Western State Lunatic Asylum

Nestled in the heart of Staunton, Virginia, the Blackburn Inn holds a rich and eerie past. Once a lunatic asylum, later a prison, and now a stunning boutique hotel, its walls have witnessed over 200 years of history—both beautiful and tragic. From its Jeffersonian architecture to the chilling legacy of Dr. DeJarnette’s eugenics program, this place is no ordinary inn. And of course, with a past like this… some spirits just won’t leave. Guests have reported unexplained whispers, flickering lights, and even ghostly encounters. Could it be the echoes of its asylum days, the suffering of its patients, or something even darker?