Reacting to a Haunting: Ghost Hunting at the Wayside Inn 👻

A paranormal reaction video to one of Virginia’s oldest and spookiest inns

Hey spooky cats! 🖤
In today’s ghostly adventure, I’m doing something a little different—I’m reacting to another paranormal team’s investigation at the Wayside Inn in Middletown, Virginia. If you’ve never heard of this place before, let me introduce you to one of the oldest, most historic, and definitely most haunted inns in the state. I was extra excited for this one because I actually stayed in the infamous Room 14 not too long ago and did my own overnight investigation!

So when I found this older video online—one that promised to showcase four centuries’ worth of ghost-hunting techniques—I knew I had to check it out and share my thoughts.

A Haunted Gem That Deserves More Attention

Let me start by saying, I was surprised that this location hasn’t been featured by more big paranormal YouTubers. The Wayside Inn has been around since 1797 and has made several “most haunted in Virginia” lists. And guess what? I live just 20 minutes away! Lucky spooky cat, right?

If you want to see a full tour of what the inn looks like today (because the video I reacted to is from 12 years ago), I’ve got you covered—go watch my Wayside Inn tour video where I walk you through the whole place, including that seriously creepy painting known as "Mother." Yeah… she stares into your soul.

The Ghost Hunt That Almost Was (But Kinda Wasn’t)

The video I reacted to starts off strong—they promise a ghost hunt using tools and techniques from the 17th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. That means everything from old-timey divination to psychics, spirit boxes, and modern gadgets. I was super into this idea. I mean, imagine seeing how paranormal investigation has evolved over the centuries!

…But then the video kind of fizzled out.

No séance.
No dowsing rods.
No spirit writing.
No modern tech, really.

The most unusual thing they did show was called a “ghost materialization chamber,” which turned out to be a fish tank filled with incense smoke. The smoke would allow any spirit present to take form visually. Now, I’ve never tried that myself, and while I’m not sure I’m going to run out and buy a fish tank just for ghosts, I’m curious if anyone reading this has ever seen it done. If you’ve used smoke in your investigations, let me know how it went!

Eyewitness Ghost Stories

The original video did feature a quick first-hand account of a little ghost girl seen by three different witnesses—including the inn’s manager. They described her as being around five or six years old, and they all claimed to have seen her at the same time. That’s not nothing! But sadly, the audio was rough, and it was hard to follow.

They also mentioned Room 6 as being the most haunted, though I’ve always heard Room 14 holds that title. That’s the room I stayed in myself, and while I didn’t see a full-body apparition, I did catch some strange sounds, unexplained knocks, and that classic “I’m not alone” feeling. (You can check out my full room 14 investigation video to see for yourself.)

What the Video Got Right… and What It Missed

Honestly, the concept behind the video was gold. I would’ve loved to see an actual séance or someone using traditional divination tools. The history of the inn deserves that kind of deep dive. But instead, the video fell flat on execution—lots of buildup, very little payoff.

And that’s why I made my video reacting to it. If you’re curious to see what I thought in real time, watch the full reaction now. I’ll take you through the highlights (and lowlights), and toss in some behind-the-scenes tidbits from my experience at the inn.

Why the Wayside Inn Is Still Worth Visiting

Despite the lackluster video, I still believe the Wayside Inn is seriously haunted—or at least mysterious enough to keep your ghost radar on high alert. Between its long history, ghost sightings, and local legends, it’s a prime spot for any paranormal investigator or ghost-story enthusiast.

Oh, and did I mention the food at the bar is great? Even if you don’t stay overnight, stop by for a bite and maybe catch a glimpse of the bride or the soldier said to haunt the place. Just beware of the super-thin walls—you’ll hear everything.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a big paranormal YouTuber looking for an underrated gem to explore, add the Wayside Inn to your list. I’m looking at you, Sam and Colby 👀. And for all my spooky cats out there who love watching ghost hunts and haunted history—go check out my reaction video and my Room 14 investigation. I promise, you’ll see more in my videos than what was in the original.

And hey, if you’ve ever tried using incense smoke or old-school ghost hunting methods, tell me about it in the comments or tag me on social. I’d love to see how they worked for you.

Until next time—stay spooky, my friends. 👻🖤
—Spooky Cat Lady