Wayside Inn Review: Staying in the Most Haunted Room at a Historic Virginia Inn

Hello, spooky cats!

For our latest haunted hotel adventure, we traveled to the Wayside Inn in Middletown, Virginia. This historic inn is old, charming, slightly crooked, and reportedly home to several ghosts.

Naturally, we booked Room 14—the room said to be the most haunted.

We stayed overnight, toured the inn, explored its oldest sections, ate dinner in the tavern, tested the bed and shower, and conducted a paranormal investigation. Here is what it was really like to spend the night at the Wayside Inn.

Arriving at the Wayside Inn

The Wayside Inn is located in Middletown, Virginia, and dates back to the late 1700s.

The building has been expanded over time, but the original section still feels genuinely old. The floors slope, furniture leans slightly, and some parts of the building look as though they have settled into whatever shape they preferred.

That is not necessarily a complaint. It is part of the charm.

This is not a modern hotel trying to look historic. It feels like an old inn because it is one.

Staying in Room 14

We stayed in Room 14, also called the Rhodes Suite.

The room had much more space than we expected. Instead of one small bedroom, we had a separate sitting area, a large private bathroom, and plenty of historic furniture and decorations.

The bedroom included a tall bed, antique-style tables, lamps, paintings, books, and a small television.

The bed sat unusually high off the floor. I had to climb up onto it rather than simply sit down.

The floor was visibly uneven, and one piece of furniture leaned enough that it looked as though it might fall over. Again, this is an extremely old building. Perfectly level floors may have left sometime during the previous century.

The Sitting Room

Room 14 includes a separate sitting room, which made the suite feel much larger.

The room contained chairs, paintings, books, a fireplace, and an old storage desk or chest. My grandfather had a similar piece of furniture and kept old newspapers inside it, including papers from when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

When we opened this one, we found old books.

Possibly haunted books, naturally.

The extra room gave us plenty of space to spread out, relax, and set up paranormal equipment without covering the bed with every device we brought.

For guests planning a longer stay, the separate sitting room is one of the best features of Room 14.

Modern Amenities—or Lack of Them

The room had a television and some basic modern conveniences, but there was no refrigerator or microwave.

Guests who need to store food, medication, or drinks should check with the inn before arriving.

The lack of appliances did not cause a serious problem during our one-night stay, but it may matter to travelers staying longer.

This is one of the trade-offs that comes with staying in a historic inn. You get antique furniture, crooked floors, and possible ghosts, but you may not get somewhere to reheat leftovers.

The Bathroom

The private bathroom was surprisingly large.

Historic inns often have bathrooms that feel as though they were squeezed into a former broom closet. This one had plenty of space and was one of the largest bathrooms we had encountered during our recent hotel stays.

It included:

• A bathtub and shower
• A sink
• A toilet
• Towels
• A hair dryer
• Shampoo and conditioner
• A wastebasket
• Basic toiletries

The old-fashioned sink and other details fit the historic style of the room.

There was also a heating or cooling unit in the bathroom area, although we were not immediately sure which function it served.

The Shower

The shower water became nice and hot.

The temperature fluctuated a little during use, but it never became a major problem. The water pressure was weaker than I prefer, although it was still strong enough to get the job done.

Everything else in the bathroom worked properly.

The shower was not luxurious, but it was functional—and after some of the plumbing puzzles we have encountered in historic inns, functional is a victory.

Was the Room Comfortable?

The room was warm when we first arrived.

Because the air-conditioning unit appeared to be located in the bedroom, I planned to close the door between the rooms at night so the sleeping area would cool more effectively.

The bed itself looked comfortable, and the room had plenty of space around it.

The suite felt more like staying inside an old home than sleeping in a standard hotel room. The high bed, old furniture, sloping floors, paintings, books, and fireplace all contributed to the atmosphere.

The Sealed Balcony

Our room appeared to have access to a balcony, but the door was sealed.

We could see the balcony from outside, but guests were not allowed to use it.

That was slightly disappointing because balconies at old haunted inns are perfect places to sit at night and make questionable decisions involving ghost-hunting equipment.

Still, the room had enough indoor space that the inaccessible balcony did not affect our stay.

Exploring the Other Rooms

One unusual feature of the Wayside Inn was that unoccupied guest rooms were often left open.

This allowed us to look inside and see how the other rooms compared with ours.

Most had a similar historic style, although the layouts and furniture varied. It was a fun way to explore the property and decide which room we might want to try during a future stay.

Room 14 remained our first choice because of its haunted reputation and extra sitting room.

The Haunted Reputation of Room 14

Room 14 is reportedly one of the most active rooms at the Wayside Inn.

Stories connected to the property include Civil War soldiers, a Lady in White, a child ghost, and even a possible ghost cat.

Some guests have claimed that soldiers sit on the edge of the bed during the night.

That is a wonderfully creepy story, although the bed was already high enough without an invisible soldier adding extra weight.

We chose the room specifically because of these legends and later conducted a paranormal investigation.

The full investigation appears separately on Dark Whimsical Ghosts, where we take a closer look at the inn’s haunted claims.

Exploring the Oldest Part of the Inn

We spent time walking through the oldest section of the Wayside Inn.

The building contains small rooms, narrow passages, fireplaces, unusual artwork, hidden dining spaces, and plenty of corners that become more unsettling after dark.

We found a small hidden dining room that we wished we had discovered before dinner. It had an intimate, secluded atmosphere and felt like the kind of place where a ghost might quietly join your table without being invited.

There was also an old well inside the building.

Naturally, this led to jokes about waiting for a long-haired ghost girl to climb out.

She did not.

Probably for the best.

The Portal Room

One area was referred to as the portal room.

With the doors closed, it had the isolated feeling of a séance room. Someone with us reported a sudden cold chill there.

I stood in the same spot but did not feel anything unusual.

Cold spots are often associated with paranormal activity, but they can also be caused by drafts, vents, old fireplaces, gaps in walls, or changing airflow.

In a building this old, there are plenty of normal ways for cold air to sneak around.

Still, it was an atmospheric room and one of the more interesting places we explored.

Searching for the Mysterious Dog Statue

We had heard a story about a dog statue positioned near one of the fireplaces.

According to the legend, guests frequently notice cold spots around the statue.

We found several fireplaces but no dog.

The statue may have been moved, removed, or hiding more effectively than the ghosts.

Without the statue, we could not test the claim properly. Perhaps we will find it during another visit.

Dinner at the Tavern

The Wayside Inn has its own tavern, which made dinner extremely convenient.

The tavern was cozy and welcoming, with a historic atmosphere that matched the rest of the inn.

Zach ordered sweet chili wings, while I had a burger with Swiss cheese and house-made chips. Zach also ordered a burger, but chose cheddar instead.

The food was very good.

The wings had already developed a positive reputation, and they lived up to it. The burgers were also satisfying, and the homemade-style chips were a nice addition.

Eating inside the inn meant we did not have to leave the property or drive anywhere after settling into the room.

Weddings and Events

The inn has several spaces that appear suitable for weddings and other events.

We saw an indoor room that looked as though it might be used for receptions, along with an outdoor area that would work well during pleasant weather.

The historic setting, gardens, tavern, and guest rooms make the property a natural choice for couples who want a wedding venue with character.

A few ghosts in the background would certainly make the wedding photographs memorable.

The Staff and Atmosphere

Everyone we encountered was friendly.

We were allowed to walk around, look into open rooms, explore the historic areas, and enjoy the property without feeling rushed or watched.

The inn seemed comfortable with guests appreciating its history and haunted reputation.

That relaxed atmosphere made the stay more enjoyable. Some historic properties feel overly restrictive, while the Wayside Inn encouraged exploration within reasonable limits.

Did We Experience Anything Paranormal?

During the room review portion of our stay, we did not experience anything dramatic enough to identify as paranormal.

We did not see a Civil War soldier sitting on the bed, encounter the Lady in White, or meet the child or cat ghosts.

Someone reported a cold chill in the portal room, but I could not reproduce the sensation when I stood in the same location.

That does not prove nothing unusual happened. It only means we did not experience anything during the review that clearly required a supernatural explanation.

Our full paranormal investigation was conducted separately and examined in more detail on Dark Whimsical Ghosts.

Who Would Enjoy Staying Here?

The Wayside Inn is a good choice for travelers who enjoy:

• Historic inns
• Haunted locations
• Antique-style rooms
• Large suites with separate sitting areas
• On-site dining
• Exploring old buildings
• Unique accommodations
• Civil War history
• Paranormal investigations

It is especially appealing to anyone tired of standard hotel rooms with gray walls, identical furniture, and absolutely no chance of a soldier ghost sitting on the bed.

Possible Drawbacks

The Wayside Inn may not suit every traveler.

The floors are uneven, some furniture leans, and the building contains stairs and old architectural features that may be difficult for guests with mobility concerns.

Room 14 did not have a refrigerator or microwave. The shower pressure was also somewhat weak, and the temperature fluctuated during use.

Guests who expect perfectly level floors, modern minimalist decor, and every standard hotel appliance may be happier somewhere else.

This inn is about atmosphere and history rather than polished modern convenience.

Final Wayside Inn Review

We enjoyed our stay at the Wayside Inn.

Room 14 was spacious, comfortable, and filled with historic personality. The separate sitting room gave us plenty of room, the bathroom was surprisingly large, the shower became hot, and the tavern food was excellent.

The staff was friendly, and we appreciated being able to explore the inn’s historic rooms and passageways.

The lack of a refrigerator and microwave was a minor inconvenience, and the weak shower pressure could have been better. Still, neither issue would prevent us from returning.

I would recommend the Wayside Inn to anyone visiting Middletown or exploring historic Virginia.

Instead of staying in another ordinary hotel, you can sleep inside an inn dating back to the 1700s, wander through hidden rooms, eat dinner beside an old well, and wait to see whether a Civil War soldier joins you in bed.

We did not meet the Lady in White or the phantom cat during the room review, but the building offered enough history, atmosphere, and crooked floors to make the night memorable.

Stay spooky, cats!