Blennerhassett Hotel - Parkersburg, WV

A Grand Hotel Where the Founder May Still Roam

Opened in 1889 during Parkersburg’s oil-and-gas boom, The Blennerhassett Hotel was built as an upscale destination for prosperous travelers and businessmen. Its Queen Anne architecture, elegant interiors and central staircase made it one of the city’s premier social gathering places.

More than 135 years later, guests still check in.

According to West Virginia ghost lore, so does the man responsible for building it.

The hotel’s most famous supernatural resident is said to be William N. Chancellor, the prominent Parkersburg businessman associated with the hotel’s creation. Visitors have reported a well-dressed man appearing in mirrors, children seemingly playing in hallways and unexplained sounds from otherwise quiet areas.

BestHauntedHotels.com Verdict

The Blennerhassett deserves a strong 9/10.

It combines an authentic 1889 hotel, National Register status, a recognized founder-ghost tradition, multiple types of reported activity and a direct connection to Parkersburg’s ghost-tour scene.

William Chancellor — The Gentleman in the Mirror

The Blennerhassett’s signature ghost is William N. Chancellor, a prominent businessman and former Parkersburg mayor who developed the grand hotel.

West Virginia Tourism describes the hotel’s most famous apparition as a man in a tuxedo who reportedly appears in mirrors, with tradition identifying him as Chancellor.

It’s an especially fitting haunting.

Chancellor spent years developing the hotel, which opened on May 6, 1889 and quickly became a Parkersburg landmark.

History vs. Folklore

Documented: William Chancellor was a major Parkersburg businessman connected with the Blennerhassett Hotel. Federal historical records identify him as the hotel’s owner beginning in 1889.

Reported: A formally dressed male apparition appears in mirrors.

Folklore: The apparition is William Chancellor himself.

That’s exactly how I recommend presenting it on BestHauntedHotels.com—intriguing without turning paranormal tradition into historical fact.

Ghostly Children in the Hallways

Chancellor apparently isn’t alone.

Another recurring tradition involves the sounds or apparitions of children seemingly playing in the hotel’s corridors.

West Virginia Tourism specifically reports stories of ghostly children playing tag through the hallways.

Their identities remain uncertain.

That mystery is preferable to inventing biographies for them. I’d simply call them:

“The Ghost Children of the Blennerhassett.”

Music From an Empty Ballroom

One of the property’s more atmospheric paranormal stories involves the hotel’s social spaces.

Reported phenomena include:

👻 Knocking on guest doors
👻 Mysterious noises
👻 Children in the hallways
👻 A tuxedo-clad apparition in mirrors
🎶 Music reportedly heard from an empty ballroom

These experiences are specifically summarized by West Virginia’s official tourism site.

Another state tourism feature mentions a sobbing woman among the hotel’s reported spirits.

Her identity is unknown, so I would leave it that way.

Where Should Ghost Enthusiasts Stay?

I wouldn’t designate a specific numbered room as the hotel’s “most haunted.”

The strongest reputable sources describe activity throughout the property rather than consistently identifying one guestroom.

#1 — Historic Upper Floors

Request a room within the historic hotel and spend some time observing the quieter corridors after dark.

#2 — Near the Original Central Staircase

The original hotel contained roughly 50 rooms arranged around a central staircase, making this one of the building’s defining historic features.

#3 — Historic-Style Room

Ask the front desk which available room best preserves the property’s historic atmosphere.

CHECK AVAILABILITY

Spend the night inside Parkersburg’s legendary 1889 hotel—and keep an eye on the mirrors.

Built During Parkersburg’s Boom Years

The Blennerhassett emerged during one of the most prosperous periods in Parkersburg history.

Oil and natural gas were transforming the region, creating demand for an upscale hotel capable of serving wealthy businessmen and travelers.

The hotel opened in 1889 with approximately 50 rooms surrounding a central staircase, two parlors and a restaurant capable of seating roughly 80 guests.

Federal historic records classify the building as Queen Anne and recognize its importance to both commerce and architecture.

At its height, it wasn’t simply somewhere to sleep.

It was one of Parkersburg’s social centers.

Fire, Decline & Resurrection

The hotel’s survival is almost as interesting as its ghosts.

After decades of prominence, the Blennerhassett declined and eventually operated as a residential hotel. A 1978 fire damaged the property, and by the early 1980s it stood vacant and faced an uncertain future.

It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and an extensive restoration followed in 1986.

Another multimillion-dollar renovation began in the early 2000s.

Today, the restored hotel once again welcomes overnight guests.

For haunted-hotel travelers, that’s important:

You’re not visiting a replica—you can actually sleep inside the surviving 1889 landmark.

Haunted Parkersburg Begins Here

This is one of the property’s strongest selling points for BestHauntedHotels.com.

Haunted Parkersburg Ghost Tours traditionally meet at the Blennerhassett Hotel, making the property a natural base for exploring Parkersburg’s supernatural history.

That gives visitors an easy haunted itinerary:

Check into the Blennerhassett → explore downtown → take a ghost tour → return to the haunted hotel after dark.

It’s exactly the type of combined hotel + paranormal experience that works well for your audience.

Don’t Miss Blennerhassett Island

The hotel is also an excellent base for visiting Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park.

The island’s reconstructed mansion recalls the extraordinary story of Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett, whose involvement with former Vice President Aaron Burr became part of one of early America’s great political intrigues. Federal historical records note Harman Blennerhassett’s connection with Burr and the subsequent arrests.

The island and hotel share the Blennerhassett name, but don’t confuse their histories—the hotel was built decades later.

Ghost Hunter Tips

Watch the mirrors. Chancellor’s reported mirror appearances are the hotel’s signature phenomenon.

Listen in the hallways. Children’s voices or running footsteps are among the better-known stories.

Pay attention to unexplained music. The ballroom tradition is particularly interesting when no event is taking place.

Document knocks carefully. First rule out neighboring rooms, elevators and normal hotel traffic.

Ask before using paranormal equipment in common areas. This remains an upscale operating hotel.

For a casual investigation, your own guestroom and quiet observation are the most respectful approach.

CHECK AVAILABILITY

What the Stay Is Like

This isn’t a rustic haunted inn.

The Blennerhassett remains a full-service historic boutique hotel in downtown Parkersburg, with lodging and on-site dining. West Virginia Tourism currently lists the hotel as active at 320 Market Street.

That makes it especially attractive for couples who want:

Historic architecture + upscale accommodations + ghost stories

rather than an intensive paranormal investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Blennerhassett Hotel haunted?

It has a substantial local paranormal reputation. West Virginia’s official tourism organization specifically features stories of William Chancellor, ghostly children, mysterious knocking and music from an empty ballroom.

Who is the hotel’s most famous ghost?

William N. Chancellor, the businessman associated with building the hotel. According to folklore, a tuxedo-clad man believed to be Chancellor appears in mirrors.

What is the most haunted room?

There isn’t enough reliable evidence to designate one specific room number. I recommend a room in the historic portion of the hotel rather than advertising an unsupported “most haunted room.”

When did the hotel open?

May 6, 1889.

Is it on the National Register?

Yes. The Blennerhassett Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Is the hotel currently operating?

Yes. West Virginia Tourism currently lists it as an active full-service historic hotel at 320 Market Street.

👻 BestHauntedHotels.com Ghost Rating

9 / 10 — Highly Haunted Historic Hotel

Why We Awarded the Blennerhassett 9/10

The Blennerhassett has an unusually balanced haunted-hotel profile: authentic 1889 history, National Register recognition, a named founder-ghost tradition, reports involving children and a mysterious woman, mirror apparitions, unexplained music and direct ties to Haunted Parkersburg tours.

Why Ghost Enthusiasts Should Stay Here

The Blennerhassett offers a different kind of haunted night.

Check into a grand hotel born during West Virginia’s Gaslight Era.

Take a ghost walk through historic Parkersburg.

Return after dark and walk the same hallways that have welcomed guests since 1889.

Listen for children where no children are playing.

Pay attention if music drifts from an empty room.

And before you turn out the lights, take one last look in the mirror.

According to more than a century of Parkersburg folklore, William Chancellor may still be checking on the hotel he built.

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