-by Phil Payette Director/Founder of Tidewater Paranormal
Virginia is full of rich history, and with that are ghost stories and legends galore. One can search the Internet for
various lists of haunted locations, but I have found nearly all of them are based on someone's personal beliefs
when touring locations or from published lore and third-party claims related to these locations, which in actuality is nothing more than rumors and hearsay. Few, if any, seem to have been based on actual evidence from reputable paranormal teams.
So what locations really are haunted? At the very start of the year I set out to ask paranormal teams from all
over the state what sites (other than people's private homes) they determined to be haunted based exclusively
on their experiences and recorded evidence that they collected from their investigations. I received an overwhelming response of nominations from 25 teams creating a list of over 50 haunted locations! So, after their
votes were counted, here are 2015's top 15 places:
15. Swannanoa Palace,
Afton
After 8 years of construction, this mansion
was completed in 1912. Only recently entering the paranormal scene, the structure is
quickly gaining the attention of paranormal
groups as a significant hot spot of activity. It
is a source of some great EVP's possibly from
the Dooley's, the original owners. After their
deaths the mansion became a country club,
but it sat vacant during the Great Depression
and World War II. Between 1949 and 1998 it
was leased by the University of Science and
Philosophy. The building has fallen into disrepair, but the owners plan on restoring it.
See www.virginia.org/Listings/EventsAndExhibits/SwannanoaPalaceOpenHouse/
14. Fort Magruder Hotel,
Williamsburg
There are two hotels located at a significant
part of the Williamsburg battlefield called "The
Bloody Ravine." Guests and staff of this hotel
in particular routinely encounter spirits from
the Civil War. The Confederate Fort Magruder
and Redoubts 1 & 2 are in nearby parks. On
this property is Redoubt #3. MarsCon, an annual science fiction convention, is held here
every January and a ghost hunt is sometimes included on its schedule.
Visit fortmagruderhotel.com
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