General Lewis Inn - Lewisburg, WV

General Lewis Inn: Nearly 200 Years of History—and Lingering Spirits

Historic Southern Elegance With a Supernatural Side

The General Lewis Inn isn’t simply an old hotel. Part of the property began as the Withrow residence in 1834, surviving the Civil War before being incorporated into the hotel that opened in 1929. Architect Walter F. Martens, who also designed West Virginia’s Governor’s Mansion, designed the main hotel section and west wing.

Today, guests sleep among period antiques, original flooring, exposed historic brick and architectural features approaching two centuries old.

But according to longstanding local paranormal lore, some guests may not be alone.

Stories center on a mysterious woman, a playful young girl and a man named Reuben, with Rooms 206 and 208 repeatedly appearing in accounts of unexplained activity.

BestHauntedHotels.com Verdict

This is an excellent 9/10 haunted stay.

Its combination of an authentic 1834 structure, Civil War-era history, identifiable paranormal hotspots and guestrooms where activity has specifically been reported makes it one of West Virginia’s most intriguing historic inns.

👻 Room 208 — The Paranormal Pick

If you’re visiting for the ghosts, Room 208 is my first choice.

It sits within the original 1834 portion of the property and retains original plank flooring, a fireplace and original mantle, exposed brick and period-inspired furnishings.

Paranormal accounts associate Room 208 with a mysterious female presence, often characterized in retellings as a Lady in White. Other stories connect the area with the sounds of a young girl.

History vs. Folklore

There is no reliable historical evidence establishing the identity of the woman, nor proof that a supernatural presence inhabits Room 208.

What is documented is far more useful for a credible listing:

Room 208 really is located within the original 1834 house.

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👻 Want the most intriguing overnight experience? Ask whether historic Room 208 is available.

The Mysterious Little Girl

Another recurring General Lewis legend concerns a young girl.

Stories describe crying, laughter, footsteps and playful activity associated particularly with Rooms 206 and 208. Some versions even claim that the child likes moving or hiding guests’ belongings.

Her identity remains uncertain.

That’s important for your listing: rather than inventing a tragic biography, simply describe her as the unidentified child spirit reported by guests and paranormal storytellers.

Room 206 — John Withrow Room

Room 206 is another excellent choice.

Named the John Withrow Room, it is also located inside the original 1834 portion of the hotel.

The room contains:

19th-century heart-pine floors • Fireplace • Colonial-style bed • Historic character

Paranormal lore associates Room 206 with unusual voices, crying, laughter and other unexplained sounds.

Reuben and the Inn’s Most Difficult History

The most serious story associated with the General Lewis Inn involves an enslaved man remembered in local lore as Reuben.

Paranormal traditions claim that Reuben’s apparition has appeared around the dining room and that his death may have been connected to structures that once stood behind the original residence.

This story needs to be handled carefully.

The inn’s own historical account acknowledges that the Withrow property was connected to slavery and states that original elements of the residence were most likely constructed by enslaved people. The hotel deliberately preserves and interprets this difficult history rather than romanticizing it.

The present Dining Room also contains reclaimed beams from two former structures behind the house, thought to have been livery stables.

A House That Survived the Civil War

One reason this property feels different from an ordinary historic hotel is that its oldest section was already standing during the Civil War.

During a recent restoration, the owners exposed part of the original exterior brick wall inside the Dining Room and preserved original wallpaper overhead. The hotel specifically notes that these architectural elements survived the Civil War era.

Lewisburg itself saw significant fighting during the war, including the Battle of Lewisburg in 1862.

So when you stay in Rooms 206 or 208, you’re sleeping in the oldest portion of a building that witnessed one of the most turbulent periods in American history.

The General Lewis Is Born

In the late 1920s, the historic residence entered a new chapter.

The Hock family acquired the property and created the General Lewis Inn around the existing house. Architect Walter F. Martens designed the central portion and west wing, visually integrating the new hotel with the older residence.

The inn has operated continuously since 1929.

The Hocks spent years collecting nineteenth-century antiques from around the Greenbrier Valley and surrounding counties to furnish the property—helping create the historic atmosphere guests still experience today.

What the Stay Is Like Today

The General Lewis is now an intimate boutique property with 23 rooms and suites, combining its restored 1834 residence with the later hotel. No two guestrooms are exactly alike.

Expect:

Period antiques • Original hardwood floors • Historic fireplaces • Gardens & courtyard • Modern luxury touches • Southern dining • Craft cocktails

The Dining Room serves contemporary Southern cuisine, while the Thistle Lounge provides cocktails in a historic setting.

For ghost enthusiasts, though, my advice is simple:

Request the original 1834 side of the inn.

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Ghost Hunter Tips

Book Room 208 or 206. Both combine documented historical fabric with the property’s strongest room-specific paranormal traditions.

Listen before investigating. An 1834 building produces perfectly natural creaks, drafts and plumbing sounds.

Pay attention to voices or laughter. Childlike sounds are among the property’s recurring legends.

Visit the Dining Room. It combines some of the inn’s oldest surviving architecture with the Reuben tradition.

Respect the history. The stories involving slavery concern real human suffering and should never be reduced to entertainment.

And obtain permission before conducting any formal paranormal investigation in common areas.

Haunted Lewisburg

The General Lewis also gives your visitors something valuable beyond the hotel itself:

Lewisburg is a terrific historic destination.

The inn sits within easy walking distance of downtown, and nearby historic attractions include the North House Museum, while the wider Greenbrier Valley offers Civil War sites, historic architecture and the legendary Greenbrier resort region.

That makes the General Lewis a natural anchor for a haunted Lewisburg weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the General Lewis Inn haunted?

It has a longstanding paranormal reputation involving a mysterious woman, a child and Reuben. These should be treated as reported experiences and folklore, not verified supernatural events.

What is the most haunted room?

Room 208 is my first recommendation based on the recurring paranormal lore surrounding it and the fact that it’s actually located within the original 1834 house.

What other room should ghost enthusiasts consider?

Room 206 — the John Withrow Room. It is also within the original 1834 section and is associated with reported unexplained sounds.

How old is the General Lewis Inn?

Part of the property dates to 1834. The expanded hotel has operated continuously since 1929.

Is the hotel currently open?

Yes. The General Lewis currently operates as a boutique hotel, restaurant and lounge.

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👻 BestHauntedHotels.com Ghost Rating

9 / 10 — Highly Haunted Historic Inn

Why We Recommend 9/10

The General Lewis has an excellent combination of authentic 1834 architecture, Civil War-era history, almost a century of continuous hotel operation and paranormal traditions tied to specific rooms and locations. Rooms 206 and 208 are particularly valuable because visitors can actually stay within the oldest portion of the property.

Why Ghost Enthusiasts Should Stay Here

Spend the evening surrounded by antiques collected from old homes throughout the Greenbrier Valley.

Walk through rooms containing walls and floors that have survived since 1834.

Then head upstairs to Room 208.

Light the fireplace, turn down the television and listen.

Perhaps the old house will simply creak.

Perhaps you’ll hear laughter from another guest.

But if you hear the unmistakable sound of a child when the hallway outside is empty, you may understand why stories about the General Lewis Inn have endured for generations.

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