1852 Linville Manor Ghost Hunt & Sleepover, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Linville Manor: One of Maryland’s Most Haunted Estates

Where the veil grows thin at 1:11 AM

Step into the shadows of history at Linville Manor, where the boundary between worlds thins each night as the clock strikes 1:11 AM. Once known as the Bowie-Johnson House, this imposing Greek Revival mansion in Upper Marlboro, Maryland has been a sanctuary for spirits since its construction in 1854.

A Legacy Steeped in Mystery

The story of Linville Manor begins with tragedy. The original home, dating back to the late 1600s, burned mysteriously and suddenly. The farmhouse was rebuilt and now sits upon the charred remains of that earlier plantation home, its basement still intact from the fire. The energy in this part of the house is heavy, and at times the faint scent of charred wood can still be detected.

The property, originally part of a 190 acre tract called Thorpland, remained in the Bowie family’s possession until the 1950s. At one point, historic records show as many as 52 enslaved individuals lived and worked the land, many unnamed to this day, though some have made contact with a “Rose” and “Frederick” mentioned in local record. The property is also home to the second oldest beech tree in Maryland, which many psychics have deemed a portal of energy that feeds the paranormal activity within the manor’s walls.

Not far from the home, the family cemetery houses prominent Bowie family members dating back to both the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War, with several causes of death listed as “unknown.” Many guests have experienced the spirit of a young girl named Lily, perhaps one of the children named “Eliza” found in the back graves. The cemetery even holds a space for “Shadow,” the cat who lived on site for 19 years and continues to make appearances to this day.

The mansion passed through the Bowie and McCeney families from 1889 to 1951 before being purchased by U.S. Congressman Calvin Johnson, who dramatically altered the structure. Johnson removed all nine original fireplaces, added wings to both sides, constructed a full height portico, added a grand solarium (ballroom), and renamed the property “Gladacres” after his wife Gladys. Many guests still report interactions with these monumental figures, especially in the historic birthing room that later became Gladys’s bedroom.

The Legend of the Burlap Man

Long before the mansion took its current name, blood was spilled on these grounds. Local legend tells of a landowner dispute in the 1800s that ended in murder, the victim’s body hidden away in a well on the property. They say he never left.

The locals call him the Burlap Man. Rather than a malevolent presence, he is said to walk the grounds as a protector, guiding the lost and warning of danger. Guests and investigators have reported a heavy, watchful presence outside the house after dark, footsteps where no one walks, and the unmistakable feeling of being guided through the grounds by something unseen.

Whether the Burlap Man is bound to the manor by the violence of his death or by some duty he refuses to abandon, his story adds one of the darkest and most compelling chapters to an already haunted estate.

Encounters with the Other Side

The spirits of Linville Manor aren’t shy about making their presence known. As darkness falls, the supernatural activity intensifies, reaching its peak at precisely 1:11 AM. This is when guests report hearing invisible figures gathering in the lounge, mysterious crashes echoing through hallways, and witnessing furniture moving of its own accord.

Among the manor’s most persistent residents is “The Lurker,” a mysterious eyeless figure who watches from doorways, stairways, and occasionally from the foot of beds. The former nursery, now a bedroom, is overwhelmed by a male presence so powerful that guests often report crushing pressure on their chests while trying to sleep.

The Library harbors its own secrets, including the gentle spirit of the child Lily, who has a special affinity for dogs. Late at night, visitors often hear the eerie sound of sweeping coming from this room when no one is present. In the Ballroom, the heated exchanges between two male entities echo across time, and chairs occasionally move by themselves to face the double doors, as if watching for someone’s arrival.

Even the most steadfast skeptics find their beliefs challenged here. The “Non-Believer’s Bathroom” has earned its name by converting doubters through unexplainable lockings and other phenomena that defy logical explanation.

Witness the unexplained sounds, lights, sensations, and temperature shifts yourself, and decide whether you are face to face with someone or something from the 1800s, mid century 1900s, or possibly a rogue entity from an undocumented murder of the 1980s. Paranormal experts have deemed this location “a fully charged battery of paranormal manifestation.”

Choose Your Paranormal Adventure

We offer brave souls two distinct ways to experience Linville Manor’s haunted history. General Admission provides six hours of heart pounding paranormal investigation from 8PM to 2AM, allowing you to witness the activation of spirits at the witching hour of 1:11 AM.

For the truly courageous, our Overnight VIP Experience is strictly limited to just four rooms per night. This premium option includes extended ghost hunting with no time limits, allowing you to investigate as long as you dare before retiring to your room and staying until morning.

The spirits of Linville Manor have been waiting to share their secrets. From the mysterious cat that vanishes into thin air to the Burlap Man watching from the grounds, every corner of this estate pulses with paranormal energy. Will you answer their call?

What’s Included

• A full night of paranormal investigation with a Haunted Rooms America team member.
• Free time to investigate on your own.
• Optional Estes Method sessions run by our team during free roam.
• Ghost Hunting Vigils in the most active locations.
• Structured Vigils with experienced investigators.
• Use of Paranormal Equipment, including trigger objects and EMF meters.
• Unlimited Refreshments throughout the night to keep you energized and alert.
• VIP Overnight (for two)*: Includes accommodation for two people in one of four haunted suites.

Equipment and recording: Guests are welcome to bring their own ghost hunting equipment (EMF meters, spirit boxes, REM pods and similar). For the privacy of other guests and venue security, photography, video and audio recording are not permitted at any point during the event.