A Haunted Halloween Paranormal Investigation at Berry Hill Plantation

Summer is exiled into fatality as Halloween snaps past autumn into the crackling quiet of winter. October sheds the light, and the warmth of life transforms into the fall colors of approaching cold. With an air of death, the leaves begin to descend and tales swell across the moving shadows of the River Dan. The waters, elusive like memory, ripple the river on the full moon and a impatient hand of querying heart shifts the liquid. The mirror becomes the past, the future or just a instant when you are enthralled by the haunt.

Along the past, the swift water has defined the ghostly edges of yesterday and survived for tomorrow. One surviving haunted plantation and historical wonder along the Dan is Berry Hill. Berry Hill Plantation was originally granted to William Byrd II by the Crown in 1728. Byrd II helped establish the North Carolina-Virginia dividing line. Berry Hill then passed to Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the fourth Governor of Virginia. Edward Carrington, a nephew of Colonel Edward Carrington of the Race to the Dan would become the new owner. The next owner of Berry Hill would be James Coles Bruce who would build the present standing Greek revival mansion. The pre-civil war manor would remain in the Bruce family possession for approximately 100 years. Fred M. Watkins owned the property from 1950 to 1988 according to Berry Hill historian, Leland Luck. Fred refused to stay on the plantation and left Old Richard there as a caretaker for almost 20 years. While Richard Cecil Rogers lived there, he wrote a poem about his ghostly encounters called “The Ghost of Berry Hill”.

Is it possible that Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center is a source of paranormal activity? Many who have disturbed the mysterious paranormal waters have wandered afterwards into the hushing woods and through the contradictions of time to discover haunts said to exist at Berry Hill Plantation today. Berry Hill history would suggest many events that could lead to residual hauntings or supernatural events, but more significant are the individual encounters persons experience at Berry Hill Plantation. Ghosts and paranormal events at the old mansion have been friendly, a little mischievous and perhaps willing to communicate. The atmosphere surrounding this antebellum dream is warm, inviting and social.

Berry Hill Plantation is located in South Boston, VA at 3105 River Road. Berry Hill is an historical landmark, a luxury hotel, an excellent romantic getaway, an elegant wedding location, a state of the art conference center and meeting facility with the latest in innovative advancements, has a fine dining establishment on the premises, Carrington Restaurant, as well as Darby's Tavern, a casual restaurant and tavern. And Berry Hill is a haunted location.

There are haunted whispers of guests at Berry Hill reporting that conference room space and meeting facilities are extremely competitive to those in the area. One guest told me personally that she could not get better quality anywhere around and that it was less expensive than the lesser quality meeting spaces in South Boston and the surrounding area. Not to get side tracked here....

In October, WLUS 98.3 FM held a contest to decide on a haunted location to investigate. In addition to bringing in a paranormal investigation team, a winner would be chosen to stay overnight at Berry Hill. Beth of G.H.O.S.T.S. of Raleigh was contacted by Audrey, the radio personality of Mike N Audrey’s Most Music Mornings. Audrey interviewed Eddie with NCHAGS. Then G.H.O.S.T.S. of Raleigh, The Heritage Hunters Society (THHS) and NCHAGS all came together to investigate Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center.

The groups arrived at Berry Hill on the full moon of October, 2010, split into groups to set up video cameras, IR cameras, computers, sound recording devices, and more. Random pictures were taken throughout the evening.

The paranormal investigation teams investigated the Berry Hill Mansion - rooms like the study, the sitting area, the parlor where the superb stairs are, the billiards room, the Carrington Suite, and many small hallways and side rooms. In addition to the mansion at Berry Hill, the group investigated paranormal activity in the family graveyard, the slave graveyard, and other open accessible areas of the mansion grounds.

During the evening, there were many unexplainable occurrences. Audrey of WLUS 98.3 was spook shocked when a ghost played with her hair in her ear. Check out the video that Steve with The Heritage Hunters Society (THHS) obtained.

A reporter from the News and Record in South Boston, VA was present. She was handed a camera and when she snapped the group shot of the three teams and their guests, an unexplained shadow appeared in the picture. Even stranger, the picture was shot in a sequence. The other shots do not show the shadow.

Don of G.H.O.S.T.S of Raleigh got some EVP’s. G.H.O.S.T.S. of Raleigh is a husband-wife paranormal investigative team. This wonderful team is sensitive, caring, and friendly.

Michael La Chiana of THHS got a EVP of a ghost answering this question: “Can You See Me Wave?”

Jeff of NCHAGS took a picture of a strange mist or fog above a car though it was a clear night with a full moon.

Mike, the NCHAGS empath, sensed a pleasant energy in the Diamond Hill Slave graveyard.

To view pictures, video and more that these paranormal investigators and ghost hunters have, please visit the THHS Network Site.

So is Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center haunted? It is certainly hard to prove that it is not. Check out the evidence at NCHAGS, THHS, and G.H.O.S.T.S. of Raleigh. You be the judge. After being there, I am a believer. A ghost blew up the back of my neck and almost made me blush.

I recommend this luxury hotel with competitive pricing on conference and meeting space. Relax in seclusion, hear the birds chirp and look out over rolling hills, manicured gardens and lush trees. Berry Hill is a stunning historical landmark. Make reservations: 434-517-7000.