Rare Virginia Octagon Mansion With Haunted Reputation Hits Market for $295K
A historic Virginia mansion known for both its unusual architecture and reputation for paranormal activity is on the market, giving buyers the chance to own a one-of-a-kind piece of American history.
The Octagon Mansion in Wytheville, Virginia, has been listed for $295,000. The six-bedroom property spans roughly 5,000 square feet and dates back to 1870, making it one of the few surviving octagon-shaped homes in the United States. The residence has also become known over the years for ghost stories, paranormal investigations and themed events, according to Realtor.com.
Visitors and investigators have reported hearing unexplained voices and conversations, doors opening or closing on their own, objects appearing to move without explanation and sightings of shadowy figures.
Local lore also includes stories of a young girl believed by some to have died during a 1950s polio outbreak, while other paranormal enthusiasts have claimed former residents and even Civil War-era spirits may still linger inside the mansion. None of those claims have been independently verified, but they have helped cement the home’s reputation as one of Virginia’s best-known haunted houses.
“The Octagon Mansion in Wytheville is a genuine rarity, and not just because of its haunted reputation,” Realtor.com Executive Editor Charlie Lankston told FOX Business.
Built during a short-lived architectural movement, octagon homes briefly gained popularity in the late 1850s and early 1860s after some designers argued the eight-sided layout provided homeowners with greater living space while reducing construction costs. The design was also popularized by Orson Fowler’s 1848 book, “The Octagon House: A Home for All.”
Lankston said that enthusiasm didn’t last.
Octagon homes had a brief run in the late 1850s and early 1860s, when some design experts argued the eight-sided layout could give homeowners “more space for less money,” he said. By the early 1900s, however, the style had largely fallen out of favor, and many of the homes were eventually demolished.
Today, many of the remaining octagon houses in the U.S. are on the East Coast.
“The fact that this 1870 property has survived more than 150 years largely intact, with its original hardwood floors, custom millwork, and architectural bones still in place, makes it a unique piece of American history.”
Although the mansion retains many of its historic details, it has undergone significant modernization over the years. Realtor.com reports that upgrades include refreshed bathrooms, updated electrical systems and the addition of a commercial kitchen. The listing also highlights updated plumbing, improvements to the property’s heat pump system and a new roof. Original features such as hardwood flooring, intricate millwork and built-in cabinetry have been preserved.
The home has also climbed onto Realtor.com’s weekly list of most popular homes.
The property’s commercial B-2 zoning offers flexibility for future owners. The mansion could potentially operate as a bed-and-breakfast, event venue or mixed-use property. The listing’s multiple entrances could help support several different uses for the property, while ample private parking adds to its potential.
“For anyone with an interest in preservation, there aren’t many opportunities like this left, particularly at a price point under $300,000.”
The home most recently operated as the Octagon Mansion History Museum after curator John Cushman purchased the property in 2019. During its time as a museum, it hosted recurring “Dinner with a Ghost” experiences that attracted visitors interested in the mansion’s paranormal reputation before the attraction closed in March 2025.
Before Cushman’s ownership, the property had reportedly sat vacant for nearly a decade. Now vacant once again, the listing describes the property as a “rare chance to own a true piece of Virginia history.”
A representative for the property’s most recent owners declined to say why the mansion is being sold.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.