Heritage Society Touring Historic Downtown in Search of Ghostly Apparitions Reflecting Front Royal’s Spooky Past

It may still be several weeks before Halloween but the Warren Heritage Society is gearing up for that spookiest time of the year with hourly tours of downtown Front Royal linked to past legends of war fatalities, plagues, murder, and ghostly apparitions roaming restless from those ends right here in the Town of Front Royal, the Virginia municipality once nicknamed “Helltown” circa the late 1800s.

“Do you dare to walk the blood-soaked streets of historic Front Royal? Join us for a spine-tingling evening as the Warren Heritage Society guides you through the shadows of the past,” the Heritage Society promotion of “Haunted Front Royal” reads, adding, “Listen closely—some say you can still hear the whispers of lost lovers and the cries of those claimed by war, plague, and misadventure. This ghostly tour will lead you through downtown blocks teeming with restless spirits and forgotten stories. We can’t promise you’ll see a ghost … But we can promise you’ll never look at Front Royal the same way again.”

Uh oh, with this come-on, how could we resist the Saturday, October 4th, 8 p.m. tour kickoff as day drifted into the darkness of night, with what was within a day of being a full moon rising above? Well, we couldn’t, and here are some pictures to prove we not only were there, but also survived that spiritual unrestfullness described above.

Tour goers and staff gathering in the Belle Boyd Cottage patio for the Oct. 4th, 8 p.m. Heritage Society’s ‘Haunted Front Royal’ tour. In the first photo in the upper left, that round, bright object is the almost full moon. Children over age seven are allowed with their parents. In the final shot, event narrator Dr. Harold Grimm, also known as Dan Lelito, sheds a little light on what’s to come. – Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini, unless otherwise noted, Photos 2 & 3 Heritage Society Courtesy photos

Don’t worry if you missed the Saturday, October 4th, kickoff “Haunted Front Royal” event. It is scheduled for tours every Saturday between now and Halloween, October 11, 18, and 25, with tours from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on October 18th and 25th, and an 8 to 9 p.m. tour on Saturday, October 11th.

After our spooky experience, we sought additional information from Warren Heritage Society officials on the impetus for this month-long run-up to Halloween. Heritage Society Board of Directors President Teresa Henry and Executive Director “Liz” Rishel responded.

“I took the position of Executive Director at the end of April of this year, and almost from the beginning, I had Board and community suggestions for Ghost Tours,” Rishel told us, observing, “We took Teresa Henry’s stories, found an amazing Ghost Tour guide, and we decided October was the perfect time to launch!”

Teresa Henry’s stories, what stories?” we asked.

“Beyond the thrills, ‘Front Royal Haunts’ carries a deeper purpose. Teresa Henry is currently seeking sponsorship to help publish her book ‘Front Royal Haunts: Ghost Lore of Warren County,  a project she has passionately developed over the past two years, with 100% of the profits pledged to support the Warren Heritage Society.

“As President of the organization, she has worked alongside a dedicated board and staff to ensure its vitality — bringing events, education, and a deep love of community history to life,” Rishel told us, adding, “The tour brings to life chilling tales of real people and events, carefully woven with historical accuracy and eerie imagination. Each story is drawn from Teresa’s book ‘Front Royal Haunts: Ghost Lore of Warren County’.”

“The staff of the Warren Heritage Society worked together to transform Teresa’s ghostly tales into a fully immersive experience — creating not only a spine-tingling attraction but also a fun and entertaining fundraiser for the organization.”

Of that staff involvement, we were told, “Leading the way is Dan Lelito, who slips seamlessly into his own creation: the role of Dr. Harold Grimm, the tour’s enigmatic narrator. With theatrical flair, he brings each ghostly encounter vividly to life. Drawing inspiration from Teresa’s stories, Dan shaped the tour and adapted the tales to fit his character’s voice, making them uniquely his own while staying true to their haunted heart.”

Dr. Grimm continues to prepare tour participants for the coming encounters before leading them into Front Royal’s ghostly history. As the tour spreads out down Chester St., we’re not sure those lanterns are bright enough to shed any light on coming ghostly encounters.

Fundraising & Registering for Tour

It was pointed out to us that fundraising is an important part of maintaining Heritage Society operations. “We are an independent non-profit 501c3 and rely heavily on donations to fund our programming, care for our collections and historic buildings, and pay our dedicated employees.  We do not receive funding from the local, state, or federal government,” Rishel and Henry told us.

With the double dose of a spooky and historical month-long weekend run up to Halloween and the event fee committed to non-profit Warren Heritage Society operations, what locally based fan of history, mystery, and things that go “BOO” in the night can resist taking on the Haunted Front Royal tour?!!?

The Heritage Society logo for the ‘Front Royal Haunts’ event. Below, ‘Dr. Grimm describes the history of the first stop building on Chester St. at the Garrison House, where the Lemmon-Hale law firm now presides. We wonder if the current occupant law firm has gotten any ghostly client requests lately.

As for the logistics of registering and reporting for a Haunted Front Royal tour, we were told this: “The cost is $40 for everyone. Tickets are available online – there is a link on our website (warrenheritagesociety.org). We do recommend that parents be mindful of the gory details of the tour. Children are allowed, as long as they are 7 or over.

“Unless it is raining, guests meet in front of the Belle Boyd Cottage patio, which is right behind our main building, the Ivy Lodge, which is located at 101 Chester Street.  The tours ARE rain or moonshine (unless truly dangerous conditions exist), and if it is raining, we will meet in the Ivy Lodge.

” ‘Front Royal Haunts’ is more than a seasonal attraction this year. In hopes to expand to longer if well accepted; it’s a celebration of local heritage, storytelling, and the enduring spirit of a town that refuses to let its past be forgotten.”

You can find more about this event and others here.