Curses and history seem to go hand in hand. So with a state that’s been established as long as Virginia, it makes sense that there are more than a few places claimed to be cursed. The idea behind this is always vague and slightly spooky, but so many claims and stories are hard to dismiss entirely. So here are nine places you can venture in Virginia that just might be cursed:
1. Cavalier Hotel (Virginia Beach)
The stunning Cavalier Hotel provides incredible views of the surrounding Virginia Beach. What has historically existed as an up-scale hotel also has quite a few haunted tales to tell. Guests who have stayed in the hotel have reported unusual activities, such as hearing the toilet flush without use, or elevators running with no one inside. There also seems to be a consensus that many people feel like they are being watched by someone - or perhaps something - during various times of their stay.
2. The Garden at Randolph-Macon College (Ashland)
Randolph-Macon College, founded in 1830, is claimed to house several haunted locations. One such place is the West Dating Parlour, allegedly haunted by an elderly woman. Perhaps even more eerie is the claim that another site on campus, Mary's Garden, is cursed. According to legend, those who cross the garden rather than use the designated pathway will never graduate or marry.
3. Woodlawn Plantation (Mount Vernon)
Woodlawn Plantation was once part of the land belonging to George Washington's Mount Vernon. The curse is a vague one, yet sends chills down the spine nonetheless. It began when a field trip set out to Woodlawn Plantation. Nearly all the students reported feeling the sensation of nearly being pushed down the stairs by some unseen force.
4. Wakefield High School (Arlington)
Legend has it that it's the theatre that has something haunted - and perhaps even cursed - about it. Sitting in the theatre alone might also stir up unusual phenomena such as the piano playing on its own, or two lights appearing on stage. You might also notice the figure of a man walking high on the catwalk, rumored to be the ghost of a young actor who died performing the same act.
5. Washington & Lee University (Lexington)
Washington & Lee's breathtaking campus is located in Lexington. Established in the early 1700s, the school has acquired quite a few ghost stories. There's even a tradition whereby students don't walk between the center columns of one of the campus's main dorms, Graham-Lees, for fear of an academic curse that befalls those who do.
6. Walney Road (Chantilly)
According to legend, it is recommended that anyone who drives down this road stop if they see a hitchhiker. The curse dates back to many years ago when a man was killed while hitchhiking. Apparently, folks taking this route (which has since been repaved) will have three chances to retrieve the ghost of this hitchhiker. If they refuse all three times, a car is said to come out of nowhere and crash into them.
7. Castle Hill Manor (Charlottesville)
Castle Hill is a beautiful manor in Charlottesville that was built in 1741 by Thomas Walker. Young Thomas Jefferson used to play his violin inside the gorgeous great hall. And yet this building is said to be cursed by those who stay the night. The story holds that overnight guests are alarmed by the sound of footsteps walking across their bedroom floors.
8. Crawford Road (Yorktown)
Crawford Road is perhaps the most haunted and cursed road in the entire state. Legend holds that an unhappy bride once hung herself from the bridge in an act of despair. Visitors passing through the bridge could be doomed to see this ghostly bride's apparition. Some reports also include seeing mysterious handprints on the car windows or red eyes peering from the nearby woods.
9. Rosewell Plantation (Gloucester)
This former mansion was built by the Page family in the 1600s. After housing many generations of families, the building burned down nearly completely. The four-story building has now been demolished to its bare bones, and the site is both cursed and haunted. Apparently, the majority of visitors notice a deliberate and sudden drop in temperature as well as hearing strange, alarming noises. You could even see a young women descending a phantom staircase after dark.
Have you visited any of these allegedly cursed sites in Virginia? Be sure to share your experience there!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.