Doubleday Inn

A bed and breakfast built near one of the Civil War's most harrowing locations - Iverson's Pits, where a North Carolina brigade was slaughtered and buried in mass graves. The inn sits on Oak Ridge overlooking the battlefield where thousands died on the first day of fighting.

The Doubleday Inn is the only bed and breakfast located directly on the Gettysburg Battlefield, situated on Oak Ridge just one mile from town square. Named for Union General Abner Doubleday—the commanding officer often incorrectly credited with inventing baseball—the house was built in 1939 for Reverend Abram Longanecker, a Gettysburg College and Lutheran Seminary graduate. The property stayed in the family until it was converted into a B&B in 1987.

The location is historically significant: Oak Ridge is a northward extension of McPherson Ridge and Seminary Ridge, capped by Oak Hill, which served as an artillery position commanding the area north of town during the first day of fighting on July 1, 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in approximately 46,000 to 51,000 casualties over three days.

The inn's proximity to Iverson's Pits—where nearly 900 North Carolina soldiers were massacred in minutes—makes it a hotspot for paranormal activity. Many guests claim to have encountered the ghost of General Alfred Iverson himself during their stay. Iverson lived with great regret over the loss of his troops that fateful day and died in 1911. If his spirit does visit the Doubleday, he may be seeking the men he led to their deaths.

The most consistent paranormal phenomenon is the unmistakable smell of gunpowder—lingering in the air without warning or explanation. Guests describe waking in the middle of the night to the scent, or noticing it while stepping out onto the lawn. Many also report seeing strange, glowing orbs of light, and some have been awakened by unexplained flashes.

Paranormal investigators frequently report equipment anomalies—EMF spikes and drained batteries. Several have captured EVPs including whispers, faint cries, and one especially chilling clip of a male voice saying "Hold the line..."

The charming attic room called the "Paul Room" is said to be inhabited by a friendly spirit, offering guests a unique opportunity to share quarters with one of Gettysburg's permanent residents.