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I’ll be honest with you. I am not a brave person. During scary movies, I cover my eyes. I sleep with the TV on if I’m staying at a haunted hotel. And I love signing up for a ghost tour, and the Virginia Beach ghost tour was no exception. I find them a unique way to learn about a place.
What followed was one of the most entertaining, oddly educational, and genuinely spine-tingling evenings I’ve had on the East Coast. And if you’re visiting this historic seaside city, I highly recommend putting on your big-kid pants and joining the fun — nightlight optional.
Don’t worry — I did not include any spoilers so that you can enjoy your ghost tour in Virginia Beach!
First, A Little Context: The History of Virginia Beach
Before we get into the good stuff, let me set the scene. The history of Virginia Beach is not exactly a lighthearted bedtime story. This stretch of Virginia’s coast has seen English colonists, Native Americans, World War naval activity, countless tragic accidents, and ships swallowed whole by the depths of the Atlantic. The city of Virginia Beach carries centuries of layered, complicated, sometimes downright grim history within its borders. Naturally, all of that makes it one of the most haunted destinations on the entire East Coast.
Which brings us to ghost tours. Specifically, the kind where a charismatic tour guide walks a group of wide-eyed strangers through the darkness and tells them stories that bring history to life.
The Story of the Witch of Pungo
No proper Virginia Beach ghost tour kicks off without diving into the story of the Witch of Pungo — and trust me, you want to hear this one. Grace Sherwood lived in Virginia Beach in the early 1700s and was accused of witchcraft by her neighbors. She was famously subjected to a water trial in 1706, making her the only person in Virginia’s recorded history to be officially tried as a witch by ducking.
Our tour guide delivered this story with the perfect balance of dramatic flair and historical accuracy, pausing for effect at exactly the right moments. Several people in our group visibly shook their heads. I clutched my iced coffee. We all processed our feelings differently.
Grace Sherwood was eventually pardoned — centuries later, in 2006 — but according to local lore, her restless spirit still wanders the area. Whether you believe that or not, the story alone is worth the price of admission.
The Cavalier Hotel: Old Money and Older Mysteries
Pull up a velvet chair, because the Cavalier Hotel has sordid stories to spare. This iconic property has hosted legends including Woodrow Wilson and Adolph Coors, whose tragic death in the following years after his stay has fueled endless speculation. The hotel is also rumored to have been visited by none other than Al Capone — which, honestly, tracks.
But the most famous of the Cavalier Hotel’s ghosts is the spirit of a woman said to roam the sixth floor. Guests have reported waking in the middle of the night to find a figure standing in their room. Local residents debate whether there’s a logical explanation, but nobody who’s stayed on that floor seems particularly eager to go back.
Our tour guide noted that the hotel sits in what many consider one of the most haunted places in all of Virginia Beach, and given its history, it’s hard to argue.
PRO TIP: Apply for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card and use your points to book a room at the Cavalier Hotel!
Virginia Beach’s Famous Boardwalk and Beyond
We made our way along Virginia Beach’s famous boardwalk during the tour, and let me tell you — there’s something uniquely eerie about walking the Virginia Beach boardwalk at night, when the crowds are gone and the ocean is just… there. Dark. Massive. Full of who-knows-what.
Our guide told tales of the spirits of shipwreck victims who reportedly linger near the shore, sailors and passengers pulled into the depths of the Atlantic over centuries of maritime disaster. We finished up at the Old Coast Guard Station, where ghostly activity has been documented. Shadowy figures in military uniforms have been spotted near what was once a guard tower, echoing the World War era history embedded in this stretch of coastline.
PRO TIP: Visit the Virginia Beach Surf and Rescue Museum during the day, which adds another layer to the narrative of stories of those who never fully left.
Stumpy Lake, Hunt Club Farm, and the Wilder Side of Virginia Beach
Here’s where things get delightfully weird. Stumpy Lake is exactly as foreboding as its name suggests — a nearby lake in a wooded area that has generated urban legend after urban legend. Stories range from ungodly creatures lurking in its waters to figures spotted along Elbow Road late at night. Whether you believe in the most vicious sea monsters of fresh water or not, this is the kind of place that makes you very grateful to be on solid ground.
Hunt Club Farm adds its own chapter to Virginia Beach’s book of terrifying tales, with accounts of ghostly activity and other mysterious happenings after dark. Then there’s the Walke Manor House and its connection to the broader tapestry of haunted sites in the region, all of it weaving together into a surprisingly rich portrait of a city that’s been through a lot.
Why You Should Join Neptune Ghosts
If you’re planning your own adventure, I cannot recommend enough that you join Neptune Ghosts for the experience. The Neptune Ghosts tour is thoughtfully designed, historically grounded, and genuinely entertaining. It’s not about jump scares and cheap thrills — it’s about understanding the unique culture and layered past of this tourist destination through its chilling stories.
The ghost walk format makes everything feel intimate and immersive. You’re standing in the places where these things allegedly happened, listening to a guide who clearly cares about getting the details right.
Final Thoughts on Ghost Tour in Virginia Beach: Would I Do It Again?
I arrived at that tour as a person who loves ghost tours but is afraid of ghosts. I left as someone who has confidently told the full story of Grace Sherwood at three separate dinner parties. Growth is real, people.
The history of Virginia Beach is extraordinary — shaped by Native Americans, English colonists, maritime tragedy, and the echoes of people who lived, loved, and occasionally haunted their favorite spots long after their time was up. Ghost tours give you a way into that history that no textbook or Google search quite replicates. There’s something about standing in the dark, hearing spine-tingling ghost encounters narrated in real time, that makes history feel startlingly alive.
Or, you know. Startlingly not.
Either way, pack a light jacket, leave the nightlight at home, and go explore one of the most genuinely fascinating haunted sites on the East Coast. The restless spirits of Virginia Beach will be waiting.
Just maybe don’t book the sixth floor at the Cavalier Hotel!
I want to thank U.S. Ghost Adventures and Neptune Ghosts for hosting my tour. As always, my posts accurately reflect my experiences and opinions.
Check out these related posts:
- Ghosts, Gators, and Good Vibes: Haunted Places to Visit in Fort Myers, Florida
- So You Want to Get Spooked in Albuquerque? Here’s Where to Start
- Haunted Places in Charlotte (map included!)
Happy travels,
Annick, The Common Traveler
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Raised as a third culture kid living in South America and Europe, Annick caught the travel bug early. As an empty-nester, Annick enjoys sharing her tips for traveling for those with champagne taste and beer budgets.