A bloodstain on a hotel floor keeps coming back, no matter how many times someone scrubs it. The legend says refinishing the boards didn’t help.
Carpets laid over the spot supposedly wore strange holes right through.
That stubborn stain belongs to a grand brick inn in southwest Virginia. It started life in 1832 as a family home, then spent decades as a college for young women.
During the 1860s, those same halls served as a hospital for wounded soldiers from both sides.
I like how this place refuses to hide its past. Guests sleep upstairs, swim in a saltwater pool, and stroll past the legend on their way to bed.
Then there’s Room 403, where a violin is said to play with nobody holding it. Would you book that room, or quietly ask for one down the hall?
A Stately Main Street Inn With Nearly Two Centuries Behind Its Doors
Some hotels have a lobby with a nice chandelier. The Martha Washington Inn & Spa has a front porch that has watched almost two hundred years of history roll down Main Street.
The inn sits in Abingdon, a small town in the mountains of southwest Virginia. It’s a historic hotel and spa, and it has welcomed overnight guests since 1935.
Locals and longtime fans often just call it The Martha. That nickname feels fitting for a place that wears its age with confidence instead of hiding it behind fresh paint.
The property holds a spot in Historic Hotels of America, a group that recognizes properties with real historic roots. It also carries a AAA Four Diamond award, which is no small thing for a building this old.
Inside, you’ll find 63 guest rooms, a spa, a restaurant, and some legendary ghost stories. Outside, there are gardens, pools, and courts for burning off breakfast.
So yes, it’s a comfortable hotel with modern perks. It just happens to come with a few uninvited residents who checked in a very long time ago and never bothered to leave.
How a Family Mansion Became a College for Young Women
Nine children is a lot of kids to house. General Francis Preston solved that problem in 1832 by building a large brick home for his family right here.
The Preston family lived in the mansion for years. Then, in 1858, the property was sold and given a whole new purpose.
It became Martha Washington College, an upscale school devoted to higher education for women. That was a forward-thinking idea in the 1850s, when many people didn’t believe women needed college at all.
The college ran for about seventy years. Generations of students studied, gossiped, and probably snuck snacks in these very halls.
Hard times eventually caught up with the school. The Great Depression forced it to close in 1932, and the building sat empty for a few quiet years.
Three years later, in 1935, the doors opened again as The Martha Washington Inn. Every guest who stays today is sleeping inside that layered story of home, school, and hotel.
I find it charming that the name stuck through every chapter. The building changed jobs several times, but it never changed its identity.
Classrooms That Turned Into Hospital Wards Overnight
Chalkboards and textbooks gave way to cots and bandages in the 1860s. When conflict divided the country, the college became a hospital and barracks for wounded soldiers.
Here’s the remarkable part. The hospital cared for men from both the Union and Confederate sides under the same roof.
The students didn’t simply pack up and leave either. Many of the young women stayed and volunteered as nurses, caring for injured soldiers in their former classrooms.
Picture studying French verbs one month and changing dressings the next. That’s a huge shift for anyone, let alone teenagers far from home.
The grounds also served as a training spot for a Confederate unit called the Washington Mounted Rifles. Horses and drills filled the space where students once strolled between lessons.
Those years left a deep mark on the building. Most of the inn’s famous ghost stories trace straight back to this period of pain, kindness, and young people forced to grow up fast.
Knowing that history changes how the hallways feel. Every creaky floorboard suddenly seems to carry a little extra weight.
The Stain That Simply Refuses to Go Away
Stubborn coffee spills have nothing on this one. The most famous legend at The Martha Washington Inn & Spa involves a bloodstain that keeps returning.
The story centers on a Confederate soldier and his sweetheart at the college. Union officers shot him right in front of her, and his blood spilled onto the floor.
Staff reportedly cleaned the spot again and again. The stain is said to reappear anyway, as if the floor has its own memory.
Refinishing the floors didn’t solve it, according to the legend. Neither did covering the area with carpet.
That’s where the tale gets truly odd. Mysterious holes are said to have formed in carpets placed over the stain, wearing through for no clear reason.
Skeptics will shrug, and that’s perfectly fine. Believers will tiptoe around the spot with their suitcase handles held a little tighter.
Either way, guests pass through these historic halls on the way to their rooms each night. Few hotels can say their hallway comes with a story this gripping, or this hard to scrub out of your mind.
Soft Violin Music Drifting From Room 403
Love stories rarely come with a soundtrack this haunting. Room 403 is tied to a young student nurse named Beth and a wounded Union captain.
His name was Captain John Stoves, and he was cared for in what is now Room 403. Beth tended to him and fell in love along the way.
She played her violin to comfort him through his final days. Sadly, he didn’t recover from his wounds.
The story grows even more tender from there. Beth caught typhoid fever and passed just weeks after the captain.
Guests still report hearing faint violin music around the room. Others describe sensing a gentle presence nearby, like someone checking on a patient.
I can’t imagine a sweeter ghost to share a floor with. She isn’t rattling chains or slamming doors, after all.
Room 403 has become one of the most requested curiosities at the inn. Some travelers book it hoping for a midnight concert, while others prefer a room safely out of earshot.
Which side of that line would you fall on?
Phantom Hooves, a Playful Child, and a Sealed Tunnel
Beth isn’t the only spirit with a room key, apparently. Staff and guests have reported a whole cast of unusual sightings over the years.
Apparitions of wounded soldiers from both sides top the list. Given the building’s past as a hospital, that tracks.
Then comes the phantom horse. A ghostly steed wandering the grounds feels oddly fitting near where the Washington Mounted Rifles once trained.
There’s also a mischievous child spirit said to roam the property. Every haunted house seems to need a little prankster, and this one is no exception.
The spookiest tale involves an old tunnel. It once connected the inn to the Barter Theatre across the street.
Stories describe a far less friendly presence lurking down there. The good news is that the inn’s side of the tunnel has been closed for years.
So you can relax, mostly. The creepiest corner of the legend stays sealed off, while the friendlier spirits get the run of the house.
That feels like a reasonable arrangement for everyone involved, living or otherwise.
Sixty-Three Rooms and No Two Quite Alike
Cookie-cutter hotel rooms are nowhere to be found here. Each of the 63 guest rooms has its own design, so your stay won’t look exactly like your neighbor’s.
You can choose from a range of bed sizes and themed suites. Adjoining rooms work nicely for families or friends traveling together.
Comfort details show up in every room. Expect free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, plus robes, slippers, and luxury toiletries.
Suites take things up a notch with more space. Depending on the suite, you might get a separate living area, a wet bar, or a view of the gardens.
Keep the building’s age in mind when you book. This is a nearly two-century-old structure, so it carries the quirks of a historic home rather than a brand-new chain hotel.
Some folks find that charm completely delightful. A creaky floorboard just adds to the ghost-story mood after all.
Choosing a room becomes part of the fun here. Go for garden views, a roomy suite, or take a bold swing at Room 403 if you’re feeling brave tonight.
Breakfast Is On the House and Dinner Comes With a Head Start
Free breakfast in a historic dining room beats a granola bar in the car every time. Overnight guests get a complimentary breakfast daily from 7 to 10 in the morning.
That’s a generous window for both early birds and sleepyheads. No need to sprint downstairs with your hair still wet.
Dinner happens at Sisters American Grill, the inn’s on-site restaurant. Guests receive a dining credit there, which takes a nice bite out of the evening bill.
The restaurant name has a sweet nod to the building’s college past. It’s an easy spot to land after a long day exploring Abingdon.
Reservations make sense on busy weekend nights. Plenty of theatergoers and travelers want a table in the same window.
The inn also keeps a small bar near the front desk. It’s a cozy perk for winding down before heading upstairs.
Having breakfast and dinner covered under one roof simplifies a trip. You can spend more energy on hiking, shows, and ghost hunting, and less on hunting for a parking space downtown.
Saltwater Laps, Mini Golf, and a Spa Day in Between
Ghost stories are fun, but sometimes you just want a hot tub. Thankfully, The Martha Washington Inn & Spa takes relaxation just as seriously as its legends.
The inn has both indoor and outdoor pools, plus a hot tub. The indoor saltwater pool is a favorite for an easy evening swim.
Active types have plenty of options. There are tennis courts, pickleball courts, and a fitness center for anyone who refuses to skip a workout on vacation.
Families will love the mini golf course on the grounds. Few things settle a sibling rivalry faster than a putter and a tricky hole.
Loaner bikes are available too, which pairs nicely with the nearby trail. More on that adventure shortly.
Then there’s the spa, which offers a menu of treatments for unwinding. Booking ahead is smart, since appointment times can fill up.
I love that a single stay can include a massage, a round of putt-putt, and a midnight ghost story. That’s quite a range for one historic building in the middle of a small Virginia town.
Weddings and Gatherings With a Storybook Backdrop
Saying vows somewhere with this much history feels a bit like borrowing a page from a novel. The inn regularly hosts weddings, romantic getaways, and special events.
Its event spaces each have their own personality. Choices include the Ballroom, the Edith Wilson Parlor, Backstage, the Boardroom, and the Gazebo.
The Edith Wilson Parlor carries a fun historic name. Edith Wilson was a First Lady with Virginia roots, which adds a little extra polish to any gathering.
Spaces can welcome up to 200 guests. That’s room for a big family celebration without feeling squeezed.
The Gazebo stands out for outdoor ceremonies among the gardens. It’s the kind of setting that makes photographers quietly happy.
Business travelers aren’t left out either. Meetings and conferences fit right into the Boardroom and other flexible rooms.
Everyone gets the same bonus perks after the formal stuff ends. Guests can retreat to the spa, pool, and courts, which beats a generic conference hotel by a long mile.
And if the ghosts crash the reception, well, that just makes a better toast.
Across From the Stage and Close to the Trail
Location might be the inn’s most underrated feature. You’ll find it at 150 W Main St, Abingdon, VA 24210, right off Route 11.
Showtime is basically a crosswalk away. The famous Barter Theatre sits directly across the street, so you can catch a performance without moving your car.
Outdoor lovers get a treat as well. The inn offers a shuttle to the Virginia Creeper Trail, a popular route for biking and walking.
Pair that shuttle with the loaner bikes, and you’ve got an easy active day planned. No complicated logistics required.
The William King Museum of Art is about a mile away. Abingdon’s town center is roughly a 17-minute walk for anyone who enjoys stretching their legs.
Getting around the property is simple too. Valet parking is available, and there’s also an airport shuttle service for those flying into the region.
Arriving in this corner of Virginia feels refreshingly calm. Small-town streets, mountain scenery, and a theater across the road make the inn a natural home base for exploring.
Why This Haunted Classic Deserves a Spot on Your List
Very few hotels let you sip morning coffee where student nurses once worked by candlelight. The Martha Washington Inn & Spa offers exactly that kind of strange, wonderful mix.
History buffs get nearly two centuries of stories in a single building. Ghost hunters get a stain, a violin, and a phantom horse to chase.
Couples can lean into the romance with spa treatments and garden strolls. Families can split time between mini golf, the pool, and the Creeper Trail.
Theater fans may have the easiest decision of all. The Barter Theatre waits right across the street every evening.
Keep realistic expectations about the old bones. This is a historic building first, so the charm comes with some quirks.
For travelers who enjoy character over cookie-cutter polish, that tradeoff feels worth it. The legends alone make for an unforgettable conversation over breakfast.
I believe a stay here works best with an open mind and a sense of humor. Pack comfy shoes, book that table, and maybe leave the hallway light on.
Just in case someone from 1862 wants to say hello.
