VIRGINIA – ALBERMALE COUNTY

Castle Hill, one of Albemarle County’s oldest and most prestigious estates, is renowned for its historical significance and beauty. Built in 1764, this sprawling plantation was home to many prominent families, including the Rives family. However, behind its picturesque façade, Castle Hill harbors a more mysterious and eerie reputation. The estate is said to be haunted by the ghost of Amélie Rives Troubetzkoy, a notable poet and novelist who lived there during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her spirit is believed to linger in the house, particularly in a room known as the pink bedroom.

Visitors and guests have reported experiencing a number of paranormal phenomena, including the sudden appearance of a delicate perfume—said to have been Amélie’s signature scent—accompanying the sight of her apparition. Her figure, sometimes seen near the room’s window or moving through the halls, is thought to remain tied to the estate where she spent much of her life. Those who encounter her describe her as both ethereal and elegant, still embodying the grace that made her a social icon in life.

The Pink Bedroom: A Portal to the Past

The pink bedroom is a focal point for these ghostly sightings. Paranormal investigators, including renowned figures such as Hans Holzer, have visited Castle Hill and reported strange occurrences in this room. Holzer suggested that Amélie’s spirit may be trapped in a form of residual haunting, where her essence is imprinted on the estate, endlessly replaying moments from her past.

Ghostly Figures and Other Spirits

In addition to Amélie, other figures dressed in period clothing have been spotted wandering the grounds. Some believe these may be the spirits of former residents or even servants who once worked at Castle Hill, still tied to the estate by the weight of its history.

For those who visit, Castle Hill offers a rare glimpse into Virginia’s haunted past, where the line between history and the supernatural seems to blur, and the spirits of the past continue to make their presence known.