The Haunted Baladerry Inn
Posted: 10.25.2024 | Updated: 01.21.2025
The American Civil War was the deadliest conflict in US history, with one of its bloodiest chapters taking place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Over 51,000 soldiers were killed, with many of them spending their final agonizing moments in a barn located at Bushman Farm, which served as a field hospital for Union soldiers. In an era devoid of anesthetics or sterilization practices, countless emergency surgeries and amputations were conducted amidst a deafening cacophony of screams.
The blood-drenched soil, coupled with President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, cemented Gettysburg’s historical significance in American history, along with Bushman Farm’s role as a present-day historical landmark for history buffs. Renamed the Baladerry Inn, the farm serves as a bed and breakfast for many seeking a temporary getaway in Gettysburg’s sprawling nature and rich yet tragic history.
It’s a history tied in with the darker nature surrounding the bed and breakfast itself thanks to its bloody past, leading many to believe the Baladerry Inn also hosts many ghosts and otherworldly activity. Are you seeking a one-of-a-kind ghost tour like no other? Book a ghost tour with Civil War Ghosts today.
Is The Baladerry Inn The Most Haunted Hotel In Gettysburg?
The Baladerry Inn served as a nearby field hospital on the second day of the gruesome three-day clash between Union and Confederate soldiers.
For many of the former, the inner walls of this present-day bed and breakfast were the last thing they ever saw on this earth, only a couple of minutes away from a battlefield littered with the bodies of 5,000 horses and over 50,000 men who faced an abrupt and violent end with some never given a proper burial.
Now operating as a bed and breakfast, the spacious and tranquil atmosphere of The Baladerry Inn is a far cry from what once took place within its walls, with visitors still able to see a verified blood-stained footprint on the house’s floor.
Blood and Screams
The Baladerry Inn’s history dates back to 1812, when it was originally called The Bushman Farm, named after its original owner, George Bushman. The rest of the main house was constructed in 1830, first used as a tenant farmer’s house and later as the residence for George’s son.
The farm remained relatively peaceful until 33 years later when it was repurposed as a temporary field hospital during the bloody three-day Battle of Gettysburg. The rooms of this elegant farm were filled with the screams and groans of wounded soldiers from the Army of the Potomac, the main field army of the Union forces.
The inn’s dining area, now known as the Great Room, along with the Main Hall, became an emergency surgery unit where barbaric amputations were carried out, and other wounded soldiers were tended to.
Over a century later, The Bushman Farm, now renamed the Baladerry Inn, serves as a bed and breakfast, blending 19th-century home decor with 21st-century amenities. One of the most popular is the nearby tennis court, rumored by many to be the source of ghostly activity intertwined with the Baladerry Inn’s tragic past.
Tennis and Ghosts
It’s not the tennis court that is the root of the haunting at the Baladerry Inn, but rather what lies underneath. A visiting psychic claimed that it was built on top of the graves of seven Confederate soldiers.
Whether you believe it or not, several photos taken by guests over the years pique curiosity, with the most famous one depicting two Confederate soldiers in uniform seated near the French-style double doors and two others standing just outside. Shadow figures have also been observed on the outskirts of the tennis court.
But could this be the only reason for the ghosts that haunt the Baladerry Inn? Maybe, maybe not. There are many more spectral visitors than just Confederate soldiers inhabiting the grounds of this highly-rated bed and breakfast. In fact, owners Judy and Kenny Caudill keep a binder filled with stories from various guests and staff who have had their own ghost encounters over the years.
A Woman and Ghostly Playboy
Many of the encounters revolve around the Marigold Room, which is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a woman. Guests have claimed to wake up and see her apparition standing at the foot of the bed. One notable report came from a guest who was a Civil War reenactor during the Gettysburg Address festivities.
She wore traditional clothing and jewelry from the time period and kept a box filled with contemporary and vintage jewelry by the side of the bed. She would store the antique jewelry in a separate bag during the day while she was out. When she returned, she found the vintage jewelry neatly laid out on top of the bag where she had placed them.
A flirtatious ghost named Geoffrey, with a penchant for blonde women, is also said to frequent the Baladerry Inn. Referred to as “lover boy” by the staff, Geoffrey is known to make his presence felt in the Primrose Room. Women have reported feeling their feet being rubbed by an unseen force and hearing a male voice singing a mellifluous tune in their ear. There are even rumors that an invisible entity has climbed into bed with guests staying in that room.
Haunted Gettysburg
Gettysburg has almost become synonymous with the Civil War, being the key location for stopping the advancement of the Confederacy into the North. However, it came at a cost, being the bloodiest battle with thousands upon thousands of lives scattered across its grassy fields.
For this reason, aside from being rich with history, Gettysburg is also synonymous with ghost hunting and remains a hub for some of the spookiest spots in all of Pennsylvania to visit.
At the top of that list: the Baladerry Inn, once a peaceful farm that soon became filled with the agonizing cries of Union soldiers suffering from immeasurable pain before they closed their eyes for the last time.
Book a ghost tour with Civil War Ghosts for more stories filled with chills and thrills and a more up-close and hair-raising experience with the ghosts of Gettysburg! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Pennsylvania hauntings.
Sources:
- https://usghostadventures.com/ghost-tours
- https://baladerryinn.com/about_inn
- https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/history/articles/ghosts-of-gettysburg
- https://www.hauntedrooms.com/pennsylvania/gettysburg/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/baladerry-inn
Book A Gettysburg Ghost Tours Tour And See For Yourself
Join Civil War Ghosts tonight to hear the gripping stories of the ghosts and hauntings of Gettysburg. See where the civilians and soldiers fell, and where their eerie presence persists to this day. They want to be heard – will you listen?
Visit the many haunted downtown inns and buildings where the wounded took their last breaths in agony. Touch the traces of their sacrifice that remain and reach out from beyond in this small, haunted town that shaped the future of the United States.
