Belle Grove Plantation Ghost Hunt, King George, VA
Dare to investigate one of America’s most actively haunted locations. Nestled along the misty banks of the Rappahannock River in King George County, Virginia, Belle Grove Plantation stands as a magnificent testament to America’s complex past—and a haunting ground for the unexplained.
Established in 1670 and home to a stately Federal-style mansion built in 1791, this historic estate carries the distinguished honor of being the birthplace of President James Madison. But as twilight descends upon its manicured grounds and elegant architecture, Belle Grove transforms from a historical landmark into something far more mysterious—a gathering place for restless spirits from centuries past, awaiting your discovery during our exclusive overnight paranormal investigation.
As you explore Belle Grove’s storied halls, you’ll trace the footsteps of America’s defining historical figures. You’ll stand where the plantation flourished during the Revolutionary era, where it weathered the tumultuous Civil War as a Union Army headquarters, and where it witnessed the dramatic aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination—with Garrett’s Farm, where John Wilkes Booth met his fate, lying just four miles away.
During your investigation, you’ll move through the same spaces once occupied by George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, General Robert E. Lee, General Stonewall Jackson, and the Marquis de Lafayette—influential figures whose energy still seems to linger within these historic walls.
By day, Belle Grove operates as a charming bed and breakfast that preserves its architectural splendor and Southern elegance. Four exquisite Master Suites named after the families who once called Belle Grove home await you, should you choose the VIP overnight experience. You’ll find yourself surrounded by period antiques reflecting the era when these families lived at Belle Grove, offering you a journey through time amid luxurious accommodations with private baths and sweeping views of the river and plantation grounds.
The Paranormal
What will truly captivate you at Belle Grove is its well-earned reputation as Virginia’s Most Haunted Plantation. The veil between worlds grows remarkably thin here, with an astonishing 83 known spirits documented through hundreds of paranormal photographs, voice recordings, and personal experiences. This supernatural legacy has attracted national attention, with Belle Grove featured prominently on television shows including “Ghost Hunters” (Season 9, Episode 21: “Dead Presidents”), “Kindred Spirits,” and “Fright Club.”
During your investigation, you might capture what so many others have witnessed—mysterious orbs and light anomalies appearing in your photographs, or if you’re particularly fortunate, evidence of what appear to be full-bodied apparitions. Since March 2013 alone, an extraordinary 23 full-body apparitions have been witnessed at the plantation—a frequency of paranormal activity almost unheard of in other haunted locations.
As you move through the mansion with your equipment, you’ll be searching for ghostly inhabitants that represent a cross-section of Belle Grove’s long history. Keep watch for the Union Civil War soldiers, forever bound to their duty, frequently glimpsed standing guard at the plantation’s entry posts. These spectral sentinels, still vigilant after more than 150 years, have been observed crossing the driveway, patrolling the plantation fields, and moving silently through the main house—eternal reminders of Belle Grove’s role as a Union headquarters from 1861 until the war’s conclusion.
You might even experience what the current owner encountered in one particularly striking event—when four Union soldiers materialized at twilight, standing between her and her car. Their appearance was so detailed that differences in height and facial features were clearly discernible. When she jokingly remarked, “Well you could have at least turned the light on,” referring to a motion-detected light on the garage, the light immediately illuminated—though she was not close enough to trigger it. Now, these spectral guardians seem to consider activating these lights part of their eternal duties.
Your paranormal investigation might reveal more than military spirits. Listen for the two ghostly cats that prowl the premises, their phantom meowing piercing the silence when no living feline is present. If you choose the overnight option, you might feel the unmistakable sensation of these spectral cats walking across your bed or curling up beside you on your pillow during the night. The experience is so vivid that previous guests have insisted they’ve seen actual cats, despite the owners’ assurances that no living cats were inside the building.
Perhaps you’ll encounter the most endearing of Belle Grove’s spirits—Jacob, the playful ghost of a small boy whose favorite pastime involves bouncing his ball in the upstairs hallway. His mischievous nature might manifest before your eyes—kitchen utensils mysteriously relocating or disappearing entirely, only to reappear in unexpected places. Previous paranormal investigators have captured compelling EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) of Jacob, confirming his continued presence in the mansion he once called home.
During your investigation, keep watch for the haunting presence of a woman in mourning who adds a more somber note to Belle Grove’s supernatural narrative. You might glimpse her in a black dress with a veil as she appears in the highest window of the plantation, her eternal grief palpable even across the divide between the living and the dead. Or perhaps you’ll sense the presence of Chatham, an English girl who returns to fulfill a deathbed vow, continuing her own mysterious journey through the afterlife.
Be alert for signs of a former caretaker, whose identity remains shrouded in mystery, who occasionally makes his presence known in more unsettling ways—seemingly determined to assert his continued connection to the property he once maintained. His interactions with the current owners suggest a territorial nature that transcends the boundaries of life and death.
VIP Overnight Experience
For those seeking the ultimate paranormal experience, a limited VIP Overnight option allows just eight special guests to continue their investigation until dawn breaks over the Rappahannock. This exclusive package includes accommodation for two in one of Belle Grove’s historic Master Suites, each elegantly appointed with period furnishings and offering modern comforts amid centuries of history. As other investigators depart, these privileged few will have the rare opportunity to experience what happens in those quietest hours when the plantation’s spirits are most active.
As night falls upon Belle Grove Plantation, the boundary between past and present dissolves like morning mist over the Rappahannock. Will you hear the phantom footsteps of soldiers still standing guard? Will you feel the gentle weight of a ghostly cat upon your bed? Will the playful spirit of Jacob reveal himself as his ball bounces down the upstairs hallway?
What’s Included?
- A full night of paranormal investigation with a Haunted Rooms America team member.
- Free time to investigate on your own.
- 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*: Includes accommodation for two people in one of four master suites.