Ripley Way: land of a thousand haunts
The tri-city area of Ripley Way, Virginia, comprising Ripley Way, Verona, and Baggersville, was founded in the 1730s. The region has a population of 23,000, has gained significant attention from various paranormal enthusiasts, due to its rich history and associated folklore with supernatural legends. Ripley Way became a unique case study of community resilience during the critical events of World War III (WW3), particularly in the aftermath of the widespread electrical grid attack in July 2021. The following report provides a comprehensive overview of the area's demographics, geographic features, infrastructure, response to national crises, and recent developments affecting the community.
Geographically…
Ripley Way is located in a low-lying area of the Shenandoah Valley, surrounded by mountains that influence its unique weather patterns. The nearby cities of Verona and Baggersville form part of this tri-city community, contributing to the area’s infrastructure and economic activities.
Associated Cities and Infrastructure
Ripley Way: As the central city, Ripley Way is the cultural and administrative hub of the region. Its strong leadership and community response during national crises have earned it a reputation for resilience. Known for its paranormal history, Ripley Way continues to draw interest for its local legends and historical sites, most famous of all is the RIPLEY WOOD MENTAL ASYLUM, known for barbaric practices popular in Victorian times i.e. shock therapy, induced psychosis via drugs, intense isolation, and shredding of basic human rights on disturbed individuals. As expected, hauntings that claim Ripley Wood as their origin have persisted in the tri-city area since the first asylum was abandoned for a new site in 1926.
Verona: A population of 4,000 resides in Verona, an agricultural and industrial city known for its cold beverage production plants. The local farms and factories played a key role in sustaining the region during the summer outage attacks of 2021.
Baggersville: Often referred to as the “lost sister city,” Baggersville was founded in 1840 during a brief coal industry boom. The city attracted nearly 2,000 immigrants, primarily Irish and Chinese, but the coal supply was quickly depleted due to corporate-controlled railroad development. Despite this economic downturn, Baggersville evolved into a city known for its luxury hotels, such as the Madison Hotel (built between 1921-1923), and its distinctive Art Deco architecture. Paranormal enthusiasts are particularly drawn to the Madison Hotel for its frequent sightings of a spectral figure on the rooftop during full moons.
Notable Institutions and Cultural Significance
The Dog Spa and Winery: Located at 16E Clark Street, just half a mile from downtown Ripley Way's Rec Park, this establishment is owned by Zora Novavich. It serves as both a spa and a winery, offering services for residents and visitors alike, contributing to the town’s tourism.
Walt’s Diner & Walt’s in the Wall: two local restaurants owned by businessman and philanthropist Walter Furlong, who has been in the food service industry since he was thirteen. Walt’s Diner is a popular burger-and-shake shop at the corner of downtown and outer Ripley Way while the smaller Walt’s in the Wall sit downtown, a narrow single-fryer burger shop wedged between a bank and a flower store.
Great Yesteryear Church (Formerly St. Lawrence Catholic Parish): Situated at 117 New North Street, this once-thriving parish was abandoned in 2007 but remains an important historical and architectural landmark in downtown Ripley Way.
Mosier Family Vision Network: This mass-media empire, located at Hillside Park, is owned by the influential Mosier family and includes the Bible campus near Queen’s Hospital. The Mosiers have long played a significant role in shaping local culture and media.
Bell Health University: formally the Virginia Women’s College until 1901, now a co-ed facility in the middle of downtown, heavy focus on nursing and further medical education
Ripley Way School for the Deaf and Blind: Established in 1839 during a period of local government reform, this two-building campus originally known as the Founders' School for the Deaf and Blind, was part of a progressive effort to provide educational opportunities to underserved communities. However, during its early years, the school only admitted white students.
The Legend of Shoulders-Sally
One of the most infamous and enduring legends in Ripley Way is the story of Shoulders-Sally, the tragic tale of Sally Truant, whose spirit is said to haunt the tall grassfields area behind Route 11, southward toward Baggersville. The legend dates back to the 1860s and has become a key part of Ripley Way’s paranormal allure.
Sally Truant, born sometime in 1850, was the eldest daughter of an affluent farmhand who had acquired significant wealth after inheriting a portion of an Alabama plantation owner's estate. Her father, the elder Truant, had served as the head slave supervisor on the plantation from 1827 to 1844 before relocating to Ripley Way in 1845. Upon his death in 1857, Sally’s widowed mother became a prominent figure in Ripley Way, choosing not to remarry and instead focusing on raising her seven children—three boys and four girls. The widow became known for her charitable donations to various civic causes, including contributions to the city's educational institutions, which allowed Sally to enroll early at the local Women’s College.
By 1860, at the age of fifteen, Sally had begun attending the college, where she fell in love with a young lawyer named George Bradshaw, who was ten years her senior. Their love affair quickly became a subject of scandal in town, as rumors spread about their relationship, particularly harsh rumors given Sally's age. At the same time, the campus was struck by a string of eerie incidents involving a masked man who had been frightening young women by staring at them through their bedroom windows at night.
On Valentine’s Day in 1861, the night of Sally’s fateful encounter, she was dressed in white and prepared for a romantic evening with Bradshaw. Her roommate later recalled that Sally left their dorm with a mysterious, almost ghostly appearance. She never returned.
Sally’s body was discovered the next morning on Bradshaw’s farm, bound and decapitated. The circumstances of her murder remain shrouded in mystery, and no one was ever convicted of the crime. Over the years, sightings of Sally’s ghost began to emerge. Known as Shoulders-Sally due to the gruesome nature of her death, her spirit is said to wander the roads leading out of Ripley Way, particularly along Route 11, where she is often spotted by travelers late at night.
Legend has it that Sally’s ghost appears in the same white dress she wore the night of her murder, her headless figure walking aimlessly along the side of the road. Some witnesses claim to have seen her smiling head sitting on the shoulders of unsuspecting passersby, as if seeking to reunite with her wandering body. The tale of Shoulders-Sally has become an integral part of Ripley Way’s folklore, contributing to the town’s reputation as a hotspot for paranormal activity.
Natural Features of Ripley Way
Valley River (Prodigal River): The Valley River, also known locally as the Prodigal River due to its unpredictable flow patterns, runs through the tri-city area. This river is a critical natural resource but poses challenges due to its frequent flooding and dry spells, which significantly impact local agriculture and infrastructure.
Nestled in the lowlands of the Shenandoah Valley, Ripley Way benefits from the Blue Ridge Mountains' natural barrier effect, which shields the town from severe weather events. Winds are often diverted over the mountains, creating a unique microclimate in the region that results in frequent cloudy skies and moderate weather. This geographic advantage played a crucial role in protecting the area from natural disasters and even during the July 2021 electrical grid attack, where the town’s resilience was partly attributed to its favorable environment.
The Natural Chimneys are a remarkable geological formation located in the Shenandoah Valley, near Sallerstown. These towering limestone spires, one reaching heights of 120 feet, were formed over millions of years through erosion caused by ancient seas that once covered the region. Discovered by early settlers in the 18th century, the chimneys have since become a popular tourist destination due to their striking resemblance to man-made structures.
Community Response During WW3
During the July 2021 electrical grid attack, Ripley Way stood out for its strong, organized response in contrast to many other areas across the nation. While major cities such as New York City and Washington D.C. descended into chaos and martial law, Ripley Way’s community leaders came together to provide essential resources, including food and shelter, for two months. This self-sufficiency helped sustain the area before the arrival of National Guard troops, demonstrating the resilience and cooperation of the tri-city region.
