The Eternal Public House
Chowning's Tavern stands as one of Colonial Williamsburg's most authentic and actively haunted establishments. Josiah Chowning opened his tavern in 1766 as an alehouse catering to the 'middling sort.' The building visitors enter today is a 20th-century Colonial Williamsburg re-creation, but according to local legend the tavern has never truly closed for its ghostly patrons, who continue their colonial carousing centuries after their deaths. While the building serves modern visitors historically accurate meals and colonial beverages, it simultaneously hosts a parallel tavern where phantom patriots debate revolution, spectral merchants close deals that will never complete, and ghostly gamblers play cards with stakes they can no longer collect.
Three Centuries of Stories
The Revolutionary Meeting Place
During the lead-up to the Revolution, Chowning's basement served as a clandestine meeting spot for patriots. Plans were hatched, intelligence shared, and oaths sworn in the flickering candlelight below ground. Tavern lore claims some of these conspirators were later hanged for treason, their spirits returning to the last place they felt free. These revolutionary ghosts still meet, unaware their cause was won.
The Plague Years
Multiple epidemics swept through Williamsburg, and tavern lore claims Chowning's became a place where infected travelers mingled with locals, and that many died after visiting it, their last memories being of warmth and companionship. In the legend, these victims return seeking the comfort they found here, manifesting as cold spots and the smell of sickness. Disease, death, and colonial-era tragedy are all part of [why Williamsburg is so haunted](/williamsburg/why-is-williamsburg-haunted/).
The Civil War Occupation
Williamsburg changed hands during the Civil War, and a local legend says soldiers from both armies drank on this spot and that at least three died in drunken brawls and were hastily buried in the garden. In the story, these enemy combatants continue their fights, with staff reporting sounds of struggle and finding furniture mysteriously damaged.
The Tavern's Eternal Patrons
Josiah Chowning
The original proprietor still tends his establishment, appearing as a portly gentleman in colonial dress checking on guests' satisfaction. Staff report seeing him counting invisible money, inspecting ale barrels that aren't there, and greeting customers by name - even those he's never met. His spirit seems pleased the tavern continues, though confused by modern payment methods.
The Gambling Gentleman
A well-dressed colonial man haunts the back room, eternally playing cards. Witnesses see cards shuffling themselves, dice rolling without hands, and chips moving across tables. He's been known to invite living guests to join his game, though winners report their winnings vanish by morning. The sound of his distinctive laugh echoes after closing.
Little Lucy
A young serving girl who died of smallpox in 1772 continues her duties. She appears as a child of about 12, carrying phantom tankards and plates. Guests report feeling tugs on their sleeves and hearing a young voice ask 'What'll ye have?' Lucy seems particularly active during the Gambols evening programs, perhaps drawn by the period music.
The Redcoat
A British soldier from the Revolutionary period haunts the basement where he was allegedly murdered by patriots. His heavy boots echo on the stairs, and staff refuse to go to the basement alone. He appears in full uniform, sometimes bloodstained, searching for his killers who are long dead themselves.
Reported Phenomena
The Basement Vortex
The basement serves as a paranormal hotspot where multiple time periods overlap. Staff report seeing colonial, Revolutionary, and Civil War era figures simultaneously. Staff and visitors claim the temperature drops 20-30 degrees without explanation and that electromagnetic equipment goes haywire. Some employees refuse basement duty after experiencing aggressive paranormal encounters.
The Musical Manifestations
During evening Gambols programs featuring period music, phantom musicians join in. Invisible fiddles harmonize with living performers, spectral voices join drinking songs, and sometimes entirely different music from the 1700s plays when modern musicians pause. These musical ghosts seem happy, creating a joyful if eerie atmosphere.
The Tankard Phenomena
Pewter tankards move on their own, filled glasses empty without being touched, and the sound of toasts echo from empty rooms. Some guests report their drinks tasting different than ordered - receiving ale when they ordered wine, or finding their modern beer tastes of colonial-era brew.
Dining with the Past
Chowning's Tavern operates seasonally as part of Colonial Williamsburg: offerings change through the year (it has been lunch-only in the summer high season, with Gambols games on winter evenings), so check Colonial Williamsburg for current hours. Some of the staff, dressed in colonial attire, know the tavern's ghost stories well and may share them if asked discreetly. The evening Gambols program offers the best chance for paranormal encounters. As musicians play 18th-century tunes and guests participate in period games, the veil between centuries thins. Many report seeing extra people in colonial dress who vanish when looked at directly. For the full haunted experience, request a table in the back room (where the gambling gentleman plays) or near the basement stairs (where the Redcoat walks). Order ale - the ghosts seem more active around those drinking period-appropriate beverages. And if you feel a tug on your sleeve or hear a young voice, that's just Lucy making sure you're properly served. Whether you come for history or hauntings, Chowning's delivers both with colonial hospitality that transcends death itself. To explore more of Williamsburg's haunted taverns, join our [Williamsburg Haunted Pub Crawl](https://ghostcitytours.com/williamsburg/haunted-pub-crawl/). You'll visit historic drinking establishments throughout Colonial Williamsburg while hearing the ghost stories and dark history that make this colonial capital one of America's most haunted destinations.
