Ferry Plantation House, Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Ferry Plantation House: A Haunted Legacy by the Lynnhaven

Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood of Virginia Beach, the Ferry Plantation House stands as a silent witness to nearly four centuries of American history—and, to many, the lingering presence of the past in spectral form. Built in 1830 on a site occupied for generations, this unassuming brick home is reputedly one of the most haunted locations in the state of Virginia, with at least eleven distinct spirits said to roam its rooms and surrounding grounds.

From Early Colonial Thoroughfare to Historic Landmark

Long before the present house was constructed, the land itself had played an important role in colonial Virginia. As early as 1642, this stretch of riverfront along the Lynnhaven River was a hub of transportation and commerce, serving as the second ferry service in the Hampton Roads area—designed to carry passengers, goods, and news back and forth across the water.

In 1735, the third courthouse for Princess Anne County was built on the site. Its presence meant that justice, punishment, and public business all took place here, with stocks and a pillory once standing as reminders of colonial law.

The original manor house owned by the prominent Walke family was destroyed by fire in 1828, but two years later, bricks from the ruins were reused to build the Ferry Plantation House that survives today—a Federal-style brick home with ten rooms, heart-pine flooring, and a long, layered history.

Haunted Roots: Spirits Said to Linger

While the house is undoubtedly historic, it is the ghost stories and paranormal reports that have made it a cornerstone of Virginia’s haunted lore. According to accounts from visitors and paranormal researchers, over a dozen spirits have been seen, heard, or otherwise felt at the site.

Henry: The Gentle Spirit of a Former Slave

One of the most frequently reported entities is Henry, believed to have been a formerly enslaved man who lived in the slave quarters before and possibly after Emancipation. Several paranormal investigation teams, using EVP recordings and other equipment, have picked up voices and responses believed to be his, often talking about simple pleasures like “goin’ fishin’.” Observers have also reported seeing the figure of an older African-American man moving through the house in a repetitive pattern.

Sally Rebecca Walke: A Mourning Heart

Another significant presence is that of Sally Rebecca Walke, a resident from the mid-19th century whose life was deeply marked by heartbreak. Sally’s fiancé was killed during the Civil War while serving in the Confederate Navy, and she is said by many to continue mourning him centuries later. Witnesses have reported her spirit inside the house and around the oak and magnolia trees on the property.

The Lady in White and Other Residents

Countless visitors and guides describe encounters with the Lady in White, a figure believed to be a former member of the Walke family or a resident who met an untimely death—some legends hold she fell down the stairs. Others have observed a young boy named Eric, who supposedly died from a fall in the 19th century, his playful energy manifesting in unexplained noises or mischievous touches.

There are also the spirits of victims from an 1810 shipwreck at the ferry landing, said to make their presence known through misty figures and cold drafts, and even a former resident and artist, Thomas Williamson, glimpsed painting at the staircase landing—just as he once did in life.

Sightings, Sounds, and Strange Lights

Those drawn to the Ferry Plantation House aren’t just interested in history. The place feels alive in a way few museums do—especially if you’re there alone, at night, or during one of the site’s paranormal events.

1. Lights turning on by themselves: Even when volunteers have turned off all the lights before closing, many report coming in the next day to find lights mysteriously on again.
2. Unexplained orbs and flashes: Paranormal teams have captured glowing orbs on camera, especially around interior windows and the gift shop.
3. Balls of light dancing on the roof on dark nights before development surrounded the house.
4. Children’s laughter and footsteps echoing in empty hallways.

Some visitors claim that objects sometimes move, chimneys creak, or cold spots appear out of nowhere—classic hallmarks of a haunted locale that blur the line between history and mystery.

The Witch of Pungo and Local Lore

Adding another layer to the supernatural tapestry is the legend of Grace Sherwood, the so-called “Witch of Pungo.” In 1706, Sherwood was famously tried by ducking—a brutal ordeal where accusation of witchcraft was settled by sinking the accused in a river. She survived, a “guilty” sign in the logic of the time, and lived out her life under a cloud of suspicion and folklore. While her story predates the current house, many locals believe her spirit is tied to the land and continues to be felt around Ferry Plantation.

Modern Paranormal Tourism

Today, the Ferry Plantation House operates as a museum and educational center, with regular daytime tours exploring both its historic and haunted narratives. But for those who want a deeper thrill, seasonal events such as ghost tours, night walks, and “Fright Nights” offer a closer look at the house after dark—complete with guides, stories, and sometimes psychic mediums.

Even as skeptics debate whether these experiences are supernatural or psychological, thousands of visitors attest to feeling something unusual in the aged rooms and gardens—an atmosphere that seems to echo centuries of life, loss, joy, and sorrow.

A House Alive With the Past

Whether you approach it as a historian, a paranormal enthusiast, or a curious traveler, the Ferry Plantation House invites you to step into a world where the past is palpably present. The house’s layers—native hunting grounds, colonial courthouse, plantation home, Civil War witness, near-abandonment, and historical restoration—have all left their mark. And according to countless stories, some marks are not just in the wood and brick but in the very air and shadows of the place.

In Virginia Beach lore, few sites carry as many stories or as much mystery as this humble plantation house on the Lynnhaven River. And perhaps, as you walk the halls, you might feel a cool breeze where there should be none—or hear echoes of footsteps that don’t belong to the living.