Colonial Williamsburg | Haunted Pubs and Taverns

The pubs sprinkled about Colonial Williamsburg were so popular in the 18th century that many of their patrons, long since passed, have refused to give up their seats. These specters are still tipping back a few in the restored pubs and preserved taverns of Williamsburg. Won’t you join them?

US Ghost Adventures is here to showcase Colonial Williamsburg’s most haunted bars, pubs, and taverns. Spirits are high, and the drinks flow like there’s no last call at these haunted watering holes.

The phantoms of the founding fathers still roam where they once debated the great questions of the time. Take a seat and go belly up with the haunting figures of Colonial Williamsburg.

Book a Williamsburg ghost tour with US Ghost Adventures the next time you find yourself in the historic colonial town!

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What Are The Most Haunted Bars In Colonial Williamsburg?

Colonial Williamsburg is a time capsule, merely a mirror, preserving the reflection of 18th-century America. At the center of this reflection are the haunted bars, taverns, and pubs of Williamsburg. There are many, but the Brick House Tavern, Market Square Tavern, and Magruder Hotel are among the most chilling. 

Let’s look at which of these taverns and pubs are still bursting with the fermented spectral energy of patriotism and justice.

The Historic Brick House Tavern

If you are strolling down Scotland Street and are lured in by the smell of pizza, get a slice and stay for the ghosts at the Brick House Tavern. Built with solid design and materials, it lasted over 200 years before being restored as part of the Williamsburg renewal project.

This tavern is a large rectangular brick structure with two floors and eight rooms on each floor. A 1770 stay at The Brick House Tavern included a meal and lodging, which simply meant a place to sleep. Strangers slept in the same bed unless they paid extra for a bed. The first floor was designated for women lodgers, and the second was reserved for men. Even if you were married, husbands and wives were still separated from each other under the rules and laws of the inns. 

Hauntings of The Brick House Tavern

The service is so good here that it seems some people have checked in and never checked out! The haunting spirits of this inn still follow the standard ways while staying here as a lodger in 1770. But they may share the bed with you! Usually, it is a female spirit slipping into bed with the living on the first floor, and a male spirit may try this on the second floor. Even in death, these ghosts still obey the laws of the inn. 

Some of these spirits seem confused about whether a woman sleeps on the second floor or a male sleeps on the first floor. Those not following the rules of the 18th century are unceremoniously tossed out of their sleep and onto the floor!

Strong footfalls are also heard on the steps when no one living was going up or down the stairs. The sweet aroma of tobacco drifts through the tavern occasionally when no one living is smoking in this non-smoking building. The sound of many keys jangling” has been reported, possibly the calling card of tradesmen, innkeepers, or former owners who may be checking up on the living. Thomas Sands, the last owner of the building, has been witnessed checking on his guests long after his earthly body was interred.

In this tavern, lights turn off and on at the will of unseen entities. Electricity, of course, would have been unknown to those who lived in the late 1700s. These ghosts also seem fascinated by the fact that clean water can be obtained by turning on the faucet or shower. Therefore, many people have reported finding their showers or sink faucets running. 

The Haunted Chowning’s Tavern

Several factors were considered before a license to operate a tavern was approved:

• the financial status of the individual 
• the tavern’s location
• its distance from already established taverns and inns.

Despite the struggles, running a tavern was an excellent way to earn a living. Williamsburg was the political and social center of the colony at the time. Therefore, running a tavern in the town yielded a favorable profit and provided a steadier income than agriculture. This was realized as early as 1739 when William Shields owned Chowning’s Tavern. 

This tavern was a rendezvous for travelers, tobacco farmers, fishermen, and the locals. Even today, Chowning’s Tavern is a destination for gatherings, offering guests a comfortable spot to enjoy simple and delicious foods, spirits, and beverages. 

But not all of its spirits are liquid. The spirit of a supposed slave girl has been seen throughout the tavern before disappearing in the kitchen area.

Haunted Williamsburg: Heard But Not Seen

A copious number of EVPs, or electronic voice phenomena, have been recorded in this tavern by paranormal investigators. The sounds of typical tavern conversation have been captured when the tavern was empty. However, something more distress may have also occurred in this place. Witnesses have reported and recorded the sounds of a woman screaming as well as vicious snarls picked up on audio devices. 

Could this be residual evidence of a terrible crime that occurred in the distant past of the former life of Chowning’s Tavern? To add further to the secret, a ghostly figure of a young girl with long, tangled black hair and no face has also been reportedly seen in this tavern. Is this a clue, a ghostly reminder of a crime not brought into the light of justice?

The Haunted and Historic Market Square Tavern

In the mid-1700s, the Market Square in Williamsburg became the town’s trading center. Merchants from all over the world sold their goods in this part of town. As a result, people petitioned to have a tavern constructed close to this rapidly growing commercial area. 

The now-historic Market Square Tavern was established in 1749. It is one of eighty-eight original buildings still around, and it’s open to guests who wish to experience an authentic colonial-era atmosphere—and Colonial-era ghosts!

Ghosts Of The Market Square Tavern

Spectral and life-like have been seen wandering about the tavern. Many assume they are reenactors in costume but are surprised to learn otherwise. Unexplained noises have been heard when the tavern was empty. 

You see, next to the Market Square Tavern was the Greek Revival Church, which saw many horrors during the Civil War, including amputations and burials. Guests have reported seeing ghosts of wounded soldiers roaming the grounds and heard tapping from inside the walls. These cries of anguish have also been recorded, reminders of a time when war raged just outside the tavern’s windows.

King’s Arms Tavern

On February 6, 1772, Jane Vobe opened a tavern on East Duke of Gloucester Street. It became one of the liveliest places in Williamsburg. Genteel colonists would gather there to enjoy live music, friendly service, and good food. Today, the King’s Arms Tavern operates just as it did nearly two and a half centuries ago. 

Waiters are dressed in traditional 18th-century gear, and while taking orders, they share “news” and “happenings,” the latest gossip of Colonial Williamsburg. Meanwhile, musicians stroll through the rooms, playing period tunes. As a result, patrons feel as if they have truly stepped back into time.

Irma And The Others At King’s Arm Tavern

The restaurant’s loved resident spirit is a woman named “Irma,” who worked and died at the tavern. Some say that she was one of the first live-in managers at the restaurant. She was killed when a terrible fire caused by a dropped candle devastated the building. 

Thus, whenever a candle mysteriously goes out on its own at King’s Arms Tavern, people assume it’s Irma. Others insist that she was an employee of Colonial Williamsburg who simply died of a heart attack in one of the tavern’s upstairs rooms. Thank you for reaching out.

Whatever her background story, Irma joins the crowd of ghosts that have helped make Williamsburg a popular ghost-hunting destination. She has been described as having a friendly spirit and enjoys assisting staff. According to rumors, appreciative workers often wish her a good night every evening before they finish their shift.

Another ghost is also said to haunt this tavern. One of the nation’s first ordained black ministers” used to work at the King’s Arms Tavern.” Recorded as Gowan Pamphlet, this brave man was among a small collective of slaves and free blacks who founded the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg in 1776.  

Some employees have heard the faint murmur of spirituals echoing in empty rooms. Could this be Gowan, still singing the songs he loved so much in this life? Mostly, a stately figure of a smiling black man is seen, and his demeanor does not frighten the experiencer but instead calms the nerves and reassures that there is more to this life than skin and bones.

Shields Tavern

Shields Tavern is located at 422 East Duke of Gloucester Street and offers food in an authentic 18th-century atmosphere. Here, you can dine on a nice crayfish and shrimp stew or a more familiar southern fried chicken. But after taking a bite, look around. You just might see a ghost!

Shields Tavern first opened in 1705. It was operated under the name Marot’s Ordinary by John Marot. The tavern had a parlor, a second story, a wine cellar, a bar, and even a garden room.

According to some stories, John Marot was murdered by a man named Francis Sharpe. The ghost of a caretaker believed to be Marot himself, has been seen wandering about the tavern, still checking if all is in order.

In 1745,  James Shields obtained the property through marriage; thus, the tavern formally became known as Shields Tavern. Mr. Shields was a plantation owner and owned several slaves, which may be the origin of a ghostly little boy seen hiding under the dining tables. When this phantom is approached, he merely disappears.

The street in front of the tavern is said to have been where a girl was killed after being hit by a carriage. People who have taken photos in front of Shields Tavern have had their photos come with the image of a black mist. Could this be the tragic reminder of the death of a child, taken before her time?

Wetherburn’s Tavern

Shields Tavern is located by another haunted 18th-century eatery, Wetherburn’s Tavern. While Shields Tavern catered to the lesser gentry, Wetherburn’s was frequented by the upper class. Around 1750, Henry Wetherburn added a new room to his tavern, the Great Room. As the name suggests, this was a cavernous space designated for entertaining and hosting important meetings,  dances, and elegant dinners.

Wetherburn’s Tavern was also where members of The Ohio Land Company, including George Washington and George Mason, gathered to talk business. The Company, founded by Virginian planters in 1747,  sent out surveyors to explore the United States and define settlement boundaries. 

The Company was chartered by King George II of England in 1749 and granted 200,000 acres of land near the Ohio River. In return, The Company promised to settle 100 families in the area and erect a fort to protect them and the British claim. These Founding Fathers have been seen wandering through the tavern from time to time, residual hauntings etched into the very architecture of the tavern.

Candles are sometimes knocked to the floor, and dishes and plates are found broken and strewn on the floor by an apparent poltergeist who also calls this place home,

Magruder Hotel

Not all establishments in Colonial Williamsburg are from the 1700s, and not all ghosts that haunt this location are from the Colonial era. The Civil War-era Magruder Hotel is an example.

One of the most significant battles during the Civil War was the Battle of Williamsburg. On May 5, 1862, the North and the South engaged in bloody combat. This pitched battle left 1,682 Confederate and 2,283 Union soldiers dead.

This unique piece of history affords Fort Magruder Hotel and Conference Center its historical status: not only did the Battle of Williamsburg occur on its grounds, but the hotel itself has become a museum for its artifacts. From old musket balls to hand-stitched quilts, plenty of Civil War-era relics are on display. Guests can pose in front of authentic cannons and explore the various earthwork fortifications on the property.

However, the hotel’s efforts to preserve the past have proven just a bit too successful. There have been several reports of paranormal activity within the hotel, most likely caused by soldiers who feel more than welcome where they are so celebrated. A female guest at Fort Magruder was interrupted from her sleep by a red-headed Confederate soldier perched upon her bed.

However, not just guests encounter spirits at Fort Magruder Hotel. Hotel housekeepers have experienced similar spooky encounters, with some ghosts manifesting as maids. Thus, Visitors to the hotel have to play a guessing game and try to figure out who’s alive and who’s just pretending.

Unsettled spirits also frequent the hotel’s lobby and lounge. Employees have seen figures walk through windows, discovered doors mysteriously unlocked, arcade games moved, and broken glass scattered over the floor. Moments like these make staff wish that their hotel didn’t have such a close connection with history.

Haunted Colonial Williamsburg 

Colonial Williamsburg is a reminder of what America once was, and the ghosts who haunt the taverns and pubs are reminders of what a person of ingenuity can do. Here, in these establishments, slaves returned as freedmen, where great men contemplated the right of man, and where a British Colony broke free and became the United States of America. 

It is on these grounds that a divided America fought to be indivisible and always united. Colonial Williamsburg is the backdrop on which America’s history is still projected in the form of phantoms and ghosts. 

Experience this living history for yourself on a Williamsburg ghost tour with US Ghost Adventures! 

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Murphy, Jr. Ronald L. On Ghosts. Camonica, 2016.

Scullion, Tim. Breakthrough Ghost Photography of Haunted Historic Colonial 

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