Swan Tavern Yorktown
Location submitted by: sdonley on 07/03/2025
DBA Approved: Y
PANICd#: 2212
| The Swan Tavern was opened in 1722 by Thomas “Scotch Tom” Nelson and Joseph Walker, and it soon became the main tavern in Yorktown. |
300 Main St
Yorktown , VA 23690
Open to the public: No
Lat: 37.235633
Lon: -76.508867
Database Summary:
Demographic Rank: 0
History: 1
Stories: 1
Claims: 8
Evidence: 0
Resources: 1
Retrievals: 42731
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0
| Rate this Location <- Get Location Badge Code |
History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.
The Swan Tavern was opened in 1722 by Thomas “Scotch Tom” Nelson and Joseph Walker, and it soon became the main tavern in Yorktown. It remained in service until just before the Civil War. In 1862, the Union Army used the building to store gunpowder and ammunition. During a fire on December 16, 1863, the tavern exploded, destroying much of the west side of town. What you see today is a reconstruction done by the National Park Service in 1935 for the purpose of maintaining the historical atmosphere of Yorktown. The new building uses the foundation of the original.
Today the Swan Tavern is used as a rental property by the National Park Service. It is not open to the general public as a tourist house.
Added by: sdonley on 07/27/2025 DB#:799
Source(s):
https://npplan.com/
Stories are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location.
The Swan Tavern, originally built in the early 18th century, has long been a focal point of Yorktown’s ghost stories. Excavations in 1935 uncovered a human skeleton beneath the tavern site, fueling local speculation about restless spirits tied to past tragedies. Some believe the remains belonged to a traveler who met a foul end and his presence is still sensed by those who walk past the building late at night.
Since around 1877 residents and visitors have reported sightings of a solitary cloaked figure prowling the property. This shadowy apparition, always seen wearing a heavy cloak has been observed disappearing around corners or fading into the night sparking speculation that it is the ghost of someone who was robbed or killed in the area.
Photographic anomalies frequently appear in images taken around the Swan Tavern, according to ghost walk guides. Visitors claim to capture orbs, misty shapes, or faint silhouettes that were not visible with the naked eye. These unexplained elements often emerge consistently in photos taken after dusk and near the foundation of the original structure.
Ghost tour operators describe the atmosphere of the area as oddly oppressive after dark. Some visitors recount feeling watched or uneasy upon approaching the tavern grounds even when no one else is around. A few mention sensing a sudden chill or dark presence in the vicinity as if passing through an invisible threshold.
Today the Swan Tavern remains a featured stop on Yorktown’s ghost walking tours. Guides often emphasize that while the current building postdates the original tavern, the property’s layers of colonial-era hospitality, violence, and loss seem to attract ongoing paranormal energy. Whether these claims stem from folklore or genuine phenomena, they persist as part of the town’s haunted heritage.
Added by: sdonley on 07/27/2025 DB#:1761
Source(s):
Various
Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, your account must have contributor access or higher.
| Claim# | Claim |
| 4232 | A cloaked figure is seen walking the property at night.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4233 | The cloaked figure vanishes around corners or into darkness.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4234 | Orbs and misty shapes appear in photographs taken after dusk.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4235 | Faint silhouettes show up in pictures with no visible source.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4236 | Visitors feel watched when approaching the tavern grounds.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4237 | A sudden chill is felt near the tavern at night.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4238 | Some report a dark presence surrounding the site.
Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
| 4239 | Guests experience an oppressive atmosphere after dark. Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley |
Paranormal evidence is based on claims that have been reported for this location. There can be several types of evidence; however, we have grouped them based on media type for better organization. Here you will find evidence that are logs, audio, video, or photographic.
To add evidence for a claim, you must submit it to PANICd.com for approval to be entered into the database.
No Evidence Reported Yet!
This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.
| Yorktown Ghost Walk | York County Tourism, VA | During the day, the town is known for its picturesque and historic streets that are bustling with visitors. |
| Added: 07/27/2025 By: sdonley | |
Please leave a comment about this location. Your comment can pertain to anything you find on our site about the location including: location demographics, history, claims, evidence, resources, or other comments.
If you have additional information about this location, please be sure to contribute.
Leave a comment