The Coolest Abandoned Places in Virginia
Plenty of castles, homes, and mansions are home to many of Virginia’s coolest abandoned places.
Written by Cassandra Hamilton
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
From an abandoned manor-turned-vineyard to a former prison, these eight sites are the coolest (and scariest) abandoned places in Virginia.
When you think of Virginia, you might think of it as a place rich with Civil War History. Or maybe you think of it as home to some of the nation’s richest colonial history, or the birthplace of the nation. You may even think of it as home to the nation’s presidents, eight of whom were born in the state. Today, Virginia’s deserted manors, tunnels, prisons, and towns are remnants of its storied history.
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Pamplin City Main Street
Location: Appomattox/Prince Edward Counties
Abandoned since: N/A
Is it legal to go in? Yes
Pamplin City used to be a bustling town. Founded in the 19th century, Pamplin City’s population has dwindled to a couple hundred residents and its main street is an abandoned shell of what it once was. Pamplin City was originally called Merriman’s Shop, but it was renamed in honor of a wealthy landowner who donated large parcels of land to build a railroad.
A terrible fire destroyed much of the town in the early 1900s. Pamplin City passed an ordinance requiring all new buildings to be constructed from brick, which is why many of those buildings still stand on its abandoned main street today. Despite revitalization efforts by Appomattox County, Pamplin City Main Street is one of the only abandoned towns in Virginia.
MORE: Best Virginia road trips
Abandoned prisons in Virginia
Lorton Reformatory
Location: Fairfax County
Abandoned since: 2001
Is it legal to go in? Yes
Lorton Reformatory was opened in 1910 to house prisoners from nearby Washington, D.C. It was home to violent criminals and often overcrowded. It was initially a prison farm, and the prisoners’ labor helped produce goods. The prison grew over time and its security intensified as it began to house more and more severe criminals.
After ninety years of operation, the prison closed due to aging infrastructure which negatively affected the prisoners. All prisoners had been transferred elsewhere by 2001. Now, Lorton Reformatory is undergoing suburban revitalization and becoming a hotspot for shopping, dining, and residential purposes.
MORE: The absolute best road trips in Virginia
Abandoned castles, homes, and mansions in Virginia
Paxton Manor
Location: Leesburg, Virginia
Abandoned since: 1921
Is it legal to go in? Yes, during certain times of the year
Paxton Manor is a sprawling 20,000 square foot mansion in northern Virginia. Paxton Manor, also called Carlheim, was built for the Pennsylvania industrialist Charles Paxton. He lived there with his wife Rachel until his death, while Rachel continued to live in the manor until her death in 1921.
You can tour Paxton Manor during one of the times when it is open to the public. It is most famously open for visitation during the month of October when it is turned into a haunted house—you can even stay overnight to do paranormal research with expert ghost hunters. Paxton Manor is so terrifying, guests need to sign a waiver before they can enter.
Swannanoa Palace
Location: Afton, Virginia
Abandoned since: 1998
Is it legal to go in? Yes
Swannanoa Palace is one of the few abandoned places in Virginia that you can tour on the weekends. It originally finished construction in 1912, and was built to replicate the Villa de Medici in Rome. This sprawling estate was a testament of love from Major James Dooley to his wife, Sally May.
After the deaths of the Dooleys, ownership of the estate bounced around between family members before becoming a country club. It sat abandoned again before becoming a university for science and philosophy for 50 years. It was again abandoned in 1998 and now sits among the abandoned mansions in Virginia.
Swannanoa Palace is now open to public tours on the weekends, and the money from ticket sales is dedicated to future restoration efforts.
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Barboursville Ruins
Location: Barboursville, Virginia
Abandoned since: 1884
Is it legal to go in? Yes
The estate at Barboursville was originally constructed in 1822 and was rumored to be designed by Thomas Jefferson, a Virginia native. The mansion was constructed for the former governor of Virginia, James Barbour, who was a close friend of Jefferson.
The house was completely destroyed except for the brick components during a tragic fire that occurred on Christmas Day in 1884. Today, its ruins still stand and is one of the easiest abandoned places to explore in Virginia due to its current status as a vineyard. The Barboursville Ruins are well known to locals and are popular to visit.
The House of Sycamore Cross
Location: Isle of Wight County
Abandoned since: Sometime after the Civil War
Is it legal to go in? Yes, but it is privately owned
The House of Sycamore Cross is a mystery, even to the locals around it. Not much is known about the house except that it was abandoned shortly after the Civil War. It is privately owned today, so explorers won’t be able to legally explore the property. It sits in the middle of a field near Mill Swamp and Proctors Bridge.
The building apparently had a mind of its own in the late 19th century. If someone tried to remove a piece of furniture, the piece wouldn’t move from the floor. If someone was able to free a piece, they couldn’t leave with it because the doors would lock themselves shut. With paranormal activity, no wonder the House of Sycamore Cross is one of the abandoned manors in Virginia!
The house is named for a sycamore tree that marked a crossroads off the property in the 1930s. Old houses like these are rare, so be respectful if you do chance a visit.
Rosewell Manor
Location: Gloucester, Virginia
Abandoned since: 1916
Is it legal to go in? Yes
The Rosewell Manor is one of the oldest abandoned sites you can explore in Virginia. It was first constructed by the Page family in the early 18th century using slave labor, which the family had participated in since the 1670s.
The Page family lived in the Rosewell Manor for over a hundred years and hosted many parties and dances. Ownership eventually changed and the manor fell into disrepair between the Civil War and the break of the 20th century. Many were grief-stricken when the lavish manor caught fire in 1912, but a former slave said to “let it burn.”
Today, you can buy tickets and explore the ruins of the manor. It’s available for events like other ruins abandoned in Virginia, including weddings.
Tips for exploring Virginia’s abandoned places
You should be smart when exploring the abandoned corners of the Old Dominion State. Try these tips for urban exploration before you head out on your next adventure.
- Check who owns the area before you go along with the regulation—ask permission if you need to. All of the places we covered are legal to explore, but some might have restrictions on where you can go or what time you can explore. You’ll need to do your own research so you don’t find yourself trespassing.
- Dress comfortably and wear close-toed shoes. Not all of the sites are maintained and operate guided tours. Some of these sites are in the middle of nowhere and there’s no telling what you’ll run into.
- Leave the souvenirs behind. As tempting as it may be to take a piece of wood, a partial brick, or even an interesting artifact, you should leave behind whatever it is you find. You want to preserve the area for future explorers and prevent the destruction of the abandoned site.
- Go with a friend or let someone know where you will be. Most of the places we talked about are safe to visit, but you never know what could happen when you go on the road less traveled.
- Think about protective gear, like a face mask, gloves, or other equipment. It’s possible the site you’re visiting used outdated building materials that can be hazardous to your health.
The main tenets of exploring an abandoned place are safety and respect. Avoid any unnecessary safety risks and don’t be the person who makes the site unsafe or unpleasant for future visitors.
How to find affordable car insurance in Virginia
Safety is paramount when exploring abandoned places, so make sure you shop for car insurance before you head out. You might want to think about adding additional coverage in case you find yourself stranded in a remote area—roadside assistance would be a good move in this scenario.
You can easily find the coverage you need at a price you’ll want when you download the
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FAQs
Is it illegal to visit abandoned places?
It depends on where you’re visiting. If you don’t have explicit permission, it’s illegal to enter a privately owned abandoned place—same as if it were inhabited. Most places on this list are open for public exploration, but double check the ownership of any abandoned place before you visit.
Why are there abandoned houses in Virginia?
There are abandoned houses and manors all over the state, and some reasons are more clear cut than others. Sometimes the new owners were unable to care for the great estate or simply passed away without willing it to a new owner—but sometimes, the reason a place is abandoned remains a mystery.
Where is the abandoned town in Virginia?
Pamplin City Main Street is in Pamplin City, Virginia, which straddles the border between Appomattox County and Prince Edward County. This is in south-central Virginia.
Pamplin City was once a bustling town and home to a clay pipe factory, but as economic opportunities moved elsewhere, so did most of the population. Today there are only a couple hundred residents left.
