Surry County, Surry Virginia
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| Photo: Wikipedia |
Bacon’s Castle is one of America’s oldest standing brick homes — and one of its most enduringly haunted. Built in 1665 by prosperous planter Arthur Allen, the mansion is a rare example of Jacobean architecture in the New World. It wasn’t long before this stately home was entangled in bloodshed, rebellion, and centuries of lingering unrest.
The house gained its ominous nickname during Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676, when followers of rebel Nathaniel Bacon seized the property from Allen’s son. Though Bacon himself never set foot inside, the mansion became a symbol of defiance — and that rebellious energy seems to have soaked into its very walls.
The structure itself looms with history: grand Flemish gables, ornate chimneys, and fortress-like proportions. But it’s what can’t be seen that draws ghost hunters and curious visitors. Paranormal reports at Bacon’s Castle are frequent — cold spots, phantom footsteps, unexplained voices, and apparitions that vanish into thin air.
Some believe the spirits are those of the Allen family, disturbed by the violent seizure of their home. Others point to enslaved individuals who lived and died on the plantation, their stories mostly untold. A few say the rebellion itself left behind an energetic imprint — an unresolved echo of resistance that refuses to die.
One of the most commonly reported hauntings is the "Crying Lady", a female spirit seen looking out from the upper floor windows. Some believe she mourns a lost child; others think she’s a remnant of the rebellion or an enslaved woman grieving a life stolen.
Today, Bacon’s Castle is maintained by Preservation Virginia and offers guided tours — but even in daylight, the shadows stretch long across its grounds. Whether drawn by the history, the ghosts, or both, visitors leave with a sense that the past is never truly gone here. It waits in the walls, in the silence between footsteps, and in the chill that brushes your shoulder when no one is there.
Visitor Information
Location:
Bacon’s Castle
465 Bacon’s Castle Trail
Surry, VA 23883
Website:
Preservation Virginia – Bacon’s Castle
Tour Information:
– Open seasonally (typically March through December)
– Guided and self-guided tours available
– Check website for current hours, events, and closures
– Group tours can be arranged in advance
– Occasional special events: ghost tours, candlelight evenings, historic reenactments
Contact:
📞 (757) 357-5976
📧 info@preservationvirginia.org
Note:
The grounds also feature preserved outbuildings and a reconstructed 17th-century garden.
Photography is allowed in most areas, and paranormal investigators sometimes host events onsite during Halloween season.