We’re peeling back the curtain on over 200 years of history to see what haunts the buildings and streets of Ashland, Virginia.

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The Slashes of Hanover sat as wet, swampy ground for countless years until the 1830s, when a small company named the Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Railway Company purchased the land. By 1836, RF&P had built tracks on the grounds, and a town sprung up around it. By the 1840s, a mineral sprints resort and racetrack called the newly named town of Ashland home. Just a short 20 years later, Ashland found itself transformed from a vacation destination, to Camp Ashland – a training grounds for the Confederate Cavalry.

“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑦 𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑠ℎ𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑, 𝑤𝑎𝑠—𝑜ℎ ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑! 𝑇𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑠. 𝑁𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑛. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑠, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑝𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑, 𝑠𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑦 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔-ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙, 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑎𝑟­𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑠. 𝐼𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒-𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦­𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒.” From Life in the South from the commence­ment of the war by a blockaded British Subject

Soon after the Cavalry left for war in late 1861, Ashland became a place of refuge from the war-torn areas in the north. Civilians brought entire families to Ashland, renting rooms in hotels and private houses to stay safe. The war was brought daily to their doorsteps, as they listened to cannon-fire and Yankee yells from outside their very own front doors.

On June 1st, 1864, the town of Ashland became a war-zone. As the Union army advanced towards Ashland from the north, they took up positions on the north, east, and south sides of the tracks, and were placed in and around the homes along the railroad tracks. The Confederate army knew that the Union was trapped, and moved in. The Confederate Cavalry that trained here in Ashland just 3 years prior charged back into town, dismounted, and attacked. Hand-to-hand combat broke out in the streets, as Union forces attempted to flee.

“𝐷𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 1864, 𝐺𝑒𝑛’𝑙 𝐹𝑖𝑡𝑧ℎ𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝐿𝑒𝑒’𝑠 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑑𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ‘𝑇𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 𝑅𝑜𝑎𝑑’ 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛, ‘𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡; 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡.’ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑, 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑠, 𝑝𝑒𝑟ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ‘𝑌𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑒𝑒’ 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑟𝑠. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 ‘𝑌𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑠’ 𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑠. 𝐴 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑝 𝑓𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑤𝑛. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑤𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚. 𝐴 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑦’𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑦, 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑐𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒, 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑡. 𝑊𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚. 𝐼 𝑠𝑎𝑤 𝑎 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑆𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡’𝑠 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑑. 𝑴𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆.” – St. George Tucker Brooke

As soldiers were wounded in Ashland and the nearby Hanover county battles, they were whisked away to the hospitals established in Ashland – private homes, part of a hotel, and the old Ashland Baptist Church. Those soldiers who arrived and never left Ashland are buried right in town – over 400 fallen soldiers; their final resting place, the Woodland Cemetery.

Your evening begins at the Hanover Arts & Activities Center…

…formerly known as the Ashland Baptist Church, the very same field hospital where numerous soldiers gasped their last breath. To begin our evening, you will be led by the Ashland Haunted History Tours on a haunting tour of downtown Ashland, learning about the darker side of history that resides in the shadows….

After the tour, we’ll be investigating claims of the paranormal at not one – but two locations in historic downtown Ashland…

You’ll have the opportunity to investigate:

The Hanover Arts & Activities Center

Red Vein Escape Room

Both of these locations are home to a slew of haunting tales and paranormal experiences, ranging from EVPs, audible talking, footsteps, and even seeing shadow figures walking through the halls.

The question is…. Do You Dare?

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This is a fundraising investigation!

100% of the proceeds of this event go directly to Red Vein & the Hanover Arts & Activities Center for their continued efforts in restoration and preservation, as well as the amazing community outreach they provide daily!

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𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄:

• You are welcome to bring your own equipment to investigate.
• We will break into small groups at each site to investigate. Each group will be led by an investigator with equipment to assist on the investigation.
• We will be outside for a portion of the investigation, so please dress accordingly.
• We will begin the evening at the Hanover Arts & Activities Center. The Ashland Haunted History Tour is on foot and lasts approximately 1 hour. We will be outside for the entire duration of this tour. We will travel from the Hanover Arts & Activities Center to the Red Vein Escape Room on foot.
• Please do not put on fragrances before the investigation. Smells are often reported at both locations and it will be difficult to identify if we are wearing fragrances.
• Please do not wear loose jewelry, baggy clothing, etc. These often make extra sounds and noises that will make listening to and identifying EVPs difficult!
• There will be identified spots if you need to smoke a cigarette. Please make sure you dispose of your cigarette butts accordingly.
• Please do not plan to investigate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We will ask you to leave the premises if so.
• Weapons of any kind are strictly forbidden.
• Bring your equipment! We’ll have some that you can use within your groups, but you are welcome to bring any equipment you have for investigating that you can carry with you. A flashlight is highly encouraged. Additionally, if you do not have an audio recorder, bring your phone! We’ll ask you to put it in airplane mode, but you can still record audio onto your cellphone – a large number of people on our investigations have recorded EVPs on their phones!
• Most importantly, have fun! This investigation is for you, so bring your ideas and thoughts for investigating! You never know what, or who, you will run into, and we value your unique ideas and suggestions for investigating these locations! We urge you to be ready to be involved in the investigation! Think of some questions you’d like to ask in advance, if you have any theories that we can test out, and more!

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲.

With this in mind, we will be doing our due diligence to ensure we meet the regulated guidelines at the time of the event.

We ask that anyone who has been exposed to someone who has, or may have, COVID-19 within 14 days leading up to the event, to please stay home.

Refunds will be issued if either situation occurs.

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𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐮𝐬.

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