As the leaves trade in their green for a kaleidoscope of fall colors, a decidedly different vibe begins to creep into this coastal city. It’s one that’s a little, shall we say, spirited. With a history that predates even the birth of our country, Virginia Beach has seen its share of ups and downs, and in some spots, that past still lingers. If you’re looking to get your spooky on, here are some of VB’s most haunted haunts to fill you with chills and thrills.
The Cavalier Hotel
With a history with as many twists and turns as The Historic Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, it’s no surprise that some guests have checked in and never checked out (cue the eerie music!). Over the years, many brave souls have reported ghostly encounters in the grand lobby. The piano in the opulent Crystal Ballroom has been known to play a spooky serenade with no one at the keys while the phantom scratches and meows of a long-forgotten cat echo down the hallways.
Then there’s the kindly old bellman who, on many occasions, has been seen on the stairs between the fifth and sixth floors, warning guests of apparitions, only to vanish when they turn to ask him a question. Even famed brewer Adolph Coors, whose life unceremoniously ended below his sixth-story window in 1929, has been said to wander the corridors in the dead of night restlessly.
Ferry Plantation House
The Ferry Plantation House (also known as the Walke Manor House at Ferry Plantation) dates to 1642. It went up in flames in 1828 and was rebuilt in 1830, earning a place on the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2004. More than history lingers here, however. This place is said to be crawling with colonial- and Civil War-era ghosts. Among the spectral residents are victims of an 1810 shipwreck, a painter who called this house home, a former lady of the house who took a tragic tumble down the stairs in the early 1800s, a one-time enslaved man named Henry, and the heartbroken Sally Rebecca Walke, who to this day mourns her lost Confederate soldier fiancé. Feeling brave? Ferry Plantation House is open year-round for those willing to see if any of these ghostly guests make an appearance.
Elbow Road
Virginia Beach locals will tell you one thing: never, ever stop on Elbow Road. Unless, that is, you’re prepared for a phantasmic encounter. As legend goes, the troubled sprit of Mrs. Woble, an old woman who once lived in a house along a sharp bend in the road, continues to haunt the area. She was murdered there, though her body was curiously never found. It’s not unusual, or uncommon, for drivers to report seeing a bloodied, battered woman wandering along the road, in a desperate search for her home.
But, hold onto your hats, because Mrs. Woble isn’t the only unsettled soul in search of peace in the afterlife. Nope. A second spirit, a little girl who supposedly drowned in a nearby lake, also makes her presence known from time to time. So the story goes, if you stop your car on the road at night and sit on the hood, the wet footprints of a child will start to appear, slowly moving toward where you are sitting. Let’s just say, this is a road best traveled quickly, or maybe not at all!
First Landing State Park
In the early 1700s, the shores of the Chesapeake Bay weren’t just a scenic spot, they were the stomping grounds of some of the most dastardly pirates to ever sail the seas. VB’s pristine coastline was perfect for keeping an eye on the calm bay waters, watching for bountiful merchant ships and Navy vessels hot on the trail of treasure-hungry pirates. Legend has it that this idyllic stretch was a favorite lookout of Captain Edward J. Teach, better known as Blackbeard (yes, that Blackbeard from Netflix’s Outer Banks series!).
As the tale goes, after Blackbeard and his crew plundered an especially lavish merchant ship, they spotted a Navy ship on their heels. With little time to enjoy their spoils, they haphazardly buried their treasure in the dunes and fled through the narrow inland waterways of present-day First Landing State Park, eventually returning to sea. They sailed on to North Carolina with plans to return to reclaim their loot, only to have their plans foiled.
The Navy caught up with Blackbeard and his pirate gang just off the Outer Banks of North Carolina. A bloody battle ensued, ending with the pirate’s infamous beheading at the hands of Lt. Robert Maynard. Despite countless attempts, the lost treasure of Blackbeard remains just that – lost. Legend has it, however, that Blackbeard’s spirit keeps watch over his treasures.
The beaches at First Landing State Park are perfect for a late-afternoon stroll, but beware. If you venture too close to Blackbeard’s treasure, you may find yourself toe-to-toe with the headless ghost of the most infamous pirate to ever sail the high seas, back to guard what’s rightfully his.
Virginia Beach Surf and Rescue Museum
Located in a former U.S Life Saving Station that dates to 1903, the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum, right on the Oceanfront, is like a time capsule of our city’s maritime history. From exhibits on local surfing legends to super storms, shipwrecks and local lifeguards, this place has it all. But there’s more than history in the air. There’s something a bit more ghostly.
Museum staff have reported all kinds of spooky happenings in this old building, which is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Some say they have heard the maniacal laughter of the Witch of Pungo, Grace Sherwood, echoing through the walls. Others have encountered the restless spirits of shipwreck victims, whose bodies were once stored in the attic, waiting to be claimed. If you listen closely, you may even hear phantom footsteps climbing the guard tower. U.S. Ghost Adventures offers nightly one-hour walking ghost tours that start and end at the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum.
Princess Anne Country Club
Founded in 1916, the Princess Anne Country Club is not just for golf and gatherings – it’s also a noted hotspot for paranormal encounters. It’s said that the spirit of a beautiful bride haunts the club’s halls, usually with the sounds of 1920s jazz music trailing behind her. During a recent remodel, construction workers reported hearing the eerie clinking of glasses and the soft clatter of silverware as if someone – or something – was setting the table for a meal.
But not all spirits here are charming. The club is also said to be home to a few less-friendly ghouls, including menacing figures of men who chase people from the building. One particularly grumpy ghost, often seen sporting a cape, is said to give unwelcome visitors quite a fright. Just down the street from The Cavalier Hotel, the Princess Anne Country Club is an exclusive haunt, open only to members, their families and guests.
Thoroughgood House
Built in 1719, the Thoroughgood House is said to be a playground for mischievous spirits. Both staff and guests have reported sightings of a red-haired woman strolling the grounds in Colonial-era dress, as well as a dapper male spirit in a brown suit who pops up from time to time. These playful spirits aren’t just content to saunter the grounds though, they seem to take pleasure in moving things around the house, from candlesticks to heavy pieces of furniture. One holiday season, staffers watched in bewilderment as the glass domes covering Christmas candles lifted up on their own, then crashed to their floor. The Thoroughgood House runs tours throughout the year, and special ghost tours during spooky season. If you plan a visit, keep your eyes peeled – you may just experience a ghostly encounter of your own!
