Northern Virginia is full of haunted buildings, hair-raising legends, and creepy ghost stories. Check out these nine spooky spots around the region — if you dare.
The Ghost of Gadsby’s Tavern
In 1816, a young woman known only as the “Female Stranger” died mysteriously in Room 8 of Alexandria’s Gadsby’s Tavern. The anonymous woman’s husband insisted on privacy and buried her under a tombstone at St. Paul’s Cemetery that still reads, “To the memory of a Female Stranger.” Since then, visitors to the cemetery, as well as guests and staff at what is now the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, have reported flickering candles, cold drafts, and the eerie feeling of being watched. Some even claim to see the Female Stranger’s ghost wandering the halls or gazing out the windows. 134 N. Royal St., Alexandria
Bunnyman Bridge
Here’s a hare-raising tale: Legend has it that an escaped asylum patient dressed in a bunny suit haunts a remote bridge near Clifton. Known as the “Bunnyman,” he allegedly attacks those who trespass after dark, wielding an axe. Outlandish urban legends have swirled around the site since the early 1970s. While no concrete evidence of the original Bunnyman exists, some say they’ve seen glowing eyes or heard unnatural scratching noises under the overpass. 6462-6494 Colchester Rd., Clifton
Paxton Manor
This historic Leesburg mansion was used as a home for children recovering from tuberculosis, an orphanage, and a private child care center. The Arc of Loudoun — an organization serving children with disabilities and their families — occupied the property from 2008 until recently. Visitors to the building have reported ghostly whispers, sudden chills, and the feeling of being followed. One spirit, believed to be a former nurse, is said to still care for wounded Civil War soldiers injured at nearby Ball’s Bluff Battlefield. Paranormal investigators have recorded strange sounds at the building and interpreted them as the voices of spirits. 601 Catoctin Cir. NE, Leesburg
Ball’s Bluff Battlefield
The site of a bloody Civil War battle in 1861, Ball’s Bluff in Leesburg is said to be haunted by fallen soldiers and is a favorite location for paranormal investigators. Mysterious fog often rolls in thick and low, and hikers have reported hearing phantom gunfire and screams. Some visitors have seen full-body apparitions dressed in 19th century military uniforms. The most famous ghost is that of a Union soldier who is said to appear just before sunrise. Ball’s Bluff Road NE, Leesburg
The Weems–Botts Museum
Looks can be deceiving. This quaint museum in Dumfries was once home to Mason Locke “Parson” Weems, George Washington’s first biographer. Later, it became the residence of attorney Benjamin Botts, who died in the Richmond Theatre fire. People claim the building is haunted by multiple spirits, including former residents. Visitors have seen shadowy figures and heard disembodied voices in upper rooms. Ghost tours frequently report strange occurrences with flashlights and electromagnetic field detectors. 3944 Cameron St., Dumfries
The Fairfax Station Railroad Museum
Once a Civil War–era hospital and supply station, this old depot is now a museum — and possibly a paranormal hot spot. Visitors have reported hearing train whistles and phantom footsteps when no one else is around. One common sighting is a woman in mourning clothes standing on the platform. She’s believed to be waiting for a soldier who never returned. Paranormal groups have also recorded unexplained sounds and cold spots in the building. 11200 Fairfax Station Rd., Fairfax Station
Mill House Museum
With its cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, historic Occoquan has a reputation for ghostly sightings, especially around the historic Mill House Museum. Late at night, residents claim to hear footsteps and voices in the old buildings. The ghost of a woman in colonial garb has also been seen near the footbridge; some say she’s searching for her husband, lost to the river’s floodwaters. 413 Mill St., Occoquan
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Numerous haunted stories have abounded for decades about our first president’s home. In the 1980s, an interpreter saw a full-body apparition of a young woman on the stairs with flowers, who disappeared when she reached the bottom. In 2012, a security employee had already emptied the house and locked up when he heard the jingling of a large set of keys moving across the floor in the Washington bedroom. In life, Washington was known to roam the house with his heavy set of keys. Perhaps, some say, he still does. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon
The Stone House, Manassas National Battlefield Park
Built in 1848, the Stone House once served as a Civil War field hospital, treating wounded soldiers from the Union and Confederate armies. Today, park rangers have reported eerie activity in the basement, where footsteps have been heard overhead, but when investigated, the upstairs is empty and the doors remain securely locked. In July 1994, a solo visitor entered the house on a hot day and was startled to pass a sudden cold spot. As he exited, he was shoved from behind, fell to the ground, and injured his knee. From inside the house, he heard laughter, but when he turned around, the house was silent and empty. Manassas Historic District, 12521 Lee Hwy., Manassas
Feature image, Steheap/stock.adobe.com
This story originally ran in our October issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
