The 14 Most Haunted Places In Gettysburg 2023 From A Local
The most haunted places in Gettysburg PA to visit for Halloween 2023 aren’t just on the battlefield. Bars, B&B’s and even restaurants and hotels are known for their supernatural activity in this historic small town.
If you’re looking for a spine-tingling experience this Halloween, then be sure to check out the haunted places in Gettysburg listed in this post! No matter where you go, there’s bound to be something spooky waiting around the corner.
So grab a partner, get your ghost hunting gear ready and prepare for a scare!
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Is Gettysburg Haunted?
Gettysburg became famous for the horrific three-day battle that took place in and around the town in 1863, so it’s little wonder that there are lost souls still wandering in between worlds.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of reported supernatural sightings in Gettysburg as a result of the bloody conflict that left more than 51,000 causalities. Dead and dying men filled the streets and every house, church, barn and building within miles.
If you want to explore these haunted places on your own, then be sure to read this post.
If you’d prefer to get spooked by going on a haunted Gettysburg walking tour or even an actual ghost hunting investigation in one of Gettysburg’s haunted buildings, then read The Drop-Dead Best Gettysburg Ghost Tours.
Whether you love being scared—or you’re just curious about the local lore of one of America’s most famous haunted towns—keep reading to learn more about the 14 most haunted places in Gettysburg.
It’s THE place to go for a frightfully good time, but book your ghost tours early if possible.
My Top 3 Picks: Haunted Stays In Gettysburg
#1 TOP PICK
#2 PICK
#3 PICK
How Do You Know If A Place Is Haunted?
How exactly can one tell ghosts are around?
It’s hard to say exactly, but when you meet one, you’ll know!
Keep your eyes open, because it’s reported that about 10 percent of Gettysburg ghost encounters are visual.
Another two-thirds have been auditory, with visitors hearing sounds such as footsteps, cannon fire, men cheering or yelling, and intimate whisperings in one’s ear.
Still others have been tactile – unexplained taps on the shoulder, clothes pulled, or the sensation of being pushed by invisible hands.
At one of the most haunted places in Gettysburg–the Sachs Covered Bridge–ghost hunters describe smells with no obvious source, like cigar smoke or the pungent smell of sulfur, a key component of black gunpowder.
Stay alert when visiting the most haunted places in Gettysburg. You never know if you’ll see, feel, hear… or smell, a ghost!
1. The Daniel Lady Farm
If you’re looking for proof of a horrific battle, then you need look no further than this stone house and its accompanying barn. Both buildings were used as part of a field hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg.
Evidence of the horrors of the battle remain in the bloodstains on the floor of the house, as well as the engraved initials of wounded soldiers in the door jamb of the barn.
For some history of the farm and pictures of the bloodstains in the house (which were tested and proven to be human blood) see the post The Daniel Lady Farm.
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When you view those photos, you will see why the Daniel Lady Farm is among the most haunted places in Gettysburg.
According to records, at least 37 soldiers who died at the farm were buried on the grounds. Twenty-two of those were not able to be identified, so their families never knew what happened to them.
The Daniel Lady Farm is now owned by the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association and is open for special events and tours of the house.
The historic Lady Farm is located just east of Gettysburg at 1008 Hanover Road (Rt. 116) Gettysburg.
2. The Tillie Pierce Inn
Fifteen-year-old Tillie Pierce became an unlikely heroine in 1863 when she and other local residents were trapped in Gettysburg as two armies raged in battle around them.
Lucky for us, Tillie kept a journal which was made into a book, giving everyone an idea of what the town’s people endured. Even though she was just a teenager, Tillie dressed wounds, carried water and tried to comfort the wounded.
She says in her journal:
“Nothing before in my experience had ever paralleled the sight we then and there beheld. There were the groaning and crying, the struggling and dying, crowded side by side, while attendants sought to aid and relieve them as best they could….”
Tillie Pierce
The Tillie Pierce Inn, where Tillie lived, is now a Bed and Breakfast. The “Blue Room” is said to be haunted by soldiers who were once treated by Tillie. Guests say they hear footsteps marching through the halls and in the attic above.
Other guests have seen troops wandering up and down the stairs as if on patrol, and one guest was frightened when they opened their door and saw a ghost sitting on the edge of their bed.
The Tillie Pierce House is located at 301 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA.
3. Jennie Wade House
One Of My Favorite Haunted Places In Gettysburg
Often referred to as America’s scariest haunted house, the Jennie Wade House is the site of the only civilian death during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Jennie Wade was hit by a stray bullet as she stood baking in the kitchen, and was killed instantly.
I first went to the Jennie Wade House when I was 9 or 10 and it was one of the most memorable places in all of Gettysburg!
Visitors often hear loud bangs and feel sudden rushes of cold air when on the second floor of the Jennie Wade House.
You can’t help but get an eerie feeling when you are taken down to the small, cramped cellar where the family was forced to sit with Jennie’s body waiting for the shooting to stop.
House tours are available as well as after-hour ghost tours.
The Jennie Wade House is located 548 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325.
Looking for a family friendly ghost tour in Gettysburg?
4. The Cashtown Inn
The Cashtown Inn is one of the most famous historical buildings around Gettysburg, and has also gained fame for being one of the most haunted places in Gettysburg.
Built in 1797 and soon used as a tavern and boarding inn, the Cashtown Inn became the first stage coach stop west of Gettysburg when the turnpike was built in 1813.
Before the Battle of Gettysburg, the Cashtown Inn’s innkeeper at the time, Jacob Mickley, witnessed the arrival of the Confederate army, saying: “The entire force under Lee passed within twenty feet of my barroom.”
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But it is from its use as a field hospital after the battle that the Inn gets its haunted lore. Amputated limbs were reported to be piled so high that sunlight could not enter.
Now used as a Bed and Breakfast, guests report hearing footsteps in their room along with frequent knocking at their door.
The Cashtown Inn has been visited by paranormal investigators and ghost-hunters, and was even featured on a Ghost Hunters episode.
The Cashtown Inn is located at 1325 Old Route 30, Orrtanna, PA.
5. The Gettysburg Academy B&B
The Gettysburg Academy Bed and Breakfast is one of the oldest and most historic buildings in Gettysburg, and has just begun to document its haunted activities. Built in 1813, the Academy got its name from being an educational facility in Gettysburg for more than 200 years.
The building was also used as a Civil War hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg. Bearing witness to its historic past is a student’s signature that remains imprinted on an upstairs wall, as well as an artillery shell that is still lodged in its bricks.
There are ghost investigations carried out in this building, especially during Halloween.
The Academy is located at 66 West High Street.
Find the best haunted hotels in Gettysburg!
6. The Historic Farnsworth House
The Farnsworth House Inn is a great place to eat, enjoy a cold beverage — and perhaps feel a chill since it is one of the most haunted places in Gettysburg.
This building was once used as a hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg, and it now serves as a restaurant and bar, bed and breakfast, and a top Gettysburg ghost hunting site.
From the cellar to the attic, the Farnsworth House is sure to set your spine tingling. The cellar offers a “Mourning Theater” complete with an antique coffin, and an upstairs window is believed to be where a sharpshooter took the fatal shot that killed Jennie Wade.
Visitors to this historic bed and breakfast tell stories of hearing strange noises emanating from the attic and singing coming from the basement.
Many tours are offered at the Farnsworth House as well as special ghost investigations.
The Farnsworth House is located at 401 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg PA.
7. The Dobbin House
The beautiful stone Dobbin House has been around for so long, it’s almost impossible to think that a few supernatural spirits don’t still walk the halls.
Not only did it witness the Battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath as a hospital, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
The building has a “secret room” where slaves were once hidden, and according to local lore, blood splatters mysteriously appear and disappear on the floor.
Now used as a fine dining restaurant, a pub and a bed and breakfast, the Dobbin House continues to host the spirits of former slaves who some visitors have seen meandering through the building.
Local ghost tour participants, and even a television crew, have reported seeing a young, frightened girl looking out the window.
Pro Tip: The Springhouse Pub downstairs is a great place to grab a bite to eat.
The Dobbin House Tavern is located at 89 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg PA.
FRIGHT NITE! Stay in one these haunted Gettysburg Hotels…if you dare!
8. Haunted Sachs Covered Bridge
This Is One Of The Most Haunted Places In Gettysburg
Covered bridges can conjure an image of the charming times of the past, but the Sachs Covered Bridge has a history of ghostly encounters and is considered to be one of the most haunted places in Gettysburg.
Crossed by the retreating Confederate Army, the bridge is also said to be the site of the public hanging of three army deserters. Those who visit the bridge tell stories of seeing apparitions, smelling cigar smoke, hearing voices, and feeling a touch – when no one is there.
To learn more, see my full post with pictures and videos of the haunted Gettysburg covered bridge.
The Sachs Covered Bridge is located on Water Works Road.
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9. The Gettysburg Hotel
The Gettysburg Hotel is located right on Lincoln Square and is a four-star hotel with a restaurant and bar/lounge.
Its history stretches back to 1797, when it began as a small tavern. During the 1890s, the property changed hands and the new owner decided to replace the old tavern with an imposing structure and named it the Gettysburg Hotel.
The most well known spirit to roam the halls of the Gettysburg Hotel is Rachel, who was reportedly a nurse during the Battle of Gettysburg. A Union soldier who died in the hospital is also seen wandering around.
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Not well known is the fact that the hotel was once a bank, and a vault is still located in the ballroom. During a paranormal investigation that I attended, the vault was discovered to be the most haunted place in the rooms we investigated.
No one unearthed any findings of who died in the vault, but it is a spooky place to visit!
The Gettysburg Hotel is located at 1 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg PA
10. Pennsylvania Hall At Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College served as a field hospital for both Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War and has a long history of hauntings.
One of the most terrifying ghost stories I have ever heard as a Gettysburg local is from Mark Nesbitt’s book Ghosts of Gettysburg.
He said that two college employees entered an elevator, pushed the button for their desired floor, and ended up in the basement. When the elevator doors opened, the women saw a bloody Civil War operating room with doctors working feverishly to save injured and dying soldiers.
As a doctor walked toward them, the elevator began to move to another floor. The two employees fetched a security guard and returned to the basement, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.
You can definitely see why this is on the list of the most haunted places in Gettysburg!
Gettysburg College is located at 300 North Washington Street, Gettysburg PA
11. Homestead Orphanage
Atrocities To Children Makes This A Top Haunted Place in Gettysburg
One of the Homestead Orphanage buildings (the girls’ dormitory) is now home to Civil War Tails at the Homestead museum, which I highly recommend if you are interested in seeing the Battle of Gettysburg and other engagements of the Civil War from a unique perspective.
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During the Battle of Gettysburg, the Homestead was used as a headquarters for Union General Howard, however, that’s not why it is haunted.
In 1866 it was turned into an orphanage and at one time housed 130 boys and girls!
Rosa Carmichael, the head mistress, was infamous for her cruelty and was even convicted of child abuse later on.
The orphanage closed in 1877, but either the dark spirit of Rosa — or some of the tortured children — are said to lurk in the basement.
The Homestead Orphanage is located at 758 Baltimore Street Gettysburg, PA.
12. Devil’s Den and The Triangle
In My Top Five Most Haunted Places In Gettysburg
An interesting place to visit whether you’re ghost hunting or just want to see a very historic site is Devil’s Den and nearby Triangular Field.
Apparitions of Confederate sharpshooters have been sighted by the rocks at Devil’s Den, as well as loud reports of “rebel yells,” drumbeats and moaning.
I have heard numerous stories from locals driving through this section of the battlefield at night and seeing Civil War soldiers appear. Living in the area, many of them think it is just reenactors out for a stroll — until these figures disappear from sight in the blink of an eye.
I can also personally attest to my camera refusing to function at Triangular Field. This seems to be a common problem.
Sometimes the camera will work, but pictures are blank, and sometimes the batteries are suddenly dead.
This is a spooky place!
Devil’s Den is located on Sickles Avenue, Gettysburg PA.
13. Battlefield Brew Works
‘Spirits’ Galore At This Haunted Place In Gettysburg
Located in a barn that was used as a Civil War hospital, Battlefield Brew Works is the perfect spot to go for a drink or a bite to eat after your ghost hunting excursions throughout Gettysburg.
You just might find another ghost!
During the Battle of Gettysburg, more than 1,300 soldiers were taken to the property. In fact, because of its location, the barn became one of the largest Confederate field hospitals in the area.
When the Confederates retreated after the battle, they left 446 soldiers at the farm for another 28 days.
Many of the wounded left behind were near death or were too seriously injured to be moved, and in fact, 47 men who on the farm were buried there. They were later re-interred in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va.
If you’re a woman and don’t usually need to take a friend with you to the restroom, you might just think again at Battlefield Brew Works. Find a partner because the ladies bathroom is the most haunted spot in the building!
Whether you come to taste some fine craft beers, grab a bite to eat, or explore their selection of “spirits” – you won’t be disappointed with a visit to this historic barn.
Here’s a video of ghost hunt at Battlefield Brew Works in Gettysburg.
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[/box]Battlefield Brew Works is located at 248 Hunterstown Road, Gettysburg PA.
14. The Shriver House
The Shriver House Museum does a wonderful job of showcasing the civilian experience during and after the Battle of Gettysburg. Every room is set up the way it was in 1863, as if time has stood still.
The house was occupied throughout the Battle of Gettysburg, and used as a hospital afterward. The attic of the house was also used by Confederate sharpshooters. Forensic tests on the stains in the attic prove them to be human blood, supporting reports that at least two Confederates died there.
Among other discoveries during the house renovations were live rounds from the Civil War and a child’s shoe. There are also numerous bullet holes that scar the brick on the outside.
Medical supplies were found hidden in the house during renovations as well, attesting to the fact that the home was used as a hospital.
If you don’t make it to the Shriver House for Halloween 2022, the museum tour is popular on Thanksgiving Day and over the Christmas holiday season.
One of the owners of the Shriver House wrote a book about the family of George and Nettie Shriver who occupied the house during the Civil War. The Shriver’s Story is a great read if you’re interested in learning more about the history of the house and its occupants.
The Shriver House Museum is located at 309 Baltimore St. Gettysburg PA
Wrap-Up Of Haunted Places In Gettysburg
Gettysburg was witness to an incomprehensible amount of suffering and death during three days in 1863 and beyond.
If you’re looking forward to an authentic Halloween fright night in the Most Haunted Town in America, then I hope you get to visit some of the haunted places in Gettysburg.
If you are planning a visit to Gettysburg — or have visited and had a “ghostly encounter” — please share it in the comments! I’m sure others would love to hear about it.
Make sure you leave time to visit some Gettysburg museums and go on one of the many tours of the Gettysburg battlefield.
If you’re looking for free things to do in Gettysburg, explore The Horse Soldier and browse their antiques. It’s like a museum, but everything’s for sale!