The town of Abingdon lies in Washington County, Virginia, about five hours’ drive from Colonial Williamsburg. It’s a unique destination, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. Abingdon is home to the 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail, which attracts hikers and horseback riders. Additionally, Grayson Highlands State Park offers breathtaking views of Mount Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia. Anglers will enjoy the Holston River, known for its trout, walleye, and bass.
Beyond outdoor adventures, Abingdon boasts a lively music scene, with local bands like Annabelle’s Curse performing at venues like Heartwood and Capo’s Music Store. Popular eateries such as Bone Fire Smokehouse and Wolf Hills Brewery often host live music as well.
History buffs will appreciate Abingdon’s Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970. The district includes over 145 structures, and three of its landmarks— the Martha Washington Inn, the Barter Theater, and the Abingdon Tavern— are rumored to be haunted. If you plan to explore, there are also several charming hotels in Abingdon that offer a comfortable stay, making it easy to enjoy both the town’s history and its spooky side.
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Which Buildings in Abingdon Are Haunted?
Abingdon, Virginia, is a historic town with haunted sites like the Abingdon Tavern, where a soldier’s ghost is said to haunt the rooms, the Martha Washington Inn, home to restless spirits, and the Barter Theater, rumored to be haunted by former performers.
These historic buildings offer a spine-tingling glimpse into Abingdon’s past. For those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the town’s eerie charm, there are several welcoming hotels in Abingdon where you can rest your weary head after a day of exploring its haunted history.
Where is Abingdon, Virginia?
Abingdon, Virginia, is a historic town located in the southwestern part of the state, in Washington County, near the Virginia-Tennessee border. It is known for its charming small-town atmosphere, rich history, and well-preserved architecture. Abingdon is also a popular spot for outdoor activities and cultural experiences.
The History of Abingdon
Before the arrival of the colonists, Abingdon was the home of various indigenous cultures, including the Chisca and the Xualae. The Chisca Indians were first encountered by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1542.
The tribe was eventually swallowed up by the Shawnee and became extinct sometime during the eighteenth century. The Xualae Native Americans thrived along the banks of the Great Kanawha River, before the area was seized by the Cherokee in 1671.
The land on which Abingdon falls was surveyed by Dr. Thomas Walker between 1748 and 1750. According to local lore, Daniel Boone once referred to the area as Wolf Hills, after “his dogs were attacked by wolves” during a hunting expedition.
Soon, trades and businessmen began moving into the region. One of them, by the name of Joseph Black, constructed a fort to protect the settlers from Native American raids. Black’s Fort was completed in 1774, then became the county seat in 1776. It officially became incorporated as the town of Abingdon two years later.
It is not clear what the town was named after. Some believe it was after Martha Washington’s ancestral home in Oxfordshire, England, while others say it was after a young English nobleman, named Lord Abingdon.
Victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain
The town of Abingdon arose rapidly along the Great Valley Road. By the late eighteenth century, it was one of the most important commercial and transportation hubs in Southwest Virginia. From handsome brick dwellings to ordinary county buildings, from mills to grocery stores, from taverns to youth academies – numerous buildings began popping up everywhere, to support the growing community.
During the American Civil War, Abingdon became the birthplace of the Overmountain Men. The Overmountain Men were a team of American frontiersmen who gathered together in 1780 to fight against the Loyalists.
They emerged victorious from the Battle of Kings Mountain, a Southern campaign which occurred during the American Revolutionary War. The Overmountain Men’s win significantly boosted the Patriots’ morale and was described by Thomas Jefferson to be “the joyful annunciation of that turn of the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War.”
Today, Abingdon’s Muster Grounds celebrate the Overmountain Men’s adventures. Reenactments and interpretations of their feats are hosted regularly. The grounds encompass nine acres and is the northern trailhead for the three hundred and thirty mile long historic Overmountain Victory Trail.
Abingdon’s Main Street
The two primary streets which support Abingdon’s beautiful Historic District are Valley Street and Main Street. Valley Street is the home of multiple colonial residences and businesses.
The Alexander Findlay House, for instance, is its earliest surviving building. Findlay was a Scottish immigrant who became the first man on record to build a golf course. His one-and-a-half story brick home has been updated with several Colonial Revival additions.
On 239 East Valley Street, you have the restored two-story Gabriel Stickley House. Stickley was a blacksmith and wagon builder.
A few doors down, you can visit the Daniel Trigg House – which was built sometime during the early nineteenth century. Trigg was the mayor of Abingdon in 1846 and also served briefly as the president of the Exchange Bank of Virginia.
Main Street runs parallel to Valley Street. It too is lined with many surviving colonial-era residences. On 171 East Main Street, for example, the red, Federal-style house of Colonel James White stands surrounded by trees.
On 239 East Main Street, the brick, front-gabled dwelling of Judge John James Stuart is especially noticeable because of its unique shotgun architectural style. Lastly, on 153 West Main Street, you have the breathtaking mansion of Letty Floyd Johnson, who was the daughter of John Floyd, the twenty-fifth governor of Virginia.
But Main Street is also your best bet to see some ghosts in Abingdon. All three of the aforementioned haunted places – the Martha Washington Inn, the Barter Theater and the Abingdon Tavern – are located on Main Street.
The Martha Washington Inn
The Martha Washington Inn, built in 1832 by General Francis Preston, was originally a home for him, his wife, and their nine children. Preston, an American lawyer and politician, was born and raised in Abingdon.
In 1858, the property was sold to the founders of Martha Washington College, who transformed it into an upscale women’s university. The school offered a range of subjects, from bookkeeping and French to piano and home economics, shaping many influential women. During the Civil War, the school briefly became a makeshift hospital and a training ground for Confederate soldiers known as the “Washington Mountain Rifles,” who affectionately referred to the school as “The Martha.”
Among the notable graduates of Martha Washington College was Eleanor “Nellie” Nugent Somerville, the first woman elected to the Mississippi Legislature and a strong advocate for women’s suffrage. She graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1880 and later became more conservative in her political views.
Today, the Martha Washington Inn still stands as a historic and haunted landmark in Abingdon. If you’re planning to visit and delve into its fascinating past, there are several charming hotels in Abingdon where you can rest and enjoy the town’s historic atmosphere.
While you’re in town, be sure to explore other local attractions, like hiking along the Virginia Creeper Trail, visiting Grayson Highlands State Park for stunning views of Mount Rogers, or enjoying the lively music scene at places like Heartwood and Wolf Hills Brewery. With so many things to do, Abingdon offers a perfect blend of history, outdoor adventure, and local culture.
In the early 1900s, the nation was struck with a terrible outbreak of typhoid fever. This, combined with the effects of the Great Depression, forced the Martha Washington College to close for good in 1932. The building then opened its doors as the Martha Washington Inn in 1935.
Throughout the decades, the Martha Washington Inn has catered to many famous people, including Eleanor Roosevelt, President Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter and Elizabeth Taylor. The facility was also used for a brief period of time as a second home to the actors of the Barter Theater.
Prominent thespians, such as Patricia Neal and Ned Beatty, would often go there after a long day on the stage. In fact, it is said that an underground tunnel once connected the inn with the theater.
Today, the Martha Washington Inn retains much of its authentic charm and architectural integrity. In the nineties, it became listed on The Camberley Collection of fine historic properties. Portions of the Prestons’ original brick residence remain intact.
Beth’s Haunted Violin Song
But many are drawn to the inn by its paranormal activity, as the hotel has an abundance of ghost stories to share. One tale tells of a young girl named Beth, who was among the students who stayed at the Martha Washington College during the Civil War to care for wounded soldiers.
One of these injured fighters was the Yankee officer Captain John Stoves. Stoves, gravely injured during battle, was carried by his men through an underground cave system and taken to the school. He became of Beth’s patients, and the two fell hopelessly in love.
Beth, a talented violin player, would often soothe her beloved with her music. But despite Beth’s care and attention, Stoves’ conditions deteriorated. As he lay on his deathbed, Beth promised to play him one last song.
Unfortunately, before she could, he passed away. Some say that you can still the sweet sounds of Beth’s violin at night, even see her in Room 217 (where she took care of Stoves.)
Another story tells of a young Confederate soldier, who was assigned to take important documents about where the Union army was camped to General Robert E. Lee. The man had a girlfriend who was studying at the Martha Washington College.
Before leaving for his dangerous mission, the soldier tried to visit her, to say goodbye. He too attempted to sneak into the school through Abingdon’s subterranean cave system, but was caught by Union officers.
The poor Confederate was shot to death, right in front of his sweetheart! Even though the inn’s floors have since been redone and re-carpeted, the bloodstain he left behind continues to reappear.
The halls of the inn are also “dirtied” by the past. The ghost of a wounded soldier has been witnessed hobbling through its long hallways, aided by a crutch. He leaves a trail of mud in his wake.
The basement of the inn also ranks high in supernatural occurrences, as it was once used to house black slaves. Don’t be surprised if you encounter a tormented African American spirit down there!
Outside the Martha Washington Inn, people have seen the apparition of a horse, believed to have been the ride of a wounded Union soldier who came to be treated at the college in 1864. The phantom steed still wanders the inn’s grounds, waiting for his master to come out and ride home.
The Barter Theater
The tunnel that once connected the Martha Washington Inn with the Barter Theater is rumored to be the home of an angry spirit—the ghost of a man who was killed in 1890 when the passageway collapsed. Actors who used the winding underpass in the 1930s and 1940s often sensed his strong, evil presence lurking in the dark.
According to Rick Rose, the producing artistic director of the Barter Theater, “the main ghost here is Robert Porterfield,” the founder of the theater. Porterfield, from a prominent family, studied at New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts before creating the Barter Theater in 1933 as a repertory company. This helped him win the Regional Theater Tony Award in 1948.
Today, many still spot his ghost—sometimes sitting in the audience on opening night or in the stage manager’s booth. Actors consider a sighting of Porterfield a sign of good luck, especially before a show. However, his spirit sometimes likes to play pranks on the stage crew, moving props around during performances and even watching people as things mysteriously shift backstage.
The Barter Theater’s rehearsal hall is also no stranger to paranormal activity, with some claiming it’s haunted by the ghost of a housekeeper who once held séances and imprisoned evil spirits in the now-locked Pyramid Room. She is known to yell at those who stay late or rehearse past working hours.
For those interested in the supernatural, Abingdon offers plenty of eerie experiences. Along with the theater and historic sites, there are things to do like hiking the Virginia Creeper Trail, visiting Grayson Highlands State Park, enjoying local live music, and exploring charming hotels that reflect the town’s rich history and haunted past.
The Abingdon Tavern
The Abingdon Tavern, dating back to 1779, has served esteemed guests like President Andrew Jackson and Pierre Charles L’Enfant. Over the years, it has been used for various purposes, including as a bank, bakery, general store, cabinet shop, barber’s salon, post office, and even a private residence. In 1965, the tavern was purchased by Robert Porterfield’s wife, Mary Dudley Porterfield.
However, the servers and bartenders at the tavern have more than just customers to deal with. According to the restaurant’s owner, Max Hermann, the staff also contend with the antics of the tavern’s numerous ghosts.
Like the Barter Theater and the Martha Washington Inn, the tavern is home to its own set of eerie residents. Among them are the ghost of a cheating poker player, who was shot and killed when his deception was discovered, and the spirit of a prostitute, known as the “Tavern Tart,” who still likes to flirt with customers and grab at men’s bottoms. There’s also the ghost of Captain Gordon William Rife, who was killed by an angry husband after an affair.
In 2008, a group of ghost hunters from the Haunt Masters Club spent a night at the tavern to investigate these tales. Their EVP readings were off the charts, especially in the dining room and on the first floor.
Video footage captured at 3 AM even showed a chair moving on its own. Hermann says, “After a full night in the building, and reviewing the investigators’ evidence, I’m still trying to make sense of inexplicable things.”
Haunted Williamsburg
Fascinated by the Apparitions at Abingdon? There are plenty more spooky stories waiting for you! These historical spots are rich in eerie legends, ghost sightings, mysterious occurrences, and restless spirits. Many of these haunting places carry just as much drama and tragedy as the city’s own, giving you an even closer look at the dark events of the past.
Want to dive deeper? Check out our blog for more ghostly tales and book your next Colonial ghost tour today! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more spine-chilling content!
Book a Williamsburg Tour and see for yourself
Our tour will take you on a leisurely stroll along the tree-lined cobbled streets of this beautiful and historic city. In around three-quarters of a mile on our standard tour, our entertaining and knowledgeable guide will regale you with stories of characterful spots in the Historic District of Williamsburg.
For those with an appetite for the terrifying, our extended tour will take in an additional haunted locations.
Get more information and reserve a tour today!
Sources:
- https://www.washingtonvachamber.org/
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Walker-American-physician
- https://www.nps.gov/blri/learn/historyculture/overmountain-men.htm
- https://encyclopediavirginia.org/369hpr-904864c3c2aa362/