General Wayne Inn — the Revolutionary War spirits of Merion, Pennsylvania

The General Wayne Inn in Merion, Pennsylvania, was established as a tavern in 1704, making it one of the oldest continuously operating taverns in America until its closure and later conversion to other uses. The inn was a regular stop for travelers between Philadelphia and Lancaster and was used as a headquarters by both American and British forces during the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and the Marquis de Lafayette all dined there. The inn's three centuries of history have produced a rich collection of ghost stories. Staff and guests reported poltergeist activity including glasses flying off shelves, chairs being pulled from under seated diners, and the sound of boots marching across the upper floor. The most frequently reported apparition is a Hessian soldier who has been seen standing near the fireplace in the main dining room. During a renovation, workers reported finding marks in the plaster that appeared to be from musket balls, and the activity intensified significantly during any period of construction or remodeling. Some employees refused to work alone in the building after dark, describing an aggressive presence that seemed to resent intrusion. The inn's haunted reputation was compounded by a 1996 murder of one of its owners, adding a modern tragedy to the building's already long history of death and violence.