This Haunted Virginia Hotel Is Known For Its Infamous Ghost Room Guests Request

Coins have reportedly turned up rearranged into the letter L at this inn. Nobody has ever owned up to it. At least, nobody with a pulse.

The oldest part of the building dates to 1742. That makes it older than the country itself.

During the Civil War, it served as a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers.

Now it welcomes overnight guests in Virginia, and one room gets more requests than the rest. People don’t ask for it because of the view.

They ask because it’s called the most haunted room in the house.

I appreciate a hotel that leans into its history this honestly. I’d probably book that famous room and then leave every light on all night.

So would you sleep there, or just peek inside during daylight?

Room 14 Is The One Everybody Whispers About

Some hotel rooms are famous for their balconies. At The Historic Wayside Inn, Room 14 is famous for its unseen roommates.

Also called the Rhodes Suite, this room carries the title of most haunted room in the building. Guests often request it specifically because of its reported paranormal activity.

That’s a bold way to pick a hotel room. Most people check bed size first, then maybe the bathroom.

Here, some travelers check the ghost reports before anything else.

The inn has 22 individually decorated rooms, and other rooms are rumored to be haunted too. Still, Room 14 is the headliner.

It’s the one people talk about when the subject turns spooky.

I love that the inn doesn’t hide this reputation. It feels like part of the house’s personality, like a quirky relative everyone mentions at holidays.

A practical tip helps here. If you want this suite, ask about it early, since it’s a popular request.

Then pack a flashlight, a brave attitude, and maybe a backup plan. Switching rooms at midnight is awkward, even in a building this friendly to history buffs.

The Ghost Guest List Is Surprisingly Crowded

Soldiers in Union blue. Soldiers in Confederate gray. A Lady in White, a child, and possibly even a ghost cat.

That’s the lineup of alleged apparitions linked to the inn. It sounds less like a haunting and more like a full reunion.

The stories don’t stop at sightings. Cold spots have been reported, especially near a lobby fireplace.

Some people describe feeling something brush their arm on the stairway.

The kitchen has its own legends. Clipboards have reportedly moved from the kitchen downstairs, and dishwashers’ aprons have come untied.

Dishes have even been said to shoot off shelves.

Then there are the coins found arranged into the letter L. Fans of the inn often connect that to Larrick’s Hotel, its Civil War era name.

When the building is empty, some report hearing people talking and walking around. That’s either very spooky or a sign the inn never truly closes.

Whether you believe or not, these tales add real flavor to a stay. I’d keep one ear open on the staircase, just in case the ghost cat wants attention.

Older Than The Country, And It Shows In The Best Way

In 1742, a stagecoach stop and waystation went up in the Shenandoah Valley. That earliest section, known as the Old Kitchen, still stands today.

The Historic Wayside Inn has welcomed travelers since 1797. The inn claims to be the oldest continuously operating inn in the United States.

The town of Middletown calls it one of the oldest, which is still pretty impressive bragging rights.

During the Civil War, the place went by Larrick’s Hotel. It served as a hospital for both Union and Confederate forces.

The building is also a contributing property to the Middletown Historic District. That district joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

All of this makes the ghost stories feel grounded in something real. These walls have seen centuries of travelers, patients, and caretakers come and go.

I think that’s what makes a stay here so memorable. You aren’t just sleeping somewhere old.

You’re sleeping in a building that has kept its doors open through a huge stretch of Virginia history.

Your Room Comes With Antiques And Wonderfully Crooked Floors

Forget cookie-cutter hotel rooms. Each of the 22 rooms here gets its own decor, built around antiques and period details.

Many rooms feature four-poster beds and lace touches. Bed options include queen, double, and twin setups, depending on the room you choose.

Modern comforts haven’t been left behind, though. Rooms have air conditioning, cable TV, hair dryers, and complimentary toiletries.

Free WiFi runs throughout the property, so your ghost-hunting photos can upload fast.

Now for the honest part. This is a very old building, and the floors can be uneven.

Think of it as a charming lean rather than a design flaw.

I’d suggest packing slippers with decent grip. Those tilted floorboards are part of the fun, but nobody wants a surprise slide at night.

If you’re picky about bed size, check the room details before booking. Every room is different, which is great for variety and a little tricky for planning.

The payoff is a room that feels like nobody else’s. Waking up surrounded by antiques sure beats staring at another beige hotel wall.

Shepherd’s Pie Chili Relleno Deserves A Second Look

Irish-Mexican fusion inside an inn from the 1700s? That combo alone earns a raised eyebrow and a curious appetite.

Clem’s Kitchen is the on-site restaurant at The Historic Wayside Inn. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus Sunday brunch.

The menu leans on traditional American and regional cooking, with Southern staples and a creative twist. Dishes like Shepherd’s Pie Chili Relleno and bangers and mash show how playful the kitchen gets.

I can’t imagine skipping that chili relleno. It sounds like two comfort foods teaming up for one plate.

The dining space matches the mood of the building. The restaurant features a wood-beamed ceiling and a fireplace, which suits a chilly Shenandoah Valley evening.

Families get some love too. Clem’s Kitchen has planned kid-friendly touches like a kids’ corner and tableside chocolate milk service.

Having dinner right downstairs is a big plus after a long drive. You can eat well, then head upstairs without hunting for parking twice.

Just maybe don’t leave your apron loose in the kitchen. The staff stories suggest something here likes untying them.

Peek Into A Well That’s Been Here For Ages

Most old inns offer a cozy corner and maybe a fireplace. This one adds an original well, built along with the 1742 Old Kitchen, that once supplied water to the whole town of Middletown.

The well sits beneath a plexiglass cover, so guests can safely peer inside. It’s a rare chance to see a piece of the building’s working past up close.

I appreciate details like this because they make history feel touchable. Reading about the past is one thing.

Standing over a centuries-old well is another.

It’s also a great conversation starter. Kids will likely want to know how deep it goes, and grownups will wonder the same thing.

Ask a staff member to point it out during your stay, then swap ghost theories and keep an eye out for rearranged coins.

Let A Staff Member Lead You Through The Spooky Stuff

Ghost stories hit differently when someone tells them in the very hallway where they happened. Staff-led haunted history tours give guests exactly that.

These tours mix the building’s real past with its paranormal reputation. You get the Civil War hospital chapter, the stagecoach era, and the eerie tales in one walk.

The oldest section is perfect for this. It has small rooms, narrow passages, fireplaces, and some unusual artwork that adds to the mood.

Two parlors, several dining areas, and the outdoor spaces round out the explorable parts of the inn. There’s plenty to wander through, even without a guide.

My advice is to take the tour early in your stay. Once you know the stories, every creaky step afterward becomes a lot more entertaining.

It also helps you decide on Room 14. Hearing the history first might make you more excited, or it might send you straight back to the front desk.

Either way, you’ll leave with stories worth sharing. Even skeptics can enjoy a good tale told in a building this old and this full of character.

Grab A Book And Linger By The Fire

Traveling with a pet? Pets aren’t allowed at the inn, though service animals are welcome, so plan ahead before you pack.

The common areas make lounging easy. There’s a library, a lobby fireplace, a garden, a terrace, and a picnic area to enjoy.

That lobby fireplace has its own reputation, by the way. It’s one of the spots linked to reported cold spots.

Cozy and chilly at the same time is quite a trick.

Parking is free, and so is the WiFi across the property. Those two perks make arrival a lot less stressful.

One planning tip really matters. The front desk keeps limited hours, often 9 AM to 9 PM, and winter hours can be shorter.

If you’ll arrive outside those times, contact the inn ahead of time at (540) 869-1797. Showing up late without a plan is a spooky experience nobody wants.

The inn also has meeting rooms and wedding services. That explains why this old Virginia landmark hosts so many celebrations.

Honestly, a book by the fire sounds like the perfect warmup before a night in a haunted room.

Plenty Of History Waits Just Down The Road

The haunted history doesn’t end at the front porch. Some of the Shenandoah Valley’s most important sites sit only a short drive away.

You’ll find The Historic Wayside Inn at 7783 Main St, Middletown, VA 22645, just off Route 11. That location makes it an easy base for exploring.

Belle Grove Plantation is about 2.2 miles from the inn. Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park is close by, along with the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.

These sites pair nicely with a stay here. Learning about the area’s Civil War past makes the soldier stories at the inn feel even more vivid.

Golfers can head to Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club, about 7.8 miles away. That’s a nice option for anyone needing a break from ghosts and battle history.

I’d plan a day of sightseeing, then return for dinner at Clem’s Kitchen. Ending the evening back at the inn feels right after a day spent in the past.

Virginia has plenty of historic stops, but few let you sleep inside the history afterward. This one does, with possible company included.