Graceland Inn and Conference Center, Elkins, West Virginia

Haunted History of Graceland Inn and Conference Center

Origins: From Senator’s Mansion to College Inn

The mansion known as Graceland — now operating as the Graceland Inn & Conference Center — was built in 1893 as the summer home of Henry Gassaway Davis, a prominent U.S. Senator and industrialist. The estate originally sat on a sprawling property and was part of two stately Victorian mansions belonging to influential West Virginia families.

In 1941, the estate (including Graceland) was donated to what became Davis & Elkins College. Over time, the mansion’s function shifted — it served as a men’s residence hall until around 1970. Later, after renovations and restoration, it reopened in 1996 as the Inn, Restaurant, and Conference Center.

Graceland blends storied 19th-century history, Victorian architecture, and modern hospitality — a mix that helps explain why its haunted reputation gained traction.

The Haunting Legends: Who (or What) Is Here

Graceland is widely regarded as one of West Virginia’s more haunted properties. Several spirits are said to roam the halls:

1. “Grace” — the mansion’s namesake, often described as the primary ghost associated with Graceland. Visitors recount hearing unexplained noises, feeling sudden presences, and sometimes glimpsing a female apparition.
2. Henry Gassaway Davis — some claim to have sensed or “captured” his ghost through paranormal investigations. During some events, a voice has allegedly identified itself as Davis and asked groups to leave.
3. “Katie”, a former servant — local lore suggests she may have died under tragic or violent circumstances. Some accounts say she was buried under the basement floor, and her ghost is said to haunt the servant quarters or basement area.
4. An Unknown Basement Spirit — beyond named entities, there are rumors of a restless, unidentified ghost in the basement, tied to past tragedies in the servant areas.

Visitors, students, and amateur paranormal investigators report various phenomena: ghostly footsteps, disembodied voices, sudden cold spots, feelings of being watched, lights or gas burners turning on by themselves, and fleeting silhouettes or apparitions.

Why Graceland’s History Lends Itself to Ghost Stories

Several aspects of Graceland’s origin and history help explain why it fosters so many haunted tales:

1. Victorian-era mansion: Built in the late 19th century, with elaborate architecture, old wood, stone, large rooms, servants’ quarters, and basements — the kind of structural quirks associated with haunted houses.
2. Long history of inhabitants: The house saw generations of the Davis family, servants, and student residents. With each change in use — from family home → dormitory → inn — stories accumulated.
3. Servant quarters/basement lore: The tales about a servant reportedly meeting a violent end — possibly buried in the basement — adds a darker element. Servant-basement ghost stories are a common motif in haunted-house folklore.
4. Restoration & reuse: Old mansions converted into inns or public venues often encourage ghost stories. Guests stay overnight, walk the halls, and share experiences, allowing legends to grow.

Notable Stories & “Encounters”

While the nature of ghost stories means none of these are verifiable, they remain part of what draws visitors and paranormal enthusiasts:

1. During a ghost-hunting event, a group reportedly recorded a voice identifying itself as “Henry Davis” and telling them to leave. Some participants claimed to see a shadowy figure and a blurry image of a woman.
2. Later, the group felt drawn to the basement on a suggestion from Katie, the servant ghost, where gas burners allegedly turned on by themselves despite no one touching them.
3. Others report unexplained noises, footsteps, strange sensations, and feelings of being watched, especially at night or in less-frequented parts of the house.

Because tales differ in detail — who they saw or heard, where, when — there’s no single unified haunting narrative. Instead, there’s a patchwork of personal experiences, local legends, and oral history that collectively contribute to Graceland’s reputation.

What We Know — and What Remains Legend

Confirmed facts:

1. Graceland was built in 1893 for Senator Henry Gassaway Davis.
2. The mansion became part of Davis & Elkins College in the mid-20th century and eventually was converted into an inn and conference center in the 1990s.
3. The architecture and setting fit what one expects from a historic mansion turned inn, which lends itself to atmospheric speculation and ghost stories.

Unverified claims:

1. The presence of ghosts — Grace, Henry Davis, Katie, and the basement spirit — are based on anecdotal reports, personal testimonies, and visitor stories.
2. Specific incidents such as EVPs, gas burners turning on by themselves, and ghostly sightings come from paranormal investigations or personal accounts and cannot be verified.

Graceland’s haunted history lives more in folklore, oral tradition, and visitor experiences than in documented fact. Sometimes, the unknown is exactly what makes it so captivating.

Why It Still Captivates

1. Atmosphere & architecture: The mansion’s age, design, and location give it a classic haunted mansion vibe.
2. Blending real and rumored history: The confirmed history of a senator’s home and college dormitory provides a backdrop that makes ghost stories plausible.
3. Human psychology & storytelling: Staying overnight in old halls, hearing creaks, or walking alone at night primes the imagination.
4. Community tradition & lore: Tales shared among students, guests, and paranormal enthusiasts evolve over time. Each telling adds details, reinforcing the legends and keeping them alive.