Do you sometimes feel like you’re living in two worlds—your work world and your lake world, your high-stress world and your “time for me” world? Then you’ll feel right at home at the Dunnlora Inn, where you will stay in this world… and may encounter visitors from the next.

Lake Anna is fortunate to have such a fine bed-and-breakfast in nearby Mineral, Va. Tastefully, artfully and richly decorated with period pieces from the early 1900s—the house was built in 1916—it was fully restored in 2016 before opening as an inn in 2018. The Dunnlora is so unique it is featured on the cover of the book Haunted Inns and Hotels of Virginia. While a ghost sighting during your stay can’t be guaranteed, a luxurious night sleeping like an aristocratic traveler from 100 years ago (with modern amenities) certainly can.

But before the paranormal, let’s stress the normal. We stayed on a Wednesday night in September, and the town, while sleepy, was far from dead. The high school lights blazed with sporting activities, and the Little League field was ringed by several dozen families cheering on a junior baseball game. The VFW was bustling, with a sign out front promising gaming activities. If we had timed our visit for a summer Friday night, we might have caught the county fair in Walton Park, the farmers market the next morning, and period-piece shopping along Mineral’s U.S. 522 Main Street. Most nights in Mineral, though, are quiet—perfect for relaxing after an energetic day at the lake, or perfect for… a paranormal experience.

Now, this reporter is a skeptic. I’m pretty sure the music I heard came from a TV in a room down the hall. The sound of creaking springs was probably just the humidity. And the footsteps we heard in the early morning? Undoubtedly my overactive imagination. But still… as documented in The Haunted Inns and Hotels of Virginia, the Dunnlora has had dozens of observed paranormal sightings, including a ghost cat, and is one of the most celebrated haunted inns in Virginia. Current proprietor Shenia Wong acquired the historic property for her family but chose to establish it as an inn. Its haunted past dovetailed naturally with her experience as a paranormal investigator. Selina, an early proprietor and namesake of the signature suite at the front of the house, has reportedly communicated with Shenia about the property’s use as not only an inn but also a hub for paranormal investigations.

Transcend Paranormal, a team that hosts events at historic haunted locations, has held one or two gatherings a year at Dunnlora, with the next scheduled for December. On Oct. 24 and 25, the inn will host a ghost-hunting event. Dunnlora has also been featured on My Haunted Hometown (Season 2) and East Coast Spirit Chasers (2025, Episode 1), both available on YouTube.

Whether you’re drawn to the Dunnlora by its peaceful proximity to the lake, its rich period furnishings, its fabulous breakfast (and conversation) with Shenia, its luxurious baths, or its resident spirits this Halloween season, your stay will be one to remember.

Dave Richards

Dave Richards and his wife danni are long time Lake Anna residents (since 1996) with a penchant for travel.   They also LOVE to stay in unique places, which have included a hanging spherical tree house in Qualicum BC, the Marilyn Monroe suite in Edith Palmer’s place in Virginia City NV, and a quonset hut in Yosemite.  Closer to home, they have stayed in the Lighthouse in Smithfield, the Silo at Kelly’s Ford, and the Tepee at Eagle’s Landing In Lynchburg.   They are looking forward to visiting the unique accommodations nearby at Lake Anna!