Most Haunted Hotels in Gettysburg, PA

You may already know that Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War, but what you may not know is that Gettysburg has the highest concentration of haunted places in America.

In 1863 the town of Gettysburg had a population of just 2,000 people (7,620 as of 2010), yet over 50,000 soldiers died here during that time. Quite possibly, the number of spirits could outweigh that of the living.

Below we have listed some of the most haunted of Gettysburg’s haunted hotels.

The Cashtown Inn served as a forward hospital during the Civil War treating soldiers that were too badly injured to be moved when the army was retreating.  Most of the patients at this hospital were very badly injured, mostly fatal. Repurposed as an inn it isn’t surprising that with all the death and pain that reports of hauntings are rife.

Doors have been seen opening and closing by themselves, mysterious knocks on the doors have also been heard and when checked no one is there.  Phantom horses have also been heard stamping their hooves outside of rooms and ghostly lights and apparitions of Confederate soldiers have appeared in photographs that have been taken in and around the inn.

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The Farnsworth House Inn is direct across from the well-known tourist spot, the Jenny Wade House.  Jenny Wade was the first civilian killed in the battle of Gettysburg.  The inn still has bullet-riddled walls that date back to the battle of Gettysburg.  The inn would have been used by snipers and it was one of those snipers that shot and killed Jenny Wade.

The Inn itself is haunted by the spirits of these snipers, especially in the attic.  A Union soldier has also been seen carrying a wounded comrade down the stairs to the basement where ghostly singing can be heard.

Rooms at the inn are decorated in Victorian antiques and have big four-poster beds available for guests, which adds to the experience.  The inn also holds ghost presentations for guests and visitors.

During one of the Halloween events hosted at the inn by radio station staff, activity from the ghosts of Confederate soldiers really ramped up.  The reason was the radio employees were dressed in blue and called the radio station boss captain, which did not sit well with the ghostly apparitions of the Confederate army who felt the need to protect the Inn once more.

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Situated across the street from where President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address.  The Dobbin House Tavern is one of the most historic taverns in Gettysburg.  The Tavern is also on the national register of historic places and served as a stop on the underground railroad during the Civil War.

Not surprisingly with all that went on during the civil war the Dobbin House Tavern is said to be haunted.  Guests and staff have reported seeing apparitions of runaway slaves throughout the tavern.

The Tavern’s previous owner who was also an abolitionist is said to make appearances every now and again as well, probably just making sure his tavern is in good hands and that people are behaving.

The Gettysburg Hotel was used as a hospital during the Civil War housing wounded soldiers.  The hotel opened in 1797 as a small hotel.  It was not until the 1890s that the hotel as it is now was built.

The hotel then was THE place for people to stay as it was able to offer amenities like hot and cold water, a fine dining restaurant and electric lights, a luxury at the time.  In 1955 the hotel was used by President Eisenhower as a base of operations after he had a heart attack.

As this hotel was used as a hospital during the Civil War it’s no surprise that there have been multiple sightings and ghostly experiences inside the hotel.

The ghost of a woman has been seen dancing in the ballroom still enjoying the music from the past. There is also reports of a ghost of a nurse called Rachel who has been known to open drawers and rifle through guests belongings.

Finally, there is a ghost of a Union soldier named James Culbertson that still roams around the hotel after his untimely demise during the Civil War.

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The Baladerry Inn was originally built in 1812 as a farmhouse and again as with many buildings in Gettysburg, it served as a field hospital during the Civil War.  When it was used as a field hospital many soldiers were treated here and also many of these soldiers had damaged limbs amputated.  A lot of these amputations were carried out without the use of any anesthetic and the screams of the patients could be heard throughout the hospital.

Now used as an inn, the screams from these long-dead soldiers can still be heard! The area in which these soldiers were buried is now a tennis court and there have been some sightings around the court of soldiers in full attire.

There have also been reports of a female ghost who can be seen wandering around the Inn, she’s believed to be one of the nurses who tended to the soldiers.  Some people have also mentioned an amorous male spirit that likes to hang around and cuddle up to guests.

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