It’s an undeniable fact that Virginia is one of the most haunted states in the country, which is possibly due to the sheer volume of historical plantations steeped in tragedy, mystery and frequent ghostly sightings. And while you may consider these to be fanciful tales from Virginia’s turbulent history, for anyone who has seen them, the ghosts of the past are as present today as ever.
With eleven ghosts haunting one plantation and another with a famous whistling deceased ex-president, if you’re a fan of the supernatural and happen to be visiting Virginia, stop by one of these haunted destinations to catch a glimpse of some of the state’s more unsettled previous residents.
Like the Bermuda triangle, south-eastern Virginia has its very own triangle of mystery. Centered around the former capital of the Virginia Colony, Williamsburg, lies a trio of disturbing haunted plantations.
The Best Western Historic Area Inn in Williamsburg is the perfect base to start from, as all three plantations are less than an hour away. Let’s begin our tour of the Southeast by exploring Virginia’s own mysterious triangle of haunted plantations.
Heading across the York River from Williamsburg and nearly 300 years since its construction, The Rosewell Plantation boasts an incredible array of ghostly activity. As an active slave plantation in its earlier years, legend has it that the enslaved previous occupants placed a terrible curse on its owner – believed to be why the mansion burnt down in 1916.
Nowadays, only the shell of the previously lavish building exists. However, if you’re lucky, you’ll still see the ghostly figure of a lady descending from the spot where the building’s staircase once stood. Visitors to Rosewell Plantation claim to hear the music from an eerie harpsichord echoing the ruins while strange voices float upon the breeze. Nobody knows who he is, but a figure of a boy holding a lantern aloft can often be seen, too.
Established to service the Lynnhaven waterway ferry route, The Ferry Plantation House is now considered one of the most haunted establishments in the state of Virginia. Located in Virginia Beach, it is said to be home to eleven different ghosts, many of which are lost souls of the infamous Lynnhaven Ferry Disaster of 1810.
Others believe one of the resident ghosts is the spirit of Grace Sherwood, the last person to be convicted of witchcraft in the state at Virginia’s only registered witch trial by water. On July 10, 1706, Grace was ducked into the water, believing that if she floated, she was, in fact, a witch. Alternatively, if Grace didn’t float, she would be presumed innocent of the crime of witchcraft. Sadly for Grace, she did not float, nor did she survive, so today, it’s believed her spirit now haunts the plantation.
Just a short drive from Williamsburg to the west lies The Berkeley Plantation in Charles City. Famously once the home of ex-president William Henry Harrison, although more tragically also of Benjamin Harrison V., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Constructed in 1726, Benjamin’s father and two sisters were stuck and instantly killed by lightning while closing a window during a powerful thunderstorm. Remarkably, Benjamin, who was in the arms of his sisters at the time of the strike, miraculously survived the incident. However, many eerie sightings have been reported of seeing a young girl carrying a small child around The Berkeley Plantation, which is believed to be the pair reunited in the afterlife.
Another presidentially linked haunted estate is The Monticello Plantation, located outside Charlottesville and just down the road from the Best Western Plus Crossroads Inn & Suites in Zion Crossroads. Built in 1772, this was Thomas Jefferson’s plantation and is said to be haunted by the former president himself. Often visitors to the plantation household can hear Thomas Jefferson whistling around the building as he used to do when he resided there. The many sightings of a young boy peering out from the second-story window as visitors pass by below only add to the building’s mysterious legacy.
Heading further north and located near the Rappahannock River falls in Fredericksburg is the Fall Hill Plantation. Believed to be haunted by a Native American woman named Katia, who stalks the property with her distinct dark, long braided hair. Located just ten minutes from the Best Western Fredericksburg, there have been reports over the years that Katia can be seen circling the upstairs bedrooms of this 1790 plantation and closing doors unexpectedly. Plagued with eerie voices, frequent cold spots, and unforeseen electrical phenomena, this plantation is definitely worth a visit.