George Washington Hotel Review: Staying in a Historic—and Possibly Haunted—Winchester Hotel

Hello, spooky cats!

For our latest haunted hotel adventure, we traveled to Winchester, Virginia, to spend the night at the historic George Washington Hotel.

Built in 1924, the hotel has welcomed travelers, celebrities, festival visitors, and perhaps a few guests who never officially checked out. Over the years, it has hosted notable names including Lucille Ball, boxer Jack Dempsey, and Colonel Harland Sanders—the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

There is even a story that Colonel Sanders discussed his famous blend of 11 herbs and spices with one of the hotel’s night auditors during a stay in the early 1950s.

A secret chicken recipe inside a haunted hotel? History is strange, spooky cats.

We stayed in Room 208, tested the bed and shower, tried the room service, explored the hotel, and paid close attention to its wonderfully dramatic elevators.

Here is what it was really like to stay at the George Washington Hotel in Winchester.

A Brief History of the George Washington Hotel

The George Washington Hotel was built by the American Hotel Corporation and opened in 1924.

The original hotel contained 102 guest rooms and 45 bathrooms. An additional wing was constructed in 1929, adding approximately 50 more rooms and giving the building its distinctive C-shaped layout.

The hotel became closely connected with Winchester’s Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival and served as its headquarters for many years.

After operating as a hotel for decades, the George Washington closed in 1978. It was later used as a retirement residence called the George Washington Home for Adults until 1993.

The building then sat vacant for approximately 11 years.

It was purchased and restored beginning in 2004, reopening as a hotel in April 2008. The George Washington Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

Today, it offers around 90 guest rooms, an indoor swimming pool and hot tub, a fitness room, dining options, room service, and plenty of old-fashioned atmosphere.

Arriving at the Hotel

The George Washington Hotel is located in downtown Winchester rather than directly beside a highway exit.

That makes it slightly less convenient for travelers simply passing through, but the downtown location gives guests easy access to nearby restaurants, shops, historic buildings, and local attractions.

The hotel immediately feels different from a typical roadside chain.

Inside, we found historic architectural details, elegant hallways, old-fashioned decorations, a vintage-looking vault, and a mail chute that appeared to run through the building.

There was even a large mirror that looked as though it had been waiting patiently for someone to call it haunted.

Naturally, I obliged.

Inside Room 208

We stayed in Room 208 on the second floor.

The room felt spacious and traditional, with a mixture of historic style and modern conveniences.

When we first entered, we found a full-length mirror and a large closet near the door. There was also a mysterious locked door without a normal doorknob.

It may have connected to another room or service area, but in a haunted hotel, every unexplained door immediately becomes suspicious.

The room included:

• A king-size bed
• A desk and chair
• A leather sitting chair
• A television
• A microwave
• A refrigerator
• A coffee maker
• Bottled water
• An ice bucket
• A safe
• A spacious closet
• A private bathroom
• Room-service information

Having both a refrigerator and microwave was a welcome surprise. Many of the historic hotels we visit provide one, neither, or a small empty cabinet where an appliance might once have dreamed of living.

The Bed Was Extremely High

The king-size bed was one of the first things we noticed.

It was very high off the ground.

The top of the mattress sat above the level of my backside, meaning I had to climb or hop onto it rather than simply sit down.

That may be fine for taller guests, but shorter visitors or anyone with mobility issues could find it inconvenient.

The bed was reportedly comfortable, and after sleeping in it, I agreed. The mattress provided a good night’s rest and had enough room for both of us.

Unfortunately, the furniture near the bed presented a separate danger.

A wooden piece beside the bed sat at exactly knee height. I hit it hard enough to ensure I remembered its location for the rest of the stay.

The ghosts did not attack me, but the furniture certainly tried.

Outlets and Charging Space

Room 208 did not appear to have many modern USB ports or easily visible outlets.

We found at least one outlet near the bed and others around the room, but guests traveling with several electronic devices may need to search behind furniture or bring a small power strip.

That is especially important for paranormal investigators arriving with cameras, digital recorders, battery chargers, phones, lights, and devices that flash mysteriously even when no ghosts are nearby.

The room was workable, but it was not designed around the charging needs of twenty-first-century technology enthusiasts.

The Television and Storage

The television was smaller than those found in many modern hotel rooms, but it was adequate.

We did not plan to spend much time watching television anyway. We were there to explore Winchester and see whether the hotel’s ghosts felt sociable.

The room included several drawers, although I usually live out of my suitcase.

I am never completely comfortable placing my clothes inside drawers that have held the belongings of hundreds of previous guests.

Is that logical? Perhaps not.

But neither is bringing ten pieces of ghost-hunting equipment into a hotel room and asking the darkness questions.

The Bathroom

The private bathroom was clean, comfortable, and attractive.

It included:

• A walk-in shower
• A sink and mirror
• A toilet
• Towels
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Lotion
• Soap
• A hair dryer

There was no bathtub in Room 208.

Other room categories may have tubs, but guests who consider one essential should confirm before booking.

The toiletries were well stocked, and I appreciated receiving separate shampoo and conditioner rather than a combined product attempting to do both jobs badly.

The hotel is affiliated with Wyndham, although the room and public areas felt more distinctive than many standard chain properties.

The Shower

The shower was excellent.

The water became hot without taking an unreasonable amount of time, and the pressure was strong.

There were no confusing controls, dramatic temperature changes, squealing pipes, or surprise blasts of freezing water.

After several historic hotels with showers that required patience, negotiation, or spiritual intervention, this one simply worked.

The lack of a tub may disappoint some guests, but the shower itself was one of the best practical features of the room.

The View From Room 208

Our room looked out over Winchester and a vacant lot.

It was not the most beautiful view in Virginia, but we did get to watch the sunrise over the empty space the following morning.

The corner of downtown visible from the room still gave us a sense of being inside the historic part of Winchester.

You do not stay at the George Washington for sweeping mountain views. You stay for the building, location, history, and atmosphere.

Room Service

One feature that surprised us was the availability of room service.

Many hotels have reduced or eliminated room service, so finding a full menu felt unusually luxurious.

The hotel offered breakfast along with lunch and dinner selections. The later menu appeared especially large, with several Italian-style dishes and pizza options.

We originally planned to eat breakfast elsewhere but eventually changed our minds and ordered breakfast in bed.

The food arrived inside a paper bag rather than on an elaborate cart with silver covers.

It was not especially glamorous, but it was convenient—and the cats would have appreciated the bag.

The breakfast itself looked good and was easy to eat in the room.

Restaurants Near the Hotel

The downtown location gave us several dining choices within walking distance.

We visited Piccadilly’s Public House, an unusual and lively restaurant near the hotel.

We tried wings, a crab cake, steak, and drinks. The food was good, and the atmosphere made it worth visiting.

We also considered eating at Union Jack Pub, another interesting nearby option.

Being able to walk to dinner was one of the strongest benefits of staying downtown. The hotel has its own dining and room-service options, but guests do not need to rely entirely on them.

Accessibility

The hotel had elevators and ramps for guests who needed them.

That is important because historic buildings can sometimes be difficult to navigate, especially when stairs and old floor plans are involved.

The bed height could still be a challenge for some people, but the public areas appeared to include accessible routes.

Guests with specific mobility requirements should contact the hotel before booking to make sure the selected room meets their needs.

The Creepy Elevators

The elevators added plenty of haunted atmosphere.

They were functional, but they were also loud, creaky, and somewhat unsettling.

At times, ours sounded as though it was struggling to survive the trip between floors.

Old elevators naturally make mechanical noises, and those sounds are not paranormal. Still, when an elevator groans inside a reportedly haunted hotel, it is difficult not to wonder whether someone invisible has joined the ride.

The elevator did not stop unexpectedly or transport us into another century.

It merely sounded like it wanted to.

Is the George Washington Hotel Haunted?

The hotel has developed a reputation for paranormal activity, with stories involving unexplained sounds, apparitions, strange sensations, and activity in guest rooms and public areas.

Historic hotels often accumulate ghost stories because so many people have passed through them. The George Washington operated as a hotel, later became a retirement residence, sat vacant for years, and was eventually restored.

That long and varied history provides plenty of material for haunting legends.

During our visit, we planned a separate paranormal investigation focused on those claims.

For this room review, we concentrated mainly on the practical experience of staying there.

Did We Experience Anything Paranormal?

We did not have a dramatic ghost encounter during the room-review portion of our stay.

No apparition appeared inside Room 208. Nothing moved by itself, and no mysterious guest knocked on the locked interior door.

The loud elevator was creepy, but its mechanical struggles offered a perfectly normal explanation.

That does not prove the hotel is not haunted. It simply means nothing happened during this portion of our visit that we could confidently identify as paranormal.

Historic atmosphere is enjoyable, but atmosphere alone is not evidence.

The giant mirror remains under suspicion, though. Mirrors always look guilty.

Historic Style Without Too Much Historic Inconvenience

One of the hotel’s strongest qualities was its balance between old-fashioned style and modern comfort.

The building felt historic, but Room 208 still included:

• A king-size bed
• A microwave
• A refrigerator
• Coffee
• A safe
• A modern bathroom
• Strong hot water
• Room service
• Climate control

Some historic hotels preserve so much of the past that staying there becomes an endurance test.

The George Washington retained its character without making us live like it was still 1924.

Apart from the limited outlets, unusually high bed, and aggressive knee-level furniture, the room was easy to use.

What We Liked

The strongest parts of our stay were the historic architecture, spacious room, comfortable bed, good shower, in-room refrigerator and microwave, and downtown location.

We also appreciated the room-service option and the number of restaurants within walking distance.

The hotel had far more personality than a standard highway property.

Even if you are not interested in ghosts, the history and architecture make it a memorable place to stay.

What Could Be Better

The high bed may be difficult for shorter guests or anyone with mobility concerns.

Room 208 also lacked many convenient modern outlets and USB ports. Travelers with several devices should bring an extension cord or power strip.

The television was on the smaller side, and our view mainly consisted of a vacant lot.

The wooden furniture beside the bed was positioned at the perfect height for attacking knees, so walk carefully—especially at night.

Who Would Enjoy Staying Here?

The George Washington Hotel is a good option for travelers interested in:

• Haunted hotels
• Historic accommodations
• Winchester history
• Dark tourism
• Paranormal investigation
• Downtown restaurants and shopping
• Hotels with room service
• Architecture from the 1920s
• Unique alternatives to chain hotels

It is especially well suited to travelers who want their hotel to feel like part of the destination rather than simply somewhere to sleep.

Final George Washington Hotel Review

We enjoyed our stay at the George Washington Hotel.

Room 208 was spacious, clean, comfortable, and equipped with more conveniences than many historic hotels we have visited. The king-size bed was pleasant once I successfully climbed onto it, and the shower had excellent hot water and pressure.

The downtown location made it easy to walk to nearby restaurants, while the hotel’s historic design gave us plenty to explore.

Would I stay again?

Yes.

I would especially consider returning to investigate the ghost stories more carefully—and perhaps order pizza through room service next time.

The George Washington Hotel offers a satisfying combination of history, comfort, spooky reputation, and old-fashioned character.

Just watch your knees, approach the elevators with courage, and never trust a giant antique mirror.

Stay spooky, cats!