another hotspot for ghostly disturbances. At the Jenny Wade Hous, a short distance away, visitors report hearing the cry of Jenny as she was shot while baking bread for the soldiers outside.
The only civilian casualty of the battle, Jenny was killed when soldiers, likely stationed on the roofs of the Brickhouse Inn and Welty House, opened fire on her home.
The best way to explore the area is to take an organized Gettysburg ghost tour, and learn more about the history and paranormal activity at each location.
Fort Magruder Hotel and Conference Center
The Fort Magruder Hotel and Conference Center in Williamsburg, Virginia, is another hotel still scarred from the Civil War. It was the site of intense fighting during the Battle of Williamsburg. During construction on the site, workers found bones, skulls, and other remains of soldiers who were buried in a mass grave after the battle.
Numerous suspicious and spooky activities take place in this hotel. Workers at the hotel report finding keys missing and mysteriously reappearing in the locks. Guests report feeling invisible people brushing past them in the dark. Upon turning on the light, they find their belongings removed from their suitcases and scattered across the floor.
One employee who worked the night shift reported seeing a Confederate soldier walk through the dimly lit hallway, straight into a wall, and disappear. Upon her request, she was transferred to the day shift, which put her mind at ease.
Williamsburg has many haunted spots, from churches (the Bruton Parish Church) to museums (the Peyton Randolph House) to bars (the Dog Street Pub). If you can find the time, the best way to explore Williamsburg’s awesome hauntedness is to go on a ghost tour or haunted Williamsburg pub crawl.
The Villisca Axe Murder House
Last but not least, there is the Villisca Axe Murder House, one of the creepiest hotels you can stay in. This is where eight people were brutally bludgeoned to death in a shocking murder that horrified the nation in 1912. The six members of the Moore family, who resided in the house, and two of their guests were all found with severe wounds from head to toe.
Unfortunately, nobody was ever charged for the crime. English-born Reverend George Kelly, who was known to be inappropriate with women and a bit unhinged, was later arrested for the crime and confessed. However, despite being tried twice, he was acquitted both times. Other theories have been floated over time, but none have been proven.
Today, you can book a stay in the Villisca Axe Murder House. Both private rooms and the entire house are available for rent at affordable rates. The house has been preserved the way it was during the murder, so there’s no electricity or running water in the interior, but charging stations and a modern bathhouse are provided in the outside barn. Staying there is certainly an experience – after 2 AM is when the bulk of the paranormal activity takes place.
