From headless horsemen to haunted houses, malevolent maids to spooky soldiers, there’s plenty of paranormal activity in Delaware to keep ghosthunters happy. Looking for a good scare and screamfest? Here are some of the most haunted places in the state of Delaware.
7 Most Haunted Places in Delaware
1. Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal, Lewes
At the ferry terminal at Lewes, there once was a graveyard where more than 600 colonial-era sailors lie resting. Then it was paved over to make way for the terminal car park. There have been numerous sightings of ghosts and many workers have experienced paranormal activity ever since the graves were covered over.
2. Woodburn Mansion, Dover
Get your fright on at the most haunted house in Delaware, Woodburn Mansion. This spooky pile of bricks dates all the way back to 1790 and the first haunting started in the early 1800s. Since then, there has been one chilling incident after the next including a slave raider who accidentally hung himself. If you listen carefully, you can still hear his screams. The ghost of a young girl haunts the dining room. How about a scare with your dinner?
3. Central Hotel, Delaware City
You’ll find the Central Hotel on Clinton Street in Delaware City. Well, you’ll find the building that once was the hotel as today it is the American Birding Association’s headquarters. Dating from 1830, the hotel is haunted by a maid who once worked there way back in the 1800s. This hotel is so famous for its paranormal activity that the tv show “Psychic Detectives” came here to investigate. They confirmed it was indeed the maid causing things to go bump in the night.
4. Fort Delaware
Many people consider Fort Delaware to be the most haunted site in Delaware. This former harbour defence facility, and one-time prison, was constructed in 1848. You’ll find it on Pea Patch Island near Delaware City. Decommissioned in 1943, at one point it housed close to 33,000 Confederate prisoners. About 2,500 prisoners of war died there. Nowadays, only ghosts are imprisoned here.
5. The Addy Sea Inn, Bethany Beach
Hard to believe that somewhere so beautiful could be so scary but the Addy Sea Inn is so hunted that it is actually listed in the “The National Directory of Haunted Places” by Dennis William Hauck. Book into Room 1 and take a bath and see if it shakes violently as some other guests have experienced. You can also book into Room 6 and listen out for the ghosty organ music that plays unexpectedly.
6. John Dickenson Plantation, Dover
The John Dickinson Plantation in Dover is haunted by John Dickinson. Known as the “Penman of the Revolution,” John Dickinson was one of America’s founding fathers. He haunts his old mansion in the most learned ways, by writing. People report hearing the sound of a quill pen writing on parchment paper. People also report rumpled bedsheets as if someone slept on the bed, even though there was nobody in the house.
7. The Welsh Tract Church in Newark
Every city needs a headless horseman, but the one that haunts Deleware is from the Revolutionary War. American soldier, Charlie Miller was riding his trusty steed through the graveyard next to the church on Welsh Tract Road in Newark when a cannonball took his head clean off. You’ll even see the repaired wall of the church where the cannonball hit! He still rides his horse scaring the life out of passersby, apparently.
