Tucked away just a few blocks from Lincoln Square in downtown Gettysburg, the Federal Pointe Inn is one of the town’s most elegant and intriguing places to stay. With its stately red-brick facade and beautifully restored interior, it offers modern luxury wrapped in early 20th-century charm. But beneath its boutique exterior lies a building with deep historical roots—and a reputation for being haunted.
we’ve spent years exploring Gettysburg’s most paranormally active places, and the Federal Pointe Inn is a standout. It’s not only an upscale place to rest your head—it’s also a place where many guests say the past comes to life in ways they never expected.
The building that now houses the Federal Pointe Inn was originally constructed in 1896 as the Meade School, a public school named in honor of Union General George G. Meade, the commanding officer of the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Gettysburg..
For decades, the school served generations of Gettysburg students, with classrooms filling the halls and teachers standing where hotel staff now greet guests. The structure itself has been carefully preserved, retaining much of its original character—including arched windows, hardwood floors, high ceilings, and original wood trim that hints at its academic past.
Though it wasn’t around during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, the land on which the school stands was part of the broader town infrastructure that played a role in the battle’s chaotic aftermath. Homes and properties surrounding it were turned into field hospitals, supply depots, and refugee shelters.
The school eventually closed and was lovingly restored, reopening in 2012 as the Federal Pointe Inn, a 23-room boutique hotel. But even with fresh paint and luxury bedding, some believe the building’s long and emotional history—both above and below ground—never truly left.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Federal Pointe Inn is: Why would a former school be haunted?
The answer may lie in the building’s layered past. First, the land it sits on is part of the historic footprint of Gettysburg, where thousands died or were wounded in a span of three days. Even though the structure was built later, Gettysburg is a town where hauntings often seem tied more to the land than the walls.
Second, the building’s time as a school came with its own emotional energy. Schools are filled with formative experiences, joy, fear, trauma, and intensity, especially during the early 20th century. Several former students have shared stories of strange experiences in the school building before it was ever a hotel, including the sound of children laughing in empty hallways or the sensation of being watched when alone.
Combined with its proximity to battle activity, possible unmarked gravesites in the area, and the amount of emotional energy infused into the structure, it’s no wonder the Federal Pointe Inn has earned a reputation as a sophisticated yet spirited destination.
Guests and staff have reported a variety of paranormal encounters at the Federal Pointe Inn—some subtle, others downright chilling.
The most frequently reported entities at the Inn are the phantom children. Guests have described hearing footsteps running in hallways when no one is there, giggling, and even the faint sound of a ball bouncing—despite there being no children checked in. Some believe these spirits are residual echoes of students from the building’s days as the Meade School.
Others have seen fleeting glimpses of small figures darting into empty rooms or peering around corners. On occasion, guests have asked hotel staff about "the kids in the room next door"—only to be told that the room was unoccupied.
Several guests have reported sightings of a woman dressed in a gray dress or cloak, usually near the stairwells or in the lobby area late at night. She’s often seen standing silently, gazing forward, then vanishing without a sound.
Some theorize she could be a former teacher from the building’s school days, while others believe she may be connected to the area’s Civil War history—possibly a nurse or local civilian caught in the chaos of the battle’s aftermath.
It’s not uncommon for guests to report hearing conversations in the hallway when no one is there, or footsteps walking overhead in an empty upper floor. EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) sessions conducted by paranormal investigators have captured whispers, names, and even what sounds like a teacher calling roll.
Some staff have reported hearing their own names spoken when no one was near, or lights turning on and off by themselves during the overnight hours.
While the hotel doesn’t publicly advertise which rooms are the most active, some guests have said certain second-floor rooms seem to be hotspots for cold spots, objects moving on their own, and the feeling of someone sitting on the bed when the room is otherwise empty.
One guest reported waking up in the middle of the night to the sensation of someone brushing her hair—only to turn on the light and find no one there.
Like most haunted locations, there’s no guarantee you’ll experience something paranormal—but the odds here may be better than average. The Federal Pointe Inn has drawn the attention of ghost hunters, paranormal researchers, and curious travelers from around the world, all hoping to encounter the unexplained in a setting that’s both beautiful and eerie.
The staff at the Inn are respectful of the hotel’s reputation and won’t oversell it as a “ghost hotel,” but they won’t deny the stories either. Many are happy to share their own experiences—just ask politely.
And even if you don’t see a ghost, you’ll still be sleeping in one of the most unique, historically rich inns in all of Gettysburg.
The Federal Pointe Inn is the perfect blend of luxury, history, and haunting. Whether you’re drawn by its Civil War connections, its past as the Meade School, or the possibility of a ghostly encounter, this inn offers something more than a comfortable night’s sleep. It offers a chance to connect with Gettysburg’s past in a personal—and possibly paranormal—way.
If you’re looking for a haunted place to stay in Gettysburg that’s equal parts elegance and eerie, the Federal Pointe Inn deserves a spot at the top of your list. Just don’t be surprised if your stay includes a few unexpected guests from beyond.
Curious about Gettysburg’s haunted history? Take a ghost tour with Ghost City Tours and experience the stories, spirits, and secrets that bring this historic town to life after dark.
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